The Deschutes Land Trust announced today its winter Nature Nights series. From foxes to stream restoration to dam removal on the Klamath River, the Land Trust is offering free, monthly presentations on nature-related topics given by experts in their field. Presentations include:
January 28, 2026: Central Oregon’s Stealthy Sierra Nevada Red Fox
7-8:30pm, Tower Theatre, Bend
The Sierra Nevada red fox may be one of the rarest mammals in North America—but don’t tell it that. This elusive, mountain-loving carnivore has a knack for showing up only when it feels like it…which is not often. Join Deschutes Land Trust and Jamie Bowles, Regional Habitat Biologist with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and unofficial “fox whisperer,” for a lively dive into what we’re learning about these high-elevation Houdinis. Jamie will share new findings on where the foxes roam, what habitats they actually prefer (versus the ones they let us find), and why studying them often involves snow, patience, and the occasional sense of humor. Attendees will leave with a clearer picture of the fox’s status in the Central Cascades, a few behind-the-scenes field stories, and a renewed appreciation for one of Oregon’s most charming and frustratingly stealthy animals. This presentation is free, but you must get your ticket online.
February 18, 2026: Caring for Our Rivers and Streams
7-8:30pm, Online
Streams and their surrounding lands are critical to Central Oregon’s plants and animals, from trees and flowers to elk and the tiniest bugs. This is just one reason the Deschutes Land Trust has a deep focus on caring for and restoring the streams and meadows on lands that we’ve protected. Join our own Restoration Specialist, Jason Grant, as he discusses the importance of streams and floodplains, the efforts the Land Trust and our partners are undertaking to promote long-term strength of those habitats through restoration, what results we’ve seen so far, and how these results inform future projects. Jason will share how our collective work can ensure these essential habitats are thriving long into the future. This presentation is free and ticket sales open one month prior to the event.
March 11, 2026: The Water Remembers
7-8:30pm, Tower Theatre, Bend
Join the Deschutes Land Trust and Amy Bowers Cordalis (Yurok)—attorney, author of The Water Remembers, and Executive Director/Co-Founder of Ridges to Riffles Indigenous Conservation Group—for a talk on the largest dam removal and river restoration project in world history. Amy will share the story of the Klamath River, from its creation teachings and Indigenous stewardship to the devastation caused by colonization, hydropower dams, and the 2002 fish kill. She’ll reveal how generations of Klamath Basin Indigenous Peoples combined ceremony, legal advocacy, grassroots action, and strategic partnerships to win a historic $515 million settlement, leading to the removal of four dams and the return of more than 400 miles of salmon habitat. Amy will explore how Indigenous rights, cultural values, and ecosystem restoration can reshape policy, strengthen democracy, and deliver real climate solutions. Her message is one of resilience and hope: the water remembers, the fish remember, and together, we can renew the world. This presentation is free and ticket sales open one month prior to the event.
Nature Nights are free, but a ticket is required. Please register online: deschuteslandtrust.org
About Deschutes Land Trust:
The Deschutes Land Trust envisions a future of strong and healthy natural and human communities—where we work together to conserve and care for the lands that make Central Oregon an incredible place to live, work, and grow. As Central Oregon’s locally-based, nationally-accredited land trust, the Deschutes Land Trust has conserved and continues to care for more than 18,742 acres since 1995. For more information on the Deschutes Land Trust, contact us at (541) 330-0017 or visit deschuteslandtrust.org.
