PREDATORS -- Gov. Jay Inslee today signed legislation that will provide state wildlife managers more resources to prevent wolf-livestock conflict and expand criteria for compensation to livestock owners for wolf-related losses. Senate Bill 5193, requested by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and…
PUBLIC LANDS -- The South Sherman Road (FSR 2020000) has suffered an impassible washout on the west or upper end of the road, the Colville National Forest reports today. The temporary closure will be from milepost 11.65 to milepost 11.85 (just off of U.S. Highway…
TRAILS -- The Route of The Hiawatha rail-trail near Lookout Pass is set to open for the 2013 summer season on Saturday (May 25). The 15-mile route for mountain biking or hiking follows the abandoned Milwaukee Railroad grade between the old town site of Taft,…
HUNTING -- Wednesday (May 22) is the deadline to apply for Washington's special big-game hunting permits for deer, elk, mountain goat, moose, bighorn sheep, and turkey seasons. Apply online. Permit winners will be selected through a random drawing in late June. Update your email and…
PREDATORS -- Federal wildlife officials are postponing a much-anticipated decision on whether to lift protections for gray wolves across the Lower 48 states. In a court filing Monday in Billings, Mont., government attorneys say "a recent unexpected delay" is indefinitely holding up action on the…
SHOOTING -- This court case -- stemming in part from secondary deaths to creatures such as California condors that die after ingesting lead bullet fragments from wounded game -- is worth watching. Local note: The Loon Lake Loon Association is among the plaintiffs. The association…
MOUNTAINEERING -- Two climbers with Spokane connections had their moment on Mount Everest, elev. 29,035 feet, last weekend with mixed results. Dawes Eddy, 70, who climbed the world's highest peak in 2009, made his way to around 24,000 feet on Sunday (May 19) before turning…
PUBLIC LANDS -- A proposal to purchase a 9.5-acre addition to an access site for the 1,066-acre Antoine Peak Conservation Area is on the agenda for today's Spokane County Commission meeting. Antoine Peak is the mountain north of East Valley High School and east of…
Rich Landers writes and photographs stories and columns for a wide range of outdoors coverage, including Outdoors feature sections on Sunday and Thursday.
