PARKS -- The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department is holding four meetings this week for the public to comment on plans to ban outdoor smoking at state parks. The Statesman Journal reports the proposed ban would stop smoking on hiking trails, picnic areas, waysides and…
SKY WATCHING -- If the weather clears up and gives us a break, the solar system is poised to deliver a light show tonight. See the story about the prime conditions for northern lights. Best views would be from high areas away from town lights…
WILDLIFE WATCHING -- The Oregonian has compiled three videos that help underscore the concern marine biologists have for the massive die-off of Pacific starfish detected in 2013. See the story and the videos.
WINTER SPORTS -- After a long drought, Mt. Spokane and 49 Degrees North are reporting 6-7 inches of new snow in the past 24 hours! More to come.
WINTER SPORTS -- In a half-century flashback to the prices charged by the former Jackass ski area, Silver Mountain Resort will offer $12 lift tickets on Friday, Jan. 10. Silver Mountain's "Jackass Day", celebrates the resort's 45th anniversary with discounts and events on and off…
WILDLIFE WATCHING -- Wildlife photographers have a code of ethics, which apparently was ignored in the case of someone trying to get a photo of wolves in Canada Photographers suspected of baiting wolves in Alberta national park A Banff National Park warden who discovered wolves…
WINTER SPORTS -- The avalanche that killed a snowmobiler riding in the Gallatin Mountains on New Year’s Day – the first Montana avalanche death in more than a year – was somewhat of an anomaly, according to an expert that spoke with the Billings Gazette.…
WILDLIFE -- State Fish and Wildlife biologists put GPS tracking collars on 28 northeastern Washington moose in December for a long-term study on the largest member of the deer family. Other states, including Minnesota and Montana, have launched studies to understand why moose are declining…
WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT -- The Idaho Fish and Game Commission will consider the state Fish and Game Department's revised elk management plan when it meets Jan. 15-16 at Fish and Game headquarters in Boise. A public hearing will begin at 7 p.m. January 15, in the…
WILDLIFE WATCHING -- The weekly survey of bald eagles gathering at Lake Coeur d'Alene was postponed today because of poor visibility caused by the incoming storm. Carrie Hugo, BLM wildlife biologists, said she saw enough eagles to believe that the eagle numbers are still high.…
PREDATORS -- Conservation groups announced today that they are suing federal and state officials over Idaho’s plan to track and kill wolves from two packs in the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness. The lawsuit, filed by Defenders of Wildlife, Western Watersheds Project and Wilderness…
WILDLIFE -- After a video showing a snowboarder chasing a moose down a ski run on Montana's Big Mountain went viral, the Flathead National Forest tracked down the snowboarder and fined him $255 for harassing wildlife, and forest officials issued warnings to other recreationists to…
WINTER SPORTS -- Several special nordic skiing activities are gearing up this week, according to Spokane Nordic. Time to dig in: Hands-on Waxing Clinic Friday, Jan. 10 at 6 p.m. -- A two-hour class on base prep to finish waxing on your own gear at…
WILDLIFE WATCHING -- How far do wintering killer whales cruise in a day in the Puget Sound region: 10-50 miles 75-100 miles 125-200 miles 300 miles or more Since Dec. 26, an orca known as L-87 has been covering 75 to 100 miles a day…
WILDLIFE WATCHING -- 2013 wasn't just a big year, it was the biggest year in the community of hard-corder birders. The video (above) features Neil Hayward on Dec. 28, 2013, as he entered the birding record books by identifying his 750th bird of the year.…
PREDATORS -- Let's see, according to the S-R's Eye on Boise reporter Betsy Russell, Idaho Gov. Butch Otter in the past few days has suggested cutting teacher pay by $21 million, starting $15 million in water projects across the state and beefing up wolf control…
FISHING -- Although it's a misnomer, Idaho's "spring" steelhead fishing season opened Jan. 1, continuing the season that started in the fall with a few twists. Most important, you need a new fishing license. While we're on that topic, be aware of the differences among…
FISHING -- In my Dec. 29 package of stories looking back at 2013 from the outdoors perspective, fish and fishing were riddled through everything, even beyond the one story focused on fishing highlights. It was a year to remember -- one we'll be referring to…
PREDATORS -- In my recent package of stories and lists reviewing the year 2013 from the outdoors perspective, I focused one short review on notable 2013 news items regarding the gray wolf, which drums up all sorts of issues, emotions and controversy where ever it…
PUBLIC LANDS -- Federal land managers offer free entry to parks, forests, U.S. Bureau of Land management lands, refuges and other national interest lands where fees are charged on certain holidays scattered through the year. Washington State Parks also sets dates for fee-free entry. The…
WILDLIFE WATCHING -- The hawk owl that's been luring birders to the Moscow, Idaho, area for more than a month continues to deliver for photographers eager to document a rare visitor to the region. Spokane-area birder Ron Dexter offered this recent photo with interesting details…
WINTER SPORTS -- Basics of Winter Camping, a free program presented by an REI staffer, will be presented at 7 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 9, at the Spokane store, 1125 N. Monroe. Pre-register to reserve a seat.
Allure of the hunt a moving target Coeur d'Alene Waterkeeper seeks to protect namesake lake Spokane County regional trails plan updated Field reports: Idaho farmers raise fees, aid wolf control Eagle deaths in Utah blamed on West Nile Out & About: Mount Spokane staff eyes…
PUBLIC LANDS -- Several vehicles have slid off icy roads in the Idaho Panhandle National Forests causing officials to consider locking gates on a few roads until conditions change. Here's the media release just posted by the IPNF: Despite the lack of snow at lower…
TRAILS -- An update to the 2008 Spokane County Regional Trails Plan will help integrate routes for walkers, runners, skaters, cyclists and equestrians into planning and development as the population grows, officials say. The draft plan, up for county approval this month, identifies 677 miles…
Rich Landers writes and photographs stories and columns for a wide range of outdoors coverage, including Outdoors feature sections on Sunday and Thursday.
| Dec. 2014 | Nov. 2014 | Oct. 2014 | Sept. 2014 |
| Aug. 2014 | July 2014 | June 2014 | May 2014 |
| April 2014 | March 2014 | Feb. 2014 | Jan. 2014 |
