COEUR d'ALENE — Bill Geer gets that there are skeptics — and there probably always will be — about climate change's impacts on fish and wildlife.

The retired wildlife biologist has been there, thought that.

"I was skeptical because I had not seen enough evidence," Geer said.

Times have changed, and so has Geer's view of climate change.

These days, Geer speaks to groups across the West in hopes of jolting citizens regarding what he believes are serious issues brought on by declining stream flows, drought, pests and other factors.

Geer, who lives outside Missoula and is a wildlife adviser for Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, spoke on Tuesday to about 300 attendees during the opening night of the sixth annual Northwest Climate Conference that runs through today at The Coeur d’Alene Resort.

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