Fascinating critters and plants in Washington state

Washington state teems with curious plants and creatures making headlines. At Point Defiance Zoo, visitors can spot a rare blooming artichoke agave and meet a newborn Malayan tapir that sports watermelon-like stripes. Newly discovered species like the Okanagan crayfish highlight the region’s diverse waterways, while animal rescues — such as the rescue of a black bear from a Spokane neighborhood and the rehab of an orphaned mountain lion cub — underscore local efforts to protect wildlife.

Volunteers at Owen Beach help safeguard seals, and new arrivals, including a playful baby bison and a litter of meerkat kits, bring fresh energy to local zoos. Washington’s beaches, tide pools, and parks show the variety and resilience of the state’s flora and fauna.

Lead Department of Natural Resources researcher Helen Berry holds a piece of bull kelp on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2019. Research shows the kelp is dying in southern parts of Puget Sound. By Kate Iida

NO. 1: THEY LOOK LIKE WHIPS AND CAN GROW UP TO A FOOT A DAY. WILL TACOMA’S BULL KELP GO LEGIT?

A bill in the Washington State Legislature would name the seaweed the state’s official underwater forest. | Published February 4, 2025 | Read Full Story by Craig Sailor

The Tacoma zoo welcomed the birth of a new animal on Feb. 2.

NO. 2: CREATURE THAT LOOKS LIKE ‘WALKING WATERMELON’ BORN AT WA ZOO. SEE THE ‘LITTLE MIRACLE’

It’s the second of its kind to be born at the Tacoma zoo in 120 years. | Published February 5, 2025 | Read Full Story by Helena Wegner

A starfish waits for the tides to come back in as people tour the sea life is visibile during low tide at the Fox Island Sand Spit, on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, in Fox Island, Wash. By Brian Hayes

NO. 3: SEA STARS, CRABS AND SNORTING CLAMS: WHAT CAN YOU FIND IN THE LOW TIDE OF PUGET SOUND?

These experts are offering free beach tours at low tide this week. | Published April 2, 2025 | Read Full Story by Becca Most

NO. 4: ORANGUTAN BITES ZOOKEEPER THROUGH BARRIER DURING TRAINING, WASHINGTON ZOO SAYS

The worker was seriously injured and taken to a hospital, the zoo said. | Published April 1, 2025 | Read Full Story by Helena Wegner

An orphaned mountain lion cub is recovering at a Washington wildlife rescue facility after he was found malnourished in the wild, officials said.

NO. 5: WATCH ORPHANED MOUNTAIN LION CUB WITH ‘SPICY’ PERSONALITY RECOVER AT WA PARK

“He is zesty. You go, you spicy little dude!” | Published April 4, 2025 | Read Full Story by Brooke Baitinger

A meerkat kit lays on its stomach across a rock in its habitat on Monday, April 28, 2025, in Tacoma, Wash. This kit, along with three others born in March and another four kits born in April, added eight baby meerkats to the zoo’s total. By Liesbeth Powers

NO. 6: NEW BABIES ADD TO ‘THE MOB’ AT TACOMA’S POINT DEFIANCE ZOO. HAVE A LOOK

“Each birth is a wonderful opportunity to connect guests with this fascinating species,” according to the zoo’s curator. | Published April 29, 2025 | Read Full Story by Isha Trivedi

Zoo staff say that polar bear Laerke’s seemingly strange behavior is the result of her unique upbringing around humans and special needs. By Katie G. Cotterill/Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium

NO. 7: TACOMA ZOO ADDRESSES CONCERNS ABOUT ‘SPECIAL NEEDS’ POLAR BEAR AFTER VIRAL VIDEO

A Tik Tok of polar bear Laerke caused some concerns, but zoo staff said she is a “special needs” bear who often displays that behavior. | Published May 7, 2025 | Read Full Story by Isha Trivedi

wavy surface of transparent water of a pure forest lake with reflection of mountains and sky

NO. 8: GRAD STUDENT DISCOVERS CLAWED CREATURE TANGLED NEAR WA LAKE. IT’S A NEW SPECIES

It has a shell, claws and tubercles extending from its head. | Published May 15, 2025 | Read Full Story by Sara Schilling

A seal pup lounges at Tacoma’s Owen Beach in April 2024. Parks Tacoma is starting a new program where volunteers monitor seals to protect them from predators and human encroachment. By Adam Lynn

NO. 9: LOCAL BEACH IS POPULAR WITH SEALS. PARKS TACOMA STARTS PROGRAM TO PROTECT THEM

Volunteers will be dispatched to Owen Beach to monitor for seals that appear on shore during pup season. | Published May 31, 2025 | Read Full Story by Isha Trivedi

The stalk of an Agave parryi var. truncata, more commonly known as the Artichoke Agave, towers over lead horticulturalist Bryon Jones as he shares information on the plant at the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium on Thursday, May 29, 2025, in Tacoma, Wash. By Liesbeth Powers

NO. 10: RARE 20-YEAR-OLD PLANT IS BLOOMING FOR THE FIRST AND LAST TIME AT POINT DEFIANCE

The nine-foot plant is blooming at the Point Defiance Zoo. It has been maturing for nearly 20 years. | Published June 2, 2025 | Read Full Story by Constanza Montemayor

An East African crowned crane has been on the loose for days in Washington.

NO. 11: ENDANGERED CRANE MAKES ‘GREAT ESCAPE’ OUT OF WA ZOO — AND NOBODY CAN CATCH HER

“Heaven forbid a girl have hobbies.” | Published May 23, 2025 | Read Full Story by Helena Wegner

A bear is seen in a tree in Washington before wildlife officers tranquilized it.

NO. 12: BEAR SEEN HANGING OUT HIGH UP IN TREE IN WA NEIGHBORHOOD. SEE RESCUERS STEP IN

Wildlife officers and firefighters responded. | Published May 28, 2025 | Read Full Story by Helena Wegner

The endangered crown crane is pictured outside of the Washington zoo.

NO. 13: ENDANGERED CRANE’S ‘GREAT ADVENTURE’ ENDS AFTER WA ZOO ESCAPE. ‘A STORY TO TELL’

She will soon be reunited with her boyfriend, zoo officials said. | Published May 28, 2025 | Read Full Story by Helena Wegner

The baby bison is pictured at a wildlife park in Washington.

NO. 14: THERE’S A NEW BABY BISON AT THIS WASHINGTON PARK. SEE THE ‘CUTIE’ BOND WITH MOM

The fluffy animal can be seen during a tour at the wildlife park. | Published June 2, 2025 | Read Full Story by Helena Wegner

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.