ecology

“The amount of information that comes out of this colony is unprecedented. It's amazing. It has contributed to nine different topics of discovery for the whole species. So, it's pretty incredible.”

(Runtime 3:42) CORRECTION 4/10/25: An earlier version misstated how poisoning, trapping and shooting had affected burrowing owls numbers. The poisoning,…

(Runtime 1:07)A closed landfill just outside Pasco, Washington, is leaking harmful chemicals into the groundwater. However, regulators say the leak seems…

(Runtime 1:03)After the Hansen Road fire burned along the hills just outside Benton City in southeastern Washington this past summer, signs of life are…

(Runtime 3:51)Marsha Stipe lives in Richland where, pretty much every day, she goes for a walk on a scenic path along the Columbia River.“Well, they’re…

The recognition of Soap Lake’s healing properties goes back centuries — first used by Native tribes to treat a variety of ailments. Then, Russian…

(Runtime 2:03) The Tri-cities region is on notice by state and national environmental agencies over its ozone levels. The geography of the Columbia Basin…

Northwest truffles – the fungi, not the chocolate – are becoming more popular. One reason people are finding new uses for the local delicacies is a growing trend in how they’re harvested: with dogs.

Historically, the Yakama Nation Tribal School was a school “of last resort,” says principal Adam Strom, where students came after they could no longer attend other area schools. That’s changing. He says courses like this one in environmental science and natural resources are a big reason why.

Deforestation, climate change and the disturbances it can exacerbate – like wildfires, extreme droughts and insect outbreaks – are decimating old growth forests across the globe. That means forests worldwide are filling in with younger and shorter trees, according to a new study.