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News, field reports and insights on the Great Outdoors.
Rich Landers – hunter, animal lover, hiker, paddler, angler, naturalist and conservationist – has been covering the outdoors beat for more than three decades. His versatility and field research as a trails and waterways guidebook author help him connect issues to a wide range of interests.
Rich Landers writes, photographs and gathers information for a wide range of Outdoors coverage, with a special feature package in the Sunday Sports section. Landers' outdoors column runs Thursdays in the Sports section.
Recent work by Rich
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RoderickPurchell on Mud boggers damaging forest meadows on May 21 at 1:36 p.m.
Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (www.backcountryhunters.org) offers a $1000 reward for anyone who provides information to convict vandals who abuse public land and water with motorized vehicles.
ewuTyler on Fundraiser to help post Spokane River fishing rules in Russian on May 19 at 12:10 a.m.
Did anyone actually read the post or just make assumptions based on a title and their political beliefs? This is NOT work that is being done by the government (it is being done by non-profits and students) but rather with their approval.
We’re just trying to help out our environment (and trout population) by posting the simplest rules in Russian. We (Americans) are lucky that most nations recognize English as a secondary language and speak/have written signs in English most places.
I guarantee if either of you had ever left your troll-puter or Spokane, and moved to a foreign locale that actually had fishing regs (which are pretty dang uncommon in the former USSR), you’d probably ignore any signs in that nation’s language… We’re talking about some people who don’t know better, and I assume some that do know better. The goal is to at least give them a fair shake at the info and to NOT give them an excuse when they are caught fishing illegally.
The number of idiots who chime in on these boards and complain when something GOOD is happening (at no cost to them or the taxpayer) is astounding. It’s really painful to see how political agendas, anglo-centrism (read racist), and ignorance can cloud people’s minds.
Pull your heads out…
If you don’t like the signs, don’t read them.
And for your information, most violators of these laws are local Spokane residents (who are not of foreign descent)… This signage is meant to help law enforcement and our river.
richl on Boating safety course offered at Northtown on May 18 at 10:42 a.m.
The requirement applies only to Washington residents operating boats on Washington waters. Here’s the state’s link to FAQ: http://www.parks.wa.gov/boating/boatered/?subject=faq#2
donk on Boating safety course offered at Northtown on May 18 at 9:48 a.m.
I am an Idaho resident that is 47 years old and was wondering if I had to take this course to operate a boat in Washington. If I do is there an alternative certification. I have operated a boat safely since I was strong enough to pull start an outboard and have spent more than 250 hours per year for over 30 years on the West coast of Vancouver Island salmon and Halibut fishing. This seems a little ridiculous.
KJJ on Pregnant caribou could drop state's first calf in 50 years on May 17 at 2:32 p.m.
I think it would be awesome to see caribou wandering around. As a person that grew up riding 4 wheelers on the east side of Priest Lake, this is an interesting debate.
Question: Are Canadian lands across the border protected from motorized access?
livedtherenotnow on Fundraiser to help post Spokane River fishing rules in Russian on May 17 at 11:11 a.m.
This is a typical enabling of the government, so what if one cannot read any sign are we going to have someone posted there to help them understand the rules. Seems to me that this practice enables immigrates that want to create their own country inside the USA not become part of it.
HonestGeorge on Fundraiser to help post Spokane River fishing rules in Russian on May 16 at 9:43 p.m.
Wow!! In Russian no less. Talk about the balkanization of a country! Driver’s licenses, any court business, many schools and all US government official contacts - all require interpreters. Now fishing notices and warnings are on the list! Shouldn’t we expect an immigrant or new citizen to have a better knowledge of our language in order to obey our laws? And then be held accountable? At some level in my mind something about this is upsetting.
brucemac on Lake Roosevelt refill levels off for time being on May 15 at 11:47 a.m.
Anybody care to make a prediction on lake levels for mid-to-late July?
I’m just hoping it’s not going to still be full pool by mid-July. Last year was atypical from what I understand due to northern snowpack. Just hoping it’s not a repeat and that there are some beaches downriver of Spokane River confluence this year.
I do loosely understand that there is some commitment for full pool on or around 4th of July, but it’s my understanding the water begins drawing down slowly shortly after that.
oneanddone on Two Washington plants warrant ESA protections on May 14 at 3:56 p.m.
