As climate changes and development spreads, WA wildlife needs more help

If you saw a red-tailed hawk injured after colliding with an office window, or a bobcat hit by a car, what would you do? The Progressive Animal Welfare Society, better known as PAWS, is often the first line of response for animals in crisis, and the people who find them. Unfortunately, the demand for our services is rapidly increasing. Our Lynnwood facility space dedicated to wildlife, at just a little over 3 acres, could no longer meet the need.

We will soon have a new 25-acre site in Snohomish — the biggest such facility in the state — to provide immediate and continual wildlife veterinary services, 365 days a year. PAWS is one of only a few facilities in our state permitted to rehabilitate black bears, bobcats and marine mammals, and treat birds harmed by oil spills. 

Several factors are driving the need for expansion. Human development continues its march into natural areas, leading to dramatic increases in encounters between people and wild animals. PAWS receives more than 14,000 calls each year from people seeking assistance with wildlife — a 75% increase in the past five years. We remind residents of the need to be aware that they share space with a multitude of wild animal species.

Each spring brings a wave of orphaned offspring in need of care. Due to the new normal of extreme weather conditions, we now have to plan for additional surges: wildfire season in early fall, and heat waves in the summer, which are particularly devastating to juvenile birds. Unable to fly, overheated baby bald eagles, terns and raptors fall or leap from their nests, resulting in broken legs, wings and head trauma.

Wildfires pose a serious threat to wildlife. Recently, three orphaned bear cubs came to PAWS with second-degree burns. One cub’s injuries were so severe that he was found crawling on his elbows because of burns to his paw pads. His wound treatment was labor-intensive, but he recovered and is back in the wild. He is one example among thousands needing care. For over 50 years, PAWS has helped over 160,000 animals representing more than 200 different species.

We based the size of the new facility on the need to meet increased demand. In Lynnwood, we could only care for six bear cubs at a time. Now we can accommodate 30. Our capacity for waterfowl doubled from 100 to 200. We’ll have a circular flight track allowing raptors like osprey and peregrine falcons to practice continuous flight, leading to quicker recovery times. We’ll have outdoor spaces for rehabilitation and above- and in-ground pools for birds and mammals.

Additionally, we’ll have increased space to educate and train veterinarians and wildlife rehabilitation professionals from around the country; the Lynnwood facility was too cramped for this.

It is a testament to the power of collective action. Donations from individuals and foundations and grants from King and Snohomish Counties and the state made this possible. We are grateful to residents who value living harmoniously with the native species that share this region with us. It is dismaying that the demand for our services continues to increase, but PAWS is ready to care for the growing numbers of harmed animals that require medical attention.

Anyone who spots an injured or orphaned wild animal can go to paws.org or call 425-412-4040 for assistance.