We often find ourselves pulling weeds in our yards, but we’ve thought there are no weeds in the forest. Wikipedia defines a weed as a plant considered undesirable in a particular situation. However, invasive weeds are everywhere, whether in forests or yards. They can outcompete native species, suffocate trees, or even wetlands and aquatic environments.

As a park steward, I battle invasive species and help reforest urban parks, saving the remaining forest. Invasive species decrease biodiversity, making forests weaker. When there’s more biodiversity, forests have a higher chance of surviving a variety of species. If one tree type fails, there’s always a backup. Invasive plants eliminate this, quickly consuming native vegetation and replacing it with themselves.

Billions of dollars are spent yearly on controlling invasive species through herbicides, physical removal, and other methods. Aquatic invasive plants clog water drainage infrastructure, costing public works departments time and money to remove them. Invasive species also interfere with agriculture, making it difficult for farmers to grow crops.

There are three main categories of invasive plants in Washington state:

• Class A: non-native species that are so limited, they are required to be removed before they completely spread out.

• Class B: non-native species that are in limited areas of Washington state.

• Class C: invasive weeds that have significantly more population and are more widespread.

These plants can have thousands of seeds at a time, spreading by wind or birds, making them easy to spread into yards and parks. Many invasive plants include Himalayan Blackberry, English Ivy, Evergreen Blackberry, and Common Holly. They take over native forests, including big trees like Western Red Cedar, Western Hemlock, and Douglas Fir, and small plants like Salmonberry, Salal, and Western Swordfern.

If you are planning to plant new plants in your yard, make sure to include some native ones! Native plants, because they have been established in the area for so long, are very efficient at water usage, reducing maintenance. They prevent erosion and provide food for many different species, like birds, bugs, and other animals. They can also be a great place for pollinators!

Help Us Out!

When hiking on trails, make sure that your clothing is free of any seeds, and if you have a boat of any kind, remember to remove any aquatic plant that you see before moving it.

Need help controlling invasive species?

With over 6 years of experience removing/controlling invasive a species. Whether it’s using herbicide or physically, removing the roots. Check out Micah meticulous mowing for more details.

Volunteer to Control Invasive Species

There are many organizations to help remove invasive species.

• Green Kirkland Partnership

• Earth Corps volunteering

• Green Seattle Partnership

• Forterra

Sources

https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/dnrp/nature-recreation/environment-ecology-conservation/

noxious-weeds

https://extension.wsu.edu/invasive-species/intro/

Native plants to Washington state

https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/general-information/initiatives-and-highlighted-programs/

peoples-garden/gardening-advice/why-native-species-matter

https://www.wnps.org/invasive-species

Invasive plants to Washington photos:

https://www.nwcb.wa.gov/weeds/evergreen-blackberry

Native plants to Washington photos:

https://green2.kingcounty.gov/gonative/Plant.aspx?Act=view&PlantID=47

To begin, let’s talk about climate change. Climate change, predominantly caused by human activity, refers to greenhouse gases forming a “blanket” and trapping heat from the sun in our atmosphere. The main greenhouse gases are carbon dioxide and methane, which are produced from burning fossil fuels. Since the 1800s, humans have been using fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas to power things such as vehicles and buildings. Because we have been using them for more than 200 years, they have built up heavily in the atmosphere, and our planet is now around 1.44°C warmer than it was prior to the Industrial Revolution. This connects back to glaciers because this heat is making the glaciers we have in Washington State melt too fast.

Source: U.S. National Park Service

This point is emphasized when we look at Blue Glacier in Olympic National Park. It is a 2.6-mile-long glacier which, according to a researcher, is equivalent to over 20 trillion ice cubes. Each year, 50-70 feet of snow falls on Mount Olympus, and a lot of this feeds Blue Glacier and many more. The picture above shows how much snow it has lost in the span of around 110 years. This massive amount of snow that is now gone could have been an environment for other animals or a resource for us. Higher temperatures are reaching higher elevations, and as a result, precipitation that could have been falling as snow is now falling as rain. However, this is not only affecting Blue Glacier; many others, such as Lillian Glacier, are also experiencing this loss of snow and ice. Below is a picture of Lillian Glacier over the span of 105 years.

Source: U.S. National Park Service

This brings up a question many people have–what can WE do? Although it seems hard, we have many different routes we can take, like cutting emissions by using renewable energy such as wind or solar power instead of fossil fuels, which release methane. According to NASA, one molecule of methane traps more heat than one molecule of carbon dioxide, but it lasts much less time, with a lifespan of just 7-12 years in our atmosphere. These greenhouse gases are the primary source of climate change, and this is one reason that what could have been snow is now falling as rain. Another thing we can do, which seems more doable for many people, is to reduce the amount of energy we use on a daily basis. Switching to greener transportation, like biking, walking, or carpooling, can also help reduce methane emissions.

To conclude, glaciers are vital parts of Washington’s ecosystems. As the photos of Blue Glacier and Lillian Glacier show, greenhouse gases are heating our planet and making ice melt too fast. By switching to clean energy and making greener choices for transportation–like biking, walking, or saving power–we can help slow down climate change. Taking action now protects the beautiful glaciers of Washington and keeps them safe for generations to come.


