This paper examines the fragmented legal and ecological landscape of the U.S. Cascades and its impact on a range of predators, including wolves, wolverines, and Canada lynx. Through an integrated analysis of federal, state, and tribal governance, it reveals how habitat connectivity remains largely unprotected within existing environmental frameworks. Despite landmark statutes such as the Endangered Species Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, and the National Forest Management Act, conservation continues to operate through static, site-based models that overlook the movement needs of species whose survival depends on migration and dispersal.

The paper argues for a Cascades Predator Connectivity Compact, co-led by Indigenous Nations, to bridge these governance gaps and establish legally binding, landscape-scale corridors. Drawing from Indigenous ecological governance, climate adaptation planning, and multispecies justice theory, it calls for the recognition of predators not as adversaries or resources, but as vital participants in a living, relational ecosystem. Ensuring their freedom to move is not just a biological necessity, but a moral obligation, as a test of whether human governance can evolve toward a relational balance and shared resilience.

Oregon State University, 2025 (Full Version)