Author: KTVZ

KTVZ

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – Winter is the most effective time to prevent wildlife conflicts before they start, Central Oregon’s Think Wild reminded property owners on Monday.

“With many species less active, homeowners have a limited opportunity to address entry points, complete humane exclusions, and install habitat features that reduce conflicts before spring nesting and activity increases,” the organization said in a news release that continues below:

Think Wild encourages property owners to schedule humane wildlife services during the winter months to avoid emergency situations later in the year. Addressing problem areas now helps prevent animals from establishing nests or dens in structures and ensures that safe alternative habitat is available when wildlife activity ramps up. 

Think Wild offers humane, non-lethal wildlife services grounded in an understanding of natural history and seasonal behavior.

Services that can be scheduled and completed this winter include onsite consultations, site assessments, humane exclusions, flicker damage solutions, raptor perches, nest box installation, and beaver conflict mitigation tools such as water flow devices and protective fencing.

Site visits and installations start at $80, with full quotes provided following consultation. 

“All of our work is non-lethal and grounded in an understanding of wildlife and different species’ natural history,” said Jake Sandler, wildlife services coordinator at Think Wild. “By working with seasonal behavior and species needs, we can make recommendations and prevent conflicts in a way that is safer, more effective, and better for humans and wildlife in the long run.” 

Bat work requires special timing. Bat exclusions cannot legally be performed between June 1 and August 30, when young bats are unable to fly. Scheduling bat assessments and exclusions outside of this window is critical for bat conservation and compliance with wildlife protection laws. Winter planning helps ensure this work is completed before restrictions are in place. 

Humane exclusion techniques focus on making properties less attractive or accessible to wildlife while providing alternative options elsewhere. Removing outdoor food sources such as pet food and bird seed, securing trash, sealing holes and crawl spaces, reducing shelter like wood piles and debris, and using lighting or other deterrents can dramatically reduce wildlife conflicts. These methods are effective, long-lasting, and environmentally responsible. 

Think Wild does not trap or relocate wildlife. Relocation is harmful to animals, illegal for most native species, and does not solve the underlying causes of conflict. Extermination is not a permanent solution either. Humane exclusion offers safer, lawful, and more effective alternatives for both people and wildlife. 

Think Wild can assist with conflicts involving bats, flickers, squirrels, raccoons, skunks, rabbits, small mammals and rodents, deer, rattlesnakes, geese, and beavers. Nest boxes and habitat features can also be installed to provide safe alternative shelter and encourage natural pest control by native predators.

Think Wild offers and installs boxes for flickers, bats, songbirds, and small raptors, as well as raptor perches and osprey nest platforms.  

Property owners are encouraged to act now, while wildlife activity is low. To learn more or schedule a consultation, community members can fill out Think Wild’s Wildlife Services contact form, and staff will follow up to schedule a consultation or installation. 

Taking preventative action this winter helps protect homes, reduce stress on wildlife, and create safer coexistence year-round. 

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About Think Wild 

Think Wild is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization located in Bend, Oregon. Our mission is to inspire the High Desert community to care for and protect native wildlife through education, conservation, rescue, and rehabilitation. We provide veterinary treatment and care at the wildlife hospital, staffed by expert wildlife rehabilitation staff, animal husbandry volunteers, and our staff veterinarian. We also provide wildlife habitat installations, native plantings, and wildlife education programming for youth and the community, and can help with conflicts with wildlife. Wildlife injuries can be reported to our Wildlife Hotline at 541-241-8680, which is monitored seven days a week from 8 AM to 4 PM. Visit us online at thinkwildco.org, or on Instagram or Facebook @thinkwildco.  

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KTVZ

 BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Deputies with the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office are stepping up traffic enforcement over the next two weeks to keep families safe by ensuring drivers buckle up and children are properly secured in car seats. 

From now through February 8, deputies will join law enforcement across the state in the national Click It or Ticket campaign to enforce seat belt and child car seat laws, DCSO said in Monday’s announcement, which continues below:

Motor vehicle crashes remain a leading cause of death in Oregon, which is why deputies will be out to ensure compliance and share resources to keep families safe. 

Why this matters: 

In 2023, 30% of Oregon’s motor vehicle occupant fatalities (111 of 365) involved someone not wearing a seat belt or using a child restraint. 

Nationally, 50% of passenger vehicle occupants killed in crashes were unrestrained. 

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children ages 1–12.  

In Oregon, 1,972 children under 12 were injured in traffic crashes last year, and 11% were not using a child restraint system. 

Oregon law requires children under age 2 to ride in a rear-facing car seat, and older children must remain in a car seat or booster until they are eight years old or 4’9” tall.  

