Media Coverage

Recent media coverage on our work

Links to selected media coverage are available below. Some articles require subscriptions to view.

The numbers are in for the wolves

April 19, 2019 – Chewelah Independent

DFW reports growth of wolf population in WA for tenth straight year

King County forests are facing new challenges

April 17, 2019 – Bellevue reporter

Hot, dry summers are stressing native tree species in Western Washington.

Connelly: Preserving a pearl of a view — Oyster Dome on Blanchard Mountain is saved

April 17, 2019 – Seattle P.I.

Views from Oyster Dome down to the Samish River, Skagit Valley and out over the San Juan Islands are to die for, once you have puffed up the trail that takes off just south of the Oyster Bar on Chuckanut Drive.

How wildlife bridges over highways make animals—and people—safer

April 16, 2019 – National Geographic

Bridges for bears and tunnels for tortoises have significantly reduced the number of wildlife-car collisions worldwide.

The Pack Is Back: Wolves return to Skagit County

April 10, 2019 – Cascadia Weekly

One appeared. Then two. Now it seems Western Washington may have its first resident wolves in decades.

Study: Wolves push mule deer higher, don’t impact whitetail

April 8, 2019 – The Spokesman Review

Essentially, Dellinger said, wolves “had little or no impact on the deer from a survival standpoint.”

TAX ON RECREATIONAL GEAR TO HELP FUND WDFW GETS HEARING IN OLYMPIA

April 5, 2019 – Northwest Sportsman

He added that what would be taxed under the bill needs to better defined, a work-in-progress sentiment that was echoed by Tom Echolls of the Hunters Heritage Council and Mitch Friedman of Conservation Northwest.

WDFW gives update on latest wolf numbers, including new pack in Western Washington, but not all are thrilled by count

April 5, 2018 – The Spokesman Review

Washington’s wolf population continued to grow in 2018, with a pack documented west of the Cascade crest for the first time.

Wolf pack living west of Cascade Mountains for first time in decades

April 4, 2019 – The Seattle Times

Chase Gunnell, a spokesperson for Conservation Northwest, a nonprofit with a representative on the state’s advisory group on wolf issues, said the state’s investment in nonlethal measures is paying off.

Washington wolves go west as count increases

April 4, 2019 – Capital Press

“After years of reports of wolves in Western Washington, we are particularly excited by the confirmation of the first wolfpack west of the Cascade Crest in nearly a century,” Conservation Northwest Executive Director Mitch Friedman said in a written statement.

Washington’s wolf population continues to grow, pack documented west of Cascades

April 4, 2019 – The Spokesman Review

And, in another sign that the apex predators are spreading, a pack was confirmed west of the Cascade crest for the first time, according to a WDFW news release.

Committee backs money for nonlethal wolf control

April 3, 2019 – The Spokesman Review

“I don’t see anything threatening to wolves in this legislation,” said Paula Swedeen of Conservation Northwest. Conservation Northwest strongly supports the amended version of HB 2097 as a positive step for both wolves and ranchers.

Washington bill concedes uneven wolf recovery

April 3, 2019 – Capital Press

The Cattle Producers of Washington and environmental group Conservation Northwest also supported the bill, as did the Colville Confederated Tribes in northeast Washington.

Op-Ed: Lawmakers, stop underfunding Fish and Wildlife, the agency that protects our lands and water

March 22, 2019 – The Seattle Times

Now is the time to invest in conservation and outdoor opportunity, not continue to shortchange the legacy we hold in trust for future generations.

Feds propose eliminating protection for gray wolves

March 20, 2019 – Methow Valley News

“Wolf recovery is progressing well in Washington and our wolves will remain a state endangered species until state recovery goals are met,”

Wolf populations influence mule deer behavior, UW research finds

March 18, 2019 – Methow Valley News

Three-year study finds white-tailed deer not affected

Rangeland fire protection associations should be created in Washington

March 16, 2019 – The Spokesman Review

Conservation Northwest, the Washington State Farm Bureau, the Washington Cattlemen’s Association and the Audubon Society have all testified in favor, citing numerous benefits.

Wolves and the Endangered Species Act, an Explainer

March 7, 2019 – Outside Magazine

States like Washington and California have robust wolf management plans in place, and are likely capable of offering the species adequate protections within their borders.

If feds delist wolves, Washington’s plan goes statewide

March 7, 2019 – Capital Press

“Wolf recovery is progressing well in Washington, and our wolves will remain a state endangered species until state recovery goals are met,” the group’s spokesman, Chase Gunnell, said in an email.

Spokane conservationist: Plan to end wolf protections premature, political

March 6, 2019 – The Spokesman Review

Because of laws that already exist in Washington, a federal delisting wouldn’t have a large impact on the Washington wolf population.

Fish and Wildlife Service may remove Wolves from endangered list

March 6, 2019 – Spokane Public Radio

With an estimated 150 wolves in the state, it appears the population, is making a good recovery, and delisting on the federal level is not necessarily a bad thing.

Lifting federal protections for wolves gets mixed reaction

March 6, 2019 – Associated Press

“However, given the quality of Washington’s wolf plan and investments in collaborative wolf conservation and management work here, we do not expect federal delisting to have a significant impact on wolves in our state.”

Wolf-Delisting Plan Would Remove Federal Protections In Oregon, Washington

March 6, 2019 – Earthfix / kuow news

“Wolf recovery is progressing well in Washington and our wolves will remain a state endangered species until state recovery goals are met.”

