Hosted by Friends of the White Salmon River:
Talk Description:
A powerful talk on Western Gray Squirrel, one of Washington’s cutest yet imperiled native rodents.
Only three populations of these squirrels remain, and the largest of them is right here in Klickitat County. Discover what makes this small but mighty species vital to our forest ecosystems, and why it was uplisted from “threatened” to “endangered” in Washington State. We’ll explore the dramatic population decline in Klickitat County over the past 25 years and unpack the factors behind it.
Whether you are curious about local wildlife, a concerned resident, or someone who believes in the power of grassroots conservation, we hope you'll leave inspired to share what you learned. We’ll dig into how you can become part of Friends of the White Salmon River’s effort to protect Western Gray Squirrel habitat in Klickitat County by monitoring Forest Practice Applications.
Click here if you would like receive Friends of the White Salmon River's newsletter to stay updated on their work and ways to get involved.
Speaker Bios:
Bill Weiler served as a Wildlife Biologist with the Washington and Oregon Departments of Fish & Wildlife for 20 years, where he specialized in Western Gray Squirrel and spotted owl conservation. In 1996, Bill created the Gorge-wide SECRETS of Our Forest Home Environmental Education program, now facilitated by the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center. He has authored several books including "Don't Run from Bears," and "The Earth Speaks." His next book, "The Forest Outside My Door" is scheduled for publication in 2026. Bill lives on 20 acres of oak woodland northeast of Lyle, WA. He is the Board Chair of Friends of the White Salmon River.
Pat Arnold has been part of volunteer environmental activism since she was born. She moved to Trout Lake in 1991 to take a position as production manager at Trout Lake Farms. Pat holds degrees from Vassar College, A.B. sociology and English; the Cambridge-Goddard School for Social Change, M.A. women’s history; and the California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, M.S Agriculture. She’s a graduate of the California Agricultural Leadership Program. Pat is the Executive Director of Friends of the White Salmon River.
Details:
Where: The Missing Corner, 1256 WA-141 BZ Corner, WA
Time: 6-7:30pm followed by Q & A
Cost: Sliding Scale $5-15; Walk-ins welcomed as space allows
This talk is presented in collaboration with The Missing Corner to foster learning, connection, and collective care for our local environment and community.
Can you Spot the Squirrel? (Photo from Bill Weiler, Western Gray Squirrel – North of Lyle)