Endangered Species

76 Stories

Lawsuit aims to protect a rare West Coast carnivore, the fisher

You can tell that the fisher is a tough customer by its diet: It eats porcupines.
- John Ryan
Listen 1 min
‘Incredibly lucky:' Endangered orcas dodge diesel spill off San Juan Island

A fishing boat carrying 2,600 gallons of fuel sank off the west side of San Juan Island, spreading an oily sheen for 2 miles in critical habitat for the Northwest’s endangered orcas. Researchers called it “incredibly lucky” that the whales and the diesel apparently never crossed paths.
- John Ryan
There are 40% more tigers in the world than previously estimated

The number of tigers in the wild has gone up dramatically since 2015 — largely because of improvements in monitoring them, but the species remains endangered.
- Shauneen Miranda
Unlock the secrets of Seattle's mysterious seed vault: Travel For Good

Seattle is home to the largest seed collection in the Pacific Northwest. It’s called the Miller Seed Vault, and it’s tucked away in a small building, surrounded by public gardens, on the edge of University of Washington campus.
- Ruby de Luna
Listen 2 mins
Scientists race to rescue world’s fastest sea star from oblivion

Scientists are racing to revive a critically endangered species that has succumbed to a mysterious underwater pandemic up and down the West Coast.
- John Ryan
Listen 2 mins
Biologists vaccinate Washington’s endangered pygmy rabbits to protect them from ‘bunny ebola’

A highly contagious, often fatal virus is threatening Washington’s endangered pygmy rabbits. Biologists want to vaccinate the palm-sized rabbits before the virus crosses the state’s borders.
- Courtney Flatt
Listen 4 mins
Koalas are now officially an endangered species in parts of eastern Australia

Australia's government declared koalas endangered in certain regions, citing the impacts of drought, bush fires and deforestation. The koala population dropped a reported 30% between 2018 and 2021.
- Rachel Treisman
Scientists vacuum zoo animals' DNA out of the air

Researchers who detected environmental DNA, or eDNA, in two zoos say the technique could one day be used to look for endangered species in remote locations in the wild.
- Geoff Brumfiel
Jumping slugs: the tiny, slimy acrobats of Northwest forests

Washington and Oregon are home to a group of rare species you’ve probably never heard of. Their name alone might horrify or delight you: the jumping slugs.
- John Ryan
Listen 5 mins
Heat-loving bacteria kill thousands of Washington salmon

An estimated 2,500 Chinook salmon died before they could reach their spawning grounds in Whatcom County in September.
- John Ryan
Listen 2 mins

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