Return of the wolves: How deer escape tactics help save their lives

February 27, 2019 – UW NEWS

As gray wolves continue to make a strong comeback in Washington state, their presence can’t help but impact other animals — particularly the ones these large carnivores target as prey.

Cantwell, DelBene lead rally for national conservation, recreation program

February 26, 2019 – Mercer Island Reporter

The legislation has now been passed by the Senate and House, and is headed to the president’s desk.

Wolf review bill passes state committee

February 23, 2019 – The Spokesman Review

WDFW FEE HIKE BILLS GET SUPPORT DURING PUBLIC HEARINGS, BUT CONCERNS RAISED TOO

February 15, 2019 – Northwest Sportsman

Washington lawmakers heard arguments for and not-quite-fully-against on a pair of bills that would increase fishing and hunting license fees by 15 percent during public hearings held late this week.

More fishers released in North Cascades

February 10, 2019 – Skagit Valley Herald

Another six fishers scurried into the forest Wednesday near the base of the North Cascades east of Darrington after being released from wooden crates.

Wolf shot, killed near Sprague Lake about 40 miles from Spokane

February 8, 2019 – The Spokesman Review

“Washington state law allows people to shoot wolves that are caught in the act of attacking livestock or pets,” Chase Gunnell, communications director of Conservation Northwest, said in an email. “As difficult as situations like this are, we support this policy as a reasonable component of responsible wolf conservation and management.”

Outdoor Enthusiasts Urge Legislature to Fully Fund the WDFW

February 9, 2019 – Centralia Chronicle

A diverse group of outdoor enthusiasts, ranging from hunters to environmentalists, sent a message Tuesday to lawmakers in Olympia: fully fund the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Diverse group of outdoor enthusiasts urges Legislature to fully fund the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife

February 5, 2019 – The Spokesman Review

A diverse group of outdoor enthusiasts, ranging from hunters to environmentalists, sent a message Tuesday to lawmakers in Olympia: fully fund the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Washington’s Wolf Population Likely Larger Than Estimated, Researcher Says

February 5, 2019 – KUOW News

Wasser told a state Senate committee last week that it’s possible the population of wolves is closer to 200 animals.

Agency seeks input on giving fishers threatened species status

February 2, 2019 – The Skagit Valley Herald

“We believe listing them in Washington is not warranted because we’re already doing everything we can do to recover them and actually listing them might slow recovery,”

Researcher says Washington wolf population likely larger than estimates

February 2, 2019 – The Seattle Times / Associated press

The number of wolves in Washington state is likely much higher than previously thought, according to a University of Washington researcher who spent two years studying the animals using scat-sniffing dogs.

Is there a lone wolf in the Yakima Valley? Researcher wants to know

January 27, 2019 – The Yakima Herald

The search for wolves in Washington now extends into the south Cascades and Yakima County.

UW researchers use scat-sniffing dogs to bolster wolf count in Washington

January 25, 2019 – The Spokesman Review

The number of wolves roaming Washington is higher than official estimates, according to University of Washington researchers.

Calgary Zoo preps fishers — cat-sized weasel relatives — to help repopulate forests of Washington State

January 25, 2019 – CBC News

‘They really are beautiful little creatures’

Wolves making faster comeback than expected in Washington state

January 23, 2019 – KING 5 News

Wolf populations are increasing in Washington state faster than officials expected.

New Washington State Wildlife Corridor is Already Saving Lives

January 18, 2019 – CARE2

Construction isn’t even finished yet on a wildlife corridor that crosses over busy Interstate 90 in Washington state, but animals are already taking advantage of this safe way to roam.

Watch elk migrate across a Washington highway, bringing traffic to a standstill

January 16, 2019 – The News Tribune

“You have a really limited bottleneck for wildlife to move from the north to south Cascades,” explained Jen Watkins, Conservation Northwest’s I-90 Wildlife Bridges Coalition coordinator, according to the Spokesman-Review.

Wolves kill two calves, one cow in Ferry County

January 12, 2019 – The Spokesman Review

Jay Shepherd, a co-founder of the North East Washington Wolf-Cattle Collaborative and the wolf program lead for Conservation Northwest, said ranchers struggled to get their cattle of the federal allotments this year.

Stevens County Commissioners issue wolf safety announcement

January 12, 2019 – The Spokesman Review

“I think educating people on how to respond to wolf encounters is going to help both people and wolves, and their pets and their livestock,”

Caribou Rainforest — David Moskowitz ‘Heartbreak To Hope’ Multimedia Book Tour

January 7, 2019 – The Nelson Daily

This Tour is sponsored by WildSight, Yellowstone to Yukon, Conservation Northwest, Braided River.

Plan to relocate grizzlies to North Cascades stalls

December 27, 2018 – The Columbian

Zinke’s departure from Interior throws proposal into doubt

New Animal Overpass Is Already Protecting Critters in Washington State

December 28, 2018 – Smithsonian.com

The bridge over Interstate 90 is the first of 20 that will allow animals to cross the busy roadway and connects wildlife in the North and South Cascades

Salmon advocates criticize Gov. Inslee’s budget to help orcas

December 21, 2018 – KING 5 News

Governor Inslee says his budget is a bold move toward restoring salmon for orcas. Salmon advocates say it isn’t bold enough.

With Zinke Out, North Cascades Grizzly Reintroduction Plan Stalls

December 21, 2018 – Oregon Public Broadcasting

Grizzlies in Washington are down to just a handful of bears. Biologists say if nothing is done to help them, they will disappear from the state for good.

