From Rainier:
Seattle, WA – 6/27/19 – The rapid pace of change across the Pacific Northwest (PNW) has created an intense new reality in which both long-time residents and newcomers to the region are now living every day. In Seattle, Rain City has been replaced by Crane City as tech industry-driven urbanization continues to reshape the face of this traditionally outdoor-loving corner of the country.
Sadly, this stressful environment has also impacted one of the PNW’s most beloved species: the Wild Rainiers.
Once found roaming the fields and forests of the PNW in large packs, today the population of Wild Rainiers is
suffering as members of the herd are moving to the city where they are stuck in traffic and working long hours.
Toiling in open floorplan offices with artfully exposed beams, these urbanized Rainiers long for the wide-open
spaces and beauty of the natural mountain habitat where they belong.
Erik Jorgenson, a third-generation Seattleite and self-professed amateur Wild Rainier tracker, is among the many
residents whose concern about this issue is growing.
“
The majestic, free-roaming Rainiers are an iconic symbol of the fun and wild spirit of our region,” said a visibly distraught Jorgenson. “They belong in the mountains, grazing and generally frolicking, not trapped in the city.”
Jorgenson continued, “It’s gotten so bad that some now even have LinkedIn pages. LINKEDIN! It’s not natural
for Rainiers to be ‘networking’ and giving ‘thumbs up’ to co-workers. They need to be running free!”
Ashley Smith, a new PNW resident was shocked to find a Rainier working in her office.
“I came to Seattle for the great outdoors and wildlife, but instead I’m sitting in meeting rooms with a formerly
wild Rainier ‘putting stakes in the ground’, ‘taking things off-line’ and creating ‘win-wins’,” sobbed Smith. “He
doesn’t belong there! I don’t belong there!”
To fight this troubling trend, a group of concerned locals known as the Friends of the Wild Rainiers have issued
an urgent call to action for everyone around the Northwest to get involved and help ReWild The Rainiers. Thanks
to strong initial support for the cause, the group has started to reverse the trend. These “ReWild Rangers” have
already successfully captured several Rainiers and returned them to their natural habitat.
“This important work is vital to ensuring the survival of the Rainiers and preserving an essential element of the
fun, wild spirit of our region,” said group leader Stan “the Man” Warzecha. “For the sake of this and all future
generations, please join us and help keep the Rainiers wild and mountain fresh. It’s not too late, but it’s up to all
of us to do our part.”
To see the footage of the Rainiers and learn how to join the ongoing ReWild the Rainiers effort, follow
@rainier_beer on Instagram, and please report any sightings of urbanized Rainiers around your city this summer
by posting a photo with the location and #rewildrainier.
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