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Articles written by Eric Hockersmith


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  • Rattlesnake avoidance training for dogs

    Eric Hockersmith, The Times|Jun 18, 2026

    If you spend time with your dog outdoors in wild places, you may encounter snakes. Fortunately, Washington state has only one native venomous snake: the western rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus), which is active from April through October in shrub-steppe habitats, often near water sources with woody debris or basalt outcroppings. Locally, they are common along the Snake, Palouse, Touchet, Tucannon, and Grande Ronde Rivers, as well as in hiking areas like Wallula Gap and Palouse Falls State Park....

  • Goldendale Energy awarded license for pumped storage hydropower facility

    Eric Hockersmith, The Times|Jan 29, 2026

    GOLDENDALE, WASH. - Americans are accustomed to having all the electricity we want, when we want it. As more of our electricity comes from wind and solar, managing the grid has become more challenging. Wind and solar generate electricity during limited conditions, which may not align with demand. One solution to maintaining consistency is using battery storage for renewable energy. However, storing using traditional battery technology requires substantial infrastructure and maintenance. In...

  • Bears in a tub

    Kate and Eric Hockersmith, The Times|Aug 13, 2020