the needs of endangered wildlife species such as marbled murrelets and spotted owls, as well
as trust beneficiaries.
Connecting Habitat
Animals need room to roam. Providing a connected network of habitats to allow for the safe
movement of wildlife is called habitat connectivity. Wildlife make daily movements to find food
and mates, seasonal migrations as conditions change, and generational shifts claiming new
territory to call home. Habitat connectivity becomes even more important as the climate
changes and animals move to adapt to a changing environment.
Restoring habitat connectivity has been a cornerstone of Conservation Northwest's work
since our founding in 1989. By focusing on connecting the big landscapes, we've successfully
protected vital wildlife corridors and reconnected habitat between Washington's North and
South Cascades, from the British Columbia Coast and Chilcotin Ranges to the North Cascades,
from the Cascades to the Kettle River Range and Greater Rocky Mountains, and more.
We provide regional leadership on both sides of the U.S.-Canada border to protect the
connection between habitat patches and even large landscapes through the following programs:
Linking the Cascades to the Rockies:
Working for Wildlife Initiative: After decades spent protecting, connecting and restoring
lands in the Cascades Mountains and Kettle River Mountain Range, in 2014 we began a
new collaborative effort focused on the vital connection between these two landscapes
where it crosses through the Okanogan Valley. Funded by the National Fish and Wildlife
Foundation (NFWF) and coordinated by Conservation Northwest, the Working for Wildlife
Initiative is a coalition of state, federal, tribal and nongovernmental interests working
together to protect wildlife habitat, working lands and natural heritage in the diverse
landscape where the habitat corridor crosses the Okanogan Valley and Kettle River
Mountain Range.
Okanogan Wildlife Crossing Campaign: As a key part of the Working for Wildlife Initiative,
we aim to secure safe passage for wildlife across a stretch of Highway 97 in central
Okanogan County, bisecting the migration route of Washington's largest herd of mule deer
and dividing critical habitat for Canada lynx and other species. This stretch of highway
between Tonasket and Riverside has among the state's highest rate of auto/deer collisions,
presenting a huge safety hazard. In 2018-2020, we aim to address this impediment to
habitat connectivity through the donation to the Washington State Department of
Transportation (WSDOT) of sufficient funds for a wildlife crossing under Highway 97, or to
renovate existing bridge structures allowing for safe wildlife passage near the Carter
Mountain Wildlife Area. We hope this work will help inspire funding from Olympia for further
wildlife crossings and fencing in this critical corridor.
Linking the North and South Cascades:
I-90 Wildlife Corridor Campaign: Since 2000, through The Cascades Conservation
Partnership and the I-90 Wildlife Bridges Coalition, we have led efforts to reconnect
