Discover wildlife activity across Washington state

The curated articles focus on wildlife activity in Washington state. They explore how different species adapt to their environments.

Raccoons do not hibernate and remain active throughout winter, rummaging for food and possibly seeking shelter in homes. Spider season peaks in late summer as males search for mates, making certain species like giant house spiders more noticeable.

Mountain lions in Washington cover extensive territory and rarely encounter humans, but when they do, they can pose a danger as seen in an incident at Olympic National Park where a child was attacked. Killer whales face threats from declining prey and pollution, with occurrences of whales carrying deceased calves drawing national attention. Meanwhile, climate change impacts butterfly populations at Mount Rainier, highlighting shifts in ecological conditions.

NO. 1: WASHINGTON SPIDER SEASON IS HERE. HERE’S WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT HOUSE AND GARDEN SPIDERS

Only two Washington spiders are venomous, and mostly found on the east side of the state. Here’s what you need to know to stay safe. | Published August 26, 2024 | Read Full Story by Rosemary Montalvo

File photo of a raccoon. Wildlife officials advise people not to feed raccoons or other wild animals.

NO. 2: DOES RACCOON ACTIVITY SUBSIDE DURING THE WINTER SEASON IN THE SOUTH SOUND?

Raccoon activity could slow down during the winter months if it gets cold enough, but some may decide to use your home to stay warm instead. | Published December 30, 2024 | Read Full Story by Rosemary Montalvo

A summer camp worker was attacked by a mountain lion (not the one pictured) east of Hyampom, officials said.

NO. 3: MOUNTAIN LION ATTACKS CHILD ON POPULAR TRAIL IN OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK

Park officials say they “dispatched” the animal, and there were no current threats to the public. | Published July 21, 2025 | Read Full Story by Shea Johnson

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Mountain lion crouching in a tree.

NO. 4: WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I SEE A MOUNTAIN LION ON A WASHINGTON HIKE? FOLLOW THESE TIPS

A cougar recently attacked a 4-year-old child in Olympic National Park. | Published July 23, 2025 | Read Full Story by Sarah Linn

Volunteers with the Cascades Butterfly Project, including Pam Gunther, left, and Renee Buck, right, carry butterfly nets as they survey a stretch of Mount Rainier National Park for the insects on Monday, Aug. 11, 2025. By Liesbeth Powers

NO. 5: MOUNT RAINIER BUTTERFLY RESEARCHERS TRACK CLIMATE CHANGE. WHAT HAVE THEY FOUND?

A flash of orange darted between blue broadleaf lupine, magenta paintbrush and pink-white mountain daisies before the small butterfly disappeared into the sky. | Published August 14, 2025 | Read Full Story by Becca Most

Small lake ripples and soft sunshine reflections

NO. 6: GRIEVING ENDANGERED KILLER WHALE CLINGS TO ITS DEAD NEWBORN OFF WA, PHOTO SHOWS

A Southern Resident killer whale has been spotted clinging to her dead baby in the Salish Sea off northern Washington, a conservation group said. | Published September 16, 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.