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.
Environmental Justice.
Talking about climate change is a vital part of addressing the problems we're currently facing. Natural disasters are worsening because of the rise in the Earth's temperature; the ocean is currently going through acidification because of the increasing carbon dioxide...
The West Coast Wildfires (2020)
This year started out with massive wildfires in Australia so it's sadly not a big surprise that the west coast of the United States is now experiencing our own huge wildfires as well. But that doesn't take away from the emotional and destructive nature of these fires,...
Behind the Breed: Bohemian Shepherd
While Bohemian Shepherds aren't particularly well known in the United States, these dogs are friendly, intelligent, and devoted to their people. Also known as Chodský pes, the Czech Sheepdog, or the Bohemian Herder, these dogs are lively and take to almost any...
Behind the Breed: Saint Bernards
These large dogs are iconic and lovable animals, known best for mountain rescues and their gentle nature. Originally from the Great St. Bernard Pass in the Swiss Alps, these dogs are named after Saint Bernard, an 11th-century monk who founded a hospice in the pass to...
Behind the Breed: Great Danes
As one of the tallest dogs in the world, Great Danes are powerful, graceful animals that are taller than some humans when standing on their hind legs. In fact, their graceful nature is the reason why they're often called 'Apollos of dogs'. For the most part, they have...
Summer Treats For Your Dogs
Summer may be officially winding down but here in the Pacific Northwest, August and early September tend to be very hot. Keeping cool is vital for both you and your pets, as heat exhaustion or a heat stroke can be dangerous or even fatal. But there are some really fun...
Weasels of the Pacific Northwest.
The fact that weasels are actually found all around the world, including here in the Pacific Northwest, might be surprising to some. But these nocturnal animals are small, with the largest getting to be only a couple of feet long and weigh less than a pound, and their...
Supporting Black People and Communities.
The last few months have been stressful and the last week has been especially so. Between Covid19 and the unjust killing of George Floyd, there are a lot of things going on in the world right now. Speaking only for myself and as a white person, watching all of...
The State of Climate Change.
Climate change is an ever-present threat to humans, animals, and ecosystems around the world. A new study confirmed suspicions that human-caused climate change made the 2019-2020 southeast Australian fires worse and that is just one natural disaster that's negatively...
Dogs, Cats, and Wildlife.
Growing up, my family always had indoor/outdoor cats and for some odd reason, those two cats loved to bring any animal they caught to my (carpeted) room, often hiding the dead animal under my bed. It was a particularly gross habit they had but it meant that after a...
Behind the Breed: Aidis (Atlas Mountain Dogs)
Also known as Atlas Sheepdogs and Atlas Mountain Dogs, this breed is a muscular, energetic, and protective dog native to Northern Africa (particularly Morocco). They're medium in size, usually weighing 50-55 pounds and standing 20-24 inches tall. Aidis have some...
Dog Zoomies: What They Are and What They Mean.
My family's first dog was a rescue named Penny. It had taken years of asking before my parents finally caved and we found Penny on our first trip to the local humane society. She was a young German Shephard/Beagle mix with plenty of energy and a sense of adventure....
Behind the Breed: Poodles.
Poodles are, for many, an iconic and regal breed. These curly dogs are incredibly smart and popular, especially for some with dog allergies. There are three different sizes of poodles (standard, miniature, and toy) that have several kinds of coat colors. While there...
Spring Is On Its Way.
There is an unusual tradition held each year in a Pennsylvania town that's based on an old German legend. On February 2nd each year, a groundhog determines whether we'll have another six weeks of winter or if spring will be early! Groundhog Day has been happening in...
Adoption Tips.
Adopting a rescue animal is, in my opinion, an incredibly wonderful experience. There are so many reasons to adopt but the actual process might take some time and it might be a while until your pet feels truly at home. Here are some tips for the adoption process. Tip...
