Species & Habitats

Wildlife in Washington face a wide range of threats, from disease and invasive species to declining habitat and climate change. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is dedicated to conserving and protecting the state's wildlife -- including endangered and other at-risk species -- from these threats. Learn about the work we're doing to protect Washington habitats and what to do if you encounter an orphaned or problematic animal.

Skokomish estuary restoration
Photo by WDFW

Species news & important dates

A pod of orca including a juvenile.
Photo by Dante Aubert
Southern Resident killer whales declared "vulnerable"

WDFW is asking boaters to Be Whale Wise and keep at least 1,000 yards from endangered killer whales this summer.

Landscape with bushes and sky
Photo by WDFW
South central Washington habitat and landscape survey

Adults living in Benton, Franklin, Kittitas, and Yakima counties are invited to share what they think and feel about local habitats and landscapes in WDFW's South central Region.

Conservation starts here

Someone holding a Marimo moss ball with a zebra mussel attached to it
Photo by WDFW
Invasive zebra mussels detected on aquarium Marimo moss balls

Methods to safely dispose of moss ball(s) and aquarium or water garden

western snowy plover nest with three eggs
Photo by Chris Dellith
Heading to the beach? Here’s how to help protect rare snowy plovers

Western snowy plover breeding season runs from mid-April to mid-September. During this time, WDFW asks all beach visitors to respect closure areas and signs indicating snowy plover nesting habitat.

A desert striped-whipsnake coiled up
Photo by Randimal
Public invited to submit information for new whipsnake status report

WDFW is specifically looking for information about the striped whipsnake’s demographics, current habitat conditions, threats and trends to populations, and existing conservation measures that have benefitted the species.

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