20 other attorneys, including Attorney General Nick Brown, are co-leading the two lawsuits over the dispute over the rule adopted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service.

The lawsuit is against the new changes that were federally made to how the government protects wildlife and its threatened species under the Endangered Species Act.

Washington and other states argue that removing the Act could allow habitat productivity to go down. Washington has a particular interest in the outcome of the state’s endangered animals, including Southern Resident killer whales and a declining salmon population.

The population of the killer whales has declined from 98 in 1995 to 74 today. In 2005, the whales were listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. The salmon population in the state is also facing severe habitat loss, which could become a greater threat if the new federal rules stay.

Source:

Washington co-leads two lawsuits challenging cuts to federal Endangered Species Act protections

In the image above, the variety of colors on the whale carcass show the beginning stages of decomposition, skin peeling, and bruising from the vessel strike. Whales have senstitive skin, which reacts to the sunlight and starts to peel. The peeling reveals the pink, white and yellowish colors underneath the skin.

As for decompisition, the gas build up and chemical changes in the carcass cause the skin to turn creamish white. Similarly, the vessel strike caused the injury site on the whale’s body bleed out and swell up. There could be exposing red tissues where the skin was torn by the vessel’s bow.

The report of a dead whale first came in on August 24th at around 5 am. The whale’s carcass was saved to protect port operations. The remains were sent to the waters off McNeil Island, where it can be naturally decomposed.

John Calambokidis, the founder of Cascadia Research, stated that the ship that crashed into the whale was said to have been traveling from China. This meant that the interaction between the vessel and whale could have happened somewhere along the long voyage.

A vessel strike happens when ships or other vessels crash into whales, which can injure or kill them. In certain cases, a whale can be caught on a large ship bow and dragged to its destination port. This can sometimes go unoticed by vessel crews.

Source:

Fin whale was alive when struck, killed by vessel heading to Port of Tacoma, experts say

An experienced researcher at the U.S. Forest Service’s Pacific Northwest Research Station and Oregon State University, Damon Lesmeister, used complicated techniques to assess long-term trends.

“Northern spotted owls are already functionally extinct in large swaths of their range,” Lesmeister said in a news release from OSU. “It's not a thing that's happening in the future, it has happened.”

One of the most controversial topics in United States History is the conservation of spotted owls. The owls have been under protection since 1990 by the Endangered Species Act.

For solutions, Lesmeister claimed the findings can help deepen the impact of spotted owl conservation in specific areas, including the ongoing and deeply controversial removal of barred owls.

Certain conserving landscapes have been highlighted for well-suited spotted owl nesting, a strategy which has already been adopted in Canada.

The sharp declines “doesn’t mean we can’t do anything,” Lesmeister said. “There is still an opportunity for carefully considered management actions.”

Source: 'It has happened': Spotted owls functionally extinct in parts of PNW

Weight: 2 to 5 pounds

Lifespan: 1 to 5 years in the wild

Litters: 2 to 4 litters per year

Top Speed: Up to 30 mph

Weight: 1.5 to 2.6 pounds

Top Speed: Up to 18 mph

Appearance: Gray to brownish-gray fur, white underbelly, short white tail, and black-tipped ears

Lifespan: 1 year generally

Weight: 0.8 – 1.1 pounds

Lifespan: 3 to 5 years in the wild

Winter Diet: sagebrush

Summer Diet: sagebrush, grass, and other green plants

Lifespan: Typically 10 to 14 years in the wild

Elevation Range: Above 5,000 feet

Shoulder Height: Stands about 3 feet tall

Washington State Total: Estimated around 8,500, dropping to an estimated 2,800

Democratic Senate nominee from Michigan, Abdul El-Sayed, is at the center of an attack on his past oversight of the animal control division in Detroit. The high animal euthanasia rates during his time as the Health Director went viral on social media.

Over 4,000 dogs and cats were euthanized at Detroit Animal Care and Control. The facility euthanized up to 74% of the dogs under its care.

Euthanasia is a sad process, but it is inevitably helpful to keep a pet out of suffering.

A related lawsuit began by former Detroit Animal Control officer Brittany Roberts. She alleged that many animals were kept in unhygenic conditions and were mistreated, some even died from bad food and health care.

