Critters of Washington: Pocket Guide to Animals in Your State

by Alex Troutman

Overview

Get the perfect kids’ introduction to the state of Washington’s mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians.

Put nature in the hands of children! Critters of Washington is your wildlife pocket guide that’s informative, concise, and easy to use. Written by wildlife biologist Alex Troutman, this handy book presents 68 critters of the Evergreen State—if an animal is in this book, it’s found in Washington.

Each species is showcased in a professional-quality photograph that’s paired with such neat-to-know details as habitat, range, and preferred food sources. Illustrations of the critter’s tracks complement the information, and a “Did You Know?” paragraph provides fascinating trivia worth sharing with family, friends, and teachers. Critters of Washington includes important-to-know mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians.

Book Features:

• 68 critters—only Washington animals
• Full-color photos of every species
• Concise descriptions and interesting “Did You Know?” facts
• Attractive layout with kid appeal
• A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this book benefits Wildlife Forever to support their conservation efforts

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781647555016
Publisher:	Adventure Publications, Incorporated
Publication date:	06/17/2025
Series:	Wildlife Pocket Guides for Kids
Pages:	144
Product dimensions:	4.20(w) x 5.90(h) x 0.40(d)
Lexile:	820L (what's this?)
Age Range:	7 - 12 Years

About the Author

Alex Troutman is a wildlife biologist, birder, nature enthusiast, and science communicator from Austell, Georgia. He has a passion for sharing the wonders of nature and introducing the younger generation to the outdoors. He holds both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in biology from Georgia Southern University(the Real GSU), with a focus in conservation. Alex knows what it feels like not to see individuals who look like you (or come from a similar background) doing the things you enjoy or working in the career that you aspire to be in. He makes a point to be that representation for the younger generation, ensuring that kids have exposure to the careers they are interested in and to the diverse scientists working in those careers.

Alex is the co-organizer of several Black in X weeks, including Black Birders Week, Black Mammalogists Week, and Black in Marine Science Week. This movement encourages diversity in nature, the celebration of Black individual scientists, awareness of Black nature enthusiasts, and diversity in STEAM fields.

Read an Excerpt

Black Bear
Ursus americanus

Size: 5–6 feet long (nose to tail); weighs 90–600 pounds

Habitat: Forests, lowland areas, and swamps

Range: Black bears can be found in many parts of North America, from Alaska down through Canada and into Mexico. In Washington, they are found throughout much of the state, minus the area of the Interior Columbia Basin.

Food: Berries, fish, seeded crops, small mammals, wild grapes, tree shoots, ants, bees, beavers, and even deer fawns

Den: Denning usually starts in December, with bears emerging in late March or April. Dens can be either dug (out of a hillside, for example) or constructed with materials such as leaves, grass, and moss.

Young: Two cubs are usually born at one time (a litter), often in January. Cubs are born without fur and blind, with pink skin. They weigh 8–16 ounces.

Predators: Humans and other bears. Sometimes, other carnivores, such as mountain lions, wolves, coyotes, or even bobcats, will prey on black bears. Cubs are especially vulnerable.

Tracks: Front print is usually 4–6 inches long and 3.5–5 inches wide, with the hind foot being 6–7 inches long and 3.5–5 inches wide. The feet have five toes.

Description: Black bears are usually black in color, but they can be many different variations of black and brown. Some even have grayish, reddish, or blonde fur.

Did You Know? Female bears weigh between 90 and 300 pounds and are smaller than the average adult human male in the US. But don’t let their small size fool you; with a bite force around 800 pounds per square inch (PSI) and swiping force of over 400 pounds, these bears are not to be taken lightly.

Table of Contents

About Wildlife Forever

Acknowledgments

Dedication

Introduction

Washington: The Evergreen State

How to Use This Guide

Safety Note

Notes About Icons

The Critters

• Mammals
• Birds
• Reptiles and Amphibians

Glossary

Checklist

The Art of Conservation

Photo Credits

About the Author