It's long been an issue at the USFS, which has struggled for years with recruitment and retention. But this year there's even more pressure on firefighters who are spread thin, after the Trump Administration's severe cuts left the agency lacking key support staff. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...

The problem is especially grim in regions with high fire risk this year, especially the PNW and The Intermountain region, the largest region with close to 34 million acres of forest lands that stretch across parts of Utah, Nevada, Wyoming, Idaho and California. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...

What questions are we not asking? Who is not getting the attention they should? How can we help make sense of this moment without adding additional trauma? Leave it in the comments, message me, or email me. I’ll be back soon. Till then, here’s a big Internet hug for anyone who is hurting right now ❤️

Take breaks where you can. Find joy where you can. I’m giving this advice to myself too, so we are all in it together.

As we continue to report on these fires and their devastating aftermath I want to know what kinds of stories you’d like to see.

But first rest. I know there are so many of us grappling with these feelings as the fires continue to burn. Stopping the flames is just the first round in this disaster and long road to recovery lays ahead. We will need our strength.

Headed to the Bay last night for a few days rest from covering the fires in LA. But as the enormous plumes of smoke fell farther into the distance the enormity of the past week started to sink in. It’s hard to stop my mind from swirling with worry, with grief, with the feeling like I should do more.

breaks my heart. I rescued a common murre that was in bad shape on the beach in SF a few years back and got him to the experts at WildCare. They nursed him back to health and he ended up fostering a chick also in their care. They were rehabbed released but I think about my murre buddy all the time

Just had a great convo with Dave Snider at NTWC so I asked him about this and he said: “Ideally we would serve new unfolding places, including Bluesky, but it’s a challenge to be in all the spots all the time.”

Here is his full transcribed response:

Shortly followed by Tsunami alert

This is a bit out of pocket but wondering if any scientists out there can help me. If a medication alters gene expression, what happens when the medication is stopped? Looking at longterm Metformin use and its impact on Magnesium absorption, per this study: cdnsciencepub.com/doi/abs/10.1...

Bluesky—meet Beans. If I’m interviewing you on the phone there’s a good chance she’s on my lap listening in. Formerly a spicy feral lady, her hobbies now include showing Zoom meetings her butt, sleeping on my head, and loudly screaming if she can see the bottom of her food bowl. Bestie 4ever:

Been here a few days now so guess I should introduce myself. I cover climate + extreme weather for @us.theguardian.com, but also love a chat about weird/cool plants, animals, & insects, a big fan of outdoor adventures, and dedicated to solutions journalism. Give me a shout, my door is always open. 👋

Can’t stop thinking about how many Americans voted for Trump because of inflation, and how how US oil companies illegally colluded to fix prices — which sent inflationary shock waves through the economy — and how Trump is expected to end the investigation on their actions.

It’s my birthday today so I want to share something joyful. I took these photos of Doughal, a barn owl and ambassador bird who is helping spread awareness in Ireland. Barn owls were on the brink of extinction but are making a comeback due to educational efforts on the risks posed by rodent poisons.