Author: Sree Kriti Mamillapalli

SOURCES:

What Is Climate Change? | United Nations

Glaciers and Climate Change - Olympic National Park (U.S. National Park Service)

Methane - Earth Indicator - NASA Science

What You Can Do About Climate Change — Transportation | US EPA

Starting off with fall. With our hearty supply of rain each autumn, we definitely don’t have any dry forests, especially here in Seattle! However, even with the replenishing supply of rain, there are still challenges they can face. High-energy windstorms can cause significant damage, especially towards our evergreen trees. These windstorms can create large openings within our forest canopy, also contributing to weakened root systems. In the fall, there is also a significant amount of rising pest and fungal diseases, which disrupt the forests’ natural environment. Two of these include Laminated Root Rot, which weakens the roots and foundation of trees, especially Douglas Fir trees, and another disease being the Insect Stressor, which causes vulnerability towards the trees. To combat the windstorms, the Nature Conservancy and The Washington Department of Natural Resources (WADNR) are using density thinning, leaving gaps in certain places, and leaving other places untouched, depending on what the forests need. To combat the diseases, they are planting more trees that have immunity towards these pests, such as Red Alders and Bigleaf Maples, as well as using seed migration. With these efforts, our forests are going to be as healthy as ever in the fall!

Leading us on to the next season, WINTER!, where everything is chilly, and (depending on the year) maybe we have a white landscape! What does that mean for our forests though? Some challenges that our forests face are coastal erosion and shifting precipitation. These can cause abrupt changes in the environment, forcing the trees to have to adapt quicker than they can. Coming back to my old point about selective thinning, they do this in the winter as well to make sure it’s less easy to trap precipitation and make the forests too dense. For coastal erosion, they expand boundaries, to help make sure that all parts of the forest are being monitored by a professional, even when heavy snow can block them out, or make it hard to navigate the forests. When winter finally pulls around, and you’re singing Christmas Carols underneath your tree, just know that tree was probably part of a journey you knew nothing about, carrying stories alongside coming home!

With that, we can move onto the season of the flowers and bloom, Spring! Spring is actually the healthiest season for these coastal forests, with replenishing supply of rain, but also sun, and just the right conditions for the healthiest coastal forests. But can you believe that even the spring comes with challenges? Since spring is a transition from winter, trails and slopes can become slippery because of the melting precipitation from winter, which shifts landscape, causes hazards, and damages rootscapes. Also trees already weakened by the winter season are more prone to insect infestation which often kickstarts in the spring with the healthy weather. However, the Nature Conservancy is working on planting trees with more immunity, placing signs where hazards may occur and helping increase the stability and foundation of the trees that may be vulnerable especially towards those challenges. Just know, if you ever decide to hit up a national park in the PNW in the Spring, watch out, because there might be insects and slippery slopes!

Alas, we can’t forget about summer. While being the most loved season among us, it can have drastic impacts upon our coastal forests. With climate change and global warming rapidly changing our world, there are many challenges acquired during this season. First, and foremost, our coastal forests have an important role of storing carbon and also regulating these amounts, essentially double the amount than most midwestern forests. Although all forests have risks, dry forests and younger growth forests have a significantly higher risk of severe impacts caused by these carbon emissions and climate change overall, since old-growth forests follow a process called climate refugia (which we will dive into later) and wet forests have less risk of wildfires. Because old-growth forests and wet forests have less risk, the Nature Conservancy tries to implement something called “selective thinning” which essentially gives a dry/young growth forest the properties that healthy forests have. The data shows that when 30% of the density was removed, it allowed space for every plant/wildlife to truly thrive. Coming back to my old point about climate refugia, which is essentially just micro-buffers in the environment, which also help with layering, overall causing a healthy environment for the forest. So many solutions in the summer to keep our environment healthy!

To wrap this article up, know that alongside beauty and greenery, our forests need to be taken care of, and each season they need different ways. Next time you take a hike or visit a national park like the Olympic National Park, just know that there are so many people working behind the scenes to keep this scenery healthy.

Sources and Pictures:

https://www.climatehubs.usda.gov/hubs/northwest/topic/northwest-forests-and-woodlands

https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/washington/stories-in-washington/helping-washingtons-coastal-forests-prepare-for-the-future/

Written by: Prisha Ahuja

“We observed a ninefold increase in coyote density in Seattle compared to more natural and wild areas of the state,” said lead author Laura Prugh, a UW professor of environmental and forest sciences.

Coyotes have turned every metropolitan area in North America into their new homes, researchers said. Chicago alone is estimated to have 4,000 coyotes. They are often seen in parks and roaming neighborhoods.

The “luxury effect” is a new theory where wealthier neighborhoods have more plant and animal diversity. Human population density only influences coyotes.

“In Seattle, human population density hurt coyote density. But when you compare coyote abundance in Seattle to areas with far fewer people, the coyote population was much higher in the city,” Prugh said.

In urban areas, coyotes are less likely to be killed or go hungry than in the wild. Life in the wild is far more risky, with large carnivores like wolves and mountain lions ready to hunt. Rural areas may have farmers who may kill coyotes ot protect livestock. In the bustling cities, the only things that regularly kill coyotes are cars and disease.

Researchers ran scat (poop) analyses, which show that coyotes’ diets were more than twice as diverse as those of wild coyotes. Rabbits and berries were at the top of both charts. Seattle recently went through a “bunny boom,” which shaped ecology and helped draw coyotes to the region.

“Coyotes and rabbits have a natural relationship, even in a highly altered environment like Seattle,” Prugh said.

Sources:

University of Washington study suggests more coyotes are living in cities

Research finds coyotes thrive in cities, with Seattle among growing urban hotspots

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