Columbia Highlands: Recovering Lynx and Wolves

Conservation Northwest is connecting the Cascades to the Rockies in the most meaningful way possible by working for a balanced plan for Colville National Forest and protecting vital private ranches in the Columbia Highlands,

But it’s not enough to protect habitat; we want our majestic wildlife to be present and healthy as part of our wild Northwest.

Lynx

The heart of the Columbia Highlands is the Kettle River Range, which has a history of being home to a thriving lynx population. Overtrapping in the 1970’s exterminated those lynx, and they’ve been slow to return. A team of state and federal biologists are studying the area's suitability for lynx, to determine what can be done to foster their recovery. Conservation Northwest is supporting that study financially, as part of investing in Cascades to Rockies connectivity.

Wolves

In contrast to lynx, wolves are suddenly finding their own way home. There are now at least five wolf packs within the Columbia Highlands, including the Columbia Highlands' Smackout Pack, which roams the federal lands leased by the Dawsons. Conservation Northwest is engaged to at multiple levels to keep wolf recovery moving forward smoothly: 

• We have a representative sitting on the state’s Wolf Working Group;
  
• We are providing expert and citizen input to the state’s wolf recovery plan to make sure it is strong and politically stable;
  
• We put up a generous reward fund for state enforcement agents to use in discouraging wolf poaching, and in prosecuting anyone who dares;
  
• We work directly with communities, including ranchers like the Dawsons, to help them adapt to the presence of wolves in ways that are best for all concerned.

 Learn more about capital investments in the Columbia Highlands