12/3 Yew, stalking seabirds, BC pipe, eelgrass meadow, glacier photos, democracy watch

Pacific yew

Pacific yew Taxus brevifolia
The Pacific Yew is also called the Western Yew or sometimes the Oregon Yew.  Brevifolia means short leaves. The Pacific Yew is found from British Columbia to Northern California from the coast to the Cascades, on the western slope of the Sierra Nevadas and the western slope of the Rockies in B.C., Idaho and Montana. Yew wood was prized in both the old world and the new world for its strength and elasticity.  Loggers who were after the larger Douglas Fir, Hemlock and other trees of old growth forests did not have much regard for the Pacific Yew and many were destroyed in the process of harvesting the larger trees.  The plight of the Pacific Yew gained attention in the 1980s when it was discovered that its bark yielded the effective cancer-fighting drug, Taxol. (Native Plants of the PNW)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Can a new plan help revitalize Point Roberts’ economy?

Orcas stalk seabirds to hone hunting skills: researchers 
Bigg’s orcas were observed stalking seabirds in Puget Sound last month, a behaviour that researchers believe wasn’t hunting, but a practice to help them sharpen their hunting skills — and a form of play. Darron Kloster reports.(Suquamish Chief) 

Assembly of First Nations calls for withdrawal of Canada-Alberta pipeline deal 
Assembly of First Nations chiefs voted unanimously on Tuesday to demand the withdrawal of a new pipeline deal between Canada and Alberta, while expressing full support for First Nations on the British Columbia coast that strongly oppose the initiative. Brett Forester reports. (CBC)  

Snorkeling an Eelgrass Meadow
Apropos to yesterday's bay pipefish critter profile, Chris Rurik shares Part 1 of his survey of the state's most successful eelgrass restoration project to date. (Infinite Peninsula) 

Historic glacier photos hint at the future
One woman's devotion to documenting these huge ice formations in the late 1800s sheds light on what the PNW will look like when they are gone. Knute Berger writes. (CascadePBS) 

Democracy Watch

• Trump administration says it will withhold SNAP from Democrat-led states if they don’t provide data (AP) 
• White House intensifies push for mass deportation after National Guard shooting (Washington State Standard) 
• Trump says he doesn’t want Somalis in the US, urges them to go back to their homeland and fix it (AP) 

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Here's your tug weather— 
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  259 PM PST Tue Dec 2 2025    
WED  SE wind around 5 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 5 ft  at 14 seconds. A chance of rain.  
WED NIGHT  SE wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W  4 ft at 12 seconds. Rain.

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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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