Author: Brad Trumbo

Avian influenza, like most viruses, comes and goes in severity and transmissible with any given variant, but the U.S. is currently facing a record number of outbreaks. Meanwhile, the virus is spreading in France, the United Kingdom, and Korea.

On November 18th, the Washington State Game Commission (Commission) voted 5 to 4 to stop a limited draw spring black bear hunt. A move contradictory to recommendations from the Washington public and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) biologists.
The Washington spring bear hunt has been around for over 20 years and the bear population has remained sustainable at over 20,0001. Statistics suggest that approximately 25 percent of spring tag holders are successful, and the spring hunt accounts for less than 10 percent of the total annual black bear harvest, which averages around 1,600 bears statewide2.

It’s hard to believe the statics, but monitoring has proven that over 3 billion migratory birds (25 percent) have vanished since 1970. Presently, 70 species teeter on the brink of population collapse, having lost 50 percent or more of their breeding populations in the past 50 years. These species are not yet listed under the Endangered Species Act, but may soon be candidates to join the other 89 species that have been listed as Threatened or Endangered.

The Florida Panther (Puma concolor coryi) was first considered a subspecies of the North American cougar in the late 19th Century, but a reclassification in 2005 lumped the Florida panther back in with the North American population (Puma concolor couguar)1. Nevertheless, the Florida cougars are the last remaining in the eastern United States and are still referred to as the Florida panther.

The snowshoe hare is a widespread North American hare species that inhabits northern boreal and upper montane forests. Their “snowshoe” namesake come from having very large hind feet that have adapted to prevent them from sinking into the deep snow of their preferred habitats. Snowshoe hares rely on dense shrub understory for food and cover, and they serve as a keystone prey item for Canada lynx.