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.
Wildlife in the Winter
Winter is a cold, dark season in the Northern Hemisphere. How do wild animals survive during this time of year?
Behind the Breed: Anatolian Shepherd
These big, tough dogs are one of the oldest breeds in the world, hailing from what is now modern-day Turkey. Anatolian Shepherds are livestock guardians, having spent thousands of years working alongside human shepherds by protecting flocks of sheep. They are...
What Happens to Domestic Rabbits That Are Released Into The Wild?
When I was a kid, my family went on road trips all over the Pacific Northwest during spring and summer breaks. There was always one place we'd stop for lunch if we were in the area; talking with my sister and some Googling revealed this place to be The Eatery at...
Behind the Breed: English Foxhound
English Foxhounds are a fairly rare breed nowadays, ranking near the bottom of the American Kennel Club's popular breed list (188 out of 197!). But despite that, these hounds have a long history as hunting dogs and they're medium in size, standing 23-27 inches at the...
The Importance of Healthy Wetlands, Rivers, Streams, and Creeks
Living in the Pacific Northwest means living with a certain amount of water, particularly rain. November through January are especially wet but average rainfalls do depend on where in the northwest you happen to be. The Great Bear Rainforest and Hoh Rainforest, for...
Giving Tuesday 2021
It’s #GivingTuesday! Here are some wonderful animal welfare and conservation related nonprofits you can support.
Behind the Breed: Domestic Turkey Breeds
Turkeys and Thanksgiving have been synonymous for quite a while now, with the story of the holiday claiming that the bird was eaten at the first Thanksgiving meal (although, the history of the holiday is definitely not the one you learned in school!). Nowadays,...
Winter Holiday Pet Safety
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving in the United States! For some, the day is about giving thanks, having a delicious meal, and being around family and friends. If you decide to involve your pets in the festivities, here are some tips on how to keep them safe!
Behind the Breed: Welsh Terriers
These black and tan dogs are true to their terrier name and are spunky dogs full of character. Welsh terriers were originally bred to chase and trap small animals for hunters and still remain the active, fun-loving dog that made them so great as hunting companions....
Pinnipeds of the Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is lucky enough to be home to a truly wide array of animals and one such group is the pinniped. These aquatic animals are primarily marine mammals like seals, sea lions, fur seals, and walruses. In the Salish Sea, we're lucky enough to have...
Behind the Breed: Alaskan Klee Kai
Alaskan Klee Kais are adorably wonderful dogs that look just like miniature Huskies! The Klee Kai is a relatively new breed, having only been first developed in the early 1970s, and ancestors include Siberian Huskies and American Eskimo dogs. They do come in three...
Conservation Dogs: How Dogs Use Their Sense of Smell to Help Endangered Species
Dogs are incredible animals. With a heightened sense of smell and millennia of artificial selection, there are so many jobs that dogs can do and one important one is as a conservation canine. This work involves dogs being trained to detect organic and inorganic...
Behind the Breed: Leonbergers
Affectionately known as Leos (or even gentle lions!), these massive dogs were originally developed not as guardian or working dogs but as companion dogs! Leonbergers are social, friendly dogs that love being around their people and definitely need some room to walk...
Horse Hoof Care
Like any animal, caring for a horse is a big responsibility and in addition to making sure they have shelter, appropriate and nutritious food, and medical care, horses also need their hooves taken care of. Like other ungulate mammals, horses have hooves that require a...
Happy Howloween!
NOTE: This post does not constitute any sort of veterinary or medical advice. If your pets eat chocolate or other possibly toxic substances, please immediately contact your vet or local emergency animal hospital! This post is solely educational and a resource for pet...
