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

The above is according to a new study led by researchers at Washington State University and Google. They tested whether an independent AI system could replace humans in examining millions of images collected in the wild. In the study, the team discovered that for most species, AI can closely match the identified images, similar to humans.

Faster image processing can lead to more productivity for researchers and wildlife managers in making decisions about monitoring species, such as jaguars, wolves, and grizzly bears. Without AI, the process is slow and labor-intensive. Using camera traps (which are motion-activated) placed in forests and wetlands can produce detailed datasets. A single project can make millions of images that AI reviews to determine which animal is in each frame.

The earliest AI tools have given some relief to researchers, often identifying 60-70% of images. Humans are still required to review the work of AI. The latest study tested that the final step of humans reviewing can be removed.

Google developed a general AI model called SpeciesNet, where researchers can search through a database and review the work of AI.

Even when AI makes mistakes (like misidentifying animals), the general models remained stable because other models rely on repeated observations.

This method saves bundles of time, and now processing takes roughly a week thanks to AI. This may allow researchers in the near future to expand efforts without being limited by the capacity of data processing. Rather than creating new platforms for AI, the team focuses on what they already have.

Sources: AI cuts wildlife tracking time from months to days

Meet the child of parents Mokiki and Lewis. The baby, whose sex has not been disclosed, is Mokiki’s second birth. Before moving to Seattle, she gave birth to a daughter, Anapenda. They reunited in 2024, when Anapenda joined Woodland Park Zoo.

At birth, colobus monkeys are pure white with pink faces. As they grow over the first three months, their fur changes color to the usual black-and-white color.

These monkeys are known for their striking appearance and bushy white tails that can reach up to 40 inches long.

Visitors can now see Mokiki, Lewis, Anapenda, and the new infant in the outdoor section of the Tropical Rain Forest loop at Woodland Park Zoo.

Sources: Woodland Park Zoo welcomes first colobus monkey born there in nearly 30 years

Despite being common like its fellow cousin, the raccoon, this creature is rarely studied, nocturnal, and smaller than a house cat. In the following images, the ringtail can be seen standing on its hind legs and surveying the area.

^{Image credits: Elster Photography}

The ringtail is a small carnivore that is known for confusing people about its identity. It’s described as a cross between a fox and a cat, but not much larger than a squirrel. It has once been referred to as “miner’s cat”, as miners in the 19th century used the animal for rodent control.

Despite being native to North America, the ringtails are secret and elusive creatures that are full of mysteries.

Credits: Trail Camera Captures One of North America’s Most Elusive Mammals: The Ringtail

At around 12:25 pm, a group of teenagers from the basketball team at Jefferson High School was 3 miles into their hike when they encountered a black bear and her cub.

One of the teenage boys got too close, which spooked the bear. It charged and clawed the teen, leaving his face and legs injured. Another boy from the group injured his ankle while running away.

The teen was discharged from the hospital a day later and is physically okay but mentally shaken up, according to his parent.

Officer Linde concluded that the group of teens scared the bear, which prompted the aggressive behavior. So, Law Enforcement closed the trail and park. Hours after the attack, the state Fish and Wildlife Department searched the area for the bear with guns, with orders to kill the bear if found. No bear was located.

Black bears normally shy away from humans. In case you ever encounter a bear, the National Park Service recommends the following steps.

1. Identify yourself as human by speaking to the bear in a firm tone

2. Wave your arms and make noise to appear larger. If you are in a group, stand next to each other and make loud sounds.

3. If the black bear attacks you (in the unlikely event), fight back using your hands and legs. Aim for the eyes of use bear spray.

4. NEVER RUN FROM A BEAR. They are skilled runners and swimmers and can run up to 35 miles per hour.

Links:

Rare black bear attack on Mount Si injures hiker, shuts down mountain

Image:

Teen injured in black bear attack on WA's Mount Si

Learn about the importance of slugs in the Pacific Northwest ecosystem and see the world through a slug’s perspective at Northwest Trek Wildlife Park. You can even be a slug at the slip-n-slide, make crafts, and more!

Slug Fest

2. Bat Talk at Green Lake

Explore the world of bats with professionals at Green Lake Park—no registration needed. Find out how to protect bats and coexist with them.

Bat Talks at Green Lake

3. Seattle Whale Watching Tours

Enjoy the eventful tour throughout the Salish Sea and the heart of the Puget Sound. View some of the region’s residents, including bald eagle, sea otters, sea lions and more!

View the FRS Clipper Whale Watching for booking details.

Seattle Whale Watching Tours

Meet Little Frei and Connor, two of the focuses of Microsoft’s AI for Good Lab project. Seattle’s Woodland Park Zoo is piloting a monitoring system using AI that could discover why the Pacific Marten, a small creature in the weasel family, nearly disappeared from Washington’s Olympic Peninsula.

The only problem, pacific martens are highly secretive and difficult to track. As a result, AI for Good Lab teamed up with Woodland Park Zoo to test and train the AI models. Scientists set the cameras in the Asian small-clawed otter exhibit to help monitor the animals.

20 organizations, including Woodland Park Zoo, received a grant that allows progress in the AI for Good Lab.

The technology is planned to be used worldwide, but as of now, in Washington state. It was first developed in the Redmond campus of Microsoft.

SPARROW utilizes traditional cameras and requires research to download the data. It uses solar energy and low-Earth- orbit satellites to target a certain area. Instead of researchers hiking to the site to collect the data, conservationists can now receive immediate results. Cameras are placed in remote habitats and use camera traps to continuously monitor the environment.

If SPARROW ever detects any martens in the Olympic Peninsula, scientists could easily go to the sites and collect DNA samples and other data on population size. The main goal with SPARROW was to test how animals interact with humans, but conservationists later realized that it would be more valuable in the zoo’s Olympic Marten Project. There are certain challenges to this, including weather and seasonal changes that could potentially disturb the cameras.

Scientists hope that SPARROW will be successful and assist conservationists in determining how pacific martens can live in the Olympic Peninsula.

Source: Could AI help save one of the Pacific Northwest’s most vulnerable animals?