Western gray squirrels uplisted to endangered status due to Pacific Northwest habitat loss
OLYMPIA, Wash. — Western gray squirrels have been reclassified from threatened to endangered under Washington's endangered species act, according to a vote by the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission (WFWC).
The squirrels have been steadily losing their habitat to logging, development, and climate change-driven fires. Since listed as threatened in 1993, the population estimates for the squirrel range have spiraled downward, now ranging to just in the range of 450 to 1,400 individuals—an amount the WFWC said is critically small in either case.
The squirrels live in just three isolated populations in Washington, one in each of the south Puget Trough, North Cascades, and South Cascades.
“Sadly, western gray squirrels are barely hanging on to existence,” said Pat Arnold of Friends of the White Salmon River. “Thanks to the commission for understanding the danger and voting to uplist."
"Next up is a review of forest practice regulations by the Washington Department of Natural Resources, where we hope to see stronger protections adopted,” said Arnold.
Most of the public does not regularly see western gray squirrels, the WFWC said, because the species closely resembles invasive eastern gray squirrels.
Western gray squirrels are larger and have bushier, longer tails, according to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).
The WFWC said the endangered squirrels are never found in towns or cities, but are only found in pine and oak forests with large trees clumped together with meadow areas. They also play a critical role in maintaining forest health by spreading acorns and seeds, the WFWC added.
“We’re happy to see that the commission made a unanimous decision to uplist the western gray squirrel,” said Rudy Salakory, conservation director at Friends of the Columbia Gorge. “Now the hard but critical work of developing stronger protective measures begins. We hope to see changes that favor this vanishing species.”