WILDLIFE -- Mike Gibeau, an internationally recognized grizzly bear specialist who spent more than three decades with Parks Canada, is retiring June 3 and the federal agency has no plans to replace him, just as the agency did not replace science manager Cliff White when…
ENDANGERED SPECIES -- Washington Fish and Wildlife Department officials this week confirmed the killing of an adult male gray wolf, shot in Eastern Washington more than a year ago and dumped in eastern Skagit County. Investigators believe the wolf was shot somewhere east of Rainy…
FISHING -- Big is still the operative term for the spring chinook salmon fishery nosing into the Columbia River. Last year it was a big run. This year the emphasis is on the proportion of fish in the run that are big. The forecast is…
RIVERS -- Speaking to the Pasco-Kennewick Rotary Club on Wednesday, Congressman Doc Hastings, R-WA, said he’ll use his position as chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee to block any bills related to breaching lower Snake River dams. Hastings said salmon runs are recovering under…
BICYCLING -- REI is recalling about 160 bicycles because of a potential fall hazard. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says the alloy steerer tube on certain Nova Fusion bicycles could separate from the fork, causing the rider to lose control, posing a fall hazard…
PUBLIC LANDS -- The National Park Service may require the removal of 25 private cabins that have been built and upgraded over many years within the Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area northwest of Spokane. That’s one of three options in an environmental assessment released Thursday…
BICYCLING -- Western Washington's annual "Chilly Hilly" bicycle tour should live up to its name this weekend. Thousands of bicyclists are expected to take part Sunday in the 33-mile bike trek around Bainbridge Island. The National Weather Service says rain is in the forecast, with…
WILDLIFE WATCHING -- Bird feeders are especially alive with activity in this cold weather as birds -- and other wildlife -- look for easy calories. To get a cross section of species, you need seed feeders filled separatel with black sunflower seeds and others with…
WINTER SPORTS -- The Inland Northwest avalanche advisory issued this morning notes that snow that accumulated in the cold temperatures of recent storm is light enough to warrant only "considerable" avalanche danger in many (not all) areas. But a change is expected around Sunday. The…
FISHING -- The arctic weather chilling the Inland Northwest is firming the surface at some lakes and pushing the reset button for ice anglers. If you're looking for a wall-hanger fish to brag about this weekend, try to guess where the angler in this video…
FISHING -- The weather isn't necessarily cooperating, but Al Liere is on the ball with a preview of the region's lakes that are opening for fishing on March 1. Check it out in his weekly Hunting & Fishing Report.
CLIMBING -- Jeff Lowe is an icon familiar to anyone who paid attention to climbing from the 70s into the 90s until MS began ravaging his body. The first ice climb of Bridal Veil Falls and his problem solving to conquer the route known a…
SEA KAYAKING -- It's time to quit thinking about a sea-kayaking adventure in the Sea of Cortez and Mexico's Baja California. It's bargain time to the safe part of Mexico. I'm just back from a nine-day trip of paddling and camping -- The gray whales…
HUNTING -- He saw the storm coming Wednesday, but he had eight dogs scheduled for training and he welcomed the wind and snow flurries as a learning experience. "You can't just train hunting dogs when it's nice," said Dan Hoke of Dunfur Kennel off the…
WILDLIFE WATCHING -- Mount Spokane area birder Ron Dexter knew something was up -- or more likely down -- when he a lot of raven activity above his home last month. When he hiked up to investigate, he was not surprised to find the carcass…
OUTFIELD -- George Orr of Spokane no longer is making his voice heard on the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission, as explained in my outdoors column today. But he hasn't lost his sense of humor. "I love a good debate," said the former state legislator,…
FISHING -- Steller sea lions are killing sturgeon at Bonneville Dam almost twice as fast this winter as in 2010, having taken at least 1,000 total since early January, according to a story by Allen Thomas of the Vancouver Columbian. The first California sea lion…
WINTER SPORTS – The first weekend in March is a time to tour for women on skis and families on snowshoes. The Spokane Parks and Recreation Outdoor Program is sponsoring a family snowshoe tour on March 4 at Mount Spokane. The activity is geared to…
OLYMPIA -- Legislation to merge the Washington’s parks and wildlife agencies into a new Department of Fish, Wildlife and Recreation was approved Monday by the Senate Natural Resources and Marine Waters Committee, but not before compromises were made. Allen Thomas of the Vancouver Columbian reports…
HUNTING – Idaho Fish and Game biologists just released a preview of proposed changes for Idaho Panhandle big-game hunting rules. They will be presented to sportsmen for their comments the week of March 7 at public meetings still to be scheduled. Statewide season proposals for…
MOUNTAINEERING -- Records aren't often set by being safe and rational, but a Mount McKinley climber can bask in the glory of being alive. After 22 days of climbing last month, Minnesota mountaineer Lonnie Dupre turned back from his attempt to make the first January…
ENDANGERED SPECIES -- Blue Mountains elk winter in the low open canyon slopes of Oregon, and the recent-arrival gray wolves figured that out fast. These wolves made themselves at home on the open slopes in northeastern Oregon near Pendleton, where they've been feeding on elk,…
OUTDOOR POLITICS -- Two Associated Press news stories this week out of the Montana Legislature give sportsmen reason to pause and wonder if these are the healthiest approaches to the issues. Republicans enthused by Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer’s recent tough talk on wolves are getting…
WILDLIFE WATCHING -- Another report on tundra swans in the region, this one coming from Warren Current in the Colville area: "Yesterday afternoon I saw seven tundra swans along the shoreline of Lake Roosevelt just south of Colville Flats (Highway 25). Other species in the…
WINTER SPORTS -- A Saturday trek to the top of Scotchman Peak gave three backcountry skiers a heavenly if not gusty view of Lake Pend Oreille. Jake Ostman, Jacob Styler and Michael Lucid -- along with their canine companions Coco and Mojo -- skinned up…