"I was almost embarrassed with myself to be part of a team that played a role of the death of so many dogs in their cages," Roberts said in 2015, accusing the agency of neglect and mistreatment, according to The Daily Mail. "Every morning, we’d just walk around and see who was alive before we could even feed."

Source: ‘Over 4,000 dogs and cats killed’: Abdul El-Sayed’s ‘pet massacre’ record goes viral

The five largest fires in Oregon have burned 1.2 million acres so far.

The Big Grass Fire in southeastern Oregon spans 358,959 acres, the state’s largest. On July 23, the fire was started by a lightning strike and has eventually made its way into Idaho. Officials say that it’s 35% contained and a total of 959 personnel are assigned to the fire.

Rowe Creek Complex, the second-largest fire, which is currently burning in Crook, Jefferson, and Wheeler counties. 329,012 acres have been burned so far, and 62% is contained. It was also started by a lightning strike on July 15th. Level 1, 2, and 3 evacuation orders are in effect, as the fire remains active with smoke.

The Grasshopper Fire is the closest wildfire to Portland, just burning east of Mount Hood. The highly active fire is on the move towards Highway #5 and the Mount Hood Meadows ski resort. 39439 acres has been burned, and only 20% is contained. Smoke from the fire is currently covering the Portland metro area and the Willamette Valley.

Since the fire began, weather conditions have stayed consistent, but a change is expected by the end of the week. On Friday and Saturday, dusty winds will move across the region, which will elevate the wildfire threat once again.

Source: 49 large fires burn in Oregon and Washington as smoke worsens air quality

In recent events, various pet owners raised concerns over social media posts, falsely believing a human intentionally killed their cats. A couple of deaths were reported in Kent.

As a result, RASKC investigated the incidents, according to a July 29 news release. The remains discovered were then given to an award-winning forensic veterinarian and wildlife biologist to get a deeper understanding.

“They determined the evidence did not point toward human-inflicted deaths,” according to RASKC. “The findings were consistent with veterinary forensic research that shows wildlife can cause injuries that may be mistaken for
intentional human mutilation.”

Here are some causes for the cat deaths:

-Being killed by coyotes and other wildlife

-Exposure to disease

-Getting hit by cars on the busy roads

-Exposure to toxins

-Injuries from fights with other animals

Be sure to keep your cats indoors or supervised during outdoor time, according to RASKC. In addition, all cats and dogs in the RASKC coverage area should be licensed. Pets with licenses are easier to identify. If you see any animal acting dangerously or injured, report the incident to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Residents can also report animal threats to RASKC. Visit kingcounty.gov/AnimalControl for more information.

Source: Wildlife blamed for recent cat deaths in South King County

Authorities believe the culprits were headed for illegal markets in Delhi, Haryana, and other parts of northern India. The wildlife parts were sent from the state of Madhya Pradesh.

In a statement, Wildlife SOS said,

“This operation demonstrates what is possible when intelligence-driven conservation and strong inter-agency collaboration come together to dismantle organised wildlife trafficking networks.

“Every leopard lost to poaching is an irreplaceable loss to India’s forests, and every successful enforcement action is a step towards disrupting illegal wildlife trade. Wildlife SOS remains committed to this fight, continuing to provide intelligence support and legal assistance as investigations progress to identify and bring the wider trafficking network to justice.”

Although leopards are protected under India’s Wildlife Protection Act, they continue to be targets of poachers for their skins, bones, claws, and teeth. Leopards are apex predators that play an important role in balancing healthy ecosystems and regulating prey populations.

Wildlife trafficking is one of the world’s largest forms of organized crime, with an estimated value of $7 billion to $23 billion annually.

This event is a reminder to humanity that leopards and other wildlife are facing extinction and habitat loss.

Source: 10 Leopard Skins Seized In Major Wildlife Trafficking Bust In India

According to researchers, Jimothy has a spine disorder, which gives him a smaller torso and compresses the vertebrae to create the illusion of no neck.

No matter his deformity, Jimothy is braving it out each day and not letting the disorder change his daily habits. Jimothy’s home is located near Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood. He’s most commonly seen around Northwest 50th Street.

Have you seen Jimothy? Send us a photo at fieldandfauna424@gmail.com.

