On October 29, 2020, the Trump administration announced its decision to prematurely remove endangered species protections for wolves in the lower 48 states, in violation of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The most recent data from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) and its state partners show an estimated 4,400 wolves inhabit the western Great Lakes states, but only 108 wolves in Washington State, 158 in Oregon, and a scant 15 in California. These numbers lay the groundwork for a legal challenge planned by The Lands Council and a coalition of Western conservation groups.
By Kat Hall
Last year, The Lands Council excitedly received its official “SnowSchool” designation. This winter, we’ve re-configured SnowSchool to be COVID-safe and to take place in the East Central, West Central, and Northeast neighborhoods of Spokane.
By Lindsay Box
Spokane has 5 ski resorts nearby - making it easy for outdoor adventurers to find fresh powder and scenic mountain views. Whether skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, or tubing - there are so many ways to enjoy the great outdoors this winter. With COVID policies in place, there are a few things you’ll need to know before you go this season.
Welcome to our end of the year newsletter! Despite COVID-19, we have been busy as beavers!
Our efforts to help mitigate and reduce the impacts of climate change are multi-pronged. This year we have constructed beaver dam analogs, protected beaver habitat, planted over a thousand trees, helped Spokane create a climate action plan, and we are helping a regional coalition wind down our fossil fuel supply chain. Almost all of the staff are involved in climate and sustainability issues.
By Laura Ackerman
Many projects were put on hold in our professional and personal lives in 2020. One thing worldwide that has been happening is pandemic wildlife photography. Instead of so many selfies, humans everywhere are using their cell phones to take photos of all those other creatures who graciously share the Earth with us.
Join us for a cozy, fire-side Holiday Story Hour to talk about the co-existence of keystone species like wolves and beavers with local authors Ben Goldfarb and Eli Francovich. Ben, author of Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter, and Eli will welcome us into their fireside reading nooks to read from their books and tell us the story of how it came to be. The readings and stories will be followed by a candid conversation between the two authors on coexistence with this keystone species and an audience Q&A.
We appreciate the warmth and support of YOU and your families this holiday season.
By Kat Hall
TLC’s 2020 field season has officially come to a close. We held our final Marshall Creek planting, wrapped up our fall maintenance activities, and then cleaned, hauled, and stowed all of our tools and equipment for the winter. In total, we planted and maintained well over 1,500 trees since March!
