Welcome to the WA-TWS Wildlife Webinar Series!

About the presentation: Climate change, increased human development, and changes in natural food availability all contribute to black bear (skəḿxíst; Ursus americanus) use of human-inhabited areas and can elicit human-black bear conflict. The bears of Washington's Methow Valley are facing challenges from increased megafires, a recent surge in development, and climate change affecting their natural food sources. While human-black bear conflict is common across the mountain west, the Methow Valley is in a position to examine and mitigate these factors before conflict becomes a widespread, persistent problem. We are working to increase black bear awareness and foster coexistence through community science monitoring and outreach efforts.

About the presenter: Clara is HRWR's Research and Education Assistant. She worked on the Lynx trapping effort this winter, and is delighted to be able to continue working for Home Range. She has worked seasonally on a variety of projects since earning her B.A. in Biology from Whitman College, including songbird rehabilitation, deer and elk neonatal mortality, snowpack science and salmon ecology.  Drawn to working outside and large scale ecology, working with Home Range has been a dream come true!