Definition of "Wetlands" - General Code 500: Vegetated areas where plants are rooted in water or water saturated soil or that regularly tolerate flooding for extensive time periods.

"Estuary" is the term given to the area at the end of a river where its fresh water mingles with the salt water of the sea. Also called harbors and bays, these areas nurture a diverse array of plants and animals.

Diet:
It feeds primarily upon aquatic plants, such as wild celery.

Interesting fact:
The American wigeon can be found feeding on large grassy areas, such as golf courses.

American Wigeon Fact Sheet »

Diet:
It feeds primarily on insects, small crustaceans and worms.

Interesting fact:
Dunlins nest in small depressions in the ground near ponds, lakes and salt marshes. They fly in large flocks and seem to turn in flight--all at the same time.

Diet:
They are hervivores and generally eat the green portions of a variety of plants.

Interesting fact:
Voles do not hibernate. They make tunnels under the snow during the winter.

Red-backed Vole Fact Sheet »

Distribution and Habitat:
Estuaries and beaches. Geoducks are sessile and do not move once they have selected a site about 2' below the surface of the sand. Native littleneck clams and manillas (introduced from Japan) are much smaller and live just beneath the surface of the beach, and further up the beach in the intertidal zone.

Diet:
Geoduck clams, like their smaller clam cousins, are filter feeders. They stick their long necks above ground to feed.

Interesting fact:
They are very large. You may find them at fish markets weighing 3 pounds and about 16-18" long. Their name is pronounced GOOEY duck.

The common name for geoduck has a native American origin, meaning "dig deep", a reference to humans or sea otters digging them.

Diet:
It feeds largely on fish. Frogs and other small animals are also occasionally taken.

Interesting fact:
It is a good climber, adept at moving among the tangles of trees and bushes near the water while in search of food. This species is also known as the green-backed heron.

Green Heron Fact Sheet »

Diet:
It feeds largely on fish such as cod, flatfish, and salmon.

Interesting fact:
Pacific harbor seals have been known to live in captivity for well over 30 years. The earless seals, to which the Pacific harbor seal belongs, appeared in the fossil records about 15 million years ago.

Harbor Seal Fact Sheet »

Diet:
Oysters are filter feeders, grabbing nutrients floating in the water. People eat just about anything.

Interesting fact:
Shellfish beds can be contaminated by runoff during heavy rains.

Pacific oysters were introduced from Japan. They develop first as males, and after a year begin to function as females.

Distribution and Habitat:
It is found distributed across North America from southern British Columbia southward to southern Mexico, Cuba and Bermuda.

Diet:
It feeds upon small fish, worms and other small invertebrates, insects, carrion, and small mammals such as mice. They also commonly inhabit garbage dumps, where they scavenge for food.

Interesting fact:
Ring-billed gulls nest on the ground in grassy marshes.

Diet:
It feeds largely on a variety of fish species.

Interesting fact:
The river otter is a member of the weasel family, but has webbed toes for swimming.

River Otter Fact Sheet »

Distribution and Habitat:
Three species of Spartina (Spartina alterniflora, S. patens, and S. anglica) are invading intertidal areas of Washington, Oregon, California and British Columbia. In Washington, Spartina is present in Willapa Bay and the Puget Sound. Introduced into Washington in 1894. In 2007, Spartina covered more than 2,000 acres, and is a threat to oyster beds, mud falts, and eelgrass meadows.

Over the past five years, the combined statewide effort to eradicate Spartina from the marine waters of Washington State has been extremely successful. WSDA estimates that the effort has successfully reduced the overall statewide infestation from a high of more than 9,000 solid acres in 2003 to fewer than 1,250 solid acres projected in 2008. That is an unprecedented reduction of more than 85%.

Interesting fact:
Spartina is a prized aquatic plant in the east coast. It provides shelter and breeding sites for many of their estuarine organisms.