Conservation Northwest

Getting wilder for the same purpose. But those funds won't remain in the bank forever. Agency partners like the US Forest Service have pledged in-kind support for the recovery process. The ingredients for one of the most potentially compelling conservation stories in decades are present in Western Washington. But the FWS is in charge of writing the narrative. Will they see this sighting as an opportunity to implement the Cascades recovery plan or just another bit of yesterday's news that goes out in the recycle bin? This August, conservation groups (led by Conservation Northwest) sent a letter to the current FWS regional direc- tor, Robyn Thorson, members of the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee, and Washington State congressional leaders urging them to take immediate steps to implement the North Cascades Grizzly Bear Recovery Plan by initiating NEPA on important recovery actions. A good first step could be to call together all the potential public and private partners in the effort to brainstorm strategies and solutions to obstacles to the grizzly bear recovery process. We have a choice. The bear in the photo will be a potent symbol of the last grizzlies in the Cascades or the first grizzly bear of a new generation. A passion for documenting wildlife Patrick McGowan, team leader in the Teanaway wildlife monitoring effort, penned this account of his monitoring fieldwork. My whole career has been in medical research, searching for information that might lead to new cures. Outside of my job, I still thrive on the pursuit of information as we struggle to find solutions to big issues. My family's favorite place to escape is the Teanaway valley, in the Washington Cascades. Throughout the past decade, I've noticed more aggressive logging and private land owners who are intent on establishing a town in the heart of the valley. This would be a tragedy because the Teanaway is home to many species, some of which are quite rare. I discovered that the presence of rare mammals in the Teanaway was largely unsubstantiated. I began documenting the presence of these rare species by placing motionsensitive cameras on trees, and I'd been doing this for several years before I began working with Conservation Northwest. The Teanaway's female wolf, relishing the lure. Conservation NW Six or seven years into the pursuit, I have witnessed amazing things in the Teanaway: mountain goats traveling across the floor of the valley, cougars playfully wrestling, bobcats with kittens, spirited pine martens, a wolverine running, and sites where bears congregate together and comically rub on trees to announce their visits. I have been charged by an angry bear sow, seen hawks steal birds from nests, and watched as bears tried to eat my cameras. I have discovered hidden areas and quietly observed animals behaving naturally. The information gathered has expanded my understanding of wild animal behavior immensely. Though I have never personally seen a 9 x 9 point bull elk, or a mountain lion, short-tailed weasel, or flying squirrel, my cameras tell me they are there, and in large numbers—likely watching me as I traipse through the woods. I still remember the night when I discovered that I had captured a photo of a likely wolf in the Teanaway. It had been a long day, but I knew that I couldn't sleep without taking a quick look at the photos captured by the cameras I had serviced that day. Coyote, bear, bobcat, more coyote…. What the heck! Oh my gosh! It was 1 o'clock in the morning but I was now very much awake: I had obtained a photo of a wolf. The discovery set in motion a flurry of activity by government agencies to verify the observation. The BBC spent a day filming me on a snowmobile, reenacting the discovery. When the identification was verified by DNA and the announcement was made public, it was front-page news. To the hardworking Conservation Northwest volunteers who had made it possible, it was the culmination of years of planning and many miles of hiking in the Teanaway valley. While I celebrate the return of the wolf to much of its native habitat, I realize that it brings with it much controversy. The wolf has returned to areas now shared by many more people and livestock than during the wolf's previous tenure. This has not always ended well for the wolf. It is my sincere hope that we continue to gather information about these wolves to guide us toward decisions that provide the best solution to our cohabitation with these incredible predators. I thank Conservation Northwest for being a great and generous partner in wildlife monitoring. Mostly, I would like to thank the incredible volunteers whom I have worked with. They have worked very hard gathering data for an organization that strives to inform and represent on behalf of our wild inhabitants. Our efforts have helped to raise awareness of the Teanaway and guide the conversation between the developer and parties interested in preserving this beautiful valley.

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