Wildlife

The latest clash over managing Washington’s wolves

Eleven conservation groups are asking Washington state to tighten its guidelines for when wolves that attack livestock can be killed. The groups are concerned too many wolves are dying needlessly under the current system. Their petition to Washington’s Fish and Wildlife Commission describes the existing standards the state uses to authorize lethal action against the…

There are new proposals to bring back grizzly bears in the North Cascades

Grizzly bears could get another chance at returning to Washington’s North Cascades, under a framework two federal agencies unveiled on Thursday. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and National Park Service released a set of options to bring the hulking animals back into the area — a wild expanse of glaciated peaks, dense forests, and…

Reminder: Puget Sound Bird Fest Sept. 9-10 in Edmonds

Join the City of Edmonds and the Pilchuck Audubon Society for a celebration of birds and nature during the annual Puget Sound Bird Fest Sept. 9-10 in Edmonds: The weekend includes: -Presentations from local authors, artists, scientists and naturalists -Educational exhibits, optics, and bird themed art for sale -Kids activities -Guided walks and viewing stations…

Bat tests positive for rabies in Snohomish County

The Snohomish County Health Department is urging all county residents to know and follow preventive measures for rabies after a bat in the Snohomish area tested positive Monday. Multiple domestic pets were exposed, but there are no known human exposures. The owner reported that the affected pets are vaccinated against rabies. Public health staff are…

Learning to live with coyotes: Tips for keeping pets and people safe

Publisher’s note: This article excerpted from a story the My Neighborhood News Network published in 2021 regarding living with coyotes. It is being republished as a reminder after a reader came across a coyote near the body of a dead cat Wednesday morning on a downtown Edmonds street. The Puget Sound region is known for…

Bird flu outbreak stokes fears for Washington’s wild birds

The spread of bird flu has left Washington wildlife officials scrambling to test suspected cases and cleaning up hundreds of tern and gull carcasses along the coast of an island in northern Puget Sound. Avian flu has historically affected mostly poultry, but a new strain – H5N1 – is proving deadly for wild birds as…

Reader view: Consider offering water bowls for wildlife as temperatures rise

You might have noticed that the first excessive heat warning of 2023 hit us even earlier than usual this year. We are now seeing temperatures above 80 degrees even before the official start of summer. While temperatures in this range were foreign to Western Washington when I was growing up here, we are now much…

Squirrel in equipment causes downtown Edmonds power outage Wednesday afternoon

  Nearly 1,800 customers in downtown Edmonds were left without power late Wednesday afternoon after a squirrel got into electrical equipment, Snohomish County PUD said. The outage occurred at 4:20 p.m. and power was expected to return by around 6:15 p.m., PUD spokesperson Kellie Stickney said According to this Nature Conservancy article, wildlife comes in second…

‘Tis the season for bird migration — an Edmonds day trip

At this time of year, I routinely head north to the Skagit flats on through January and into early February. Many eagles who have dined in the upper river on returning salmon rest between feasts in trees down on the flats. One tree that I encountered decades ago had 22 eagles resting on it! But…

The rage of the hummingbirds

All we can say to our hummingbird friends is “sorry!” We are very sorry and will do our best not to let this happen again. Got up this morning and this greeted us out the kitchen window – 4 inches of disaster for our hummingbirds. We had forgotten to bring the feeder in last night…

Reminder: Help count birds for science during annual Christmas Bird Count Dec. 17

The Pilchuck Audubon Society invites birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts to participate in the longest running community science survey – the annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count (CBC). On Saturday, Dec. 17, birders and bird enthusiasts will take part in this century-long project once again. “Over the past few years we’ve made an effort to increase the…

City of Edmonds offers tips for co-existing with coyotes

You may have seen more coyotes out and about in recent weeks. As young coyotes leave their birth families in fall to find territories of their own, the number of coyote sightings in our community goes up — and the City of Edmonds offers some tips for co-existing with them. Like other wildlife that live…

