Southwest Washington, or Clark County itself, even, has quite the species diversity for wildlife, and not just birds.
Clark County is believed to be home to 70 to 80 species of mammals.
After photographing over 100 species of birds for The Reflector’s “Road to 100: Photographing the Birds of Southwest Washington” project in less than a year, here’s a look at the mammals that can be found close to Clark County’s urban sprawl.
However, looking ahead to 2026, I feel that my wildlife photography goal could be: “Road to 25: Photographing the Rare Animals of Southwest Washington.” But, for now, highlighting the mammals and continuing to find new bird species will suffice.
In Clark County, mammal species of common variety include Columbian black-tailed deer, coyotes, raccoons and more. But there are some uncommon species throughout the area, including a flying squirrel variant — which could be a main focus in next year’s photography goal. Photographing rare animals next year may be stretched to species including scorpions as far west as Beacon Rock, uncommon birds and simply the lesser found creatures that make up the life of local ecosystems.
According to the Burke Museum, there are 141 species of mammals in Washington state alone, with 27 of those being marine mammals and 15 being flying mammals — bats.
Photographing mammal species diversity is a lot more difficult than the abundant variety of avians, but some highlights this year include the American pika, a species of greatest conservation need in the state of Washington, according to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).
The Columbian white-tailed deer is also a species labeled by WDFW as a species of greatest conservation need. They are found at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge as part of efforts to bolster the deer’s population. Other mammals frequenting the wildlife refuge include the North American river otter, North American beaver, coyotes, raccoons and more, including small rodents.
The Brush Prairie pocket gopher
Brush Prairie, the heart of Clark County, is home to a species of pocket gopher that may not even exist in today’s world of urbanization.
According to WDFW, distribution and the current status of the Brush Prairie pocket gopher, a subspecies of northern pocket gopher, is unknown, citing the urban and suburban development of the area. Pocket gophers are the only true subterranean rodents in North America, meaning above-ground observation is rare.
The Brush Prairie pocket gopher is said to inhabit open grassy areas, pastures, prairies and oak savannahs, including open forests, according to WDFW. With the species existing mainly underground, it can survive farming efforts unless intentionally eradicated, but land slipping away to building development is leading to a lack of recent confirmed records, suggesting that the pocket gopher may no longer exist.
The Brush Prairie pocket gopher solely existed in Clark County.
The American pika
The American pika, a small rodent found in mountainous terrain, is present in the lava flows on the southwest side of Mount St. Helens.
The species is listed as least concern at the federal level, but at the state level, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) lists it as a species of greatest conservation need. WDFW states that the population size of the American pika is unknown in the state and that with it being a montane talus habitat specialist, it may face threats from climate change. Pikas are monitored in some national parks to determine the status of occupancy and trends in occupancy.
The American pika depends on mountain ecosystems as they’re extremely temperature-sensitive, according to the National Park Service. Due to their high body temperature and low upper lethal temperature, pikas have a difficult time regulating their body temperature and rely on crevices and cavities in rocks for cover and shade. Near Mount St. Helens, they utilize the 2,000-year-old lava flows for cover and shade. The National Park Service adds that pikas cannot tolerate high temperatures for more than a few hours, leading to best viewing in the early morning or late evening.
The American pika has experienced localized extirpations in isolated areas of its range, with some scientists leading to believe rising temperatures could be the reason, the National Park Service states. Pikas are also considered an early warning sign for warming in western North America.
The Columbian white-tailed deer
The Columbian white-tailed deer exists in small, isolated populations and is the westernmost subspecies of white-tailed deer, according to WDFW.
The deer species was historically located throughout the lowlands of southwestern Washington and western Oregon, but there are now two geographically isolated populations of the Columbian white-tail. One exists in Douglas County, Oregon, while the other, known as the Columbia River Distinct Population Segment, is found on islands in the Columbia River and adjacent areas of Clark, Cowlitz and Wahkiahum counties in Washington and counties along the lower Columbia River in Oregon.
A growing population exists on the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, where visitors to the River S Unit can view the buck rut in the late fall from the comfort of their vehicles. Rutting activities peak in November, according to WDFW. The Ridgefield population was translocated to the wildlife refuge from 2013 to 2015 in order to establish a subpopulation to help the species’ numbers. According to a 2014 report, the Columbia River Distinct Population Segment consisted of 600 deer.
The northern flying squirrel
The northern flying squirrel will most likely be the main focus of 2026’s photography goal, but it is relatively common when considering its range and population numbers.
The northern flying squirrel is the smallest tree squirrel in Washington state, measuring roughly a foot in length, according to WDFW. The flying squirrel is also a nocturnal animal, leading to it being seen only on rare occasions.
According to the Nature Mapping Foundation, the core habitat breeding range of the northern flying squirrel includes the forests of eastern Clark County and along the Lewis River. The animal is found in all conifer and mixed forests and even is present in urban settings such as Seattle and Tacoma.
The northern flying squirrel spends most of its life in trees, residing in tree cavities. The flying squirrel utilizes a membrane of skin between its limbs to glide, so it doesn’t exactly fly.
