October 2009

Wolf Hearings Come to Town

A draft wolf conservation and management plan is now ready for public comment, in writing and at public hearings around the state. And now that wolves have started showing up—with two packs confirmed in the state—we want to make sure Washington's plan is visionary, pragmatic, and strong enough to manage wolves in a balanced way that will ease the transition for everyone, including the wolves!

The current draft plan is on the right track, but key improvements are needed to ensure that wolves are given the chance to recover to a healthy and stable population and effectively play their role as top predators in Washington's wild lands. Last night, nearly 100 people attended the Spokane hearing, and participated in a lively exchange, from practical concerns about wolf management to a celebration of their return.

Common Sense Says "No" on I-1033

The real effects on Washington state of Tim Eyman's Initiative 1033, currently on the ballot, are well known. All we have to do is look to Colorado, where a similar initiative led to such deep cuts in the social fabric and economy that Coloradans later voted to suspend the law.

I-1033 is expected to reduce revenues for education, children's health care, the environment, and other services that keep our communities healthy, clean, and safe, by $5.9 billion over the next five years. It would also greatly hamper the legislature's ability to fund state programs critical for conservation: protection of wildlife habitat, preservation of working farms, and creation of new local and state parks. Times are tough. Let's not make them worse! Vote no on I-1033.

 

 

Nov 4, Seattle: The Wildest Film Festival

On Wednesday, November 4, Conservation Northwest hosts the Wild and Scenic Environmental Film Festival at the Broadway Performance Hall in Seattle. The featured film of the evening is Division Street, a thought-provoking look at the impact of roads on wildlife and wild places and what visionary people around the country are doing to solve the problem. Other engaging and entertaining short documentary, fiction, and adventure films highlight how ordinary people are creating real change across the globe.

Join us for a night of breathtaking films, fun door prizes, and an amazing raffle, including giveaways from Stevens Pass, Keen Footwear, and Osprey Packs. Reception starts at 6 pm, films at 7 pm. Enjoy Sierra Nevada ales and celebrate with us as we showcase inspiring conservation efforts, including our work to connect and protect wild places and wildlife in the Northwest. The film festival is the largest of its kind on the West Coast and not to be missed.

 

 

A Big Year for Wildlife Monitoring

The last photos from our work monitoring wildlife this spring and summer are returning from the field, including thousands of images from cameras near proposed wildlife road-crossing structures and core Cascades wildlife habitat. Sixty volunteers installed and maintained cameras in the Cascades, the Olympics, and in northeastern Washington, where our French intern combined hair snares and remote cameras in a search for lynx in the Kettle River Range. In our first year helping agency biologists monitor the fishers that we've released into the Olympics, collared female fishers visited our camera station.

Next, it's time to prepare for our winter season! This year, we are returning to Snoqualmie Pass with the Wilderness Awareness School and adding wolverine snowtracking trainings for backcountry enthusiasts. If you have participated in these efforts before, or are just interested in learning more, check out our calendar.