Stories by Eli Francovich for the Spokesman-Review

Sports > Outdoors

Coeur d’Alene Lake health shows some improvements but by ‘no means out of the woods’

Sun., Nov. 20, 2022

While Lake Coeur d’Alene remains deeply polluted - the legacy of a century of silver and gold mining - a broad review of lake-health data showed decreases in toxins entering the North Idaho lake.

Sports > Outdoors

Washington wildlife commission strikes down recreational spring bear hunt

UPDATED: Fri., Nov. 18, 2022

Recreational hunting of spring bears won't return to Washington.

Sports > Outdoors

Idaho lawmakers advocate for federal delisting of grizzly bears, citing north Idaho livestock attacks

UPDATED: Sat., Nov. 26, 2022

Idaho's federal delegation urged the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to act on a petition to delist grizzly bears, Friday.

Sports > Outdoors

Hikers, backpackers make up majority of satellite SOS calls, per company

Mon., Nov. 14, 2022

The majority of 10,000 SOS calls came from hikers and backpackers, according to data released by Garmin, which sells the popular inReach satellite communication devices.

Sports > Outdoors

Washington State Parks commission to meet in Chelan Thursday

Fri., Nov. 11, 2022

The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission will hold its regular in-person commission meeting Nov. 17 at Campbell’s Resort in Chelan, according to a news release.

Sports > Outdoors

Outdoor recreation $862 billion industry nationwide, according to new government data

UPDATED: Fri., Nov. 11, 2022

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis has released economic data for 2021 exhibiting outdoor recreation’s economic impact on the U.S. economy.

News > Washington

Federal government restarts effort to restore grizzly bears to Washington’s rugged North Cascades

UPDATED: Thu., Nov. 10, 2022

An stop-and-go federal process to bring grizzly bears into Washington's rugged North Cascades restarted Thursday. However, unlike previous efforts the federal government is considering a separate designation that would provide more flexibility when it comes to managing individual bears.

Sports > Outdoors

Interior Secretary Haaland calls for integration of indigenous knowledge in fight against climate change at Spokane wildlife conference

Thu., Nov. 10, 2022

Interior Secretary Deb Haaland called for collaboration and integration of indigenous ecological knowledge at a gathering of more than 1,000 wildlife professional, Monday.

Sports > Outdoors

New poll suggests Washington wildlife management is ‘out of touch with the public,’ may have political implications

UPDATED: Fri., Nov. 11, 2022

A majority of Washington’s believe that the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife should focus first and foremost on “preserving and protecting fish and wildlife” according to poll commissioned by a nonprofit dedicated to reforming the state wildlife management agency.

Sports > Outdoors

Reader Photo: Snowy moose

UPDATED: Wed., Nov. 9, 2022

Dirk Dhossche took this photo of a snowy moose near his home in Medical Lake, Tuesday.

Sports > Outdoors

49 Degrees North announces Friday opening; other resorts not far behind

UPDATED: Wed., Nov. 9, 2022

49 Degrees North is leading the opening day charge after announcing they'll roll the lifts Friday.

Sports > Outdoors

Colville Tribe releases 10 lynx into Washington’s Kettle Range in ongoing recovery effort

UPDATED: Wed., Nov. 9, 2022

Since October, 10 Canada lynx have been released into the Kettle Range as part of a five-year tribal effort to reintroduce the felines into Washington State.

Sports > Outdoors

Waikiki Springs Nature Preserve closed for six weeks as bridge gets upgrade

UPDATED: Wed., Nov. 9, 2022

The Waikiki Springs Nature Preserve closed Monday and will reopen in roughly six weeks.

Sports > Outdoors

Spokane Audubon meeting features chapter’s “Save-A-Bird Team” help for birds in need

UPDATED: Tue., Nov. 8, 2022

The Spokane Audubon Society’s Nov. 16 meeting, featuring the chapter’s “Save-A-Bird Team” help for birds in need, will be both in-person and available via Zoom on-line.

Sports > Outdoors

After ‘falling back’ chances of hitting a deer jump by 16% per UW research

Sun., Nov. 6, 2022

As of today, you are 16 percent more likely to hit a deer while driving. At least for the next few weeks.

Sports > Outdoors

Wildlife conference in Spokane receives flak over inclusion of ‘animal extremists’ groups

Sun., Nov. 6, 2022

A well-respected wildlife conference is getting flak from some in the hunting community following inclusion of two advocacy groups focused on reforming state wildlife management. That controversy has prompted organizers to alert security at the Spokane Convention Center as well as the Spokane Police Department while simultaneously reminding attendees to adhere to the organizations guidelines for professional behavior.

Sports > Outdoors

Cougars kill wolves in Washington, raising questions about predator-on-predator dynamics

Thu., Nov. 3, 2022

It's dog-eat-dog out there, except occasionally in Washington when it becomes a cat-eat-dog life.

Sports > Outdoors

UW study finds wild animals are more sensitive to human presence than previously thought, raising questions about local trail management

Sun., Oct. 30, 2022

We have a people problem.

Sports > Outdoors

Slavin Trailhead work nearly complete

Sat., Oct. 29, 2022

A new parking space at the James T. Slavin Conservation Area will be complete around Nov. 11, according to Paul Knowles, Spokane Counties park planner. The new parking area provides 20 additional paved parking spots and built in response to a surge in outdoor recreation in 2020.

Sports > Outdoors

Washington wildlife commissioners visit ‘center of wolf recovery’ as public raises concerns about public safety, game populations

UPDATED: Fri., Oct. 28, 2022

Colville – Citizens living in the "center of wolf recovery" told wildlife managers Friday that an increase in predators has stoked public safety concerns, decimated deer and elk populations and broken trust.