□
□ □
□ | □
Thorny multiflora rose , dense stands of buckthorn and other invaders fill in the understory of our once open forests and grasslands . Olympic National Park is three hours west of Seattle , near the town of Port Angeles.Olympic National ParkThe Olympic Peninsula is remarkable for its biodiversity and wildness , from the flora and fauna that exist only on the Peninsula , to the lush stands of temperate , old-growth rainforests , pristine lakes and wild Pacific coast . Their solution , nestled in an upscale suburban neighborhood , incorporates all the elements of good wildlife habitat - - stands of native plants and a pond with shallow areas to provide food and shelter for birds , small mammals , reptiles , and amphibians - - but uses none of the harsh chemicals that have become the hallmark of " traditional " landscaping . Aerial photos from the 1930s and 1970s showed that thick stands of trees invaded , and eventually obliterated , most of the ancient mountain meadow , reducing grasslands by 55 percent from 1935 to 1981.Now , rather than regular low-intensity grass fires , these thick , dog-hair forests are susceptible to hotter , more destructive crown fires .