habitat restoration

Down between the train tracks along Ruston Way and the shoreline of Commencement Bay in Tacoma stand small, cedar-clad boxes. These tiny dwellings, hoisted about 16 feet above the ground, aren’t suitable for humans. These are new nesting boxes for birds, specifically purple martins.

Bird species are on the decline across the U.S. for all different reasons, including habitat loss. But a new program in Washington hopes to create bird habitat by using ranches.

Peter Lancaster has always had a love for rabbits. But when he first saw a pygmy rabbit – perhaps what would become the most influential animal throughout his life – he didn’t know what it was. That began years of work to try and save the species, now endangered in Washington.

Two summers ago, a firestorm swept through Ken Bevis’ land outside Winthrop. It scarred hillsides, destroyed homes and outbuildings. Bevis turned to his…