Fishers reintroduced to North Cascades

December 19, 2018 – Methow Valley News

Restoration project brings endangered species back

Returning Fishers to the North Cascades

December 19, 2018 – Earth Island Journal

Biologists are reintroducing the regionally extinct mammal to its former bounding grounds in Washington

How Did the Animals Cross the Road?

December 15, 2018 – Voice of America News Service

But soon, animals will have a safer choice for crossing the road. They will be able to go above it.

Washington State Builds New Bridge for Migrating Wildlife

December 12, 2018 – U.S. News & World Report

A new wildlife bridge in Washington state is designed to help migrating wildlife safely cross a busy section of Interstate 90.

Wildlife bridge helps animals avoid car collisions

December 12, 2018 – Associated Press Video

(12 Dec 2018) Washington state is finishing construction on its largest wildlife bridge.

Washington state builds new bridge for migrating wildlife

December 12, 2018 – Associated Press – Shared by many regional and national outlets

For countless wildlife species, the busy highway is a border, constraining their movements and posing a fatal risk should they dare to cross it.

Documentarian ‘over the moon’ after coyote uses I-90 wildlife bridge

December 11, 2018 – KING 5 News

A documentary filmmaker was confident more animals would come after seeing footage of a coyote using a wildlife bridge on I-90 east of Snoqualmie Pass.

Six rare fishers released in North Cascades

December 8, 2018 – The Spokesman Review

Six rare, and elusive carnivores were introduced to the North Cascades Wednesday.

Calgary Zoo working to bring furry creatures to U.S. state where they disappeared

December 6, 2018 – ctv news

Fishers — a species of weasel-like animals — were eradicated in one U.S. state but the Calgary Zoo is coming to the rescue.

Calgary ecologists work to save nearly extinct species in Washington state

December 6, 2018 – The calgary herald

The Calgary Zoo is helping bring a species of weasel back from the brink of extinction through a conservation partnership with ecologists in the United States.

First animal spotted using I-90 wildlife crossing

December 6, 2018 – komo news

A Washington State Department of Transportation camera caught the first animal, a coyote, to use the new animal crossing over I-90 east of Snoqualmie Pass.

WATCH: Coyote crosses I-90 using new wildlife overpass

Coyote crosses I-90 using new animal overpass east of Snoqualimie Pass

December 6, 2018 – The Seattle Times

The Washington Department of Transportation captured video of a coyote crossing over I-90, east of Snoqualimie Pass, early Wednesday morning.

Calgary ecologists work to save nearly extinct species in Washington state

December 6, 2018 – The Calgary zoo

The Calgary Zoo is helping bring a species of weasel back from the brink of extinction through a conservation partnership with ecologists in the United States.

Porcupines and hares beware! Weasel-like fishers return to North Cascades

December 6, 2018 – KUOW News / nw news network

An elusive carnivore in the weasel family is roaming free in Washington’s North Cascades for the first time in at least 70 years.

Wildlife Officials Release 6 Fishers in North Cascades

December 6, 2018 – associated press

Cat-sized carnivores related to weasels were released in North Cascades National Park as part of a continuing effort to reintroduce the furry mammals into forests in Washington state.

Fishers released into the wild

December 6, 2018 – king 5 news

KING 5 Environmental Reporter Alison Morrow reports.

Fishers once considered extinct in Washington state released in North Cascades

December 6, 2018 – KBKW Grays harbor

“We’re thrilled to be a part of this historic reintroduction effort, and thankful to all the scientists, agencies, and supporters who made it possible.”

Fishers released into North Cascades

December 5, 2018 – skagit valley herald

The state needs money. This endangered bird needs the trees

December 4, 2018 – KUOW

Washington state officials are launching a long-term strategy to keep a little bird with a long commute from going extinct, and they’re asking for the public’s help.

Meet Whatcom’s newest neighbor, who’s pretty darned cute … until it shows its teeth

December 4, 2018 – The Bellingham Herald

Say hello to your newest neighbor, Whatcom County … or at least an old friend that is moving back in.

An Elusive Predator Will Return To The North Cascades

November 30, 2018 – The Spokesman Review

Washington’s North Cascades will soon see the return of a small, weasel-like predator called the fisher.

Ignoring years of collaboration, Colville National Forest reduces eligible wilderness areas in draft plan

November 28, 2018 – The Spokesman Review

The Colville National Forest released its draft management plan Sept. 8. To the surprise of conservation groups and one of the area’s largest timber producers, the draft didn’t contain many recommendations hammered out over years of give-and-take between stakeholders.

Op-Ed: Congress needs champions of common-sense conservation

November 25, 2018 – The Seattle Times

Congress must act on bipartisan legislation to reauthorize and fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund, writes Mitch Friedman, founder and executive director of Conservation Northwest.

US House passes bill to drop legal protections for gray wolves

November 16, 2018 – KING 5 News

Mitch Friedman, director of Conservation Northwest, spoke out against the bill, saying Congress shouldn’t be making a policy on specific species.

House of Representatives to vote on gray wolf delistment Friday

November 15, 2018 – The Spokesman Review

Conservation Northwest also doesn’t support the bill. In a statement, the National Wildlife Federation signaled support for delisting wolves in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan. However, the federation called the legislation as a whole “too broad.”

