November 2009

Conservation Northwest Voted Top 5 Charity

We have to admit, it was a huge boost when King 5 viewers voted us into the Top 5 Charities of 2009, not to mention all the nice things our supporters had to say about us. "No organization in the state has done more to preserve our wild spaces. They put donations to work on conservation, not on administrative costs. They are dedicated and hard working." - King 5 voter Susan R

Please help us continue to do our winning work for wildlife next year by making a year-end donation today. Allies like you ensure that people and wildlife benefit from healthy ecosystems far into the future, and your support is vital. Thank you!

Wolves Come Home: A Plan Speeds Recovery

We're excited that wolves are making a natural comeback to Washington. There are now two confirmed packs in the state, in Okanogan and Pend Oreille counties, with a possible third wolf pack in the Blue Mountains of southeastern Washington.

This winter, the Department of Fish and Wildlife issued a draft conservation and management plan for Washington's returning wolves. The plan comes after two years of hard work by members of the state's Wolf Working Group, which included Conservation Northwest. Several important changes are needed for the draft plan to ensure wolves have the opportunity to thrive in our state. We need to generate as many comments for wolves as possible this month. Please add your voice to make the plan better.

 

 

Step to Protecting Clean Forests and Water

Whatcom County has taken the next great step toward the Lake Whatcom Forest Preserve, entering into an agreement with the state Department of Natural Resources to protect 8,400 acres of forest in this vital watershed, drinking water source for thousands of county residents. After working for nearly a decade to reduce the impact of commercial logging around Lake Whatcom, we are nearly there!

The county has said it is committed to managing the protected forests for old-growth qualities. Beautiful, remnant old-growth forest found around the lake is home to marbled murrelets, bald eagles, ospreys, tailed frogs, and the Salish sucker, a small native fish. Council members would enjoy hearing a "thank you" for their support of the preserve! Please take a moment to send them an email.

 

 

Fresh Tracks in Fresh Pow

This winter, as part of our Cascades Citizen Wildlife Monitoring Project, we are training backcountry enthusiasts to document snow tracks of a remarkable animal, the wolverine. Our accomplished and personable tracker, Dave Moskowitz, of the Wilderness Awareness School, is leading the trainings in Bellingham and in Seattle. As you ski and snowshoe around the Cascade Range, learn how to keep your eyes peeled for tracks!

With our summer/fall cameras pulled in for the end of year, the monitoring program is also busy producing a final report. And there's more. A holiday party for monitoring volunteers, and a chance for new volunteers to register for I-90 snowtracking teams this winter, with a training held December 13 in the Wilderness Awareness School in Duvall.