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.
How to Become a Wildlife Rehabilitator
Wildlife rehabilitation is an incredibly important field, especially with the rise in urban development and the alarming effects of climate change. Between the increasing network of busy roads, growing light pollution, reflective windows of homes and other buildings,...
Behind the Breed: Norwegian Elkhound
This confident, friendly breed was bred to withstand cold weather and to hunt or work for days at a time. Norwegian Elkhounds are spitz-type dogs that look and act very similar to Siberian Huskies and Alaskan Malamutes. Like these other breeds, Elkhounds have an...
Declawing Cats: Worse Than A Manicure
Anyone with a cat can tell you about how annoying and painful their claws can be at times. For some folks, the problem of their cats inappropriately scratching furniture, people, and other things gets to be such an issue that they decide to surgically declaw their...
Behind the Breed: Shiba Inu
The Shiba Inu is a rather iconic dog, especially in their native Japan where they are still an incredibly popular breed and one of the six native breeds to the country. This breed is intelligent, quiet, clean, rather strong-willed, and generally tends to do better as...
Wildlife Corridors and Crossings
For centuries, urban development has created literal barriers to important ecosystems and segmented habitats for wildlife. This is particularly true since the start of the automotive industry and the creation of a large network of roads and highways, a trend that's...
Behind the Breed: Doberman Pinscher
Doberman Pinchers, also known as Dobies, are fearless, loyal working dogs with sleek, muscular appearances. With a history in Germany, Dobermans have worked in a range of fields and even served as the US Marine Corps' official war dog during World War II. Because of...
Elk of the Pacific Northwest
Elk are one of the largest species in the deer family; they are currently native to North America and eastern Asia but have been introduced to other parts of the world. In the Pacific Northwest, there are two elk subspecies: the Roosevelt elk and the Rocky Mountain...
Behind the Breed: Italian Greyhounds
Greyhounds are an iconic breed known for their fast speeds and slender builds. But did you know there is another greyhound breed? The Italian Greyhound has similar qualities to the greyhound in a smaller package, including their contradictory need for speed and couch...
Working Dogs: What Jobs Do Dogs Have?
Dogs are incredible animals and with thousands of years of selective breeding behind them, dogs today often have traits and instincts that make them great in certain jobs. Over the centuries, dogs have spent a significant amount of time working in agricultural...
Behind the Breed: Welsh and English Springer Spaniels
As two of the 15 different spaniel breeds that the American Kennel Club recognizes, the Welsh and English Springer Spaniels may have similar names, builds, and looks. Welsh springers, also known as Welshies, are a bit smaller than their English counterparts and tend...
Sea Otters.
Sea otters can be found along the coastal areas of the North Pacific Ocean and range from the shores of Japan to the coast of Alaska and all along the coast of North America down to Baja, California. These cute and wonderful creatures have captured the love of many...
Seagulls of the Pacific Northwest
The birds commonly known as seagulls are rather notorious birds, particularly to those living along the coasts of North America. As opportunistic feeders, gulls have been known to eat a variety of things, like aquatic creatures, unattended bird eggs, garbage, and...
What Are Feral Cats And TNR Programs?
Domestic cats have coexisted with humans for thousands of years in a mutually beneficial way. In fact, it's thought that it was that mutually beneficial relationship that lead to cats being domesticated! Mice and rats have long been attracted to the crops and...
Behind the Breed: Bergamasco Sheepdog
Bergamasco sheepdogs might be one of the most interesting-looking dogs out there! With origins in Italy and the Alps, these dogs were bred as guardian dogs and their thick, unique coats help protect them from predators like wolves and bears when they're guarding or...
Duck Duck… Goose?
Domestic and wild waterfowl like ducks and geese are incredible birds that can be found almost all over the world. As waterfowl, both of these birds thrive around freshwater environments and are usually found around lakes, rivers, and waterfalls. The webbed feet of...
