FINAL UPDATE: Four Wins In A Row For Oregon’s Beautiful Bats (Photo) - 11/02/26

Date:               Saturday, October 31

Where:           BLM Bat Week webpage

Who:               Ryan GosWING, an Oregon pallid bat

MEDFORD, Ore. –  Ryan GosWING, a pallid bat from Oregon, just swooped in and claimed the Bat Beauty Contest crown! This is the fourth year in a row that an Oregon contestant has won the contest put on by the Bureau of Land Management.

“Thank you to everyone across Oregon and Washington who came out to support Ryan GosWING,” said Sarah P. Bennett, a BLM spooksperson. “With four wins a row, I think we can confidently call this a dynasty—or a ‘cauldron’ the case of bats.”

The annual contest takes place during Bat Week in the lead up to Halloween. While these winged wonders are perfect for spooky season fun, bats play an important role in healthy ecosystems. They help control insect populations, pollinate plants, and disperse seeds, making them valuable residents of public lands across the country.

Did you know that bats provide $3 billion in pest control services to American agriculture every year? Pallid bats like Ryan hunt primarily by sound, using their adorably large ears to listen for insects moving on the ground.

Through partnerships, the BLM provides bat roosting and foraging habitat and supports other bat conservation efforts. Many bat species rely on caves, abandoned mines, forests, grasslands, deserts, and other landscapes managed by the BLM. The BLM manages wildlife and wildlife habitat on public lands using a multiple-use and sustained-yield approach. Established under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act, this framework helps maintain healthy wildlife populations while balancing conservation with recreation, resource use, and other public land values.

More information about the contest and International Bat Week is available on the BLM’s website.

-BLM-

The BLM manages about 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.

UPDATE: Vote For Oregon's "Ryan GosWing" In The Bat Beauty Contest Finals (Photo) - 10/30/26

When: TODAY, Friday, OCtober 30

Where: BLM Bat Week webpage

Who:   Ryan GosWING, an Oregon pallid bat

UPDATE: Ryan Goswing, a pallid bat from Oregon, made it to the finals of the BLM's annual Bat Beauty Contest! He beat out the competition from Montana and Utah, and today faces competition. Today he faces Batty White, hairy-legged vampire bat, in the final round. Voting is open until 11 p.m. PT on blm.gov. With a victory Ryan GosWING will secure an Oregon bat dynasty, with four wins in a row.

Did you know that bats provide $3 billion of pest control to American agriculture every year? Through strong partnerships, the BLM helps bat populations by providing roosting and foraging habitat and supporting other bat conservation efforts like bat-friendly closures on abandoned mines.

*Original advisory*

MEDFORD, Ore. –  It's bat-ck! The Bureau of Land Management is hosting its annual Bat Beauty Contest with a brand new group of stunning contestants.

On Sunday, Oct. 24, Oregon’s own Ryan GosWING will go head-to-head with Dolly BATton, Miss Montana, in the first round. Visit the BLM’s webpage to learn more about Bat Week and vote for Ryan GosWING.

If he makes it through the first round, he’ll represent the Pacific Northwest in the Final Four on Wednesday, Oct. 28. Oregon bats have taken home the crown in the last three contests! Most recently, Hoary Potter was named the winner.

Help us take home a four-peat by voting for this year's Oregon bat when the contest begins on Oct. 24. Make sure you're following Bureau of Land Management so you don't miss your chance to vote!

See the attached media advisory from the BLM for more details.

-BLM-

The BLM manages about 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.

Bank Stabilization Work Begins At Wood River Wetland - 10/29/26

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. — The Bureau of Land Management will begin a bank stabilization project at the Wood River Wetlands to address ongoing erosion that threatens a critical stream gauge and a bridge along Wood River Dike Road. The Wood River currently backs up as it flows beneath the bridge and is eroding the riverbank, which is increasing the risk of further structural damage if left unaddressed.

To stabilize the area, crews will install large wood debris along the riverbank using heavy equipment. The logs will be partially buried to anchor them in place, with root wads extending into the water to slow and deflect the waterflow and reduce erosion. Once the wood is installed, native riparian vegetation will be planted and seeded to reinforce the restored bank.