On the mend | Charting the gradual, if uneven, recovery of the region’s grizzly-bear population

November 15, 2018 – Pique Magazine

Yet, according to experts who have been working directly with grizzlies and pushing for actions to protect key habitat, it’s no time to celebrate.

Declining caribou illustrate the challenges of conservation

November 12, 2018 – The Spokesman Review

The fate of the mountain caribou highlights the myriad ways in which habitat degradation impacts the natural world. It also illustrates the unsavory choices conservationists often make about which species live and which die.

These Bridges And Tunnels Save Animals’ Lives — And Prevent Car Wrecks

November 9, 2018 – Earthfix

But for wildlife, this bridge is connecting the northern and southern Cascades — an important migration route for deer and elk, said Jen Watkins with Conservation Northwest.

These Bridges and Tunnels Save Animals’ Lives — and Prevent Car Wrecks

November 9, 2018 – KCTS 9

This 12-mile stretch of central Washington’s main north-south route is one of the state’s most dangerous corridors for wildlife collisions. More than 350 deer are hit each year.

You love Oyster Dome and Samish Overlook. Here’s why this 193-acre swap matters to you.

November 7, 2018 – The Bellingham Herald

The end is nearing for efforts to protect a 1,600-acre “core” of Blanchard Mountain from logging.

Caribou will be repatriated to Canada after failed initiative

November 6, 2018 – Radio Canada International

“This is what extinction looks like, and it must be a wake-up call for wildlife and habitat managers in both Canada and the United States,” said Joe Scott, Conservation Northwest International Programs Director and a member of B.C.’s Mountain Caribou Recovery Progress Board in a statement.

Mountain caribou in lower 48 states being sent to Canada

November 5, 2018 – The Associated Press

The Spokesman Review says biologists hope to breed the few survivors of the South Selkirk herd in captivity north of Revelstoke, British Columbia.

Six caribou in North Idaho and Washington – the last in the contiguous U.S. – will be relocated to Canada

November 3, 2018 – The Spokesman Review

Caribou, the Grey Ghosts of Idaho and Washington’s forests, will no longer roam the Lower 48.

LAST TRANSBOUNDARY NORTHWEST CARIBOU TO BE CAPTURED IN DESPERATE BID TO SAVE SOUTHERN HERDS

November 2, 2018 – Northwest Sportsman Magazine

What are believed to be the last two mountain caribou in the herd that haunts the rugged Washington-Idaho-British Columbia borderlands will be captured and relocated north this winter.

Fish and Wildlife approves killing of remaining two wolves in the old Profanity Peak pack area

October 26, 2018 – The Spokesman Review

In an interview Thursday Jay Shepherd, the wolf program lead for Conservation Northwest and one of the founders of the Northeast Washington Wolf-Cattle Collaborative, said in past years wolf-cattle conflicts had usually tapered off by now.

Connelly: Thank you, Paul Allen, for the view atop Chopaka Mountain

October 16, 2018 – Seattle P.I.

“Mr. Allen and his foundation have restored the art of waiting for the right moment to give, and it’s extraordinary for us,” Mitch Friedman of Conservation Northwest, who spearheaded the Loomis campaign, said at the time.

Sammamish Student Receives Awards from MIT Inspire Competition

October 12, 2018 – Bellevue School District News

Last year Sarathy created a school-based conservation team at Sammamish, which has since deployed two such remote camera traps in the Cascades on behalf of Conservation Northwest. Conservation biologists at this organization use data from these images to determine where to apply their limited rewilding resources, such as to reintroduce animals or build overpasses or underpasses.

The wily wolverine: Iconic species making comeback in state

October 7, 2018 – The Everett Herald

However, there are many unknowns for the future. Decades from now, will there be enough snowy habitat for wolverines to reproduce and shelter their kits?

Bridging an interstate in Washington state

October 2, 2018 – Conservation Corridor

On Interstate 90, just east of Snoqualmie Pass in Washington State, the restoration of ecological connectivity is well underway.

I-90 wildlife overcrossing opens near Snoqualimie Pass

Sept. 28, 2018 – The Spokesman Review

“This project isn’t just keeping both people and animals safe, it’s a model for how infrastructure and wildlife can coexist in the 21st century.”

Bridge over I-90 offers safe passage for wildlife

Sept. 28, 2018 – Crosscut

A new $6.2-million overpass on I-90 near Snoqualmie Pass will restore critical habitat connectivity between the north and south Cascades for wildlife like elk, cougars, salmon, and wolverines.

Blanchard Mtn. permanently preserved for recreation

Sept. 26, 2018 – The Lynden Tribune

The state recently provided funding and management mechanisms to permanently preserve the area while still meeting school trust obligations.

Critters are already using unfinished animals-only bridge over I-90

Sept. 25, 2018 – KUOW

Deer have already begun using an unfinished wildlife bridge over Interstate 90 east of Snoqualmie Pass.

State’s first wildlife ‘overcrossing’ near Snoqualmie Pass almost complete

Sept. 25, 2018 – KING 5 News

A wildlife crossing over Interstate 90 east of Snoqualmie Pass is nearing completion. Bears, deer, elk, bobcats, and other animals spotted in the area are expected to use the crossing.

‘It’s a long time coming’: $6.2 million wildlife bridge over I-90 nears completion

Sept. 25, 2018 – The Seattle Times

“You’re building a crossing structure for some species and a home for others,” said Jen Watkins, of Conservation Northwest, a nonprofit that has championed the project.

