Pacific Northwest Wildlife

Speaking Up for Wildlife

The Pacific Northwest is home to thousands of diverse animal species who make our region wild. Thriving wildlife populations indicate healthy forests, grasslands and watersheds.

NARN works to protect the Northwest’s wildlife through advocating for the return of native, keystone species while fighting for habitat protection for their long-term recovery. We also work to highlight the harmful effects that animal agriculture has on native wildlife populations.

We work in coalition with local, regional, and national organizations to bring attention to issues affecting wildlife in the Pacific Northwest.

Get involved! Join NARN’s Wildlife Committee

DID YOU KNOW?
Never feed Bears or allow access to trash or food left outside. Biologists like to say that a “fed Bear is a dead Bear”

Do your part to keep wildlife safe!

DID YOU KNOW?
WA dept. of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) must consider all interests, including hunting, economic, scientific study, photography, safety, and cultural uses by Indigenous communities, while making wildlife management decisions. For Cougars, they are largely managed through the consideration of only three of these interests; hunting, economic, and safety.

Don’t be afraid to speak up for wildlife during a WDFW Commission meeting!

DID YOU KNOW?
By the 1930’s, Wolves were eradicated from Washington State. In 2088, Washington wildlife managers documented the state’s first breeding pack in modern times.

Wolves are under fire from the livestock industry. Stay up-to-date on how to protect Wolves by signing up here.

How To Take Action

Make your voice heard!

Tell WDFW what you would like to see changed or strengthened regarding management of a species or in general!

Major commenting happens at WDFW Commission meetings, instructions found here.

Remember, don’t forget why you care! You may express your feelings and opinions, however, opinions must be based on facts and spoken respectfully. Feelings are not fact-based but are still valid!

The Fish and Wildlife Commission is the body that classifies which nonhuman animal species will be considered by humans as “game animals.” “Game animals” are nonhuman wild animals that may be hunted and killed by humans. Some other actions you may take to engage with the Commission in-between public commenting periods are:

  • Contact the Commission directly. Before submitting your writings, be aware that some activist websites (both ones for and against hunting) exaggerate claims and opinions disguised as facts.  Go to the source of research and make sure you can adequately point to your source information while conversing with WDFW or with its Commission.
  • Let NARN help you with your research. What do you want to find out?
  • Attempt to formulate and write down what changes you would like to see implemented for management at WDFW. When presenting to the Commission, try to suggest alternatives to the actions you do not like.
  • You may also comment directly to WDFW on their public media Stay Connected sites.

As always, be kind, be factual, know your sources, and express your values in a productive and respectful way.

“Fur Bearing” Animals

Animals who may be killed for their fur coats:

Washington: Badger, Beaver, Bobcat, Marten, Mink, Muskrat, Raccoon, Red Fox, River Otter, Weasel

Oregon: Beaver, Bobcat, Fisher, Gray Fox, Marten, Mink, Muskrat, River Otter, Raccoon, and Red Fox

Idaho: Badger, Beaver, Bobcat, Marten, Mink, Muskrat, Red Fox, and River Otter

California: Racoon

USDA Wildlife Services

Wildlife Services (WS) is housed inside of the USDA. It does not follow the same rules and regulations as Fish and Wildlife agencies. Because it is not monitored or regulated as hunted and nonhunted species, the animals killed by WS are in the millions are virtually unprotected from abuse and cruelty while they are being exterminated.

“Pest” animals, or “nuisance” animals, are animals who are not protected by law in the same way that animals are protected under the Animal Welfare Act, and the Endangered Species Act, to name a few, and are also not covered by animal welfare standards that apply to animals used for agriculture.  This means that these animals can essentially be unscrupulously killed and without regulations mitigating their pain and suffering. Most of the animals that WS kills are considered “pests” and many of them have no legal protection.

