Oregon WildBlog

Whether you’re lucky enough to live near the big wild places of the West or you’re stuck in traffic on the Jersey turnpike, wildlife and public lands belong to all Americans.

Our friends over at the North Coast State Forest Coalition have launched an online petition directed at Governor Kate Brown, who will soon be appointing new members to Oregon’s Board of Forestry. The petition calls on Governor Brown to “ appoint someone that helps diversify the expertise and background of the Board . . . who is not tied to commercial timber interests.” 

The 12th annual Outdoor Photo Contest is underway! No doubt you've heard the phrase "a picture says a thousand words," but a photo can do even more than that. Images can be powerful tools to encapsulate a place, person, or time in history. For our public lands, a photograph can even be a catalyst for permanent protection.

A 63-year-old essay provides the perfect answer to an outdated letter written in the 21st century.

Old prejudices die hard. 

A recent letter to the editor in my local newspaper – the Wallowa Chieftain – starkly brought that point home. It said in part:

As we've been preparing for this second annual Crater Lake Wolf Rendezvous (learn more here), exciting news came out for wolves in the Crater Lake region. Last week we were introduced to Journey's third litter of Rogue Pack pups, and the newly dubbed Silver Lake wolves, in trail cam photos from the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

Oregon Wild Wallowa Wolf Rendezvous participants Gabriella Diaz and Brenda Kameenui, with a 360 degree video (below) by Ben Prindle

Many Oregonians pride themselves on the state’s environmental record and ongoing sustainability efforts. One element of this commitment is demonstrated through the increasing popularity of green building standards that promote energy and resource-efficient projects. The US Green Building Council (USGBC), through its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Certification, is the most widely used rating system.

Oregon has a problem with toxic air and poisoned water.

Decoys to scare away native wildlife. Workers dressed in hazmat suits spraying pesticides. Water diversions draining wetlands to irrigate industrial agriculture. Does this sound like a National Wildlife Refuge to you?

On May 26, 2016, Jack Ward Thomas lost his battle with cancer. Thomas began his career with the U.S. Forest Service as a research wildlife biologist in 1966. He was one of the top scientists involved in the construction of the Northwest Forest Plan, the management framework that stopped the wholesale liquidation of Oregon's oldgrowth forests on national public lands and protected critical spotted owl and salmon habitat. He later became the 13th Chief of the USFS, serving from 1993-1996.