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.
Behind the Breed: Novia Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
As the smallest of retriever breeds, the Novia Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever were bred as hunting dogs and originated in the Little River district of Novia Scotia in Canada. Nicknamed 'tollers' and originally called Littler River Duck Dogs, these dogs helped lure...
Oh Rats! How To Deal With Unwanted Pests In Your Chicken Coop
Having chickens is a lot of work but it can be so much fun. These birds end up having funny personalities and many lay some great-tasting eggs! While there are plenty of good reasons to have chickens around (eggs, their poop turns into great compost, they can help...
Shelter, Rescues, and Breeders: Oh My!
There are many different ways you can bring a new pet home. It's become more and more popular to adopt a rescue pet from shelters and rescue organizations and this is particularly necessary, as the ASPCA estimates that 6.5 million companion animals enter shelters each...
Behind the Breed: Shetland Sheepdogs
Also known as Shelties, this breed is the definition of a herding dog and have guarded their owner's gardens against hungry wildlife for quite some time. Like other herding dogs, Shelties are intelligent, take well to training, and love having a job like being a...
Are Zoos Good or Bad? The Ethical Considerations of Keeping Wild Animals in Captivity.
In the Pacific Northwest, there are ten aquariums and zoos accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (eleven if you include the Calgary Zoo in Alberta, Canada). In addition to being open to the public (now with restrictions because of Covid-19), these parks...
Fishers of the Pacific Northwest
These elusive, forest-dwelling animals are agile and swift climbers. Fishers look similar to their relatives, the weasels and Pacific martens, but are much larger in size and have a darker coat. These carnivores are roughly the size of a house cat and weigh 4.4-13...
Behind the Breed: Weimaraners
With a relatively tall stature and distinctive silvery-grey coat, Weimaraners are a gorgeous and fearless breed that love to spend quality time with their people. These dogs are intelligent and positive reinforcement training can be fun with them! While they can great...
Why Does My Cat Chirp And Chatter At Birds?
For owners of domestic cats, it's well known that our feline friends make a whole lot of noises throughout their life. Over the thousands of years they evolved and became domesticated, house cats learned that, in addition to other forms of communication, "speaking" is...
Sea Turtles of the Pacific Northwest
When I think of sea turtles, I think of more tropical waters, like off of the Hawaiian islands or in the Gulf of Mexico. This is for good reason, as sea turtles prefer the warm waters between 30 degrees north and 30 degrees south. In the western hemisphere, that area...
Behind the Breed: Yorkshire Terriers
Yorkshire Terriers, also known as Yorkies and even the 'Tomboy Toy', are small but energetic dogs that thrive when given a job to do. Despite their size, these dogs are full of courage, confidence, and spunk in addition to being a bit high maintenance. Their size...
Flea And Tick Prevention And Treatment For Cats and Dogs
Fleas and ticks can be annoying but there are ways to prevent and treat these parasites!
The Different Types of Orcas
Orcas, also known as killer whales, are an iconic marine mammal, particularly in the Pacific Northwest. In addition to having complex social structures, deep emotional connections, and incredible intelligence, these mammals are predators that feed on a variety of fish...
Surviving Fourth of July Weekend
The Fourth of July is celebrated all around the United States with food, time outside, and fireworks in many places. While the day can be incredibly fun, many pets and wildlife don't enjoy the loud noises, smells, or even flashes of fireworks. Some say July 5th is the...
How To Become A Professional Dog Trainer
In this day and age, there are many ways to work with animals as a career and one such way is becoming a professional dog trainer! Training dogs is more than just teaching a dog to sit and high five, as you'll also need to work with the dog and their owners on...
How To Help Your Pets Survive The Summer.
Looking back over the decades, it's easy to tell how climate change has affected the planet, particularly during the summertime. With an increase in wildfires (both in severity and numbers) and an increase in temperature, summers can bring potential dangers to you,...
