By Zaya Tumurkhuyag, Community Engagement Coordinator
Colleen Shannon and Jeff Osmundson have been volunteering for The Nature Conservancy in Washington for the past 13 years. As Volunteer Stewards they serve as our eyes and ears on TNC preserves. As a couple they have dedicated over 300 hours to help preserve the natural beauty of Port Susan Bay and Fisher Slough.
Last summer when they were busy taking care of Washington Nature Conservancy lands, an opportunity to go explore an Oregon Conservancy preserve appeared. Colleen wrote:
“Imagine my delight when I found the job posting at the very bottom of TNC volunteer newsletter: Caretakers wanted for The Zumwalt Prairie Preserve for the month of September. “
Located in the northeast part of Oregon and bordered by Hells Canyon on the east, Zumwalt Prairie Preserve is known for its majestic Golden Eagles, remarkable number of hawks and intact bunch grass habitat.
The preserve contains 33,000 acres of landscape with wide-open skies and persistent views of the Wallowa Mountains. Jeff and Colleen got hooked by the views with their first visit at the Zumwalt prairie two years prior and have been trying to return ever since. Without second thought, they applied for the position and got the job! It comes as no surprise considering their decade of experience as land stewards in Washington.
As caretakers, Colleen and Jeff lived at a Summer Camp - a remote field station completely off-grid for a month. They enjoyed the break from the never-ending bombardment of news and social media.
Supporting our ongoing conservation projects at Zumwalt, they were responsible for regular maintenance on the preserve, inventory and surveying of invasive plants and patrolling the trails. They also help maintain 30 exclosures on the preserve intended to fence out the elk and enable the native aspen to flourish.
“We always chose a lunch spot with a view to revel in the beauty of the prairie in all of its diversity.”
Imagine watching the majestic Golden Eagle soar over a ridge and then pose on the ridge top long enough to be viewed through a spotting scope.
Imagine running upon a herd of at least 200 elk and getting close enough to smell them and hear their chatter. Oh, and at least 40% of the herd was bulls.
Imagine standing out of doors viewing the Milky Way and hearing a chorus of coyotes serenade you.
That and much more was their experience on the Zumwalt!
After a month spent there, Colleen shared with us that “TNC is known in the Wallowa county as a good neighbor sharing knowledge and generously offering hunting on the property to charitable organizations in the community for raffle. They are good stewards of the land and active members of the Wallowa community.”
Once again, they are headed back to the Zumwalt to caretake in this coming July to continue their care of the unrestrained natural beauty of the Northwest.
Colleen Shannon and Jeff Osmundson’s dedication as volunteers in Washington and as caretakers in Oregon is immensely appreciated. Volunteers are mission critical to The Nature Conservancy, and we are so fortunate to have such incredible people with us.