This campaign isn’t just about writing tickets. It’s about saving lives. Deputies are working to educate drivers and remind everyone that seat belts are the simplest, most effective way to prevent tragedy. Taking a few seconds to buckle up can mean the difference between life and death. 

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration offers resources on its website to help select and install child car seats. 

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KTVZ

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Crooked River National Grassland and Ochoco National Forest are planning prescribed fire operations this Tuesday at 10 a.m., pending all required approvals.

Prescribed fires planned for the area include:

Pace Jackpot burning project area, about 78 acres on the Crooked River National Grassland.

The project area is primarily located around Skull Hollow Trail and Campground, approximately three miles southeast of Highway 26, along SE Lone Pine Road.

Those areas may closed to the public for several days for public safety. Watch for warning signs along roads near all prescribed fire areas before and during burns, the Forest Service said in a news release Monday that continues below:

Map courtesy Ochoco National Forest

Prescribed burning will be managed by Forest Service resources from the Ochoco National Forest. Forest Service personnel will be on scene throughout the operation to ensure safe and effective implementation.

Smoke may be visible from Prineville, Terrebonne, the Lone Pine area, and along the Highway 26 corridor. Light smoke impacts are possible along SE Lone Pine Road, particularly overnight and in the early-morning hours, as air settles into low-lying areas.

Prescribed burn warning signs will be placed along Lone Pine Road near Skull Hollow Campground. Drivers should slow down and use headlights if visibility is reduced.

Prescribed burning will only occur when weather, fuel moisture, and air quality conditions meet criteria for safe and effective operations. If conditions are not suitable, ignitions will be postponed.

We will evaluate weather conditions in the hours before a burn begins. If conditions warrant, scheduled prescribed fire activities may be canceled.

Residents may experience smoke during the prescribed burns. For more detailed information about air quality, go to AirNow online or download the app. When driving, slow down and turn on your headlights when you encounter smoke on the road.

For more information on prescribed burning in Central Oregon, visit centraloregonfire.org/ and for information specific to the Ochoco National Forest visit fs.usda.gov/r06/ochoco. Follow us on X/Twitter @CentralORFire. Text “COFIRE” to 888-777 to receive wildfire and prescribed fire text alerts.

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KTVZ

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Homeless Leadership Coalition, Central Oregon’s Continuum of Care, will be kicking off the annual Point in Time Count in Central Oregon on Tuesday. The count is part of a state and national effort to identify the number of individuals experiencing homelessness. 

HLC partners and volunteers will be counting sheltered and unsheltered homeless in Deschutes, Jefferson and Crook counties, including the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. 

Today, KTVZ met with the people conducting the count locally, the Homeless Leadership Coalition. We asked them about the methods they use to collect their data.

The count is conducted in person, with assistance from an app.

In addition to collecting the person’s information, they also ask a series of questions, including where the last place the interviewee had stable shelter was.

Eliza Wilson, Chair of the homeless Leadership Coalition told us, “One of the reasons that it’s really important for us to ask how long people live in Central Oregon. And so we can really show that many of the people who experience homelessness in the local, in our area are people who are born and raised here. A lot of us have been priced out of the housing market.”

This app cannot be downloaded or used by just anyone and requires security codes from trained personnel.

This means people cannot falsely inflate the count by adding fake persons.

The app also allows them to detect and avoid duplicate entries.

The organization sent a news release that continues in full below:

The Point in Time Count attempts to capture data on both sheltered and unsheltered individuals experiencing homelessness.

In addition, information is gathered on a wide range of characteristics of those experiencing homelessness, including age, gender, race, ethnicity, veteran status, and disability status.

With this information, the Homeless Leadership Coalition, local governments, and agencies target services and develop plans to address the crisis of poverty and homelessness in Central Oregon. 

These counts are the source of nationwide data on sheltered and unsheltered homelessness. This one-night count is required of all jurisdictions receiving U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funding to provide housing and services for individuals and families experiencing homelessness. This information helps the federal government to better understand the nature and extent of homelessness nationwide and direct federal funding accordingly. 

Count information has also directly led to state investments in our region to impact the crisis of unsheltered homelessness that is seen across public lands in our region. The Homeless Leadership Coalition uses this data to make strategic decisions about projects to prioritize in the annual HUD funding competition. 

“The Point-in-Time Count is more than a requirement from Housing and Urban Development, it’s a vital tool that helps our community see a snapshot of homelessness and respond with intention. Accurate data allows us to align resources, strengthen housing options, and dispel myths that often exist. We will continue to push toward a future where everyone has a safe, stable place to call home.”  

