Oregon Wildblog

The future of forest plans: A look east and west

When you’re out enjoying the spectacular national forests in Oregon, you’re probably not thinking about laws passed decades ago to require forest plans for these areas. But these plans, and the subsequent standards, guidelines, designations, and policies they create, make a huge difference in what you’ll experience at your favorite trail, river, or picnic spot. They certainly affect the lives of the wildlife that call these places home, the fish that swim in the streams, and the plants that thrive in the forest soil. 

Bureau of Land Management Bans Cyanide Devices!

In a landmark decision prioritizing wildlife conservation and public safety, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has implemented a nationwide ban on the use of M-44 cyanide devices on public lands it manages. M-44s, colloquially known as "cyanide bombs," have been deployed by federal and state agencies, notably fish and wildlife agencies, to kill predators. While designed to target specific animals, like coyotes, considered threats to livestock grazing on public lands, these devices have tragically resulted in the unintended deaths of non-targeted wildlife and domestic dogs.

November Wildlife Update: A new plan to safeguard Oregon's habitat corridors

‘Tis the season for giving thanks, and we couldn’t be more thankful for Oregon’s beautiful array of fish and wildlife, majestic forests, breathtaking coastline, and pristine waterways that make this state one of a kind. As much gratitude as we feel for this special place, we acknowledge it would be much more difficult to push back against those who seek to undermine it without your tenacious advocacy!

Fire and diversity in the Cedar Creek Fire area

Waldo Lake and the forests and trails all around it is one of my “happy places.” Every summer, I love to paddle and swim in the clear, deep blue water and pick huckleberries for camp breakfast. I’ve hiked through the young forest on the north side of the lake, recovering slowly from the Charlton Fire that severely burned the high-elevation area. And I included the Black Creek trail, leading from the west side of the Waldo Lake Wilderness through diverse forests to the edge of the lake, in my ancient forest hiking guide. 

Webcast: A River Through Time - The Upper Deschutes River Basin

Despite its location in the semi-arid climate of central Oregon's high desert, the Deschutes once had some of the most stable year-round flows in the world. It is also the world's largest spring-fed river. But where does the water in the Deschutes come from, and what happened to these historically stable flows?