How people can enhance ecosystems to help fish and wildlife Often in outdoor learning and environmental education, youth are met with an array of complex environmental issues they will face in their lifetime. We know that today’s natural resource problems such as climate change, habitat and biodiversity loss, and invasive species are all anthropogenic, or human caused. …

With Governor Inslee’s signing of the capital budget this spring, a plan to restore the Duckabush Estuary in Jefferson County is becoming more of a reality. For almost a century, a 10-foot-high wall of fill dirt — measuring about 30,000 cubic yards, or enough to fill about nine Olympic-sized swimming…

In some families, tradition means saying a certain toast at Christmas dinner or vacationing in the same spot every August. In Brandon Clayton’s family, tradition means catching big fish. Clayton, who moved to Spokane from Bellingham earlier this year, recently joined two family members as state record holders for…

Threatened, endangered, sensitive, protected … what does it all mean? In this blog, we’ll learn about different listing statuses for species in Washington in need of dedicated conservation action. The listing status is just one of several conservation categories that a species in Washington can be included in. Make sure…

There’s plenty of Chinook, coho and pink salmon fishing to be had in Washington waters over the coming months, and here are best bets. Part I of II Story originally published in Northwest Sportsman Magazine May issue The long salmon season setting process known as North of Falcon was completed…

If you live in Washington, chances are you live in bear country. One way we can coexist with bears is by not feeding them or attracting them to our homes. Visit wdfw.wa.gov/blackbears to learn how you can help. Black bears may be present nearly anywhere in our state, including suburban areas and greenbelts near towns and neighborhoods. Washingtonians have a responsibility to take simple precautions to help avoid conflicts that can put both people and wildlife at risk. In fact, state law prohibits feeding or attracting bears and large wild carnivores.

This spring, whether you are driving into the woods at oh-dark-thirty to call turkeys, dusting off your paddleboarding gear, digging delicious razor clams, or photographing spring birds on public lands, you might encounter a Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) law enforcement officer in your outdoor pursuits. Through our…

2023 field season underway; increased emphasis on Willapa Bay and Grays Harbor. The following highlights are excerpted from our March/April European Green Crab Public Update. European Green Crab (EGC) Incident Command objectives continue to include reduction of EGC populations to below levels harmful to environmental, economic, or cultural resources. More…

It was another notable opening day of trout fishing. April showers. Chilly temperatures. Layers of enthusiasm tucked into layers of warm clothing. A splash of decent fishing. Stringers of trout. And most of all smiling faces. That was just some of the reaction seen and feedback heard on Saturday’s opening…