Tag: Washington

  • It’s The Wind Stupid

    It’s The Wind Stupid

    During the 1992 Presidential Election cycle, political advisor James Carville devised a brief and successful mantra that helped Bill Clinton win the election: “It’s the economy, stupid.” A similar mantra could characterize all large wildfires in the United States: “It’s the wind, stupid.” Although numerous elements contribute to fire spread, including slope, topography, fuel type,…

  • Now or Never Logging Video: Timber Industry Propaganda

    A previously thinned portion of the area charred by the Dixie Fire, which despite active forest management across much of the burn area, became one of California’s largest blazes. Photo George Wuerthner The Wilderness Society (TWS), founded to promote wildland preservation, has shifted its mission and focus to promoting logging and other activities that destroy…

  • Tribal Hunting May Harm Wolf Recovery

    Tribal hunting is the most significant source of mortality for Washington wolves. Photo George Wuerthner  It may surprise most conservationists and wolf advocates, but the single largest source of wolf mortality in Washington State is trapping and hunting on tribal reservations. One wolf advocate I contacted who puts out a weekly wolf newsletter had no…

  • Wildfire May Benefit Spotted Owls

    Northern Spotted Owl Photo US FWS A couple of years ago, I attended a meeting of the Deschutes Collaborative. Spotted Owls and wildfire was the topic that day. The meeting was a classic example of how collaboratives selectively use science to justify more logging of our forests. The two-hour meeting featured a biologist with the…

  • Domestic Sheep Threaten Wild Bighorns

    Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep Ram. Photo George Wuerthner Bighorn sheep acquired their name for the large circular horns of the mature rams. They are strongly associated with mountain terrain, particularly steep hills and cliffs, which protect them against predators. They graze upon grasses and other plants. In general, bighorns are associated with drier parts of…

  • The Profanity Peak Pack: Loss of wolves and academic freedom

    The recent killing of six members of the Profanity Peak  wolf pack in NE Washington in retribution for the loss of a few cattle is emblematic of what is wrong with public land policy. As I write, trappers are out to kill the remaining pack members. What is significant about the destruction of this pack…

  • The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Upholds Wolf Rider.

    The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled against the many wolf advocacy groups who held that Congressman Mike Simpson’s and Senator Jon Tester’s budget rider, which delisted wolves in Idaho, Montana, and parts of Oregon, Washington, and Utah, was unconstitutional.  The panel of judges upheld Judge Donald Mollloy’s ruling that the rider was constitutional.…

  • Smackout Pack: Washington state’s fifth confirmed wolf pack

    Another confirmed pack in Washington state. Biologists confirm a fifth wolf pack in Washington – The Seattle Times It’s not yet clear whether the Smackout Pack wolves made its way to Washington from Idaho and the Rocky Mountains or from British Columbia.

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