It’s been reported that 99.9% of all living species which have existed since the dawn of time are now extinct. And the Feds are going to save a couple of weeds? You betcha.
U_have_2Call_Me_Dragon on Two Washington plants warrant ESA protections on May 14 at 3:22 p.m.
Adapt or die…… If we spend one govt dollar on these worthless plants I will drive down there and 2,4-D them myself.
richl on Grizzly bears sighted in Stevens County 'wedge' on May 14 at 11:44 a.m.
Thanks for the heads up, metaline:
http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/outdoors/2012/may/14/grizzlies-active-3-killed-near-castlegar-four-sighted-stevens-county/
metaline on Grizzly bears sighted in Stevens County 'wedge' on May 13 at 8:27 p.m.
An article in this weeks Nelson B.C. paper mentioned that 3 grizzly bears were killed by B.C. Fish and Game in the Castlegar area. They had killed 8 sheep. I fourth was captured and released in the Grand Forks area. The owner of the sheep relocated them where one was prompty killed by a cougar.
CrystalKnight on Younger Twisp ranchers also plead guilty in wolf case on May 12 at 9:21 p.m.
Tom White’s trial is fast approaching. I would suggest you pass this info on to as many wildlife advocates and even hunting advocates, as possible. If the judge does not give him substantial jail time, and it looks like he will not, the anger and frustration from those who care about wolves and wildlife will be projected on the economies and livlihoods of even responsible hunters, and the tourism economies of states that are destroying wolf populations by over-hunting.
I would suggest also, people contact the us attorney and judge frem nielson of the Eastern District WA Superior Court, before trial and send a strong statement to increase penalties to jail time, as well as demand Tom White reveal the names of the other guys who helped illegally slaughter those federally unprotected wolves.
richl on Thompson, Cayuse passes cleared; plows breaking through on North Cascades Highway on May 08 at 7:33 p.m.
Good question, mikewsu. I can’t say I’ve approached it for that reason.
mikewsu on Thompson, Cayuse passes cleared; plows breaking through on North Cascades Highway on May 08 at 3:17 p.m.
Anything worth skiing above the lakes at Thompson Pass?
hough_phil on Insight offered on Rock Lake kayaking tragedy comments on May 02 at 1:56 p.m.
Good info in that video.
basaltbone on Officials, ranchers aim to keep sage grouse off endangered list on May 01 at 11:55 a.m.
Interesting and thoughtful post, RedCedar.
theisena on Officials, ranchers aim to keep sage grouse off endangered list on May 01 at 9:56 a.m.
Completely agree, RedCedar.
RedCedar on Officials, ranchers aim to keep sage grouse off endangered list on May 01 at 9:45 a.m.
The trouble is we have an “endangered species act” rather than an “ecosystem protection act”. We’re still going on a 1960s ecological model that was designed to project specific charismatic megafauna (and a few charismatic mesofauna like bald eagles), when we now know that the key to preserving wildlife is habitat, habitat, and habitat. While it would be better ecologically to preserve key pieces of land that provide good habitat for a wide range of native species, what we’re stuck with legally is finding one species somewhere in that habitat that’s in immanent danger of extinction, and using it as a legal hook to protect the land.
It wasn’t so much that we wanted to save the spotted owl, but that we wanted to save the remaining shreds of old-growth coastal forest. Likewise, back in the ‘70s it was really the Little Tennessee river, not the snail darter, that people were trying to save, but they had to use the fish to try to save the river. There’s an inherent dishonesty in this approach, and there’s also the ecological folly of having to have one species in a given ecosystem near extinction in order to save the ecosystem.
I can’t really blame environmentalists for making use of what legal tools they have, but this system creates a lot of ill will unnecessarily, and even motivates some land owners to prophylactically exterminate any endangered species on their land, lest someone discover them and block them from doing what they want with their land. I remember how quickly all the snags on private timberland in SW Washington came down as soon as the timber companies were aware of the implications of having an eagle tree on their property.
MrBloggy on Dogs not welcome near South Hill bluff coyote den on April 30 at 9:38 p.m.
MrBloggy has had his share of unleashed mutts running loose, angry and stupid on local leash-required trails. He must confess not only a staggeringly complete absence of sympathy for these unleashed dogs getting schooled in the Way of the Coyote™ the spirit-animal of many. MrB would have no issue if there were similar packs in the Dishman Hills, Iller Creek, Antoine Peak, Centennial Trail, etc busy ambushing unleashed dogs, particularly any of the Mastiff-based lifeform type. But even a beagle. MrB is sorry but he is weary of idiot dogs annoying his sojourns into nature.
