FORESTS -- Two northeastern Washington firefighters recently were presented National Smokey Bear awards for their outstanding leadership in wildfire prevention efforts. Their work fills a niche that preserves state and national forests as a place for the rest of us to work and play. Ray…
WILDLIFE WATCHING -- This female moose wandered into Spokesman-Review photographer J. Bart Rayniak's yard in Otis Orchards, Saturday morning and made herself comfortable for the day, resting in the shade and foraging on flowering cherry blossoms and bushes. Looks like humans aren't the only ones…
PREDATORS -- Although the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently announced it will review the status of Pacific Northwest wolves, Washington biologists already are trying to get a handle on what's happened to the state's first documented breeding pack The Lookout Pack in the Methow…
STATE PARKS -- The Washington Parks and Recreation Commission will meet in Spokane this week to consider a long-debated proposal to expand the downhill ski area footprint in Mount Spokane State Park -- but not before the public gets one more chance to chime in…
WILDLIFE WATCHING -- Just over four weeks after a peregrine falcon layed her eggs in a nest box overlooking downtown Boise, three chicks hatched over the weekend. Today, all area bird-loving eyes have been on the peregrine cam awaiting the hatching of the fourth egg.…
FISHING -- The first spring chinook salmon of the season swam through the fish trap at the Rapid River Fish Hatchery near Riggins on Friday. That's an indicator the season's run is maturing, with fish starting to spread out from the lower Columbia all the…
RAIL-TRAILS-- Families chipped in for a kid-friendly event on Saturday and Sunday to add a splash of color to a tunnel on the Fish Lake Trail near Marshall and Scribner Road. Families helped paint a mural designed by art students from Eastern Washington University and…
PREDATORS -- Hunters would be able to remove up to 220 gray wolves from Montana’s landscape this fall under a tentative quota and seasons adopted Thursday by the state Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission and reported in the Helena Independent Record. The proposed quota is…
WILDLIFE -- The results of a new study published last week in the Journal of Wildlife Management found that black bears have killed 63 people in the United States and Canada over the last 109 years. That light toll on humanity didn't surprise the experts,…
WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT -- The Idaho Fish and Game Commission will meet Wednesday through Friday in Lewiston. A public hearing will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Clearwater Region office, 3316 16th St., Lewiston. Click here for a complete agenda. Thursday morning commissioners will consider…
PREDATORS -- Since resuming wolf management earlier this month, Idaho Fish and Game already has initiated several actions across the state, including aerial wolf hunting to help take pressure off a struggling elk herd in the Lolo Zone. Six control actions have been authorized in…
TRAILS -- When I biked and hiked the Spokane South Hill bluff trails one day with a GPS unit, I was a bit startled to see the final tally of more than 23 miles on the unit's odometer. This trail system of old roads and…
MOUNTAINEERING -- After reporting last week's death of an 82-year-old Nepalese man attempting to become the oldest to climb Mount Everest, my post read: "I could go either way on this: What the hell was he doing up there? - OR - What a great…
CYCLING -- Bike to Work Week -- a May celebration of getting around on two wheels -- starts Monday under the larger umbrella of "Spokane Bikes" to help promote all things bicycling. Other dates to remember once you've signed up for Bike to Work Week…
NATURE -- The May 22 walk through the McKenzie Conservation Area sponsored by the Inland Northwest Land Trust and led by Spokane author and naturalist Jack Nisbet has quickly filled its quota. But there are other options for people who want to get outdoors with…
FISHING -- Starting Saturday and running through July 14, registered anglers have a chance to win valuable prizes by catching tagged fish in designated waters in 19 states, including Washington and Idaho. Cabela's, partnering with the Outdoor Channel, has just announced that Sprague Lake and…
SALMON FISHING -- The late surge if spring chinook salmon in the Columbia River is good news for salmon lovers. Fish managers today announced the reopening of fishing season on a stretch of the lower river -- and tribal fishermen have been given the nod…
MARINE MAMMALS -- State's once again have a license to kill a few of the California sea lions that have learned to swim inland from the Pacific Ocean to ambush migrating salmon near Bonneville Dam. NOAA’s Fisheries Service said today it is re-authorizing the states…
SPOKANE RIVER -- When the spring runoff subsides and more paddlers turn their attention to the Spokane River, they'll be pleasantly surprised to see the improvements the City of Spokane Valley has been making to the Spokane River access site on north side of the…
HUNTING/FISHING -- Gov. Chris Gregoire signed legislation on Thursday boosting Washington's hunting and fishing license fees by an average of 16 percent, but not across the board. Youth fees will go up 2 percent while disabled person/veteran documents will drop 4 percent. Gregoire’s signature on…
BOATING – The debris boom at the mouth of the Kettle River was breached recently, causing logs and other floating debris to flow downstream into Lake Roosevelt, state officials say. The debris can be hazardous to boaters. A temporary boom is installed a mile south…
OUTDOORS ACTIVITIES -- The weekend is packed with outdoor activities and educational programs scheduled in this area. Click for details. SATURDAY Turnbull Wildlife Refuge community planting day and potluck Best in the West kayaking competition converges on Clark Fork River Families invited to paint Fish…
CAMPING -- "Fire. Air. Wood. Water. Those are the essential ingredients for the Backcountry Boiler, an esoteric stove-type product called 'the world’s first ultralight chimney kettle.' " says The Gear Junkie Stephen Regenold. The product is made in Pittsburgh, and the stove is marketed to…
FLY FISHING -- The annual Fly Fishing Gear Swap will run Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., at Silver Bow Fly Shop, 13210 E. Indiana Ave. in Spokane Valley. Sellers get 100 percent in-store credit or 75 percent of the sale price Call ahead to…
STATE LANDS -- Gov. Chris Gregoire today signed legislation authorizing the Discover Pass, a $30 annual vehicle permit ($10 daily) that soon will be required for access to Washington state parks and other state lands. Starting July 1, the Discover Pass will be required for…
Rich Landers writes and photographs stories and columns for a wide range of outdoors coverage, including Outdoors feature sections on Sunday and Thursday.
