Washington NatureMapping Program

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Definition of "Agriculture" General Code 300: Intensively managed fields. Does not include un-maintained range used as pasture. It does include land set aside for Conservation Reserves.

Agriculture: Non-irrigated field (320)

Descriptive Habitat Code: Agriculture (3) with a non-irrigated field (2) and harvested crop (0).
Photo: TFK


Black-billed magpie
Pica pica
Code: PIPI
Photo: RA
Distribution and Habitat:
It is found in shrub steppe, sparsely wooded, and treeless areas in the Columbia Basin.

Diet:
It is an omnivore and feeds on small birds, rodents, insects, seeds, carrion, and garbage.

Interesting fact:
If trees are planted near sagebrush, magpies will prey upon native shrub steppe birds in t hose patches of sagebrush, further reducing the sagebrush obligates (species that only live and breed in sagebrush).



California gull
Larus californius
Code: LACAL
Photo: RA
Distribution and Habitat:
It is found throughout parts of the western North Pacific Ocean. It breeds on gravel beds along the Columbia River and large lakes in the Columbia Basin.

Diet:
It is an opportunistic scavenger feeding on fish, crustaceans, bivalves and other invertebrates, as well as carrion and scavenging items from dumps and other areas of human habitation.

Interesting fact:
This gull is often found nesting together with the Ring- billed gull. It is Utah's state bird because it saved settlers from starvation when flocks of California gulls ate the locusts ruining their crops.



Coyote
Canis latrans
Code: CALAT
Distribution and Habitat:
It is found in mountainous areas, grasslands, deciduous and mixed coniferous forests and even urban areas.

Diet:
It feeds on whatever it can find, mostly mammals and carrion, although it also eats birds, fruit, and insects.

Interesting fact:
Efforts to exterminate coyotes have taken place during the 20th century. Their numbers are still increasing.

Coyote Fact Sheet »



Gopher snake
Pitouphis melanoleucas catenifer
Code: PIME
Photo: Chris Brown
Distribution and Habitat:
It is found in mountainous and rocky areas up to an altitude of at least 8000 feet.

Diet:
It feeds primarily on rodents and other small mammals. Only warm- blooded, living prey are eaten.

Interesting fact:
The gopher snake is not poisonous although its threatening posture sometimes gives the impression that it is.

Gopher Snake Fact Sheet »



Great horned owl
Bubo virginianus
Code: BUVI
Photo: TFK
Distribution and Habitat:
It is found across the state in cliff areas.

Diet:
If feeds largely on small mammals including squirrels, rabbits, gophers, prairie dogs, chipmunks, mice, rats and other small rodents, as well as domesticated poultry, other small birds, grasshoppers, beetles, crayfish and fish.

Interesting fact:
The great horned owl is large (the length of an adult's arm from the hand to the elbow). Screech owls have "horns" and are misidentified as baby great horned owls. Baby owls are the size of their parents when they leave the nest.

Great Horned Owl Fact Sheet »



Ring-necked pheasant
Phasianus colchicus
Code: PHCO
Photo: KMD
Distribution and Habitat:
It is found in grasslands, agricultural areas and woodlands.

Diet:
It is an omnivore and feeds on seeds, nuts, fruits, leaves, roots, insects, snails, worms, cultivated grains, and grass seeds.

Interesting fact:
The Ring-necked pheasant is an introduced game bird, whose numbers are dropping in Washington State.



Yellow-bellied marmot
Marmota flaviventris
Code: MAFL
Photo: Natures Pics
Distribution and Habitat:
It is found throughout parts of eastern Washington in semi-arid habitats.

Diet:
It is known to feed upon seeds and nuts.

Interesting fact:
Once marmots build their den, they do not venture far from it.

Yellow-bellied Marmot Fact Sheet »


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