Washington officials kill wolf in former Profanity Peak pack area, another cow killed

Sept. 18, 2018 – The Spokesman Review

Although Conservation Northwest has supported lethal removal of wolves in the past they didn’t support the action in this case.

Problem wolves to be removed

Sept. 17, 2018 – The Omak Chronicle

Swedeen went on to say sufficient reduction of the potential for conflict in that specific territory had not yet occurred.

Wolves in the crosshairs again in Northeastern Washington

Sept 13. 2018 – Crosscut

After six incidents resulting in the death of one calf, the state has decided to kill at least one wolf. Conservation groups plan to challenge the ruling.

Washington state to kill more wolves in Ferry County

Sept. 12, 2018 – The Seattle times

The state plans to start killing wolves again in the same area where the animals were killed in 2016 and earlier this year.

Washington wildlife officials order killing of wolves in old Profanity Peak Pack territory

Sept. 12, 2018 – The Spokesman Review

Although Seattle-based Conservation Northwest has supported lethal removal in the past, it does not support Wednesday’s decision. Paula Swedeen, Conservation Northwest policy director, said the group isn’t supporting lethal removal because “this is the third time in three years in the same spot.”

WDFW DIRECTOR OKS INCREMENTAL REMOVAL OF WOLVES IN OLD PROFANITY PACK TERRITORY

Sept. 12, 2018 – Northwest Sportsman Magazine

But unlike other recent removals, some members of the agency’s Wolf Advisory Group have balked this go-around.

Lethal action against new Washington wolf pack approved by state

September 12, 2018 – KING 5 and KREM News

The decision comes less than a month after the state killed the male wolf in the Togo pack. In that case, Friedman’s group criticized a lawsuit aiming to prevent the killing, saying the WAG protocol should be followed and that social tolerance is important for co-existence. Pitting ranchers against wolves, he says, has never worked out well for wolves.

State to purchase land adjacent to Blanchard forest

September 11, 2018 – The Skagit Valley Herald

Groups including the Skagit Land Trust, Conservation Northwest and Back Country Horsemen of Skagit County called on Natural Resources in the early 2000s to conserve — rather than log — the 1,600-acre area within the 4,800-acre state forest on Blanchard Mountain.

They saved a 1,600-acre ‘core’ of Blanchard from being logged. This is what’s next.

September 10, 2018 – The Bellingham Herald

As for the celebration, it will be held at Samish Overlook and will include remarks by Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz.

Federal official’s visit boosts Headwaters Campaign’s efforts

September 5, 2018 – Methow Valley News

A key decision-maker in a process that would protect the upper Methow Valley from mining visited the valley last week to get a first-hand look at the land that is proposed for protection, and to hear about its value to the Methow Valley.

Wildlife advocates fear Trump administration is de-clawing Endangered Species Act

August 31, 2018 – The Bellingham Herald

Paula Swedeen, policy director for Conservation Northwest, a Seattle-based wildlife conservation group, said her group is not opposed to improving the Endangered Species Act. “But these don’t look they’re friendly changes,” she said. “They look like they’re designed to make it easier to avoid implementing the intention” of the act.

Washington wildlife agency gets green light to kill cattle-hunting wolf

August 31, 2018 – KUOW / NW NEWS NETWORK

“Lawsuits and polarization haven’t worked out well for wolves elsewhere, so we see little upside in spreading those tactics to Washington, where wolf recovery is going relatively well overall,” said Mitch Friedman, executive director of the Bellingham-based group Conservation Northwest, in a statement critical of the legal challenge.

Court injunction throws state’s wolf protocol into disarray

August 29, 2018 – Chewelah Independent

Seattle-based Conservation Northwest released a statement in response to the legal action between WDFW and wildlife groups from Oregon and Arizona who have filed litigation.

Latest plan would hike hunting, fishing license fees by 15 percent

August 29, 2018 – The Yakima Herald

Department spokesperson Bruce Botka said if approved, the proposed fee hikes are estimated to generate an additional $15 million, or roughly 25 percent of the department’s $63 million budget request for the 2019-21 biennium.

Frustrated northeast Washington politicians meet after judge blocks killing of Togo pack wolves

August 24, 2018 – The Spokesman REview

“Lawsuits and polarization haven’t worked out well for wolves elsewhere, so we see little upside in spreading those tactics to Washington, where wolf recovery is going relatively well overall” said Mitch Friedman, Conservation Northwest executive director in a news release. “Instead of polarization, our focus is on collaboration and long-term coexistence.”

INSTATE WOLF ADVOCATES BLAST OUT-OF-STATERS’ COURT MOVES AGAINST WDFW

August 23, 2018 – Northwest Sportsman Magazine

An instate organization deeply involved in Washington wolf issues over the past decade is blasting two out-of-state environmental groups whose legal moves have initially blocked WDFW from targeting a pack to head off further livestock depredations.

Washington wildlife officials order members of Togo wolf pack killed, lawsuit temporarily delays action

August 20, 2018 – The Spokesman Review

“We are just supporting the wolf advisory group and the state protocol devised there,” said Jay Shepherd, the wolf program lead for Conservation Northwest. “(We’re) trying to get these situations to become less volatile.”

Could Forest Restoration in Washington Privatize Land Management Or Make It More Efficient?

August 21, 2018 – NW News Network

In 2013, the U.S. Forest Service was looking for someone to reduce wildfire risk and rehabilitate a stand of overgrown trees on the Colville National Forest in northeastern Washington.

