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Wolverine Science Pub – Ketchum, ID

Conjure up an image of a reclusive creature with the profile of a giant armadillo, the proportions and grace of a river otter, and the thick mane of a grizzly. As if dropped out of one’s imagination or taken from the crayon-scribbled colorings of our childhood, the North American wolverine is a perfect mish-mash of our most fanciful wildlife dreams, come to life for real. And, at long last, the creature, in all its untamed wildness, has been protected under the Endangered Species Act. Join Idaho Conservation League’s Wildlife Program Associate, Jeff Abrams, for a presentation on this remarkable species – one that takes refuge in the mountains surrounding the Wood River Valley! No RSVP or scientific background is required. Just bring your curiosity, sense of humor, and appetite for drinks and knowledge.

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2024 Thinking Globally, Acting Locally Speaker Series – Sierra Robatcek – “Wildlife Migration and Status in the Valley”

Join the Wood River Land Trust and The Community Library this winter to discuss how we can take local action in the face of global and regional challenges. “Wildlife Migration and Status in the Valley” WITH SIERRA ROBATCEK Idaho Fish & Game Regional Wildlife Biologist – Her research focused on modeling pregnancy rates of elk in Idaho, as a function of habitat quality and habitat use. M.S., Natural Resources – University of Idaho FOR MORE INFORMATION ON TIMES AND HOW TO REGISTER VISIT COMLIB.ORG

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2024 Thinking Globally, Acting Locally Speaker Series – Evan Thomas – “Valuing Water to Survive Climate Change”

Join the Wood River Land Trust and The Community Library this winter to discuss how we can take local action in the face of global and regional challenges. “Valuing Water to Survive Climate Change” WITH EVAN THOMAS PhD, PE, MPH Professor Mortenson Endowed Chair in Global Engineering Director, Mortenson Center in Global Engineering and Resilience Director, Climate Innovation Collaboratory – University of Colorado Boulder FOR MORE INFORMATION ON TIMES AND HOW TO REGISTER VISIT COMLIB.ORG

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Think Globally, Act Locally Speaker Series – Jon Ambrose -“The Latest Science on the Big Wood River”

Join the Wood River Land Trust and The Community Library this winter to discuss how we can take local action in the face of global and regional challenges “The Latest Science on the Big Wood River” WITH JON AMBROSE Pacific Northwest Hydrology Director at Environmental Science Associates Master of Science Hydrology and Geosciences – Colorado State University FOR MORE INFORMATION ON TIMES AND HOW TO REGISTER VISIT COMLIB.ORG

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Conversations with the Dean: Wildfires and Open Space Management

Blaine County, Idaho – Join the Wood River Land Trust, Idaho Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, and University of Idaho for a community conversation with Dennis Becker, Dean of the College of Natural Resources. Dennis will share his expertise on how the Wood River Valley community can mitigate and respond to wildland fires with cross-sector solutions. Scott Boettger, President of the Wood River Land Trust says, “In 2013, when the Beaver Creek fire burned 114,000 acres in our backyard, only one structure was lost. Credit is due to our local firefighters, as well as our local zoning codes— restricting development on hillsides and up remote drainages better prepared us to fight the fire.” In light of Dennis’ research and Blaine County’s wildfire history, Planning Director Cece Osborn at the Wood River Land Trust will discuss the interface between our built environment, community efforts, and surrounding open spaces. Tess O’Sullivan, The Nature Conservancy’s Land Conservation Strategy Lead, will share information about the Conservancy’s statewide approach to building resilient forests that includes the use of prescribed fire. Solutions to wildfires are multi-faceted, reliant on regional coordination, and key to preserving our community’s natural resources. Join us in a community conversation at Ketchum …

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The New Era of Conservation: What Working Landscapes Bring to the Table

Western Landowners Alliance presents this panel discussion on the New Era of Conservation in advance of and in partnership with the Trailing of the Sheep Festival. The conversation will focus on the importance of both private and public lands, the critical role of agriculture in conservation, and obstacles that landowners face in stewarding these landscapes. The panel will also touch on the idea of stewardship beyond boundaries: the need for all of us—landowners, sportsmen, recreationalists, ranchers, urban residents—to look beyond the boundaries of our land or immediate self-interests. Panelists will include Lesli Allison, the CEO of the Western Landowners Alliance, Cameron Westcamp, the Operations Manager for Rinker Rock Creek Ranch, and a local producer. The discussion will be moderated by Eric Winford, Associate Director of the University of Idaho Rangeland Center.

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SIHA Summer Series

Join the Sawtooth Interpretive & Historical Association for their 16th annual Sawtooth Forum & Lecture Series at the Stanley Museum, 5pm every other Friday June 30-August 25. June 30: Grizzly Bears and the Bitterroot and Central Idaho Wilderness presented by Steve Nadeau, Wildlife Biologist July 14: What Lies Beneath: How the Idaho Batholith Influenced the Yellowstone- Snake River Plain Supervolcanoes presented by Kathrine Potter, PhD July 28: Multiple Voices, Varied Spaces: Literature and History in the American West presented by Amanda J. Zink, PhD August 11: Seeking Beauty: The Wanderings of a Vagabond presented by Ed Cannady, Photographer and retired SNRA Backcountry Manager August 25: Advocates For Our Future: A Youth Perspective on Salmon Recovery presented by Lilly Wilson, Salmon Youth Protectors September 22 at The Community Library in Ketchum: The Salmon Way: An Alaska State of Mind presented by Amy Gulick, Photographer and Author

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Summer, Uncategorized, Winter

Locals Guide to Driving & Parking around Sun Valley

Chief Deputy for the Blaine County Sheriff’s Department, Will Fruehling, has been patrolling the streets of the Wood River Valley for over 20 years. Since starting his career as a patrol officer for the Ketchum Police Department in 1995, Fruehling has been a patrol deputy, a Sergeant, Investigator for the Idaho Department of Corrections, and was appointed to his current position in 2017 by Sheriff Harkins. As a local and a police officer, Fruehling has seen plenty of visitors come and go over the years and through the seasons. So we asked him some tips on driving and parking, what his driving pet peeves are, and Fruehling settles the Miscellany II debate between left-lane drivers and right-lane once and for all. What tips do you have for visitors who haven’t driven in snow before? Will: “Obviously, the first thing is for people to slow down when the road’s covered in snow or when the road is slick. You see these people who wiz by and then you see them right in front of you at the next stoplight in town and you’re like, they made it at the same time that I did, but they went too fast for these …