Oregon's Fish & Wildlife

Oregon's beautiful landscapes provides a home for an incredible diversity of fish and wildlife. From the old-growth forests of the Cascade Mountains, to the wetlands of the Klamath Basin to the mighty Columbia River, thousands of species depend on our wildlands and water to rest, feed, and raise their young.

Oregon Wild believes we all have a duty to be good stewards of our fish and wildlife. Our goal is to protect and restore Oregon's natural heritage to ensure our grandchildren and great grandchildren will have the chance to fish for wild salmon in rivers like the Clackamas and Rogue, see bald eagles soar over Upper Klamath Lake, and to hear the howl of wolves echo across the backcountry of the Blue Mountains.

Explore our native fish and wildlife profiles. 

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  • The sea otter was hunted to near extinction. Now Oregon is the only state on the Pacific coast without a resident population. We are working to ensure this native keystone species will once again return to its historic range.

  • Wolves are making a return to Oregon, but old myths die hard and Oregon Wild is working to educate the general public that "the big, bad wolf" is not to be feared.

  • The proverbial "canary in the coal mine," spotted owls are key indicators of the health of our old-growth forests.

  • Beavers are keystone species that shape the ecosystems they inhabit by increasing water quality and quality, mitigating drought and wildlife, and promoting biodiversity.

Current Oregon Wild campaigns to conserve native wildlife include:

  • The ongoing effort to recover gray wolves across Oregon and ensure there are policies in place that protect the species.  
  • Supporting tribal partners seeking to reintroduce ecologically and culturally important native wildlife like sea otters and condors 
  • Restoring Oregon's best dam ecosystem engineer the beaver to it's full potential and other keystone species 
  • Working to secure critical wildlife conservation funding in Oregon to mitigate the extinction crisis
  • Ensuring the integrity and sanctity of critical habitat for the northern spotted owl and marbled murrelet

Some of the Species Oregon Wild is Working to Protect

Photo credits: Gray wolf (ODFW); spotted owl (Kristian Skyback)