Reminder: All ages invited to learn about bird-friendly gardening Oct. 1-2

Edmonds Floretum Garden Club and Kruckeberg Botanic Garden in Shoreline are offering a new fall youth and family event Oct. 1-2, and this time it’s all about birds. Learn how the Kruckeberg Botanic Garden cares for its feathered friends and ways you can make your home and garden bird-friendly this winter. This event features fun…

Puget Sound Bird Fest coming to Edmonds Sept. 10-11

Attention bird watchers: A reminder that the 2022 Puget Sound Bird Fest is coming to Edmonds Sept. 10-11. This beloved fall tradition will return in person for nature lovers throughout the Pacific Northwest with two days of speakers, guided walks, field trips, boat tours, exhibits, and educational activities for children and adults. The 2022 event…

Scene in Edmonds: Sharing bird facts at Mathay-Ballinger Park

City of Edmonds parks employees were at Edmonds’ Mathay-Ballinger Park Wednesday to share their knowledge about the local birds of Edmonds. After the Olympic Beach Visitor Station closed due to the pandemic, the city began setting up informational tables in neighborhoods to keep the public engaged. Parks program coordinator Jennifer Leach and ranger Ryan Schultz…

Reminder: Neighborhood Birds Program coming to Mathay-Ballinger Park Aug. 17

Come learn about neighborhood birds on Wednesday, Aug. 17 at the Discovery Interpretive Table at Mathay-Ballinger Park, located at 24100 78th Pl. W. Edmonds’ Ranger-Naturalists will be at the park from 1-3 p.m., and neighbors of all ages are invited to join them for this free event. Even in the most urbanized neighborhoods, birds are…

Save the date: Learn about neighborhood birds at Mathay-Ballinger Park Aug. 17

Come learn about neighborhood birds at the Discovery Interpretive Table at Edmonds’ Mathay-Ballinger Park from 1-3 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 17. Neighbors of all ages are invited to join Edmonds’ Ranger-Naturalists for this free event. They will show you how to identify these common birds by sight and sound and where to look for them in…

Swifts Night Out returns to Monroe Aug. 20

The annual Swifts Night Out event at the Frank Wagner Elementary School in Monroe will return in-person Friday, Aug. 20 after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. From 4 p.m. until dusk, nature lovers, community groups, families and anyone with an interest in the spectacular can enjoy an evening on the lawn to…

Thanks to city employees, injured hawk rescued and returned to wild

An injured Cooper’s hawk spotted on the roof of the City of Edmonds Public Safety building was rescued, rehabilitated and is now back in its natural habitat, thanks to the quick work of city court and police employees. Edmonds Animal Control Officer Andrea Scinkovec said that on July 15, a court employee told her there…

State officials caution against touching sick or dead wild birds

The Washington State Department of Health and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife are asking the public to avoid contact with wild birds, especially sick or dead wild birds or their young. An outbreak of avian influenza, also known as bird flu, is impacting wild birds including Canada geese, snow geese, bald eagles, and…

Puget Sound Bird Fest returns in person Sept. 10-11

Mark your calendars for the 2022 Puget Sound Bird Fest on Sept. 10-11 in Edmonds. This beloved fall tradition will return in person for nature lovers throughout the Pacific Northwest with two days of speakers, guided walks, field trips, boat tours, exhibits, and educational activities for children and adults. The 2022 event will kick off Saturday…

Learn all about frogs at Edmonds Demo Garden event April 23

Edmonds’ resident “Frog Lady” Thayer Cueter returns to the Edmonds Wildlife Habitat Plant Demonstration Garden (otherwise known as the Demo Garden) at 3 p.m. Saturday, April 23 for a free program on frogs. It is the first live program at the Demo Garden — located at the Willow Creek Hatchery, 95 Pine St. — in…

Artists invited to enter Puget Sound Bird Fest 2022 poster art contest

Puget Sound-area artists are invited to submit original artwork representative of Puget Sound bird life to be used on the 2022 Puget Sound Bird Fest poster for promotion of the event taking place Sept. 10-11 in Edmonds. A $350 prize sponsored by Edmonds Arts Festival Foundation will be awarded to the winner of the poster…