ENDANGERED SPECIES -- A Washington state cattle group is suing the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to force the agency to review federal protections for gray wolves in the Northern Rockies. Attorneys for the Washington Cattlemen’s Association say the lawsuit was filed Tuesday in U.S.…
PRO BASSING -- Joey Nania, 19, of Liberty Lake headed out of the region this week with fellow Inland Empire Bass Clubber Art Acuff of Spokane Valley to begin the 2011 professional bass fishing season at the Central Open in Texas. After that, Nania plans…
WILDLIFE -- A coyote has become the 10th animal in Josephine County to test positive for rabies over the past 13 months. The coyote was found in the Cave Junction area, where seven foxes and one goat have all died from the disease. The other…
OUTDOOR TRENDS – The ebb and flow of hunting and fishing is detailed in a recently released federal report on hunting and fishing statistics. For example: The number of turkey hunters has increased at more than twice the rate of the growth of the U.S.…
ENDANGERED SPECIES -- Conservation groups are putting up a billboard in Eastern Oregon showing a dead wolf in a quest to send the person who shot and killed it to jail, according to an Associated Press story. Starting today, drivers headed east on U.S. Highway…
ENDANGERED SPECIES -- Congressman Mike Simpson fast-tracked wolf delisting legislation Monday by tacking language onto a federal budget bill that would strip Endangered Species Act protection from wolves. An Associated Press story origining from Eric Barker of the Lewiston Tribune says Simpson’s measure would reinstate…
FISHERIES -- This is a good time of year to see how trout are produced in Spokane for the updoming fishing season: It's before the fair-weather rush of school groups and prime time to see fish in all stages, including the egg stage. The Spokane…
WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT -- The director of the Idaho Fish and Game Department has announced his retirment. Cal Groen will leave his post as the agency's top man at the end of March and return to Lewiston, where he plans to spend much of his time…
OLYMPIA -- Fifteen years after Washington voters banned using dogs to hunt cougars, lawmakers want to set permanent hunting seasons allowing licensed hunters to use hounds to track the cats, according to an Associated Press story. The proposed bill, sponsored by Rep. Brian Blake, D-Aberdeen,…
WILDLIFE -- Several of the 11 owl species that inhabit most parts of Idaho are already well into their courtship, according to Jim Lukens of the Idaho Fish and Game Department. They get the early start so the hatching of owlets will coincide with peak…
HUNTING -- When the Washington Fish and Wildlfie Department enforcement officer in Pend Oreille County received a call from a woman distressed about coyotes frequenting her yard, he had a cost-effective solution: A hunter. Officer Severin Erickson responded to the coyote complaint in Usk last…
WILDLIFE ENFORCEMENT – The usual suspects and activities kept Washington Fish and Wildlife officers plenty busy, according to the latest weekly report. But before getting to the criminal activity, its worth noting that the officers occasionally have to laugh at themselves. Several flocks of turkeys…
WILDLIFE ENFORCEMENT – Electrifying news comes today from the Washington Fish and Wildlife Department: Some wildlife enforcement officers are doing the preliminary work required to be able to equip themselves with Tasers. Stay tuned, and well-grounded.
WILDLIFE -- Washington Fish Wildlife officers have been armed witha new weapon to deal with nuisance moose. Six paint ball guns and accessories valued at more that $1,200 were given to the Spokane region thanks to a donation from the Northwest Sportsman’s Club in Spokane.…
WILDLIFE ABUSE -- The sentence: Just five months in jail for the man investigators say call the most prolific wildlife spree killer in Washington state history. Cody Stearns of Western Washington was caught in an interview by KIRO TV as he left the courthouse last…
FISHING -- Heading downstream from Grand Coulee Dam has been productive for anglers casting bait rigs near the commercial net pens at Lake Rufus Woods, according to Anton Jones of Darrell & Dad's Family Guide Service. His photo above indicates the rough range of possibilities…
PUBLIC LANDS -- Efforts to expand the area of North Cascades National Park will be presented in Spokane tonight by The American Alps Legacy Project. The program starts at 7 p.m. at Gonzaga University's Jepson Center, Wolfe Auditorium. Supporters seek to expand the park to…
PUBLIC LANDS –A plan to open more roads at the south end of the Colville National Forest to off-road vehicles is months behind its original schedule as forest staff tries to comply with environmental regulations. The plan, expected to be released for public comment last…
FLY FISHING – Last week, while fly fishing on Rocky Ford Creek north of Moses Lake, Pat Kendall of Spokane was startled to walk up on a rattlesnake coiled on a large flat rock. “It’s mouth was open ready to strike and its tail was…
WILD LIFE – Blush if you must, but mating season is an exciting time to get out the binoculars. Many eagles, owls, hawks and other large birds such as ravens and magpies are making whoopee in the skies and treetops of the Inland Northwest. Golden…
Outrageous Air Show from Bob Legasa on Vimeo. OUTDOOR SPECTATING -- Here are a few men with skills worth looking up to. What: Yoke’s Outrageous Air Show aerial ski-jumping exhibition, plus fireworks, music. FREE. Who: Olympic freestyle gold medalist Jean Marc Rozon; four-time world champion…
CONSERVATION -- John Dawson, a Colville-area cattle rancher, will be featured at a Spokane event this week sponsored by several conservation groups to raise awareness of need to maintain working ranches for the benefit of wildlife. Read my December feature story about Dawson. The Dawson…
SPOKANE -- About 20 lakes and ponds in southeastern Washington will be stocked this season wtih "jumbo" trout, thaks to funding from The Tri-State Steelheaders. The Walla Walla-based sport-fishing and habitat-enhancement group stepped up last year when the program to raise outsized trout was axed…
NATIONAL PARKS -- Mount Rainier National Park officials have given approval to convert Mount Rainier’s Carbon River Road into a 9-mile trail for hiking and biking. The road has been closed to vehicles since it was heavily damaged in a 2006 storm. It leads to…
NATIONAL PARKS — National Park Service officials announced today they plan to convert Mount Rainier’s Carbon River Road into a trail for hiking and bicycling. The road, once a popular road access to a secluded area of the park, has been closed to vehicles since…
Rich Landers writes and photographs stories and columns for a wide range of outdoors coverage, including Outdoors feature sections on Sunday and Thursday.
