Conservation Stories
As stewards of a forested park full of native Northwest animals, we look constantly for ways to protect wildlife and wilderness. From raising orphaned animals to raising money, we conserve.
Read our stories to find out how – and join us.
White-nosed syndrome is a deadly fungal disease that has killed millions of hibernating bats in eastern North America – and now it’s here too. Named for the white fungus that grows on the muzzle of infected bats, the disease sickens, weakens and eventually kills hibernating bats.
Northwest Trek is working with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to collect data on bat colonies, so we can better understand and protect bats.
Fishers are a native carnivore in the weasel family. They climb trees but prefer to hunt on the forest floor. They eat small rodents but also fruit and mushrooms (though ironically, not much fish). But fishers also have incredibly soft, silky fur – and that’s been their greatest threat.
We’re helping restore fishers to the Cascades.
These amphibians once inhabited large areas of the country, but now the species is endangered in Washington. Only a handful exist.
In partnership with Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, we’ve raised northern leopard frogs from eggs, and have released them back into their wild habitat.
Imagine – you’re hiking in deep, silent Northwest forest. Suddenly you round a corner and freeze – a grizzly bear is standing on the path.
Actually, chances are that won’t happen. Biologists estimate there are fewer than 10 grizzlies in the North Cascades. – an area of nearly 10,000 square miles. And if we take no action, there will soon be none.
We have to protect this American icon – together.
This species disappeared from the Midwest thanks to hunting and loss of habitat in the 1800s.
Now these beautiful swans are making a recovery – and Northwest Trek has played a key role.
We’ve sent over four dozen swan cygnets, or babies, hatched here to the Northwest Swan Conservation Association, which works to repopulate swans in the Northwest and Midwest.
Northwest Trek Wildlife Park, Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, Lancer Hospitality, and Wildlife Trading Company have joined forces to reduce single-use plastics. We don’t provide plastic bottles, plastic lids, or straws in our cafes. We installed water bottle filling stations to make it easy for guests to have fresh water. And we don’t use plastic bags in our gift shop.
Please bring your own reusable bottles, bags and straws, and help us help the planet!