Uncategorized – Page 2 – Wild Columbia County

Rare and extirpated butterflies of Northwest Oregon

rare endangered butterflies of oregon columbia county willamette valley coast range

Butterflies are often among the most endangered of insects. Some of their caterpillars can only survive on select host plants, so if their habitats are destroyed and the host plants disappear, the butterflies disappear as well. Of the 65 species of butterfly native to northwest Oregon, 15 are now rare or missing entirely. (“Extirpated” isContinue reading “Rare and extirpated butterflies of Northwest Oregon”

Death on the trail – waterfall safety

Waterfalls of Columbia County northwest oregon beaver falls tide creek little jack bonnie carcus lava keasey

I’m going to introduce our new waterfalls page in a roundabout way. Safety comes first. Falls from heights are our greatest natural danger, killing more hikers than heat, cold, lightning, or wild animals. Unfortunately, beautiful waterfalls bring the greatest risk of serious injury or death. In 2009 I was surveying a small waterfall on theContinue reading “Death on the trail – waterfall safety”