For SMEA‘s Kiki Jenkins, engaging people is the key to saving animals. Read about Kiki’s work, and her recently awarded Sloan Research Fellowship, here! 

Even with two fishing tournaments that harvest up to 50,000 lake trout every year from Flathead Lake, authorities from the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes say angling alone isn’t making a significant enough dent in the population of the non-native species. The tribes have gathered a panel of experts, including SAFS‘ Dave Beauchamp, to examine how removal of the non-native trout might actually harm the native fishes in the lake. 

Next month, a federal court judge will try to put a value on something that’s somewhat priceless: trees stolen from the Olympic National Forest.  The trees in question include old-growth fir, six feet across, that laid down roots before the Revolutionary War; they include intricately patterned maple destined to become high-end musical instruments; they include cedar for shingle or shake.  Read more about this issue. 

The number of confirmed gray wolves and wolf packs in the state nearly doubled during the past year, according a new survey, which based on field reports and aerial monitoring in 2012 found at least 51 wolves in nine packs, with five successful breeding pairs. Read more about this survey and what it means for wolf populations in the state.