Some of the Pacific Northwest’s Wolves Have Coastal Genes

August 10, 2018 – Hakai Magazine

Wolves are recolonizing Washington, Oregon, and California, but new genetic research shows there’s something odd about these new arrivals.

Newhouse wants more info before grizzly bear decision

August 15, 2018 – Methow Valley News

Congressman Dan Newhouse told a group of Winthrop and Twisp chamber of commerce members last week that he is “ambivalent” about whether grizzly bears should be reintroduced to the North Cascades — but he wants potentially affected communities to have more of a say on the issue.

Agencies plan to take more time on grizzly decision

August 7, 2018 – The Omak Chronicle

“While our local staff, members and grizzly bear supporters will certainly be participating in any further public input opportunities, grizzly recovery in the North Cascades has languished for 30 years, and now is not the time for further delay,” said Joe Scott, international programs director and grizzly bear specialist for Conservation Northwest.

Study confirms that grizzly bears long inhabited North Cascades

July 29, 2018 – The SPOKESMAN Review

A National Parks Service report confirms that grizzly bears long inhabited the North Cascades.

Editorial: Despite concerns, bring back ‘the great bear’

July 25, 2018 – The Yakima Herald

To reject a gradual and strategic plan to reintroduce grizzly bears to the North Cascades based on fear of animal-hiker clashes or perceived threats to livestock on ranches outside forest boundaries is to reject data and fall back on emotion.

Amendment Defunding Grizzly Transportation To Washington Passes House

July 20, 2018 – Northwest Public Broadcasting / Earthfix

“Our Fish and Wildlife Service, National Parks Service and other wildlife professionals are the ones best suited to address endangered species issues,” Gunnell said.

House votes to block money to bring grizzlies back to North Cascades

July 20, 2018 – The Seattle Times

The Senate has yet to pass an appropriations funding bill for the Interior Department, so the bear and wolf measures would have to make it into the final legislation Congress sends to President Donald Trump.

Connelly: Grizzly bears, gray wolves big losers in House spending bill

July 19, 2018 – Seattle P.I.

It’s hard to see where Newhouse is coming from.  Federal agencies have been doing just that (and consulting rural residents) for years as they study restoration of grizzlies to the North Cascades.

Rep. Newhouse leads fight to keep grizzlies out of North Cascades

July 19, 2018 – The Yakima Herald

“With all due respect to the congressman, this rider disregards scientific research, hamstrings wildlife professionals, ignores public opinion, and eschews the democratic process planning for the recovery of this endangered native wildlife species,”

Grizzly plan could move forward with new option

July 18, 2018 – The Yakima Herald

RESEARCHER WAS AT WOLF PACK’S RENDEZVOUS SITE, NEAR DEN

July 13, 2018 – Northwest Sportsman Magazine

Federal wildlife overseers say the researcher who had to be rescued from wolves yesterday in Northcentral Washington was at their gathering site and also within half a mile of the Loup Loup Pack’s den.

Western Innovator: Helping ranchers deal with wolves

July 7, 2018 – Capital Press

Jay Shepherd runs the nonprofit Northeast Washington Wolf-Cattle Collaborative for ranchers, which is in its first season. He is also wolf program lead for the environmental group Conservation Northwest, managing its range rider program.

Washington conservationists are Scott free. Now what?

July 6, 2018 – Crosscut

“It’s pretty clear that pollution is a feature of the position, and will likely remain through this administration,” said Mitch Friedman, the founder and longtime executive director of Conservation Northwest. “Whether corruption was a bug or a feature, time will tell.”

Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf Scientist?

July 5, 2018 – The New York Times Magazine

Handled more deftly, the incident could have been a chance to talk more constructively about how to manage wolves better going forward, said Paula Swedeen, policy director of Conservation Northwest, whose group is trying to bring back wolves while bridging the divide with ranchers.

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife names Kelly Susewind new director

June 22, 2018 – The Spokesman Review

Conservation Northwest noted that this is a key time in the state’s conservation history, with a “booming population and rapidly changing state” potentially stressing Washington’s wildlife and environment.

The Pearl Surrounding the Oyster Dome

JUNE 20, 2018 – Cascadia Weekly

At a well-attended meeting in Mount Vernon last week, the healthy future of Blanchard Mountain began to take shape.

Aerial Survey Flights Find Reintroduced Fishers Dispersing, Possibly Reproducing

June 6, 2018 – Earthfix / NW NPR

A reintroduction progress report says around two-thirds of the transplanted animals are alive.

Cattle producer says wolves cause breeding problems

June 6, 2018 – Chewelah Independent

Conservation Northwest said their goal is long-term wolf conservation that works for wolves, other native wildlife and people.

Mike Liu: Community trailblazer

May 31, 2018 – Methow Valley News

Retiring Methow Valley District Ranger has been a good neighbor and forest advocate

Conversations With Chase Gunnell, Conservation Northwest

May 29, 2018 – 1077 The End

13-minute public affairs radio program with Conservation Northwest Communications Director.

Wolf attack draws new Washington group into fray

May 28, 2018 – Capital Press

A nonprofit organization funded by a state grant has range-riders watching cattle where a calf was killed by wolves.

What Really Caused Washington’s Cougar Attack?

May 23, 2018 – Outside Magazine

The experts’ take on what happened last Saturday when a mountain lion killed one cyclist and injured another outside of Seattle

Grizzlies Might Return to the Cascade Mountains

May 22, 2018 – Seattle Met Magazine

And for that we may have to thank…the Trump Administration?