If leashing poor Turbo is too much for you, gentle thug, then go to the dog park and let your slavering idiot dog run loose and make you feel like you a REAL MAN, and leave those of us who enjoy the solitude and beauty of natural areas free of the canine scourges you chumps insist on releasing to us.
The_Seer on Dogs not welcome near South Hill bluff coyote den on April 30 at 10:21 a.m.
Aren ‘t Coyotes dogs too?
sweetpotatopie on Dogs not welcome near South Hill bluff coyote den on April 30 at 10:10 a.m.
@tfs1969: I would have a REAL problem with the DOFW killing this pack. They are simply protecting their young. They are most certainly NOT “in the middle of a residential area”; they are in a natural area where humans happen to hike and bike. Once again, this is an example of humans encroaching on the habitat of wildlife and then demanding that said wildlife be “managed”.
In a few weeks the pups will be more independent and out of the den and it won’t be an issue. In the meantime, those of us who choose to use this wild area for our recreation should exercise some caution and leave our dogs at home.
PS. I know two of the dogs who have been chased off (and yes, bitten) by this trio of coyotes, but I also have friends who went down (sans dogs) and watched the pups play on the trail yesterday. Initially the adult coyotes were anxious, but once they realized the humans were no threat, they actually wandered off, leaving the pups within 10 feet of the people. I’m not advocating going down there, by any means, but it does show that the coyotes are not aggressive towards humans who are down there without dogs.
tfs1969 on Dogs not welcome near South Hill bluff coyote den on April 30 at 8:31 a.m.
No doubt. I’ve always hated the way coyote season is “always open” if you live in the country. I see plenty of carcasses in the Palouse that are shot “just because.”
But this is different - these animals are in the middle of a residential area, frequented by bikers / runners / children and pets, and have already shown they aren’t afraid of humans. In this particular case, I would have no problem with the DOFW killing this aggressive pack.
spokesfolk on Dogs not welcome near South Hill bluff coyote den on April 29 at 8:21 a.m.
Wasn’t mentioned about the danger to children.
It’s coyote hunting season, right?
richl on Coyotes attack dogs on South Hill bluff trails on April 28 at 1:34 p.m.
After publishing the story about the attack on Arch’s Labs, I’ve had reports today of dogs being attached by coyotes on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday in the same area of the South Hill bluff. There’s clearly something territorial going on there. Leashing dogs is highly recommended.
TK McGuinness on Coyotes attack dogs on South Hill bluff trails on April 27 at 9:29 p.m.
I am sorry to hear about your pups, Arch. Could be that you were too close to the den for their comfort. I have long advocated for leashing dogs. Especially on the HDB trails. Far too many users on too narow a trail to let their companions roam free. This serves as a reminder that we ALL share this environment, humans, canines and wild animals. (BTW there is at least one black bear that lives between high Drive and Hatch)
donk on 9 X 8 bull elk is Pennsylvania state record on April 25 at 12:00 p.m.
Sounds like a great place to introduce wolves!
mikewsu on Leadman Triathlon to descend on Silver Mountain on April 25 at 8:54 a.m.
Doesn’t look like there will be any snow/slush this year to ride through (biking section). Sierra Nevada Road was all mud last weekend.
metaline on $73,000 in fines for wolf poaching: a slap on the wrist? on April 23 at 9:09 p.m.
I am completely against wolves being back in Washington. That being said, they intentionally broke the law and should be punished. We have a court system that is there to determine guilt and administer penalties. Our emotions shouldn’t be a deciding factor. No one would ever get a fair trial if public sentiment was a factor.
IdahoHunter on $73,000 in fines for wolf poaching: a slap on the wrist? on April 23 at 11:48 a.m.
They should thank them and pay them to kill more wolves. CL Occidentallis is a non native invasive species that needs removed from the Northern Rockies. Perhaps the USFWS and Defenders of Wildlife should have tried to restore the native CL Irremodus like they are doing with the Red Wolf before transplanting these invasive predators? Did I say Defenders of Wildlife? My mistake, I meant Destroyers of Wildlife!!!!!!