© Pete Saloutos/Panoramic Images (Washington Title Image Large)
Puget Trough Terrestrial Wildlife
Terrestrial animals living in the Puget Trough ecoregion are diverse:
Animal Group | Approx. number of species |
|---|---|
| Mammals | 74 |
| Reptiles and amphibians | 29 |
| Birds | 163 |
| Fish | 76 |
| Butterflies | 81 |
| Dragonflies and damselflies | 68 |
| Other insects | Yet to be determined |
| Other invertebrates | Yet to be determined |
Some animal species are adaptable to cities and suburbs, and their populations are holding steady—or even increasing to sometimes alarming numbers. Typical urban wildlife includes raccoons, crows, and coyotes, and introduced species such as opossum, European starlings, and rock pigeons.
Other species in the ecoregion have declined significantly over the past 100 years. Their habitats have been altered and fragmented by development and use.
Notable population declines have occurred in the Taylor’s checkerspot butterfly, the Oregon spotted frog, the western pond turtle, the northern spotted owl, the marbled murrelet, and the western gray squirrel (not to be confused with its ubiquitous invasive cousin, the eastern gray squirrel).
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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