12/26 Grizzly, ESA at 50, king tides, flood watch, Skagit oil spills, BC marmots, surfers, wildlife crossing

Grizzly bear [Jean Beaufort/Creative Commons]

Grizzly bear Ursus arctos horribilis
Grizzly bears are a member of the brown bear species, U. arctos, that occurs in North America, Europe and Asia. The subspecies U. a. horribilis is limited to North America and historically existed throughout much of the western half of the contiguous United States, central Mexico, western Canada and most of Alaska. Prior to 1800, an estimated 50,000 grizzly bears were distributed in one large contiguous area throughout all or portions of 18 western States.  

Endangered Species Act’s 50th anniversary: What 6 NW animals can tell us
The ESA turns 50 this month, and if beating extinction is the measure, the law has been a success. Of the more than 1,600 U.S. species listed for protection since the act’s inception, 99% have been rescued from the oblivion of extinction. Lynda V. Mapes, Isabella Breda, Amanda Zhou and Conrad Swanson report. (Seattle Times)

Western WA will see king tides this week, and maybe some flooding
With a series of exceptionally high tides expected to arrive this week, Seattle and other parts of Western Washington could see minor coastal flooding. Lauren Girgis reports. (Seattle Times)

Storm hits Metro Vancouver on Christmas, flood watch issued for Vancouver Island
B.C. Ferries cancels multiple South Coast sailings as storm makes landfall. (CBC)

Two accidents in one year show risks of oil industry to tribal nations, environment
In Skagit County, a connection on BP’s Olympic Pipeline system failed and released more than 25,000 gallons of gasoline, some into a farmer’s field and nearby salmon-bearing stream. Several months ago, near the shore of Padilla Bay, a train derailed shortly after departing a nearby oil refinery and two engines leaked thousands of gallons of diesel. These incidents aren’t unheard of for lands, critters and people in the shadow of fossil-fuel production infrastructure. All of Washington state’s oil refineries are near or on tribal reservations. Isabella Breda reports. (Seattle Times)

Baby boom of 59 pups helps endangered B.C. marmot toward recovery
Thanks to the new pups, there's been a 50 per cent increase in the total population since the end of last year, when there were 204 marmots. (Canadian Press)

Surfers to the Rescue
Surfers are just, like, totally stoked to help, bro. Alastair Bland reports. (Hakai Magazine)

Wildlife crossing planned for Highway 20
The Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians has received $8.5 million from the Federal Highway Administration to design and construct a wildlife crossing over Highway 20 near Hamilton. Plans are to put the crossing near Red Cabin Creek at milepost 76.2. Emma Fletcher-Frazer reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

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Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  255 AM PST Tue Dec 26 2023   
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH  WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON    
TODAY  S wind 5 to 15 kt becoming SE 10 to 20 kt in the  afternoon. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 15 ft at 14 seconds  subsiding to 13 ft at 14 seconds in the afternoon. Isolated  showers in the morning.  
TONIGHT  SE wind 20 to 30 kt becoming E 25 to 35 kt after  midnight. Combined seas 12 to 15 ft with a dominant period of  11 seconds. Rain.

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