Idaho’s Parachuting Beavers Build Forest Resilience
In 1948, Idaho Fish and Game began parachuting “nuisance” beavers into the backcountry in spring-loaded boxes that opened upon landing. The “nuisance” began in the wake of WWII as prosperity returned to the nation and more reliable automobiles allowed people to...
Forest Service Authorizes Heavy Equipment in Wilderness
“Forest Service leaders in the Pacific Northwest have authorized the use of heavy equipment and fire retardant to suppress wildfires in Roadless and Wilderness Areas,” reads a press release from the Forest Service. “When we approve the use of heavy equipment and...
Utah Seeks Control of Federal Lands
In 2015, a Republican-led commission of Utah legislators voted to file a lawsuit challenging U.S. government control of federal lands in the state. Almost a decade later, Utah’s Republican governor and attorney general are following through by petitioning the U.S....
Record Retardant Drops From Medford Air Tanker Base
Planes launched from the Medford Air Tanker Base in Oregon have dropped 1.7 million gallons of fire retardant so far this year, breaking the airbase’s previous record set during the 2023 fire season. The Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest announced the new record on...
Great Britain’s Sequoias Outnumber California’s 6-1
Sequoias are thriving in Great Britain, both giant sequoias (Sequoia giganteum) and coastal redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens). Scientists with the Royal Society report that some stands have matched the average growth rates of similar-aged sequoias in their natural...
Forest Service Releases Seasonal Employees
The U.S. Forest Service has suspended the hiring of all seasonal employees with the exception of firefighters for the 2025 fiscal year due to anticipated budget shortfalls. Letters sent to regional leadership teams were leaked via social media site Reddit, prompting...
Ottawa National Forest
The Ottawa National Forest encompasses 1 million acres on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, extending from the south shore of Lake Superior to the Wisconsin state line. The Forest is home to abundant wildlife, scenic views, rolling hills, lakes, rivers, waterfalls, and...
Fire Retardant in Wine Country
The Point Fire burned 1,200 acres in Sonoma County in June. Lago di Merlo Vineyards lost a few vines to the fire, but it faces an uncertain future after an errant fire retardant drop painted a 20-acre swath of grapevines bright red. The Press Democrat reports that...
Judge Halts Illegal Logging Project in Montana
Federal Judge Dana Christensen halted the Horsefly Vegetation Project in the Little Belt Mountains in Lewis and Clark National Forest. Judge Kathleen DeSoto had ruled that both the Forest Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service hadn’t properly considered a...