About the Point in Time Count: 

Counts will take place in La Pine, Bend, Sisters, Redmond, Prineville, Madras and Warm Springs. The count is a service-based count, leveraging already existing partnerships and services to those experiencing homelessness. Surveys will be conducted from January 27th to February 2nd , asking folks where they slept on the night of Monday, January 26th.  

Those counted through this effort include people living in:  

● Shelters  

● Transitional housing  

● “Doubled up” or precariously housed with families/friends  

● Camping, sleeping outdoors or in cars or RVs without full hookup  

● Other places not meant for human habitation like a shed or storage unit  

For more information: The media and anyone interested in learning more is encouraged to contact HLC members directly to learn more about their participation in the Point in Time Count.  

About the Central Oregon Homeless Leadership Coalition: The Homeless Leadership Coalition leads a community centered, coordinated and collaborative response to prevent and end homelessness as the HUD designated Continuum of Care (OR-503) for Central Oregon.

The coalition is a collaboration of community partners in Crook, Jefferson, and Deschutes counties, including the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, engaging the community through education, advocacy, planning, prioritizing and accountability for services to persons experiencing homelessness. 

HLC members include shelter providers, public schools, public health, emergency services, veterans’ outreach, faith communities, public safety, mental health, housing services, public services, private employers, people with lived experience of homelessness and others. 

HLC members represent a diverse group of interests, unified by a belief that we are stronger, healthier, safer communities where people can thrive when everyone has a safe, stable place to call home! 

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Kelsey Merison

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Bend Police Department’s 42nd Community Academy is slated to kick off once again this April, and the department is encouraging community members to participate.

According to the agency, the academy is designed to offer an inside look at policework and how BPD operates. The goal is to inform and educate participants about how our local police officers carry out their work.

Each class focuses on different aspects of law enforcement. Classes meet once a week for 11 consecutive weeks from 6-9 p.m. on Tuesday evenings beginning in April and ending in June.

There is no charge to participate. 40 students will be accepted per session with priority given to those who live within Bend city limits.

Those interested are asked to submit the Community Academy Application online by 5 p.m. on Friday, March 27th. Click here to view the application and to learn more.

Read the full press release below:

“The Bend Police Department invites community members to apply for its 42nd Community Academy beginning in April.   

Community Academy will take place from April 7 through June 16, with 11 classroom dates and one range day on Saturday, May 9.

Our Community Academy is designed to offer an inside look at policework and how the Bend Police Department operates, with a goal of informing and educating participants about how local police officers carry out their work.  

Each class focuses on a different aspect of law enforcement, from patrol and investigations to nonsworn roles like records and evidence. During the Community Academy, participants will also learn about specialty assignments, including traffic, K9s, the Central Oregon Emergency Response Team, and the Central Oregon Drug Enforcement team. The program also offers a behind-the-scenes look at issues like mental health and officer survival. Classes are taught by officers and staff who have expertise in each specific area.  

The class will meet once a week for 11 consecutive weeks, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday evenings. The Community Academy can accommodate 40 students per session. There is no charge to participate in the Community Academy. Preference is given to those who live in Bend city limits.  

Learn more by visiting the Bend Police website.  

To participate, please complete and submit the Community Academy Application online. Applications will be accepted until 5 p.m. on March 27.”

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Spencer Sacks

(Update: adding video)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) —  We are just a handful of days away from the beginning of the 2026 legislative short session.

As lawmakers prep their bags and finalize the details they take one last opportunity to speak face to face with their constituents.

On Sunday, Representatives Emerson Levy and Jason Kropf as well as Senator Anthony Broadman spoke to voters about their goals and aspirations for the short session.

They spoke about issues like state parks and the major shortfall within the budget.

Representative Levy describes the issue.

“There were a lot of great questions about the budget, you know, how are we going to balance our budget and fill in this? You know, what we think was about an $800 million hole,” Rep. Levy told KTVZ News. “A lot of people advocating for wildlife or health care. Mostly the budget and how we’re going to pay for the services that Oregonians depend on.”

This potential $800 million budget shortfall is putting major pressure on every department to cut spending and re-prioritize issues.

While at the town hall, the three legislators took questions ranging from canned cocktails to protecting wildlife.

Legislators gained a lot from the questions.

Rep. Levy told KTVZ News, “It’s so important for the community to come and to talk to their legislators as we go into session in Salem in two weeks and tell us what’s on their mind and lots of people do today. So we are able to take that feedback back to Salem.” 

Local Republican legislators are holding their town hall on zoom on Thursday.

We will cover that town hall and the upcoming twists and turns from Salem during the short session.

 

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Spencer Sacks

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A local pack of Cub Scouts held their annual Pinewood Derby on Saturday.

The Pinewood Derby is a classic Scouting event that goes back decades, and this year was no different.

