NATURE -- Lightning took a reindeer herd by storm on Friday. More than 300 wild reindeer have been killed during a thunder storm in central Norway. The Norwegian Environment Agency has released eerie images showing a jumble of reindeer carcasses scattered across a small area…
PUBLIC LANDS -- The Idaho Panhandle National Forests’ Silver Valley Office in Smelterville will be closed on Tuesday, Aug. 30, for repairs to the main water line into the building. If you need recreation passes, maps or information, use the Coeur d' Alene or Fernan...
WATERSPORTS -- Porcupine Bay Campground, day-use area, and boat launch reopened this morning by Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area officials after being closed Aug. 22 because of danger posed by wildfire. The popular boat ramp and picnic area at the Spokane Arm of Lake Roosevelt…
PUBLIC LANDS -- Using his executive authority under the 1906 Antiquities Act, President Obama on Friday created the largest ecologically protected area on Earth -- a Pacific Ocean sanctuary so remote few people will travel there; a place with a name that will boggle your...
HUNTING -- An Oct. 14 court date has been set for the wealthy Washington hunter accused of shooting a well-known Ellensburg trophy bull in an area closed to hunting branch-antlered elk. Kittitas County District Court Judge Jim Hurson last week denied a second motion to…
PUBLIC LANDS -- Illegal trails made by motorcycles or all-terrain vehicles have been a problem for decades in Mount Spokane State Park. Ironically, the most persistent motorhead vandals have targeted the remote Ragged Ridge Natural Area Preserve in the southeast portion of the park. State…
HUNTING/FISHING -- Washington has resumed sales of hunting and fishing licenses after customer information was compromised by a hacker last week. The licenses are available as usual from license vendors, although online sales remain shut down at this point. The Washington Fish and Wildlife Department's...
PARKS -- Road construction on the Mount Spokane State Park Road is progressing but a bit behind schedule because of delays at the outset. The likely road will be closed to the general public until sometime in October, blocking vehicle access to the roads in…
Rich Landers writes and photographs stories and columns for a wide range of outdoors coverage, including Outdoors feature sections on Sunday and Thursday.
