Bear hunt permits due; State Parks honors volunteers and native plant gathering help needed

Black bear applications due Feb. 28

Hunters have until Feb. 28 to purchase and submit applications for a 2017 spring black bear hunting permit for specific areas of western and eastern Washington.

The state Department of Fish and Wildlife drawing will be held in mid-March for 305 permits in western Washington and 509 permits for hunts east of the Cascade Range.

To apply for a permit, hunters must purchase a special permit application and a 2017 hunting license that includes bear as a species option. That can be done at fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov, 866-246-9453 or any license vendor in the state.

The permit applications, which require a correct hunt choice number, may also be submitted at fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov or 866-246-9453.

Winners of the permits will be notified no later than March 31. Applicants may also check the results of the drawing by accessing their account on the agency’s licensing website.

Help needed gathering native plants

The WSU Extension Native Plant Salvage Project needs volunteers to help rescue small native trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants in areas that are scheduled for clearing and development.

In addition to saving the plants, these events offer hands-on learning about plants and transplanting.

To support the volunteers, Native Plant Salvage will supply hot vegetarian soup and other food throughout the day.

Volunteers can work for however long they feel capable, whether that’s digging plants all day or just potting up a few plants in the afternoon, said Erika Whitney, outreach coordinator.

The plant-recovery events run from 9:30 a.m. to about 3:30 p.m. There will be work parties on Feb. 26 and March 5.

To register, send email nativeplantsalvage@gmail.com. Directions to the work location and details will be sent once participants are registered. More details at nativeplantsalvage.org.

South Sound volunteers honored

Five people with South Sound connections were among those recognized by the State Parks and Recreation Commission during its 2016 volunteer recognition awards.

Two couples were honored as Hosts of the Year.

Bert and Cathy Miller of Shelton were honored for their work at Fort Worden Historical State Park in Port Townsend. The Millers have been campground hosts at the park since 2003, and have volunteered a combined 6,404 hours. Their efforts included working closely with the Fort Worden Public Development Authority during the transition of responsibilities from the park to the authority.

Willie and Susan Salmond of Auburn were hosts at Kanaskat-Palmer State Park in Ravensdale. They did their first hosting assignment in 2013 at Kanaskat-Palmer. After a short break, they returned to camp hosting at the park in 2016. They have a combined total of 1,079 volunteer hours. The couple was cited for expanding vending sales by driving through the campground selling firewood.

Tacoma resident Dick Hagener was honored with an outstanding contribution by an individual award for his efforts at Dash Point State Park in Federal Way.

This story was originally published February 19, 2017 at 6:58 AM with the headline "Bear hunt permits due; State Parks honors volunteers and native plant gathering help needed."