We’re working to help a vulnerable bighorn sheep herd and restore a critical landscape in north-central Washington. BY George Wooten, okanogan conservation associate *Editor’s Note: George is retiring next month after more than a decade working as our Conservation Associate and Okanogan Forest Field staffer based in Twisp. Among other roles, he previously worked for … Continued
Efforts are underway to restore pronghorn to Washington’s sagelands, but fences and habitat fragmentation inhibit the recovery of this native species. By Rose Piccinini, Sagelands Contractor Over the last 15 years, I’ve made the drive from Eastern Washington to central Nevada many times with my family. One of the highlights has always been getting a … Continued
We collaborated with partners this year to make progress for two key areas in the northern half of our program: Spiva Butte in Douglas County and the proposed South Okanagan-Similkameen National Park in southern British Columbia. By Jay Kehne, Sagelands Program lead By now I hope you’ve heard about Conservation Northwest’s Sagelands Heritage Program, which … Continued
Our staff, partners and volunteers are improving public access and protecting habitat at the Green Gate access site on the Quilomene Wildlife Area by building an informational kiosk and installing green-dot road signs. By Rose Piccinini, Sagelands Contractor The Green Gate access site, off Old Vantage Highway east of Ellensburg, is the primary public access … Continued
With fires burning in the shrub-steppe of Central Washington this summer, we want to highlight the different roles fire plays in grasslands and forests. By Jay Kehne, Sagelands Program Lead We have learned a lot about the beneficial aspects of prescribed or controlled fires in forested environments, but recent wildfires in the sagebrush country of … Continued
Our staff and a supporter recently joined the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife on a pygmy rabbit conservation project in Douglas County. By Chase Gunnell, Communications Director In 2001, as few as 16 pygmy rabbits remained in Washington, teetering on the brink of local extinction due to habitat loss and fragmentation. They are still … Continued
An update on our new Sagelands Heritage Program in Central Washington and southern British Columbia BY JAY KEHNE, SAGELANDS PROGRAM LEAD The northernmost extent of a “Sagebrush Sea” that extends from the eastern front of the Rocky Mountains to the Inland Northwest, our region’s arid steppe is often overlooked compared to the rugged splendor of … Continued
Perspectives after a trip to Eastern Washington’s sagelands By Chase Gunnell, Communications Director Vital habitat for sage grouse, pygmy rabbits, mule deer, pronghorn antelope and dozens of other bird and animal species, the Sagebrush Sea is a sprawling shrub-steppe ecosystem stretching from the eastern flanks of the Rocky Mountains in Montana and Wyoming through the Great … Continued