Earth Day | The Filson Journal

man wearing a US forest service attire standing next to a black and white dog perched on a high stump

Karelian Bear Dogs: Hunter Turned Protector

A better way to mitigate non-lethal interactions between humans and bears: an ancient breed of hunting dogs, Karelian’s have been used by Finnish hunters for centuries to hunt large animals such as bears and elk

5 Min

Profiles

Oceans Initiative: on a mission to protect marine life

Conservation scientist Erin Ashe, PhD, says we all have a “cetacean story”: the moment in our lives when we realize that whales and dolphins—the spellbinding mammals she studies—exist. Ashe was four years old when hers happened. A family of orcas swam below her aunt’s cliffside home on San Juan Island in the state of Washington, announcing their presence with the unmistakable whoosh of air being exhaled through blowholes. Ashe was awestruck, and insatiably curious about the 12,000-pound creatures—a feeling that would direct the course of her studies and, eventually, her life’s work.

2 Min

a blonde haired woman wearing hiking gear standing in a forest looking off into the distance

Field Notes

A Sea Change in Southeast Alaska

The USDA’s proposed Southeast Alaska Sustainability Strategy charts new management direction for the Tongass, centered on the responsible stewardship of public land and water. Learn more about the initiatives taking place and how you can support the Tongass.

9 Min

Profiles

THE PASSION: RANGE RIDER DANIEL CURRY

As a range rider, Daniel Curry patrols the rugged wilderness of Colville National Forest in eastern Washington through all seasons and weather. He will spend weeks working tirelessly day and night with his dogs to protect both the grey wolf population and cattle that graze on public lands.

4 Min

black and white of a woman on the deck of a lookout towner looking out at something through binoculars

Profiles

The Woman on the Mountain: Christine Estrada

Christine Estrada, a fire lookout, having visited 93 of the remaining lookouts across Washington State, works tirelessly during fire season to spot, report and communicate with fire teams on the ground, reducing the impact of wildfires in the Methow Valley.

4 Min

Profiles

The Margins of Art, Science, & Superstition: Dr. J. Drew Lanham

J. Drew Lanham is an ornithologist, a professor of wildlife ecology at Clemson University, and a poet, naturalist, and hunter-conservationist. A prolific writer, he has authored the award-winning memoir, The Home Place: Memoirs of a Colored Man’s Love Affair with Nature. A passionate outdoorsman, Lanham lives his subject matter, fully committed to a life integrated with nature.

5 Min