5/20 Northern spotted owl, hot earth, Iran oil slick, atrazine ok'd, Squamish wall, some PFSAs ok'd, Indigenous governance, fake eggs, democracy watch.

Northern spotted owl

 

 Northern spotted owl Strix occidentalis caurina
The northern spotted owl is the largest of three subspecies of spotted owls, and inhabits structurally complex forests from southwestern British Columbia, through Washington and Oregon, and into northern California. The northern spotted owl is relatively long-lived, has a long reproductive life span, invests significantly in parental care, and exhibits high adult survivorship relative to other North American owls. It is listed as threatened. (FWS)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Politics, patricide and soccer — British Columbia’s Bard on the Beach

Climate report says world won't get as hot as feared but will pass warming limit
Both the old best and worst case future scenarios in the fight against climate change are being jettisoned by the world’s top scientists as they prepare the next series of huge United Nations reports. Seth Borenstein reports. (Associated Press) 

Oil Slick Reaches a Pristine Persian Gulf Island in Iran
Videos show birds, turtles and crabs trapped inside mounds of tar around Shidvar island, a protected wildlife sanctuary with turquoise waters and white sand beaches. Sanam MahooziErika Solomon and Devon Lum report. (NY Times) 

E.P.A. Clears a Weedkiller, Saying It Won’t Push Species to Extinction
The finding effectively paves the way for continued use of atrazine, a widely used herbicide that has been linked to birth defects and cancer in humans. Hiroko Tabuchi reports. (NY Times) 

Fearing a Killer Landslide, Squamish Builds a $115-Million Wall
History shows what could happen. Is this ambitious response enough? Lauren Watson reports. (The Tyee) 

E.P.A. to End Some Limits on ‘Forever Chemicals’ in Drinking Water
The Trump administration announced Monday that it will drop some limits on “forever chemicals” in drinking water that officials had determined can cause cancer and other serious health problems — angering some key activists who had supported President Trump’s campaign. Lisa Friedman reports. (NY Times) 

When Indigenous Peoples Steward the Land, Nature Wins
The author of a new study says more needs to be done to support Indigenous governance. Michelle Gamage reports. (The Tyee) 

To revive an extinct bird, you first need an artificial egg

Colossal Biosciences, a Texas company trying to bring extinct species back to life, reports creating artificial eggs that would be necessary to revive extinct birds such as the dodo. Rob Stein reports. (NPR) 

Democracy Watch

• Federal judge rebuffs bid to toss WA legislative maps (Washington State Standard) 
• Steep drop in number of people with Affordable Care Act health coverage, analysis finds (NPR) 
• Trump discloses thousands of stock trades, some in companies directly influenced by his policies (AP) 

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Here's your tug weather— 
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  253 PM PDT Tue May 19 2026    
WED  E wind around 5 kt, backing to NW in the afternoon. Seas  4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W 6 ft at 10 seconds.  
WED NIGHT  W wind 5 to 10 kt, easing to around 5 kt after  midnight. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 5 ft at 11 seconds.

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"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. It is included as a daily feature in the Salish Current newsletter. Click here to subscribe. Questions? Email msato(at)salish-current.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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