Context is everything.
Once, the Washington Territory was seen as untamed wilderness—at least through the eyes of European settlers. With a pioneer mindset, they arrived ready to conquer nature and build civilization. But the land was never as wild as they believed. Indigenous tribes had long managed the forests and rivers of what we now call Washington State.
The arrival of settlers brought more than homesteads. Vast old-growth forests were felled. Wildlife once hunted for survival was soon hunted for sport. Apex predators like grizzlies and wolves—viewed as threats to livestock—were wiped out regionally.
Yet, ironically, those same animals became cultural icons. School mascots, barroom trophies, symbols of the untamed spirit of the Northwest—totemic, powerful, ever-present in the background of our identity.
By the 1970s, a new mindset took root. The environmental movement reshaped how people saw nature—not as something to conquer, but something to protect. It was the era of puffer vests, external frame backpacks, and a growing awareness that we’re just one part of a much bigger system.
Enter Conservation Northwest, founded in the late '80s. Their mission: connect landscapes, restore wildlife, and protect the region’s natural heritage. From the Washington Coast to the BC Rockies, they’re champions of wildlands and the creatures that call them home.
Today, we’re talking with Kurt Hellmann, who works at the intersection of outdoor recreation and wildlife conservation. If you’ve spent time in the backcountry, you know the importance of things like stashing food properly or giving goats, elk, deer and other critters space. Kurt’s job is helping people enjoy the outdoors responsibly—so that every species, human and otherwise, can thrive.
It’s a mindset we fully support—as residents, and stewards, of the incredible natural resources of Snohomish County.
Today on the pod: Kurt Hellman of Conservation NW talks animal safety and conservation.
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