Held at Audi of Bend, the Cub Scouts got to be a part of the annual tradition. One parent of a racer even built a Pinewood Derby car himself when he was a kid.

Pack Committee Chair Scott Edwards told KTVZ News, “I think they love that they get to create something. They love the competition. I think it’s being able to compare everything—compare their cars to one another, compare their speeds. You can hear them in the background, super excited. You know, we’ve been running this for 45 minutes, and they’re still really into it.”

Several of the kids got to see their cars race multiple times down the track, letting them compete in a friendly competition to see who could build the best car.

So what did the kids enjoy most?

“Racing the cars,” River, a Cub Scout, told KTVZ News. “Just watching them go down. I think it’s really satisfying.”

Another Cub Scout, Amelia, told KTVZ, “Yeah, it was really fun. I did it for the most part with my grandpa. He’s a real genius.”

Westley said his favorite part was “probably getting first and second place.”

The kids all had smiles on their faces as they enjoyed the Saturday afternoon event with friends, family, and fast cars.

This is just step one, as the Kendall Auto Group, which hosted the event, hopes the kids will take their talents to the Soap Box Derby later this year.

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Spencer Sacks

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Avalanches are not only dangerous, but they can be life-threatening.

That’s why ski resorts take the utmost precautions to ensure guest safety.

Part of that protection comes from adorable — and intelligent — dogs.

Meet Shasta. She is a 5-year-old golden retriever and one of several avalanche dogs at Mount Bachelor.

She is a certified, highly trained professional.

But what does it take to become a certified avalanche dog?

“Yeah, they go through pretty extensive training. It’s a three- to four-year process to get a certified avalanche dog,” Mount Bachelor Patrol Supervisor Drew Clendenen told KTVZ.

“Those first six months are obedience — getting used to the sights and sounds of the mountain. And then you dive into the more structured, you know, different phases of avalanche dog training.”

While there has not been a lot of snow this year, Clendenen said crews continue to keep up with training.

They make sure to take advantage of the snow they do have and keep the dogs ready at a moment’s notice.

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John Carroll

Today was the First Annual Career Day held at High Desert Middle School. The goal of the day was to have a variety of professionals provide information essential to help the students choose specific career paths they may want to follow in the future.

From all walks of life, the students learned from firefighters, engineers, health care workers and even our own Chief Meteorologist John Carroll presented the young minds with his take on what it takes to become a Broadcast Meteorologist.

Brettney Bryant along with Joe Albano organized the event today. A lot of work and coordination went into getting everyone there on time and cycling the kids through the different presentations.

It was a huge success with over 30 professionals providing the 6th, 7th and 8th grade students with new knowledge and insight into several career path choices.

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KTVZ – News Team

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A garage fire early Friday caused significant damage to a home in the Starwood subdivision off Tumalo Road, according to Bend Fire and Rescue. The cause is linked to an electrical fault called a “floating neutral”, and the smoke alarms did not go off. No one was injured after a child alerted a parent to smoke.

Below is the press release provided by Bend Fire & Rescue:

At 5:06 am on Friday, January 23, 2026, a 911 caller reported his home and garage full of smoke and a fire near the electrical panel in the garage.  Bend Fire & Rescue responded to the address at 20758 Lyra Drive in the Starwood subdivision off Tumalo Road.

First arriving units found a fire in the corner of the garage with some extension into the attic space above the garage.  Damage to the structure is estimated at $35,000 and $5,000 damage to the contents.

The interior of the residence sustained minor smoke and water damage, but is otherwise intact.  The home is not occupiable at this time due to lack of power.  The water to the home was also shut off in order to prevent freezing and bursting of pipes.  The residents declined Red Cross assistance.  

Upon investigation, the cause of the fire was found to be an electrical fault in the wiring of the home adjacent to the grounding rod.  This condition, called a floating neutral, can cause large imbalances in voltage within the wiring, leading to breakers tripping and the potential for a fire.  This is a situation that requires the urgent attention of a licensed electrician to correct. 

Bend Fire & Rescue would like to remind the community that working smoke alarms save lives.  In this case, the smoke alarms in the home did not sound, despite there being smoke in the house.  A young child in the home woke up and awakened a parent, who smelled the smoke and acted. 

The smoke alarms in the home were found to be older, in excess of 10 years old.  Smoke alarms have a life span of 10 years, the sensors degrade over time and become unreliable.  Even if an older alarm still chirps or beeps, there is no guarantee that it will activate in the event of a fire.  Smoke alarms (and carbon monoxide alarms) over 10 years of age need to be replaced.  For more information on home fire safety and smoke alarms, visit https://www.bendoregon.gov/government/departments/fire-rescue/community-programs/smoke-and-carbon-monoxide-alarms

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