© Pete Saloutos/Panoramic Images (Washington Title Image Large)
East Cascades Wildlife
Common large mammals in the East Cascades ecoregion include blacktail deer, mule deer, Rocky Mountain elk, black bear, and cougar. Less prevalent are the mountain goat, now only in the north of the ecoregion, and the fisher, now possibly extirpated.
The ecoregion hosts 190 bird species. Northern goshawks, pileated woodpeckers, and Vaux’s swifts utilize the montane forests. The drier pine-oak forest supports the flammulated owl, pygmy nuthatch, and white-headed woodpecker.
Bald and golden eagles are present, but much of their historic range no longer supports them. Peregrine falcons have begun to recover in the ecoregion.
The East Cascades’ rivers and streams support runs of Chinook salmon, coho salmon, and steelhead, though human-mediated environmental changes have greatly reduced their populations. Similarly the range of the bull trout, federally listed as threatened, has diminished. Cutthroat trout and rainbow trout are widespread in ecoregion’s cold waters.
Animal Group | Approx. number of species |
|---|---|
| Mammals | 86 |
| Reptiles and amphibians | 38 |
| Birds | 190 |
| Fish | 61 |
| Butterflies | 128 |
| Dragonflies and damselflies | 62 |
| 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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