Crews will begin staging heavy construction equipment as early as November 1. For the duration of the project, which officials expect to complete by November 30, a small area along Dike Road will be closed to public access. Additionally, a short section of the accessible asphalt trail at the wetlands will be closed to protect it from damage during the construction project. The road adjacent to the project site will remain open.

“We appreciate everyone’s patience as our crews complete this essential work,” said Orlanda John, acting Klamath Falls Field Manager.

The 3,200-acre wetland is part of the historic delta where the Wood River drains into Agency Lake and includes three miles of public access to and along the riverbanks. The Bureau of Land Management acquired the property in 1994 and manages the area to enhance the wetland habitat for the benefit of water quality, plants, fish, and other wildlife.

Visitors can contact the Klamath Falls Field Office at 541-883-6916 or [email protected] for more information.

-BLM-

The BLM manages about 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.

Coast Range Landslides Close Little Elk Mountain Road; Windy Peak Road Remains Closed (Photo) - 10/26/26

EUGENE, Ore. — Bureau of Land Management officials will close Little Elk Mountain Road for the winter season, starting around November 1. BLM officials determined the closure is necessary during the wetter portions of the year, when the slope is less stable.

The existing landslide continues to encroach on the road, also known as BLM Road 16-8-36, around mile marker 1.4. Warning signs and the closure order will be posted on the gate at the closure junction before the slide.

“We are closing the area to protect public safety,” said Sarah Bickford, field manager for the BLM Siuslaw Field Office. “Without a stable shoulder, the road is increasingly dangerous for drivers during the wet season.”

Soil has continued to slowly migrate downhill, steepening the existing drop-off. The area continues to experience active erosion, and the stability of the hillside and road template may be further compromised in heavy rain events. The winter closure will maintain public safety by removing the potential for drivers to be caught on, or trapped behind, deteriorating road conditions at the landslide location. The slide behavior is expected to continue, and the seasonal closure will remain in effect during wet soil conditions, through approximately May 1.

“Once the weather dries out in the spring, we will inspect the road to determine whether the ground has stabilized enough that we can reopen the road,” said Bickford. “We anticipate continued winter seasonal closures for the next few years, while we conduct ongoing evaluation for a re-route or permanent road closure.”

Little Elk Mountain Road was previously relocated after a minor landslide in 2021. After another major slide in April 2023, BLM officials closed the road for public safety along the steep drop-off on the road shoulder.

Landslides are common throughout the Coast Range due to the underlying geology where shallow soils overlay hard, fractured sandstone. Wet conditions and damaged vegetation—from wildfire, ice storms, or other disturbance—can create sudden, fast-moving debris flows on these steep slopes.

More information about the Little Elk Mountain Road closure, including the closure decision and supporting categorical exclusion documentation, are available in the BLM NEPA Register: https://eplanning.blm.gov/Project-Home/?id=9449dfe4-a7f2-f011-8407-001dd80bcf22 .

Windy Peak Road (BLM Road 17-8-3.1) in Lane County also remains impassable and closed due to a 2024 landslide, and Bureau of Land Management officials are reminding the public to seek alternate routes.  Public safety warning signs to block vehicle traffic are posted where the pavement ends. Since the slide occurred, erosion has stabilized at the site, but Windy Peak Road is still not passable. More information and documentation on this slide can be accessed on the BLM NEPA Register at https://eplanning.blm.gov/Project-Home/?id=cce5e4e6-a7f2-f011-8407-001dd80db62a .

-BLM-

The BLM manages about 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.

BLM Considers New Gold Mining Plan Of Operations Near Hereford - 10/21/26

BAKER CITY, Ore. – The Bureau of Land Management is considering an operator’s plan to mine for gold across 820 acres of public land in Baker County. The BLM manages almost a third of the nation’s minerals, and gold mining is a critical piece of the administration’s effort to and build a more secure domestic supply chain.

“Gold has been an important part of Oregon’s mining history and economy,” said Mike Decker, acting Vale District Manager. “Oregon’s mineral resources are helping America build a more secure domestic supply chain.”

Over the next 20 years, the Reeds Gulch Mining Plan proses mining activity on about half of that land. Planned activities include exploration test pits, excavation pits and trenches, a processing site, and three settling and recycling ponds. Before mining is even complete, the operator would begin restoration work under the proposal. The operator would mine at individual sites, closing and reclaiming each site as mining work moves to the next area. Both mining and restoration work would occur concurrently throughout the proposed 20-year operation. The proposal does not include blasting for mining.

