bateman island

Witnesses say they've spotted a cougar on Bateman Island!

After a long year of being closed to the public, Bateman Island opens again today!
The island was closed almost a year ago when a fire believed to be caused by people burned almost 70 percent of the surface. After the fire the island was closed because of the risk to pedestrians...

Bateman Island To Re-Open Soon

Bird watchers and hikers will be happy, within a few weeks, Bateman Island is expected to re-open.
It's been nearly a year since a large fire torched over 70 acres on the popular destination for recreationists, and Richland City crews have been working to mow and trim the vegetation that's …

Because the island is within the Richland city limits, the bill for the biggest fire on the island in nearly 20 years will be paid by the city.

People are wondering what's up with Bateman Island after the big fire the other night? Well It's closed to the public and there may still be hot spots! Watch Captain Hardgrove give a live update...I had a hard time paying attention...LOL

We expected this, the City of Richland announced Monday afternoon Bateman Island will be closed indefinitely, due to fire and habitat damage. It will likely be months before mainstream hiking, recreating and bird and wildlife watching traffic is allowed.

The last time Bateman Island burned, the area was largely closed to the public for nearly two more years. That was in 2001. Now, even beyond firefighting efforts, it's likely the same will happen.

With the fire still burning on Bateman Island near the Richland Y and shrouding the area in smoke, this fire should reinforce the idea that removing the island's only entry and exit is a bad idea.

Others, not so much. After a flurry of discussion earlier this year, the subject of removing the causeway, or land path that joins Bateman Island to the shoreline is again on the table.