Happy Pride! For the last several decades, June and early July have been a celebration of the LGBTQ+ community and a protest for our rights. Animals of the Pacific Northwest is focused on pet care, wildlife conservation, and environmental justice so why does Pride...
Puffins of the Pacific Northwest
Puffins are an easily recognizable species and because of their iconic looks, are often called parrots of the sea or even sea clowns. These birds live their entire lives near or on the sea in the Northern Hemisphere and technically speaking, there are four species:...
Enjoying The Great Outdoors
It is finally summer here in the Pacific Northwest (more or less!), which means nice weather and plenty of chances to enjoy the nature all around us. The Pacific Northwest is blessed with a range of different environments; there are lakes, rivers, forests, sagelands,...
The Oregon Spotted Frog
In addition to all the other animals that call the Pacific Northwest home, there are several species of frogs that also live in the region! One such species is the Oregon Spotted Frog (Rana pretiosa), which is found in different areas of the northwest. They can be...
Beating the Heat: Taking Care of Pets During Warm Weather
Global warming and climate change play a huge role in the rising temperatures here in the Northwest and around the world. Summers seem to be getting longer and hotter all across the world and these rising temperatures are impacting people, animals of all kinds, and...
Bird is the Word: Effects of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Flu
The Highly Pathogenic Avian Flu, also known as HPAI and avian/bird flu, has unfortunately been a large-scale issue across the Pacific Northwest and North America over the last year and a half. This flu strain (H5N1) impacts wild birds like California Condors and...
Behind the Breed: Designer/Hybrid Breeds
“Behind the Breed” has been a regular series here at Animals of the Pacific Northwest for more than four years and has covered more than a few dog, cat, rabbit, chicken, and horse breeds. In fact, more than 80 different dog breeds have been discussed! During this time...
Mountain Lions of North America
Also known as pumas, mountain lions, and catamounts, cougars are adaptable predators and the world’s fourth largest wildcat following lions, tigers, and jaguars. Cougars are relatively solitary animals but despite living mostly alone, these cats still have complex...
Behind the Breed: Brittany Dogs
This medium-sized sporting breed has a dense white and orange coat, a high energy level, and a friendly attitude. Brittanys were developed to be hunting companions and gundogs, making them great companions for active homes that love being busy and can include their...
City Nature Challenge: April 28th to May 1st, 2023
If you're looking for a great way to spend time in nature and be a citizen science, the City Nature Challenge might be a perfect weekend for you! This international event was initially started as a competition between Los Angeles and San Francisco in 2016 but in the...
Earth Day 2023
Today is the 53rd annual Earth Day, a day when more than a billion people come together to celebrate the earth, It is easy to get overwhelmed and pessimistic about the current state of climate change and the world. The Willow Project is being backed by the Biden...
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch may be a familiar term to some, especially to those who care about oceans and marine life. For those who don’t know, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a term that refers to a collection of marine debris, particularly plastic, in the...
Behind the Breed: Pit Bulls
This post contains affiliate links that I could make a commission off of. All opinions are my own. For decades, pit bulls have had a bad reputation. They're seen as fighting dogs that are inherently aggressive and are more likely to bite, notions that are based on the...
Behind the Breed: Holland Lops, Flemish Giants, and Lionhead Rabbits
Did you know that domestic rabbits come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and personalities? The American Rabbit Breeders Association recognizes 50 unique breeds and each one has its own history, temperament, and physical characteristics. Some of the most common domestic...
Becoming A BARK Ranger with the National Park Service!
With spring and summer just around the corner, the BARK Ranger program is a great way for you and your pups to explore national parks around the United States! While not every part of the National Park Service is open to people or dogs, there are plenty of amazing...
Tokitae The Orca Is Coming Home!
On March 30th, 2023, The Dolphin Company, the parent company of the Miami Seaquarium, announced that Tokitae, also known as Lolita and Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut, will be headed back home where she belongs! This decision comes after years of calls for Tokitae to be released...
Selfies with tigers, holding koalas, and riding elephants: How wildlife tourism can harm animals
In 2015, a 43-year-old woman from Mississippi was the fifth person that year to be injured by a bison in Yellowstone National Park after attempting to get a selfie with the animal, only to be literally flung by the animal. Two years later and thousands of miles away,...
#StopWillow – No More Drilling Projects In The Arctic! [April 4th, 2023 Update]
Simply put, the Willow Project, also known as the Willow Master Development Project, is yet another proposed oil development project slated to be built in Alaska’s Western Arctic. This $6 billion project is currently projected to open up an estimated 629 million...
Finnish and Swedish Lapphunds
Finnish and Swedish Lapphunds are two separate but extremely similar breeds and as evident from their names, these dogs originated in Finland, Sweden, and northern Scandinavia. The name ‘Lapphund’ comes from Lapland, a region in the Arctic Circle and the northernmost...
How To Become An Animal Control Officer
When you think of an animal control officer, you might think of one of the many reality television series that follow animal control officers around. Animal Cops from Animal Planet and Discovery has several spin-offs in many cities around the United States; Animal PD...
Behind the Breed: Borzois
Also known as the Russian Hunting Sighthound, the Borzoi is a large and unusual-looking dog breed with a long history. Despite their long history and wonderful temperament, this breed is still relatively uncommon but thanks to platforms like TikTok, they seem to be...