© Pete Saloutos/Panoramic Images (Washington Title Image Large)
Blue Mountains Wildlife
A range of mammals, large and small, find home in the Blue Mountains. Ungulates, like mule deer and Rocky Mountain elk, omnivores like black bear, coyotes, and raccoons, and predators like cougars make use of the ecoregion’s forests and river valleys.
Snags in the dry forest supply habitat to cavity nesters, such as bluebirds, chickadees, and woodpeckers. Steep cliff faces and rocky slopes attract raptors, including the golden eagle.
Coho salmon, Chinook salmon, and steelhead trout make runs in the Grande Ronde and Snake Rivers, though in substantially fewer numbers than historically. Rivers also support resident populations of rainbow and bull trout.
Animal Group | Approx. number of species |
|---|---|
| Mammals | 59 |
| Reptiles and amphibians | 12 |
| Birds | 120 |
| Fish | 43 |
| Butterflies | 102 |
| Dragonflies and damselflies | 31 |
| Other insects | Yet to be determined |
| Other invertebrates | Yet to be determined |
For details of this ecoregion within Washington, click a subheading in the left column.
View the more general description of this ecoregion in North America
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