It’s a cool, wet spring morning at Northwest Trek, and keeper Wendi is cleaning out the skunk habitat. She scoops some poop, then bends down intently. “Aha!” she exclaims, and reaches out a gloved hand. It’s a banana slug, long, mottled and yellow – and Wendi scoops it up in all its slimy glory. Slug Fest is coming, and Northwest Trek is getting ready. Slug Hunt “Fifty to sixty degrees and raining, that’s prime slug hunting time,” explains Wendi. One of the Wetlands keepers, she’s taking part in the staff’s Longest Slug Contest for the ever-popular annual Slug Fest event, …

  Northwest Trek Wildlife Park welcomed two American bison calves in less than a week, marking an exciting start to spring in the wildlife park’s 435-acre Free-Roaming Area. The first calf, a male named Torrent, was born to mother Rainy on May 8 during Mother’s Day weekend. A second calf, whose sex and name have yet to be determined, was born to mother Cloudy on May 13. Both calves are thriving alongside the park’s bison herd. Keepers had been closely monitoring the expectant mothers, who were nearing the end of the typical 285-day gestation period. In keeping with natural bison …

Ruzco, a nearly 4-year-old caribou who recently joined Northwest Trek’s herd, is settling in well in the wildlife park’s 435-acre Free-Roaming Area with his fellow caribou. He is also exploring the expansive habitat alongside mountain goats, moose, bison, elk, deer, and bighorn sheep. Caribou (Rangifer tarandus) are one of the largest members of the deer family. Their diet is diverse, including mosses, lichens, grasses, and tender shoots. Breeding season begins in September, when bulls shed the velvet from their antlers in striking red displays and may engage in brief but intense battles. After about eight months, females usually give birth …

Rescued, resilient, and now thriving, male cougar Sullivan is celebrating his one-year anniversary at Northwest Trek. To mark the milestone, Sullivan enjoyed a special carcass feed. This enrichment activity encourages natural behaviors like chewing, tearing, and problem-solving while keeping him physically and mentally engaged. Sullivan’s journey began when he was found alone as a young cub in critical condition, severely malnourished and dehydrated. With dedicated, round-the-clock care from the animal care team, he made an incredible recovery. Today, Sullivan continues to grow stronger, exploring his habitat and showing the instincts that make cougars such powerful and adaptable animals.

For many, it’s a late-winter hobby, but for the keepers in Northwest Trek Wildlife Park’s 435-acre Free-Roaming Area, it’s just another part of their job: shed hunting. The bull (male) elk are beginning to drop their antlers—a yearly occurrence that happens a few months after breeding season due to a decrease in testosterone.   “We’ve already seen some impressively large antlers drop,” said assistant curator Dave. When a bull elk drops its antlers, they immediately begin growing a new set. “Antler grows faster than any other bone,” said Dave. “During the summer months, bull elk antlers can grow up to …

Tala, our 12-year-old gray wolf, recently had a special veterinary appointment at Northwest Trek, and we’re happy to share that it was a success. During Tala’s physical exam last fall, our veterinary team detected a heart murmur. Heart murmurs can be indicators that an animal has heart disease, which may require treatment. To further diagnose her heart condition, we welcomed visiting veterinary cardiologist Dr. Nadolny, who came to Northwest Trek to perform a detailed heart exam right here on site. With Tala comfortably under sedation, our animal care team, led by Head Veterinarian Dr. Kadie Anderson, worked closely with Dr. …

We’re excited to welcome a new feathered resident to Northwest Trek Wildlife Park. Alba, a barn owl, recently arrived and is already beginning to settle into life at Northwest Trek. Alba joins us from the Palo Alto Children’s Museum and has completed a full wellness exam with our veterinary team. With a clean bill of health, he’s officially ready to meet guests and can be seen in the barn owl habitat. Like many raptors, Alba is taking things at his own pace (very owl of him). Raptors don’t always reveal their personalities right away, and that’s perfectly okay. Our animal …

Welcoming two rescued cougar cubs, as well as national recognition for our Discovery Tram Tour Station, highlighted many memorable moments of 2025 as we celebrated the 50th anniversary of Northwest Trek Wildlife Park. Relive Northwest Trek’s golden anniversary through captivating photos taken by staff photographer Katie G. Cotterill. From Sequoia the bald eagle’s sharp call to Sullivan the cougar’s soulful eyes, to Northwest Trek’s newest pine marten, Syaʔyaʔ – enjoy a compilation of some of our favorite photos of the year. Moose Luna walks through the Free-Roaming Area as the sun bursts through the trees. Raccoons Hickory and Bluebell celebrated …

Cougar cubs Sienna and Sullivan continue to grow in both health and confidence. The latest weigh-ins show Sienna at about 60 pounds and Sullivan at 77 pounds. Although Sullivan is larger, both cubs are gaining weight at the same steady rate, a strong sign that each is getting exactly what they need from their balanced diet. Since arriving as orphaned wild cubs, Sienna and Sullivan have undergone a remarkable transformation. Keeper Haley has had a front-row seat to their progress. “Both Sienna and Sullivan have overcome so many challenges,” said Haley. “Sullivan adapted quickly and shows amazing resilience, even with …

On a recent December afternoon, Northwest Trek Wildlife Park staff members spent time doing what might look like arts and crafts to an outsider. But to the keepers and animals, those arts and crafts are an essential part of the everyday life of the animals; it’s enrichment. Enrichment items are things like food, smells, or toys that enhance the health and well-being of the animals in our care. Using these items in combination with knowledge of species’ natural history and behaviors, animal keepers can provide unique experiences that enhance the animal’s overall welfare. During Northwest Trek’s annual Winter Wildland, running …