Dispute Continues Over North Cascades Grizzly Plan

May 22, 2018 – NCW Life TV

A Chelan County Commissioner’s comments opposing plans to bring grizzly bears into the North Cascades Wilderness are being criticized as inaccurate by an official with the group, Conservation Northwest.

Ranchers Sour On Trump Administration Over Proposal To Bring Back Grizzly Bears

May 11, 2018 – NPR All Things Considered

In interviews, environmentalists in the Northwest say they were just as surprised by Zinke’s announcement as officials in Okanogan County. And they say there is plenty of room for a couple hundred grizzlies in a recovery zone that encompasses an estimated 10,000 square miles.

Breeding wolverine heralds comeback in Washington’s Cascades

MAY 9, 2018 – The Seattle Times

Wildlife advocates are thrilled to document a breeding female wolverine south of I-90 for the first time in modern times.

Video shows need for I-90 wildlife bridge at Snoqualmie Pass

May 3, 2018 – KREM 2 News

Currently, there are several options for wildlife to pass under the highway. Video shows everything from elk and coyotes to bobcat, deer and geese.

Take 5: ‘Cascade Crossroads’ chronicling I-90 wildlife bridge

May 4, 2018 – King 5 News

It will be North America’s largest wildlife crossings project and is expected to open in October of this year.

1st Wolverine Mother Found In Washington’s South Cascades

May 3, 2018 – EarthFix

For the first time in recent history, a mother wolverine has been spotted in the southern part of Washington’s Cascade Mountains.

Video shows need for I-90 wildlife bridge at Snoqualmie Pass

May 2, 2018 – KING 5 News

Currently, there are several options for wildlife to pass under the highway. Video shows everything from elk and coyotes to bobcat, deer and geese.

Grizzly bears could make a return to WA — for real this time

April 26, 2018 – Crosscut

If that really happens, then — 43 years after grizzlies were first listed under the Endangered Species Act — federal agencies can start bringing them back to the Cascades.

Ryan Zinke is right: Reintroduce the North Cascades grizzly bear

April 25, 2018 – The Seattle Times

Op-Ed by Conservation Northwest’s Joe Scott: Restoring grizzly bears to the North Cascades would be a huge conservation success story and point of pride for the Pacific Northwest.

Trump administration backs grizzly bear recovery in North Cascades

April 19, 2018 – Pique Magazine

Announcement delights conservationists and leads to call for B.C. to follow suit

Hey, how about we helicopter grizzly bears into this remote National Park?

April 7, 2018 – Mashable

Recovering a fallen icon of the American West is bold, expensive, and will inevitably have its opponents. But national parks are required to conserve these places as they naturally exist, and grizzly bears are an integral part of this environment.

Outdoor news: WDFW discuss relocating mountain goats, bringing grizzlies back

April 6, 2018 – Stanwood-Camano News

Scott Schuyler of the Upper Skagit Indian Tribe said he hopes that someday his children might see grizzly bears in the wild of the North Cascades.

Northeastern Washington duo team up to ease wolf conflicts

April 6, 2018 – Lewiston Tribune

Cattleman and biologist form cooperative to deter wolf attacks on grazing areas

Grizzlies Back on Track in the North Cascades

April 4, 2018 – Earth Island Journal

The North Cascades Ecosystem remains one of the wildest places in the Lower 48, with 6.1 million acres of mostly public lands connected to additional wildlands in British Columbia.

Editorial: Zinke an unexpected ally for Cascade grizzlies

April 3, 2018 – The Everett Herald

The Trump official has restarted a review of bear introduction plans; now he can help with outreach.

Collaborative effort: A Washington cattleman and biologist are working to reduce wolf-livestock conflicts

March 29, 2018 – The Spokesman Review

A fifth-generation cattleman and a wildlife biologist are teaming to help northeastern Washington ranchers coexist with the state’s growing number of gray wolves.

Wolf management proposal floated by Spokane-based conservation group asking ranchers to graze cattle on lower Colville National Forest allotments met with suspicion, hope

March 24, 2018 – The Spokesman Review

Jay Shepherd, the wolf program lead for Conservation Northwest, sees the project as a good long-term solution, but not one that will solve this season’s conflicts.

Zinke Supports Restoration of Grizzlies in North Cascades

March 23, 2018 – Associated Press

Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke says the federal government is moving forward with plans to restore grizzly bears in the remote North Cascade Mountains of Washington state.

Zinke backs grizzly bear recovery in N. Cascades

March 23, 2018 – Seattle P.I.

Connelly: Interior secretary surprises conservationists

Zinke gives support to grizzly bear restoration plan

March 23, 2018 – Skagit Valley Herald

SEDRO-WOOLLEY — U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke announced Friday his support for restoring grizzly bears in the North Cascades.

Zinke supports bringing grizzlies to N. Cascades

March 23, 2018 – Yakima Valley Herald

“The grizzly bear is part of the environment, as it once was here. It’s part of a healthy environment,” said Zinke, speaking at the park’s administrative headquarters in Sedro-Woolley with a stuffed grizzly behind him.

Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke throws support behind grizzly bear recovery in North Cascades

March 23, 2018 – The Seattle Times

In a surprise announcement the secretary of the interior announced in Sedro-Woolley his full support for grizzly bear recovery in the North Cascades.

Roadless areas in Washington could have been endangered by federal funding bill, conservation groups say

MARCH 22, 2018 – THE SPOKESMAN REVIEW

On Wednesday, reports emerged indicating that a deal was reached that did not include the Alaska exemption. Conservation Northwest praised the news in a statement.

