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A century ago much of northeastern Oregon was covered in native grasses and shrubs, and home to thriving populations of unique plants and animals.  But a hundred years of development has taken its toll.  Huge chunks of the land near the Columbia River have been converted into potato and hay farms, and native species have been devastated.  Today much of the remaining fragile grasslands are owned by the state of Oregon, but these places, and the species that depend on them, could soon disappear as well.  The state has leased much of the remaining land to farmers, and many parcels are marked for development.

In an effort to protect the remaining grasslands and the species that depend on them, nearly a year ago Defenders of Wildlife, the Northwest Environmental Defense Center, and the Oregon Natural Desert Association asked that the Washington ground squirrel be included in the state of Oregon’s endangered species list.  This unique animal’s population has plummeted due to agricultural development, and its survival hangs in the balance.  It is estimated that in the last decade the Oregon populations of the squirrel have declined by 69 percent.

On Friday, January 21, the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission will make its final decision on whether or not to list the Washington ground squirrel as endangered.  This decision is critical to the future of the squirrel and has major implications for the remaining native grasslands.  The decision could also have a huge impact on the future use of water from the Columbia River, and in turn on threatened salmon and steelhead trout.  If the squirrel is listed future development in the region will have to abide by much stricter environmental rules, and it will become much harder to convert public wild lands in the area into private farms.

TAKE ACTION: Send a message to the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission!  The commission is facing an intense lobbying campaign from the agriculture industry designed to convince them to ignore the decline of the Washington ground squirrel.  If they are to make the right decision and list the squirrel, they MUST hear from concerned citizens like YOU!  Here is how you can make your voice heard:

•    Attend the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting and support the listing of the Washington ground squirrel as endangered and immediate protection of publicly owned native grasslands that are the squirrel’s habitat.  The meeting is Friday, January 21 in the Commission room at the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Headquarters Building, 2501 SW First Ave., Portland. A presentation on the squirrel’s biological status will begin between 8:30-9:00 a.m., with an opportunity for members of the public speak afterwards.

•    Sign on to a letter being submitted to the Commission in support of listing the squirrel as endangered under the state Endangered Species Act.  For more information contact Andy Johnson at (503) 697-3222, ajohnson (at) defenders (dot) org.