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  Forest Service axes research stations as severe fire season threatens Pacific Northwest

  The U.S. Forest Service is shutting down research stations around the country, including centers in Portland, Seattle, and Wenatchee, Washington.

  • John Ryan
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  This small town near Mount Rainier comes together for community — and meat

  Mineral, Washington is tucked deep in the foothills of Mount Rainier. There are not a lot of residents there, and not a lot of jobs. But, this town of only a couple hundred knows how to take care of each other — and they have a good time doing it, too.

  • Casey Martin
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  How will the government shutdown hit Washington state? It depends

  As Washington state braces for the first shutdown since 2019 — the longest in history at 35 days — a number of state and federal governments announced their operations would be unaffected. But at some agencies, impacts are still a question-mark — particularly the longer the shutdown lasts.

  • Scott Greenstone
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  'Look a cougar in the eye' and other surprising PNW hiking safety tips

  What should you do if you encounter a cougar on a mountain trail or in your own backyard? The answer might surprise you.

  • Stephen Howie
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  Unkept trails, cancelled programs. Washington state feels the impact of federal forest cuts

  Dozens of people across Washington state who worked at national parks and forests have lost their jobs in recent weeks, as part of sweeping overhaul of the federal workforce by President Donald Trump. Those firings could cause ripple effects across state programs that benefit hikers, backpackers, and mountain bikers.

  • Casey Martin
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  Wildfire experts in Washington state warn of fallout from Trump’s Forest Service cuts

  President Donald Trump has fired more than 3,400 employees at the U.S. Forest Service, raising questions about the capacity of the federal agency to coordinate firefighting efforts this summer.

  • Patricia Murphy
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  Mount Rainier's chubby snowbird is now a threatened species

  A chubby bird that lives year-round in some of the Pacific Northwest’s most pristine habitats has been added to the nation’s roster of threatened species.

  • John Ryan
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  Mount Rainier visitors react to new timed entrance reservation policy

  If you want to visit Mount Rainier this summer, the time to plan your trip is now. That’s because for the first time, the park’s most popular entrances will require timed reservations. KUOW spoke to park visitors to hear what they think about the new rule.

  • Joshua McNichols
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  Still a chance to restore grizzly bears in Washington state

  The National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently announced the reopening considerations for how to help grizzly bears in the region.

  • Courtney Flatt
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  Hudson Canyon, a giant underwater chasm, could be the newest national marine sanctuary

  The site — comparable in size to the Grand Canyon — is about a hundred miles off the coast of New York City. It's home to a number of sensitive species including sperm whales and sea turtles.

  • Eric McDaniel

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