Museum of Culture and Environment to host ‘Spotted Owls in Our Midst’ on Thursday

The CWU Museum of Culture and Environment is hosting a special event this week as part of its ongoing exhibit, Sap In Their Veins.

The CWU Museum of Culture and Environment to host ‘Spotted Owls in Our Midst’ on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. in Dean Hall and on YouTube.

"Spotted Owls in Our Midst: A Community Discussion" will take place Thursday, February 16, at 5:30 p.m. at the museum's Dean Hall location, 1200 Wildcat Way.

The conversation, guided by Department of Natural Resources Forest Manager Jason Emsley, will also be live-streamed on YouTube. As a manager of forests where spotted owls live, it is Emsley's job to consider the many converging threats to their existence.

The museum's overarching exhibit, Sap In Their Veins, focuses on the stories of Northwest loggers during and after the spotted owl wars of the 1980s and '90s. The exhibit explores how the controversy over this endangered species influenced deep political divides and caused economic hardships for timber towns across the Northwest. Some believe the debate is over, but in reality, spotted owls are still struggling to survive.

The museum is open Wednesday-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and will also be open before Thursday's event. Visit the website to learn more about this event, future events, and museum exhibits. If you have questions, email museum@cwu.edu.