Animals of the Pacific Northwest is an online project dedicated to animal welfare, humane education, environmental justice, wildlife conservation, and the animals and their fans that call the Pacific Northwest home.
The Pacific Northwest is home to many different habitats, flora and fauna species, communities, and domestic animals. In this region, you can find mountain goats, grizzly bears, transient and resident orcas, northwestern salamanders, western pond turtles, red foxes, grey wolves, long-tailed weasels, cougars, bobcats, and so much more. Domestic animals also call this place home as well and have existed with humans for thousands of years. Dogs, cats, horses, chickens, sheep, and more have had a huge impact both on human life and the environment in this region.
Where is the Pacific Northwest?
Also known as Cascadia, this ecoregion is found in western North America and the northeastern Pacific Ocean. There aren’t exact boundaries for the region but generally, it includes the Salish Sea, US states of Oregon, Washington, and Idaho plus the Canadian province of British Columbia. Broader maps include southeastern Alaska, western Montana, and northern California.
The Salish Sea
This inland sea is a vital part of Washington and British Columbia – for economic, cultural, and biodiversity reasons. It stretches from Neah Bay on the Olympic Peninsula through the Strait of Juan de Fuca to Puget Sound up to Desolation Sound north of the Strait of Georgia. The Salish Sea covers almost 17,000 square kilometers and is protected by Vancouver Island and the Olympic Peninsula. There are more than 4,600 kilometers of coastline, 37 mammal species, 172 bird species, 253 fish species, 3,000 invertebrate species, and more than 8 million humans.
The name for this sea comes from the Coast Salish peoples, the indigenous communities that have called the Salish Sea and surrounding land home for time immemorial, like the Lummi (Lhaq’temish), Cowlitz, Puyallup, Squamish (Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw), and Tulalip peoples. Many of the names for places in the Pacific Northwest are names for tribes or come from Coast Salish languages.
Flooding in the Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest has been hit hard by at least two atmospheric rivers in the last week, with parts of Western Washington receiving 18 inches of rain within days. Towns are completely flooded, hundreds of thousands have lost power, roads have collapsed, and one...
Alaska’s Recent Floods
Flooding from recent typhoons have devastated communities in Western Alaska and the Philippines alike. How did this happen and how can you help?
The Perils of Artificial Intelligence
It’s hard to avoid seeing any sort of AI-generated content if you’re online at all these days; from ChatGPT helping people write emails to AI-generated images to whole videos being generated. Until recently, there were many tells you could rely on to see what content...
Save Our Public Lands
July 1st, 2025 update: The addition to the "Big Beautiful Bill" that would sell off millions of acres of public land has officially been withdrawn from the bill! While this is a temporary reprieve and a win, there are still many other threats to our public lands,...
Save Animals As Natural Therapy
Animals as Natural Therapy serves thousands of people every year in Whatcom County and they’re at risk of closure. Help today.
Deep Sea Mining
When you think of batteries, you might not immediately think of the bottom of the ocean floor. But in the dark depths of the ocean and in the midst of species that have yet to even be identified, there are these potato-shaped deposits called polymetallic nodules that...
The Endangered Species Act Is In Danger
With Earth Day just a few days away, it is, to put it mildly, unfortunate that the Endangered Species Act of 1973 is currently under threat from political battles and partisan ideologies. The act is a critical piece of legislation that establishes regulations and...
Behind the Breed: Lancashire Heeler
As the newest recognized AKC breed, the Lancashire Heeler might be one of the lesser-known dog breeds. These small dogs might not stand tall but they still have an incredible spirit! Originating from England (Lancashire County unsurprisingly!), Lancashire heelers have...
A new Southern Resident Killer Whale calf has been spotted!
Update 1/4/24 Unfortunately, there has been a rather sad update for J61, as the Center for Whale Research recently confirmed that she has not survived. This is devastating news for many reasons, largely because this is Tahlequah's second calf not to survive and she...
Celebrating Black Cats
There are many myths and superstitions around black cats. How well do you really know these cats?
Vote NO on Washington’s I-2117
The 2024 election has been on everyone’s radar for quite some time, with the presidential race obviously getting a primary focus. But the presidential election isn’t the only election/issue worth focusing on, as local and state issues highly influence an individual’s...
Cease Fire Now! The War On Gaza Needs To End
The ongoing genocide in Gaza and Palestine is a humanitarian and environmental crisis of the utmost importance, one that could define a generation. Since October 2023, there have been tens of thousands of official deaths and many, many more that are likely not counted...
Mushrooms and Fungi in the Pacific Northwest
From the iconic classic toadstool to the bright color of the violet webcap, there are many different types of mushrooms and fungi in the Pacific Northwest. Many types of fungi are mycorrhizal and have a symbiotic relationship with a plant; other types have been known...
The Edison Bird Festival
Visiting Edison, Washington is always a reminder of what life can be like as a slow, artistic community. The “downtown” part encompasses about three blocks these days, with significantly more art galleries and studios than actual intersections. In addition to...
Behind the Breed: Bengal Cats
Bengal cats are one of the most interesting domestic cats, as they’re one of the few wild and domestic cat hybrids in the United States that can be house pets. Compared to other domestic cat breeds, Bengals are still relatively new and because of their hybrid status,...