Wolf population continues to grow

March 29, 2018 – The Chewelah Independent

Those 122 wolves make up 22 packs and 14 successful breeding pairs, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife said.

State’s wolf-population growth slows

March 25, 2018 – The Seattle Times

Not all conservation groups were disappointed by the 2017 numbers.

State’s wolf population grows to 22 packs

March 20, 2018 – The Omak Chronicle

The state’s wolf population continued to grow in 2017 for the ninth straight year, according to the results of an annual survey conducted by the state Department of Fish and Wildlife.

State wolf count includes Skagit for first time

March 20, 2018 – The Skagit Valley Herald

The number of gray wolves in the state continues to grow, the state Department of Fish & Wildlife announced Friday.

Wolves stick to northeast Washington

March 20, 2018 – Capital Press

Conservation Northwest Executive Director Mitch Friedman said in a statement that he was happy to see the population continue to grow and that the number of breeding pairs increased.

Washington’s gray wolf population increases for ninth consecutive year

MARCH 17, 2018 – THE SPOKESMAN REVIEW

Washington’s gray wolf population increased for the ninth consecutive year, according to an annual statewide survey, but the increases continue to be primarily in the wolf-rich northeastern quarter of the state.

Wolf numbers continue to grow in Washington

MARCH 16, 2018 – NORTHWEST SPORTSMAN MAGAZINE

Tolerance for wolves in the rural areas where they reside is essential for long-term recovery. Forums including the state’s wolf advisory group are leading to an increased understanding of wolf issues on all sides.”

State grants will help two Methow Valley ranchers in keeping the wolves away

MARCH 9, 2018 – METHOW VALLEY NEWS

Efforts to focus on non-lethal deterrence

Bill that may have encouraged Washington to sell state forest lands amended

Feb 27, 2018 – The Spokesman Review

A section of a bill that would have studied the economic benefit of selling some state forest lands to counties and timber companies was scrapped after conservation groups raised concerns.

DNR Lands Study Bill Amended After Outcry; Now Includes Looking at Rec, Enviro Values

FEB 21, 2018 – Northwest Sportsman Magazine

Part of a bill that would have studied turning certain Washington DNR lands over to counties, leasing them to private timber companies and considered their value as “higher revenue-producing assets” was dropped following outcry from a sportsmen’s group and others.

Tracking Down Fishers — But Not For Their Furs

Feb 21, 2018 – KCTS9/EarthFix/OPB

Public agencies and the non-profit Conservation Northwest have been working for 10 years now to bring the fisher back in Washington.

Animal overpasses on I-90 will grant safe passage to Washington wildlife

Feb 19, 2018 – KIRO 7 News

In an effort to keep animals out of harm’s way, the state has invested millions of dollars into creating animal overpasses that stretch over busy roadways.

A long-planned project, designed to reconnect two isolated habitats, is now visible to westbound I-90 travelers

Feb 17, 2018 – The Spokesman Review

The construction, which is part of the larger billion dollar project, will connect two important animal habitats.

Fishers are back in Washington — but can they survive?

Feb 1, 2018 – Crosscut

Following the lead of successful recovery plans in other parts of the country, nonprofit Conservation Northwest hired licensed trappers to collect fishers in British Columbia.

Once-Vanished Fishers Are Making Their Comeback In Washington

Jan 30, 2018 – KUOW

The project began in 2008 on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula. In 2015, the group took its campaign to the South Cascades, releasing 69 of them.

This Mountain Was Saved

Jan 24, 2018 – Cascadia Weekly

Blanchard Forest agreement nears completion

Area projects to proceed with passage of state budget

Jan 23, 2018 – Skagit Valley Herald

A group of organizations including the Skagit Land Trust and Conservation Northwest have been working with the state, which manages the forest on Blanchard Mountain, and Skagit County, which gets revenue from timber logged on Blanchard, to preserve a 1,600-acre portion of the forest.

‘Exultation and relief’ as state OKs money to protect this beloved forest and playground

Jan 22, 2018 – The Bellingham Herald

Conservationists are celebrating now that the recently approved state capital budget includes money to protect all of a 1,600-acre “core” of Blanchard Mountain in Skagit County from logging – capping an effort that has lasted for years.

Critics hit feds’ plan to end protection for lynx

Jan 18, 2018 – Methow Valley News

State officials say species requires more ‘recovery action’

Feds propose revocation of Canada lynx protections

Jan 16, 2018 – The Omak Chronicle

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service plans to draft a rule to revoke federal protections for the Canada lynx.

Why Did the DOI Kill the North Cascades Grizzly Plan?

Jan 10, 2018 – outside magazine

A plan to bring some 200 bears to Washington’s North Cascades was reportedly stopped by the Department of the Interior, jeopardizing the species’ recovery.

Federal government’s step toward delisting Canada lynx surprises Washington wildlife biologists

jan 11, 2018 – THE Spokesman REview

A species of snow-loving big cats found in Washington and Idaho may lose federal endangered species protection.

Rural communities can coexist with wolves. Here’s how.

Sept 20, 2017 – High Country News OP-ed by mitch friedman

The success of Washington’s collaborative wolf management is seldom celebrated.

Delicate Dances With Those Who Save Wolves

Dec 22, 2016 – Bloomberg

A compromise between ranchers and conservationists to save wolves in Washington state is a real-life fable with a moral that might just solve America.

 

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