The BLM is accepting public comments on its environmental assessment of the Plan. The comment period closes Nov. 20, 2026. Project planning documents are available at the BLM National NEPA Register, where comments can be submitted through the “Participate Now” option (preferred). Comments may also be emailed to [email protected] or delivered to: BLM Baker Field Office, Attn. Reeds Gulch EA, 1550 Dewey Ave, Suite A, Baker City, OR 97814.

-BLM-

The BLM manages about 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future genera

Wild Horses In Peril: BLM’s Delayed Emergency Operations Begin On Riddle Mountain - 10/19/26

BLM Considers Habitat Improvements Near Eagle Point - 10/08/26

ASHLAND, Ore. — The Bureau of Land Management is developing a proposal to improve forest habitat on about 1,600 acres near Eagle Point. The area is overly dense with vegetation, causing increased competition between trees, limited habitat complexity, and increasing susceptibility to wildfire. The project would include limited timber harvest to speed the development of nesting habitat for the northern spotted owl and maintain healthy streams.

“By conducting this habitat improvement, we achieve our land management and forestry objectives, while providing timber to local mills, jobs to our neighbors, and revenue to western Oregon counties,” said Lauren Brown, BLM Ashland Field Manager.

 The BLM opened a 30-day public comment period on Oct. 7, for input on potential issues, impacts, and alternatives to be addressed in an upcoming environmental assessment.

“People are extremely helpful in identifying the highest priority areas, potential conflicts, and other topics important to them for us to consider,” said Brown.

Additional information about the project, including how to comment, is available at the BLM NEPA Register. To be most useful during the scoping process, comments should be specific and clearly identify potential issues, resource conflicts, treatment locations, reasonable alternatives, or other information relevant to the proposed project. General expressions of support or opposition, repeated statements, or lengthy submissions that do not clearly identify specific issues or relevant information may not provide the BLM with information useful for scoping. Commenters should clearly identify the specific concern, location, resource, or information they would like the BLM to consider.

In western Oregon, the BLM manages timberlands under the Oregon and California Revested Lands Sustained Yield Management Act of 1937, which ensures sustainable forestry practices that support communities and livelihoods. Revenue from timber harvested on Oregon and California lands is shared between the U.S. Treasury and 18 western Oregon counties. This funding provides local communities with the means to construct new county buildings; develop fairgrounds and museums; support libraries, schools, and jails; and build flood-control dams and reservoirs. Each year, the BLM timber sales support approximately 2,000 local jobs and generate more than $1 billion for local economies. 

-BLM-

The BLM manages about 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.

Millican Plateau And North Millican OHV Areas Temporarily Closed For Special Event (Photo) - 10/08/26

PRINEVILLE, Ore. — The Bureau of Land Management will temporarily close portions of the Millican Plateau and North Millican OHV Trail Systems Oct. 23–25 to accommodate an annual side-by-side race hosted by King of the Kastle, LLC.

The temporary closures are necessary to provide a safe racecourse for participants while protecting other visitors using the area. The closure includes the racecourse and several access points into the event area. Visitors should follow all closure signs and directions from event personnel and BLM staff.

“BLM manages more than 250 miles of trails across the Millican Plateau, North Millican and South Millican OHV Trail Systems,” said Lisa Clark, Deschutes Field Office manager. “The extensive trail network allows us to accommodate a permitted event of this size while keeping many trails open for the public during the race.”

Security personnel will monitor entrance points to the racecourse throughout the weekend. Flaggers and signs will also be stationed along George Millican Road and at access points to help direct visitors around the closed areas. A map showing the specific trail closures is available with this release.

Visitors looking for alternative riding opportunities can access the South Millican OHV Trail System, located south of U.S. Highway 20 near George Millican Road. The Cline Buttes area, west of Redmond, also offers OHV recreation opportunities.

The Millican Valley OHV Trail System is managed collaboratively through the Central Oregon Combined Off-Highway Vehicle Operations, a partnership among the Prineville District BLM, Deschutes and Ochoco national forests, and the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department’s ATV Program.

For information about the race, visit King of the Kastle. For questions about the temporary trail closures, contact the Prineville District Office at 541-416-6700.

-BLM-

The BLM manages about 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.