5/27 Trailing blackberry, green crab, salmon season, flushables, novel virus, WA zoos

Trailing blackberry [Shaun Hubbard/Burke Museum]

Trailing blackberry Rubus ursinus
The Stl'atl'imx and some Coast Salish have an origin myth for trailing blackberry. A woman was chased up a tree by a jealous husband.The blood of the woman fell from the tree and became blackberry. Trailing blackberry is a commonly (and often unpleasantly) encountered blackberry. Its 'clinging' tendencies are more than compensated for by its excellent late summer fruit. Trailing blackberry is our only native blackberry. (Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast)

Search for invasive green crab continues during pandemic
This is a story of a region struggling to withstand a menace that recently arrived—one that, by the time you realize it is here, may have already spread beyond any hope of containing it. Now, officials at all levels of government scramble to detect it as quickly as they can, which may be the only way to forestall the most devastating of its consequences. Whether or not they succeed will have profound implications both for local lives and livelihoods. We refer, of course, to the European green crab. Eric Wagner writes. (Salish Sea Currents Magazine)

Comment period opens for salmon seasons
The state Department of Fish and Wildlife is seeking public comment on proposed rules for this year’s recreational and commercial salmon fishing seasons. These fishing rules are a culmination of the annual North of Falcon process, which gathers state, federal and tribal fishery managers to plan the Northwest’s recreational and commercial salmon fisheries. To see the full rules package, go here.  The public can submit comments online here. Vince Richardson reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Clogged sewer problems made worse by coronavirus pandemic
Local utility districts have been warning for some time of issues with so-called ‘flushable’ wet wipes. Despite what the labels on many packages say, they are much too durable to be flushed. If sent down the loo, they damage pipes, pumps and entire sewer systems. Bellamy Pailthorp reports. (KNKX)

Novel virus could spread rapidly among endangered orcas
Some Northwest residents don’t do social distancing well, which leaves them vulnerable to an outbreak of a highly contagious respiratory virus. These residents are orcas. The virus is called cetacean morbillivirus. John Ryan reports. (KUOW)

Washington’s zoos can reopen in limited capacity under second phase of Inslee’s four-part coronavirus reopening plan
Washington zoos will be able to reopen outdoor exhibits and allow people back under limited capacity during the second phase of Gov. Jay Inslee’s four-part coronavirus recovery plan. Zoos with safety plans can reopen immediately, as long as they are in a county already approved for the plan’s second phase. according to guidance released Tuesday by Inslee’s office. Neither Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle nor Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium in Tacoma are in counties cleared to proceed to the second phase. The guidelines say zoos can only reopen outdoor exhibits, with their crowd capacity capped at 25%. Joseph O'Sullivan reports. (Seattle Times)



Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  237 AM PDT Wed May 27 2020   
TODAY  E wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 4 ft  at 13 seconds. 
TONIGHT  NW wind to 10 kt becoming W after midnight. Wind waves  1 ft or less. SW swell 3 ft at 14 seconds.




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