Northwest Wildlife Online
by John M. Regan
Updated Friday, January 08, 2010
Devoted to wildlife of the Great Northwest Region of America
(and wildlife the world over)
Birds Mammals Reptiles Amphibians Fish Invertebrates Library NWWOL Online Store
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Saudi Arabian Wildlife Afghanistan Wildlife
HAPPY WILDLIFE NEW YEAR!
Wildlife Photos of the Week:
On New Year's Day my wife and I went for a stroll in forest surrounding Fort Lewis and came upon this early emerging Bullfrog. Hard to tell from the dark muddy covering, but I believe this one is probably a female. Nice way to start the new wildlife decade. In the middle is a nice shot of a Mount Rainier sunrise taken from my backyard. Bit cloudy, but it made for a nice splash of color. And can anyone out there help me identify the type of growth attached to the tree branch on the right? It is not frost. It appears to be some kind of feathery mold. Bright white color and seems to burst from inside the tree branch.
Wildlife in the News:
Top Dinosaur and Fossil Finds of 2009
Odd Sea Life from British Antarctic Survey
Oldest Captive Gorilla Turns 53
Welcome to Northwest Wildlife Online, the only online website dedicated to all the spectacular wildlife of the great Northwest United States. A wildlife enthusiast's paradise, the Northwest is home to thousands of animal species. Ocean depths, fourteen thousand foot mountain peaks, rain forests, deserts, lush landscapes, treeless barrens, ponds, lakes, salt marshes - the geography of this region is one of the most biologically diverse in the world. From the tiny shrew-mole to the giant blue whale, the Northwest is a naturalist's dream. Sea life species alone are amazing: 30 marine mammals, 200 marine birds, 400 varieties of fish, and an estimated 8,000 species of invertebrates including one of the most dense concentrations of starfish in the world. The Giant Pacific Octopus, largest cephalopod in the world, resides here as does the Plumose Anemone, the largest anemone in the world. Bald Eagles and Golden Eagles soar the skies. With some of the only wild places left in the lower 48, the land gives home to 62 species of reptiles and amphibians, 158 species of mammals, and hundreds of different types of birds. The great Grizzly (Brown) Bear and the smaller Black Bear, American Bison, moose, and wolves share the fields and forests with three varieties of shrew. And as if that were not enough we are the slug capital of the world! So come on in and explore this inspiring world of wildlife.
But there's no reason to stop with the wildlife of the Northwest. Still bitten by the travel and adventure bug I've spent the past couple of years tooling around the Middle East and Central Asia. Click on over to the wildlife of Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan.
From time to time I get pictures from readers of the site. The fine photograph of a Western Toad comes from Nancy of Sultan, WA. She found the big fellow, almost five inches long, in her front yard. Click on the picture to learn more. Thanks, Nancy!
See what's new at Northwest! Trek ! »»
«««Fun With Fungi Mushrooms are fascinating and since they are a such a noticeable part of the Northwest landscape I went ahead and added a page on shrooms. Enjoy.
How did the Goeduck get its name?
The wildlife of Afghanistan is a delight. Click the pictures below to get a view of wildlife in this tragically beautiful country.
Explore the Wildlife of Saudi Arabia! I spent a year there and learned to love the desert. The photos on the Saudi Wildlife page reveal the natural history secrets of The Kingdom.
HELP!
Somebody please tell me what these odd little guys are. Roughly the the size of a large spitball, I found about ten of them in the Afghan desert inhabiting a small hole that you'd expect a tiny mouse to live in. They only appeared in the evening, after the intense daytime heat dissipated. Obviously insect like - note the legs grasping the side of their home - but beyond that I have no idea what to call them. The legs are covered with sand particles but the rest of the body is heavily decorated with insect body parts, mainly ants from what I can see. This leads me to believe they are some kind of ant predator, but I have never seen anything like them before. Their habitat was unfortunately destroyed by a construction project over here shortly after I took these photos. Despite an extensive search I've not been able to find any more examples. If anyone knows what these fascinating creatures are please contact me.
HOOAH
Jack
Take a moment and thank their courage: www.TroopCarePackage.com *Send Home To Them*
Recent Articles
by John M. Regan:
Wildlife
Photography – Ten Tips for the Beginner
Szigg.net - Web Directory - Try it, you'll like it!
Did you know that you can train a rhinoceros?
NWWOL Online Store - The complete photography, observation, and knowledge source for wildlife and pet supplies consolidated in one convenient location
Wildlife Shopping Mall Library/Bookstore
She may be fat, but I'll bet she can outrun you! Click on the photo and learn more about this fascinating lizard.
Did you know that you can train a rhinoceros?
NWWOL Online Store - The complete photography, observation, and knowledge source for wildlife and pet supplies consolidated in one convenient location
Wildlife Shopping Mall Library/Bookstore