Animals

393 Stories

Endangered orcas return to Puget Sound without newborn J64, presumed dead

Almost the entire population of southern resident killer whales gathered in central Puget Sound on Sunday, but the newest member of J Pod, a newborn known as J64, was not among them.
- John Ryan
WA families bid a warm-hearted farewell to the cold-blooded creatures at the Reptile Zoo

They’re slithery, scaly — and soon they'll be gone for good. The Reptile Zoo in Monroe is set to close this fall, after nearly 30 years of teaching kids about exotic animals. Now, families are hurrying in to say goodbye to their favorite friends.
- Casey Martin
Keeping the Northwest’s buzz alive: saving the western bumblebee

One of the Northwest’s most common animals has all but disappeared from much of the region.
- John Ryan
Hot dogs, foxtails, and kittens: What pet owners should know this summer

Summer is a great season for adventures with your favorite pup. The sun is shining, the lakes are glistening, the grass is only partially dead — but just like your human kids, furry members of the family need you to keep a watchful eye out for warm weather hazards. Soundside’s Libby Denkmann spoke with Dr Lauren Restis, senior veterinarian at Seattle Humane Society about what to watch out for.
- Jason Burrows
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.
- Paige Browning
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.
- Paige Browning

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Animals

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