Credits: Who is 'Jimothy'? Why a Seattle racoon has gone viral

The young seal, known as Number 24, was shot in the head and rescued in Bellingham. The seal is being cared for at SR3, the Pacific Northwest’s only marine hospital.

The seal was predicted to have been shot over July fourth weekend.

Credit: King 5

An X-ray of harbor seal pup No.24 revelaed a bullet lodged inside its body. The pup survived after livesaving care at SR3.

The next steps include undergoing a CT scan to better understand if taking out the bullet is safe.

Caregivers say the pup has continued its path to healing. The marine hospital said No. 24 was one of the many marine animals to be brought to the center with shot wounds.

"We are seeing an increasing number of gunshot cases coming in. We've seen about four in less than a year. This can range from adult animals to this young harbor seal pup," McLean said. "It's really sad because we do see this as a case where people are taking out their frustration over salmon issues on these animals."

Veterainerns believe that the resaon of all the shootings could be because of the need of more salmon. Seals are the primary driver of salmon declines.

"Unfortunately, seals and sea lions are not the reason for salmon decline, and the science is quite clear about that," McLean said.

When injured, a harbor seal pups typically spend a few months in rehabiliation beofre they are strong enough to return to the wild. As of now, its uncertain, depending on the CT scan and the possible need of surgery.

Source: Seal pup shot in Bellingham highlights rise in marine gunshot cases

Lifespan: They live up to 10-15 years in the wild and upwards of 20 years in captivity.

Diet: Primarily grazers, relying on grasses and sedges in summer and shrubs, forbs, and tree bark in winter.

Total Population: Current wild populations number near 1 million across the western United States and Canada

Image: Rocky Mountain Elk - Bryce Canyon National Park (U.S. National Park Service)

Antler Spread: Up to 4 feet (typically featuring a distinct 3-point crown)

State populations: ~59,000 in Oregon, largest unmanaged herd (~5,000) in Washington's Olympic National Park

Diet: Grasses, forbs, shrubs, and tree bark (depends heavily on seasonal availability)

Length: 6.9 to 10 feet

Image: Roosevelt Elk (U.S. National Park Service)

Lifespan & Behavior: They typically live 7 to 10 years in the wild.

Population Status: Not considered threatened and have stable populations in the forests and clearings west of the Cascades.

Antlers: Mature bucks have antlers that fork evenly into two main beams, rather than branching off like white-tailed deer.

Image: https://wdfw.wa.gov/species-habitats/species/odocoileus-hemionus-columbianus

Speed: They can reach top speeds of up to 35 mph.

Diet: Their diet consists of roughly 74% woody vegetation, trees, and shrubs.

Lifespan: The average lifespan in the wild is 8 to 12 years, but they can live up to 20 years in captivity.

Antlers: Bucks shed and regrow them annually. They bifurcate (fork and branch outward) rather than growing straight off a main beam like white-tailed deer.

Image: https://www.nps.gov/romo/learn/nature/mule_deer.htm

Regional Hubs: Texas holds the largest state population with 4.5 to 5.5 million deer

Speed & Agility: Can run at 30-36 mph and leap up to 8 ft vertically.

Antlers: Grown only by males; they can grow up to a quarter inch per day and are shed annually in winter.

Height & Length: Stand 2.5 to 4 ft tall at the shoulder and measure 3 to 7 ft in total length.

Image: https://www.eekwi.org/animals/mammals/white-tailed-deer

Speed: Can reach top speeds of up to 40 mph and cruise comfortably around 20 mph.

Lifespan: Up to 14 years in the wild, though typically less due to human interaction and predation.

Diet: Omnivorous. Their diet includes small mammals (rodents, rabbits), insects, fruit, carrion, and occasionally larger prey like deer.

Reproduction: Mating peaks in February

Image: https://www.nps.gov/deva/learn/nature/coyote.htm

Lifespan: 8 to 13 years in the wild; over 20 years in captivity.

Diet: Obligate carnivores that primarily hunt deer and elk, but will also eat smaller mammals and occasionally livestock.

Range: Holds the Guinness World Record for the animal with the most names (over 40 in English alone).

Weight: Males average 130–150 lbs, while females weigh 90–100 lbs (can range from 65 to 265 lbs depending on the region

Image from Britannica