Fauna of Oregon facts for kids

Oregon's Amazing Animals!

Oregon is a state with many different kinds of animals, also known as its fauna. From tiny shrews to large elk, Oregon is home to a huge variety of creatures!

A Common Nighthawk blending in with its surroundings. These birds are seen in places like the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument.

The western meadowlark is Oregon's state bird.

The North American beaver is Oregon's state mammal.

Oregon has many different types of land and weather, which creates different "life zones." These zones are like different neighborhoods for animals, each with its own special conditions. Oregon has five of the seven main life zones found around the world!

Meet Oregon's Mammals!

Some animals are found only in one place. These are called "endemic" species. Oregon is home to a few mammals that are found almost nowhere else! These include the Baird's shrew, the Pacific shrew, the camas pocket gopher, and a special group of red tree voles living along the North Oregon Coast.

Scientists have identified about 136 different kinds of mammals living in Oregon, not counting marine mammals like whales or seals. Most of these are smaller animals, weighing less than one kilogram (about 2.2 pounds). They are often active at night and tend to be quite shy. Some of the larger, well-known meat-eating animals, like grizzly bears, are no longer found in Oregon. Other large animals are still here, but in smaller numbers compared to the tiny creatures.

Elk: A Comeback Story

In the 1800s, elk were hunted so much in Oregon that they almost disappeared from the state. They could only be found in the hardest-to-reach parts of the Blue Mountains. Hunting elk was officially stopped in 1909 to protect them.

To help their numbers grow again, 15 elk were brought from Wyoming to Oregon in 1912. This helped to bring elk herds back to the state. The first time people could hunt elk again, after they had been brought back, was in 1933.

Gray Wolves: Returning to Oregon

The gray wolf disappeared from Oregon by 1947. But in 1999, wolves from Idaho started to move into the state, bringing them back! The number of gray wolves in Oregon has been growing in recent years. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife keeps a close eye on them.

One famous wolf, known as Journey or OR-7, was born in April 2009. In 2011, OR-7 became the first wolf in modern times to travel all the way into California! This was a big moment for wildlife in the West.