Animals

389 Stories

On a wing and a prairie: Puget Sound butterfly avoids extinction with human help

In a prairie full of wildflowers, Erica Henry got down on all fours, then ducked under a low mesh tent, one of 10 homemade enclosures dotting the open space of Scatter Creek Wildlife Area south of Olympia, Washington.
- John Ryan
What the eruption of Mount St. Helens reveals about kite-flying spiders

May 18, 2025, marks the 45th anniversary of Mount St. Helens' eruption — a catastrophic event that transformed the landscape and killed 57 people. From this devastation emerged an incredible scientific calculation about millions of spiders traveling through the sky.
- Brandi Fullwood
6 tips for keeping your pets safe from wildlife attacks

Coyotes and birds of prey are basically everywhere in Seattle — and they're here to stay. Here are some tips for keeping your furry friends safe from attacks.
- Casey Martin
Coyotes are here to stay in Seattle's urban core. So how can we coexist?

Coyote interactions are on the rise in Seattle. Some neighbors are afraid, while others say it's just part of living in a green city. So, are coyotes a new threat — or a new normal?
- Casey Martin
Another baby orca spotted with Northwest's endangered J Pod

It is the fourth calf born to the southern resident orcas since December. Two of the four have died already.
- John Ryan
Tooth be told: Sea otters have a powerful bite

Sea otters are incredible marine wrestlers, packing some serious strength under all that fluff.
- Brandi Fullwood
Grab your binoculars — Seattle's skies abound with eagles this season

The skies above Seattle have been busy with lots of bald eagles as spring approaches. Meanwhile, local bird enthusiasts say the season seems busier than usual this year.
- Casey Martin
2 Bellevue coyotes killed by state after nipping children

State wildlife officials say Bellevue's Factoria neighborhood is safe once again after some close calls with coyotes.
- Casey Martin
This rare Malayan tapir in Tacoma is raising a social media star

Ume, a rare Malayan tapir, just turned one month old at Tacoma’s Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium. With her giant eyes and bright spots, Ume has blown up online as a social media star.
- Casey Martin
A different kind of winter fun: tidepooling at night on Puget Sound

On a drizzly February night, dozens of people walked with headlamps and flashlights at water’s edge near the Edmonds, Washington, fishing pier. They weren’t there to catch fish or squid: They came to see the wonders that come out when the tide goes out.
- John Ryan

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