Rainier AAZK

Rainier AAZK Rainier AAZK is a local chapter of the National AAZK
(American Association of Zoo Keepers)

ACT LOCALLY. SAVE GLOBALLY.

Rainier AAZK is made up of zoo keepers, staff members, volunteers, and interns from Northwest Trek Wildlife Park in Eatonville, WA. All members have a passion for wildlife and conservation. AAZK provides members an avenue to help animals native to the Pacific Northwest, as well as endangered animals worldwide. AAZK promotes this avenue through conservation efforts locally, nationally, and internat

ionally. AAZK also gives animal professionals an opportunity to learn the newest techniques in animal husbandry, training, and networking.

09/20/2025

Look at that beautiful girl! Wow! Female kestrels have warm reddish-brown feathers, while the slightly smaller males sport slatey blue-gray feathers on their wings. This beauty might be migrating, or she might stick around. Kestrels go where they can find food, with some migrating north in summer, south in winter; others spending the summer at higher, cooler elevations; and still others staying where the habitat pleases them.

Photo credit: Lisa Genuit

09/20/2025
09/20/2025

Tiny yet tough - meet the pika!

These rotund rabbit cousins are expert food packers, gathering grasses and leaves all summer to fuel their winter survival. Unlike many mountain animals, pikas don’t hibernate - they stay active year-round, relying on deep snowpack to stay warm in their rocky, high-elevation homes.

But climate change is putting them in peril. Rising temperatures and shifting snowfall patterns are making it harder for pikas to find food and stay insulated, pushing them to higher, more isolated terrain.

Want to help protect these alpine fluffballs? Keep an eye out while hiking in high-elevation areas and report your sightings, even if they’re from earlier this summer! Every observation helps us better understand their populations and protect their future.

Learn how to report your pika sightings at https://wdfw.wa.gov/species-habitats/species/ochotona-princeps



📸 An American pika on a rocky scree field, with a mouth full of grass and flowers. Photo by Will Thompson/USGS.

09/20/2025
09/16/2025
09/16/2025
09/15/2025
09/15/2025

Bring on the night! Most migrating birds travel at night, covering long distances under cover of darkness to avoid predators, keep cool, and take advantage of calmer air masses. They navigate by the stars, and perhaps by using internal magnetic compasses, as well as using landmarks and memory. Learn more here: https://biologyinsights.com/why-do-birds-migrate-at-night-the-science-behind-it/

Photo credit: Carole Holmson/USFWS

09/12/2025
09/12/2025

Address

11610 Trek Drive E
Eatonville, WA
98328

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Rainier AAZK posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Rainier AAZK:

Shortcuts

Share

Category