BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Think Wild and Cascadia Wild have partnered to expand rare carnivore monitoring efforts in Central Oregon through volunteer-powered community science. The program will deploy trained volunteers to the Deschutes and Ochoco National Forests to track wolverines, wolves and other sensitive species. The initiative builds on Cascadia Wild’s Wolverine Tracking Project, which
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SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — White-nose syndrome – which has killed millions of bats across North America – has been detected for the first time in Oregon bats, found in Columbia and Benton counties, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife said Wednesday. White-nose syndrome is caused by an infection with the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans that disrupts hibernation,
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BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Think Wild Central Oregon is caring for its third seriously injured bald eagle already this year. But while the first two didn’t survive 24 hours after arriving at the Bend wildlife hospital, this bald eagle – America’s official symbol – has made it through a week of care and is doing well. The adult
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PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A pair of frisky young bongos, a critically endangered species of African antelope, is settling in at the Oregon Zoo — grazing in the grass, playfully sparring with one another and exploring their new habitat. “Banjo and Bentley are curious, engaged and active, just like young bongos should be,” said Kelly Gomez,
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(Update: adding video of bald eagle) BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The folks at Think Wild Central Oregon wildlife hospital are thrilled to care for rescued animals of every persuasion, with a typical goal of returning them to the wild. So this was a sad week, as they were unable to save two adult bald eagles – America’s official symbol – for very different reasons. Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office
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UPDATE: KTVZ News has learned from ODFW that the animal in the pictures provided to KTVZ is most likely a wolf. BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A Deschutes County resident shared pictures with KTVZ News of what appeared to be a wolf on the west bank of the Deschutes River near the Bill Healy Bridge on
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(Update: Video Added) BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — This Valentine’s Day, Think Wild is partnering with local businesses to offer local, sustainable gifts and delivery services throughout Central Oregon. “Purchase a gift package for a friend, tweet-heart, or significant otter, and support local wildlife!” the organization said in a news release Wednesday that continues below: Each
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BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – Winter is the most effective time to prevent wildlife conflicts before they start, Central Oregon’s Think Wild reminded property owners on Monday. “With many species less active, homeowners have a limited opportunity to address entry points, complete humane exclusions, and install habitat features that reduce conflicts before spring nesting and activity
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Move brought outrage from conservation groups, while drawing praise from ranchers and Republicans VALLEY FALLS, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Trump administration is moving to permanently delist the gray wolf from the Endangered Species Act, a decision spotlighting the struggles of a Southern Oregon ranch family at the heart of the nationwide debate. A Wolf at the Fence Line
Continue Reading WASHINGTON (KTVZ) — The U.S. House voted mostly along party lines Thursday to approve a bill that would remove Endangered Species Act protections for the gray wolf, a goal of Rep. Cliff Bentz, R-Ore., who has called the animals “killing machines” that threaten rural ranchers’ livelihoods. Rep. Janelle Bynum, D-Ore., along with four fellow Oregon
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EUGENE, Ore. (KTVZ)– New research from the University of Oregon has uncovered a hidden and potentially dangerous side effect of wildfires — the ability to turn naturally occurring nutrients in soil into toxic, cancer-causing metals. Scientists found that extreme heat from wildfires can convert chromium, a common micro-nutrient in Pacific Northwest soils, into a harmful
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SUNRIVER, Ore. (KTVZ) — KTVZ viewer Paul Evenson shared another Sunriver traffic report with us on Tuesday. He said these elk were on the move Tuesday morning, no doubt taking advantage of the unusually mild winter weather to do some traveling.
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BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Four annual winter range closures take effect next Monday across the Deschutes National Forest to provide critical habitat for deer and elk. The closure areas include Cabin/Silver Lake, Metolius Winter Range, Opine Travel Management Area and Tumalo Winter Range. Motorized vehicles (including snowmobiles and e-bikes) are prohibited in the closure areas,
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SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Oregon Department of Agriculture announced Friday it has issued temporary rules to help reduce the risk of spreading Equine Herpes Virus (EHV)/Equine Herpes Myeloencephalopathy. The rules filed on Wednesday “will immediately strengthen Oregon’s ability to prevent the entry and spread of EHV/EHM by requiring additional safeguards for horses entering the state or attending high-risk events,”
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NEWPORT, Ore. (KTVZ) – The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is helping investigate the entanglement in crab fishing gear of a young humpback whale stranded earlier this week near Yachats. The whale was entangled in gear attributed by NOAA Fisheries to the Oregon commercial Dungeness crab fishery. Veterinarians from the West Coast Marine Mammal Stranding Network
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BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A resident of Bend’s Eastside shared with KTVZ News Wednesday a security camera video of an early-morning visitor: a fox. “Nightly visit from one of our local fox community,” Frank Starkey told us of the 2 a.m. video clip, which ends with the sound of his barking dog as the visiting
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Update: Adding video PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — It’s a good time to be a pika in Oregon, or a volunteer trained to spot them. New survey data from Cascades Pika Watch – which included Central Oregon for the first time – shows numbers of the potato-sized mammals, as well as the people who survey them, are on the
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KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. — The discovery of Chinook salmon swimming through irrigation canals in the Klamath Drainage District is prompting renewed concern about the lack of fish screens meant to protect both farmland and fish. Last week, Klamath Drainage District (KDD) staff spotted large dark shapes moving beneath the surface of the Ady Canal. The
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Update: Adding video BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — As wild birds begin to migrate during the transition into fall, the risk for transmission of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) to domestic birds will increase, as seen recently in five backyard poultry flocks, one in Deschutes County, the Oregon Department of Agriculture said Tuesday. So far in
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Update: Adding video PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) – A new Oregon Zoo license plate sponsored by the Oregon Zoo Foundation will be available at Oregon DMV, starting Nov. 3. The plate’s design is a nod to the Oregon Zoo’s endangered Asian elephant population and Portland’s nickname of the Rose City, DMV said in Monday’s announcement, which continues in full below: Artist Jeremy Nichols,
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