March 1, 2012
With Leslie Parks, University of Washington PhD Candidate.

As part of our Thursday Soup Night and Presentation Series at the North Cascades Basecamp 5:30 pm soup dinner, 6:00 – 7:30pm presentation.  $5.00 to the public; free to guests.

Although the mountain goat (Oreamnos americanus) is not globally threatened, mountain goat populations in Washington have declined by approximately 70% since the 1950s. Historic overhunting from 1950s through the 1980s is likely the cause of this decline, but many populations in the Washington Cascades have not recovered and some historical habitat remains unoccupied despite reduced hunting pressure. Previous work found that anthropogenic factors, particularly transportation corridors, limit mountain goat dispersal among populations. Small, isolated populations are susceptible to genetic, environmental and demographic factors that reduce population viability. My research seeks to understand the genetic structure of mountain goat herds in Washington and southern British Columbia and to identify potential barriers to gene flow among these populations.

February 23, 2012
With Peter Neitlich, Natural Resources Program Manager for the Western Arctic National Parklands.

As part of our Thursday Soup Night and Presentation Series at the North Cascades Basecamp 5:30 pm soup dinner, 6:00 – 7:30pm presentation.  $5.00 to the public; free to guests.

This talk will provide an overview of arctic landscapes and research into on-the-ground effects of climate change in the US’s northernmost national parks.  Of special note will be emerging coastal issues including walruses, polar bears and yellow-billed loons; permafrost and its thaw; and lichens, the dietary staple of the world’s largest migratory herd–the Western Arctic Caribou Herd. We will also take a look at current and emerging development issues such including mining and oil production in the Chukchi Sea.

February 16, 2012
With John Morgan, owner and wine maker of Lost River Winery.

As part of our Thursday Soup Night and Presentation Series at the North Cascades Basecamp 5:30 pm soup dinner, 6:00 – 7:30pm presentation.  $5.00 to the public; free to guests.

John Morgan, Winemaker/Owner/Partner of Lost River Winery presents an overview of the Glacial Lake Missoula Floods and how these repeated floods contributed to the diversity of Washington’s Columbia Valley AVA (American Viticultural Area) grape growing region.  The evening presentation will include a selection of Lost River wines to sample, grown in these soils.

February 9, 2012
With John Rohrer, District Wildlife Biologist, Methow Valley Ranger District.

As part of our Thursday Soup Night and Presentation Series at the North Cascades Basecamp 5:30 pm soup dinner, 6:00 – 7:30pm presentation.  $5.00 to the public; free to guests.

We’ll learn about the basic ecology and life history of the northern pacific rattlesnake, but focus mainly on what researchers have learned using radio telemetry the last several years regarding winter dens and seasonal migration patterns here in the Methow Valley.

February 2, 2012
With Peter Singleton, Wildlife Biologist, USFS Forestry Sciences Research Lab, University of WA PhD Candidate.

As part of our Thursday Soup Night and Presentation Series at the North Cascades Basecamp 5:30 pm soup dinner, 6:00 – 7:30pm presentation.  $5.00 to the public; free to guests.

Whooo’s that hooting at my door??? Spotted owls, barred owls, and ecological surprises… Come join us as we take a moon-lit evening excursion to try to call in some owls, talk about the owl community in the North Cascades, and discuss Peter’s research on two of it’s most famous members: spotted owls and barred owls. Spotted owls have been a long-time resident of old forests in the North Cascades, and many of you will be familiar with the notoriety that they gained during debates over forest management in the 1980’s and 90’s. The ecological surprise has been the rapid expansion of the spotted owls’ eastern cousin; the barred owl. Barred owls were first recorded in the North Cascades in the late 1970’s and have become quite abundant in many areas over the last 20 years. During that same time, spotted owls have gone extinct in the wild in British Columbia and populations have declined substantially in Washington. Come join us as we discuss Peter’s research into the fascinating community ecology behind the interactions between these two birds.

January 26, 2012
with Gary Koehler, retired research scientist, WA Dept of Fish and Wildlife

As part of our Thursday Soup Night and Presentation Series at the North Cascades Basecamp 5:30 pm soup dinner, 6:00 – 7:30pm presentation.  $5.00 to the public; free to guests.

The North Cascades are on the south end of the boreal forest in North America, and therefore the lynx of the Cascades are on the edge of their southern range.  There numbers are in decline, which may be a function of climate change, land management, and other uncertainties.  Come learn about the lynx of the Okanogan highlands and what researchers are learning about lynx and their interactions with the boreal forests of the Cascades.

January 19, 2012
With Joe Reichert, Denali National Park Mountaineering Ranger.

As part of our Thursday Soup Night and Presentation Series at the North Cascades Basecamp 5:30 pm soup dinner, 6:00 – 7:30pm presentation.  $5.00 to the public; free to guests.

Bring your enthusiasm for the virtual tour and if your interest is piqued I will be able to help you get ready for the real deal.  Join one of Denali National Park’s mountaineering rangers for an introduction to climbing Denali via the West Buttress.