Conservation Northwest protects and connects old-growth forests and other wild areas from the Washington Coast to the British Columbia Rockies, vital to a healthy future for us, our children, and wildlife. Since 1989, Conservation Northwest has worke
Issue link: http://conservationnw.uberflip.com/i/122778
Conservation Northwestand prey Predators updates for wildlife In Okanogan county Jay Kehne Outreach associate, jay@conservationnw.org "Wildlife corridors" get a good rap Funny how a simple word can take on a life of its own based on our perceptions. Take the words "wildlife corridor." If you've been told and believe that there are organizations wanting to take away private property for wildlife, or ban people entirely from public lands, you might think that "wildlife corridor" smacks of "lock up." If you are a mule deer or elk hunter and want to preserve wildlife habitat so that you have a good chance of putting meat in the freezer every fall, you probably respect the words "migratory route." You know that without connected habitat for migration, wildlife suffer and big game populations drop. Still, you may be a little suspicious of the word "corridor." If you are a member of any of a growing number of organizations—from Pheasants Forever, to Ducks Unlimited, Boone and Crockett Club, to Trout Unlimited—you may know that these wildlife conservation groups are supportive of corridors and other ways to maintain wildlife populations in the face of a changing climate. Having that room to move without barriers is critical to successful movement and survival of these wild animals. Conservation Northwest supports programs that enhance pathways that serve all wildlife, carnivore to ungulate. To us, "wildlife corridor" brings to mind open space, timberlands, Beyond Season's End Trout Unlimited's excellent new 2010 book, Beyond Season's End: A path forward for fish & wildlife in the era of climate change, explains that wildlife management practices of the past, which focused on improving habitat on seasonal ranges, will not be enough. We need to be just as concerned about wildlife pathways between populations and habitats. With the opportunity of safe passage, big game in particular will respond to a warming climate as they have done for eons—by moving northward or to higher elevations. grasslands, working ranches and farms, and protection of these spaces for wildlife on the move and for people who hunt, eat, or otherwise enjoy and value these animals. Many uses can and do occur within a corridor: Cows graze, hay is cut, deer move through at dusk, and many wildlife species do what they have always done, exist on the landscape. The biggest dangers to wildlife movement and survival are roads, housing developments, and cut-up spaces that occur when we do not consider the need for wildlife to move. Keeping the Northwest wild A wildlife camera is set up to record deer and other animals crossing in a natural wildlife corridor at Riverside along Hwy 97. Photo Jay Kehne On a large scale, a program called "Freedom to Roam," initiated by the company Patagonia and supported by businesses from Wal-Mart to Microsoft to National Geographic, promotes large-scale migratory wildlife initiatives and expanding funding for projects that help connect habitat. The focus is on wildlife; the concept does not exclude people. To enhance wildlife connectivity on a local scale here in Okanogan County, Conservation Northwest is garnering local support for a potential wildlife crossing for Highway 97. The Washington State Department of Transportation has proposed fencing and two underpasses along Hwy 97 between Riverside and Tonasket to funnel wildlife under, not onto, the road. This will reduce vehicle collisions with deer and other wildlife, which is good for everyone who doesn't own a car repair shop. The stretch of highway along Hwy 97 was identified by a recent statewide analysis conducted by the Washington Wildlife Habitat Connectivity Working Group as part of a very important wildlife corridor for a variety of wildlife. In the study, the biologists of the Working Group used science to consider current and future landscape conditions that could affect wildlife movement in Washington, using sixteen animal species to represent a broader spectrum of wildlife. According to the groups' report, the Okanogan Valley "provides habitat connectivity values for all three linkage networks of Generalist, Montane and Shrubsteppe Species of wildlife." This means everything from mule deer to western toads, black bears, and American badgers need the open spaces that are so familiar to us living in Okanogan County. People who live here could have told the Working Group that, as we know this stretch is important to deer. We know it because of the tragic number of deer-vehicle collisions near Riverside. Indeed, considering how much the state spends on removing carcasses, etc, the proposed wildlife crossing could pay for itself in three to four years. As we see, "wildlife corridor" can be good words. Identifying and protecting wildlife corridors can help ranchers stay ranching; provide support for highway infrastructure projects, saving thousands of dollars and protecting people from collisions; and maintain open landscapes for rich wildlife—all while promoting passageways that allow animals to traverse perhaps the most significant barrier to big game movement—roads. Spring/Summer 2011 17