Northwest Wildlife Online
by John M. Regan
Updated Wednesday, 25 January 2012
Devoted to Wildlife of the Great Northwest Region of America
and wildlife the world over
Birds Mammals Reptiles Amphibians Fish Invertebrates
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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.
Updates: Correction to the Bear Hompage
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Northwest Wildlife News
Here is a link to an interesting and unique school:
"Alderleaf offers innovative permaculture, wildlife tracking, outdoor education, and wilderness survival courses in the Pacific Northwest."
Controversial Plan to Tag Orcas?
Orca Calf Spotted in Puget Sound
Sea Otter Born at the Seattle Aquarium
Restoration Plan for Pacific Lamprey - This is the first time I have heard of a plan to restore a parasite.
Woodland Park Elephant Receives 11th Artificial Insem
Golf Course Elk Won't be Shot - sounds good to me
Surfer Bitten by Shark Near Seaside, OR - video story
World Wildlife News:
Plethora of New Species in Antarctica!
New Viper Discovered in Tanzania!
Sumatra Claims World's Smallest Frog
Genetically Modified Silkworms - Better Body Armor?
Ever Wonder How Birds Mate? - just when you thought you knew it all
World's Smallest Frog Discovered
This is just a small portion of a field I spotted in Buckley covered with mole hills. There were easily a thousand of these little dirt uprisings in this field and I could not help but wonder at their numbers. This time of year seems to really bring the fascinating insectivores to life.
A single scoop of a mesh net along the shore of a marsh picks up quite a bounty. Don't worry. All of the creatures on this page were either released back into their homes or into one of my three ponds.
These little Northwest Brown salamander larvae were a surprise. I would have thought that these amphibians would have bee fully developed by now. But these guys exhibit a tendency to be neotenic, meaning that some will stay in the larval stage throughout their life.
I was surprised at the numbers of tadpoles as well, another species I would have presumed to be mature at this time of year. Based on where I caught them I'd guess the larger tadpole in the middle to be a Bullfrog and the smaller ones are Western Chorus Frogs.
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Northwest Wildlife Blog
Sunday 15, January 2012 Halfway into January and from a wildlife standpoint the new year is looking good with dozens of new species discovered in the cold seas of Antarctica and a new viper discovered in Tanzania. Sumatra claims the world's smallest frog and silkworms may provide the answer to better body armor for our military. And we have some great news right here at home, too. An orca calf has been identified in the Puget Sound and a Sea Otter pup is born at the Seattle Aquarium. The world of nature holds and endless variety of miraculous animals and surprises. As we roll through this political season of doom, gloom, and finger pointing it is easy to forget that the world is still full of wonder. It is easy to forget that the the simplest creatures on earth are creations of immense complexity both in physical structure and behavior. Life is an abundant, ever expanding explosion that won't be stopped. And if you have any doubts about that take a look below at the photo I took recently - twenty acres of meadow covered with thousands of mole holes. It must have taken hundreds of the little guys to create that field and every one of them is a voracious eating machine - but all of them find sustenance in just twelve inches of soil. HOOAH Jack Articles by the website author:
What is the most Common Snake in the US?
Crabs - A Northwest Wildlife Wonder
Marmorated Stink Bug (Brown Stink Bug)
In a Toad's Eye - Unlikely Natural Beauty
Observations on the Afghan Cow Bee
The Strangest Creature I Ever Encountered
What Causes Tides? You might be surprised at the total answer Bear Attacks - Dos and Don'ts!
A netting along a roadside stream produced this freshwater sculpin. Most of the sculpin fish are marine, but several make their home in our northwest inland waters, some at fairly high altitudes.
Dragonfly larvae of many kinds are always prowling pond shores for food, which is just about anything they can catch. The specimen pictured above is the larvae of a Narrow Winged Dragonfly.
The Water Scorpion looks like some kind of aquatic walking stick, but this slow moving insect feeds by piecing its prey with adapted mouthparts. Water Scorpions spend the bulk of their time hanging upside down on aquatic plants and breathe by means of the long breathing tubes that extend from its abdomen and protrude just above the water surface. |
Northwest Wildlife Zoo Updates Winter Volksmarch 4 February Trek open 0930 - 3 p.m. during winter season
Come see the sea otter pup rescued in Puget Sound
Woodland Park Zoological Gardens: Power to the Frogs! Bear Cam 27 Jan - Mammal Families Program
Hawaii in Your Own Backyard Octopus Census - you can help
Behind the Scenes Tiger Tour
Creatures of the Day and Night Sea Squirts - Soft and Squishy
20-22 Jan Public Tours of the Zoo Veterinary Center
Zoo Boise Wallaby Joey Red Panda birth 11 Feb - Reduced Admissions Day
Vancouver Zoo, B.C. Lights go Wild 8 Dec - 1 Jan
Get some exercise and Walk on the Wildside
Another example of a dragonfly larvae, in this case that of a Skimmer Dragonfly.
Along fast moving freshwater streams and rivers you will find Stonefly larvae. These little guys would not make it in still ponds or lakes, they need fast moving water to breath. They are also sensitive to pollution.
I believe the creature pictured above is a midge larvae of some kind.
Water Striders are another "piercer predator." They skate above the water thanks to tiny hair like appendages at the end of their legs that do not break the surface tension of the water. |
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