Washington may upgrade Western gray squirrel to 'endangered' status Washington’s Western gray squirrels are in trouble. So much so that state officials are considering uplisting the squirrels from threatened to endangered. Courtney Flatt
National More endangered red wolves will be released in the U.S. under a legal settlement There were only an estimated seven red wolves left in the wild when a coalition of conservation organizations decided to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Emily Olson
Environment Puget Sound's biggest bat colony could be big loser of dam-removal project What may be the largest colony of bats in Western Washington, already threatened by a deadly fungus, faces a new threat — the proposed removal of a 70-year old dam that created Capitol Lake in Olympia. John Ryan
Will some Northwest wolves call Colorado home? Northwest wolves could soon head to Colorado. Wildlife managers there say they need wolves from out-of-state to build back their population. But will Northwest states help out? Courtney Flatt
Environment Signs of recovery after world’s worst underwater pandemic Ochre star populations along parts of the West Coast are bouncing back from the Pisaster disaster. John Ryan
Animals A giant trapdoor spider was discovered in Australia The spider lives in open woodland habitats, building burrows in Central Queensland's black soils. Much of its habitat has been lost to land clearing, meaning it's likely an endangered species. Kaitlyn Radde
National Gopher tortoises in Southern states deserve federal protections, groups say The tortoises imperiled by loss of habitat should be put on the endangered species list in four southern states, environmental groups said as they prepared to sue the U.S. government over the issue. The Associated Press
Environment Northern and southern resident orcas hunt differently. New study could help orca numbers According to a new study from the University of Washington and NOAA Fisheries, northern and southern resident orcas, who live in the Salish Sea have different fish hunting patterns. Natalie Akane Newcomb
Environment Pizza-sized predators to get federal protection The world’s fastest sea star could get a little boost from the U.S. government. John Ryan
National After a big recovery, the wood stork may soon fly off the endangered species list The ungainly yet graceful wood stork, which was on the brink of extinction in 1984, has rebounded dramatically in Florida and other Southern states, officials say. The Associated Press