Animals who are killed by WS, both intentionally and negligently:
  • Agamas
  • Albatrosses
  • Alligators
  • Anhingas
  • Ani
  • Antelopes
  • Armadillos
  • Arthropods
  • Avadavats
  • Avocets
  • Badgers
  • Bass
  • Bats
  • Bears
  • Beavers
  • Bee-Eaters
  • Bishops
  • Bison
  • Bitterns
  • Blackbirds
  • Bluebirds
  • Bluethroats
  • Bobcats
  • Bobolinks
  • Bulbuls
  • Buntings
  • Buzzards
  • Caimans
  • Caracaras
  • Cardinals
  • Caribou
  • Catbirds
  • Cats
  • Chickens
  • Chiffchaffs
  • Chipmunks
  • Chukars
  • Coatis
  • Coots
  • Cormorants
  • Cougars
  • Cows
  • Cowbirds
  • Coyotes
  • Crakes
  • Cranes
  • Crossbills
  • Crows, Bird
  • Crows, Fish
  • Cuckoos
  • Curlews
  • Deer
  • Dickcissels
  • Dippers
  • Dogs
  • Doves
  • Dowitchers
  • Drongos
  • Ducks
  • Dunlins
  • Eagles
  • Egrets
  • Elk
  • Falcons
  • Finches
  • Fishers
  • Flickers
  • Flycatchers
  • Foxes
  • Francolins
  • Frigatebirds
  • Frogs
  • Gannets
  • Geese
  • Gerbils
  • Godwits
  • Goldfinches
  • Grackles
  • Grebes
  • Grosbeaks
  • Grouse
  • Gulls
  • Hares
  • Harriers
  • Hawks
  • Hedgehogs
  • Herons
  • Hobbys
  • Hoopoes
  • Ibises
  • Iguanas
  • Jackals
  • Jaegers
  • Jays
  • Jirds
  • Juncos
  • Junglefowl
  • Killdeers
  • Kingbirds
  • Kingfishers
  • Kites
  • Kittiwakes
  • Lapwings
  • Larks
  • Lizards
  • Longspurs
  • Loons
  • Lynx
  • Magpies
  • Marmots
  • Martens
  • Meadowlarks
  • Mice
  • Minks
  • Mockingbirds
  • Mongooses
  • Moorhens
  • Moose
  • Munias
  • Murrelets
  • Muskrats
  • Mynas
  • Nighthawks
  • “Non-Wildlife” (accidental companion animal kills, etc…)
  • Nutrias
  • Opossums
  • Orioles
  • Ospreys
  • Otters
  • Owls
  • Oystercatchers
  • Parakeets
  • Partridges
  • Peccaries
  • Pelicans
  • Phalaropes
  • Pheasants
  • Phoebes
  • Pigeons
  • Pikeminnows
  • Pipits
  • Plovers
  • Pocket Gophers
  • Poorwills
  • Porcupines
  • Prairie Dogs
  • Pranticoles
  • Pronghorns
  • Quail
  • Rabbits
  • Racoons
  • Rails
  • Rats
  • Ravens
  • Redpolls
  • Redstarts
  • Reptiles, Exotic
  • Ringtails
  • Roadrunners
  • Robins
  • Rollers
  • Sanderlings
  • Sandpipers
  • Sea Lions
  • Seals
  • Shearwaters
  • Sheep
  • Shrews
  • Shrikes
  • Silverbills
  • Siskins
  • Skimmers
  • Skunks
  • Skylarks
  • Snakes
  • Snipes
  • Soras
  • Sparrowhawks
  • Sparrows
  • Spoonbills
  • Squirrels
  • Starlings
  • Stilts
  • Stonechats
  • Storks
  • Swallows
  • Swans
  • Swine
  • Tattlers
  • Terns
  • Thrashers
  • Thrushes
  • Titmouses
  • Toads
  • Towhees
  • Turkeys
  • Turnstones
  • Turtles
  • Voles
  • Vultures
  • Wagtails
  • Walleyes
  • Warblers
  • Waxbills
  • Waxwings
  • Weasels
  • Wheatears
  • Whimbrels
  • White-Eyes
  • Whitethroats
  • Wildcats
  • Willets
  • Wolves
  • Woodchucks
  • Woodcocks
  • Woodpeckers
  • Woodrats
  • Wrens
  • Yellowlegs

To see a complete break down of how many animals were killed by species and subspecies, including animals labeled as “other,” see the USDA’s own annual report.

See this article from The Guardian for a great visual of the sheer enormity of these killings.

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