Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Updates Species Protection Plan; 320+ Species at Risk

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s updated State Wildlife Action Plan, adopted in August 2025, reveals an increasingly urgent conservation challenge. The revised plan identifies over 320 plant and animal species requiring greater protection—a significant increase from 294 species identified in the previous 2016 plan.

Since the last update, 27 species were added to the at-risk list, including porcupines, Western grebes, California condors, and sea otters. The additions reflect emerging environmental pressures and new scientific understanding of species vulnerabilities.

“Oregon is home to some of the most iconic wildlife in the country, from puffins to pika, salmon to sand hill cranes,” said Danielle Moser, Oregon Wild Wildlife Program Manager. “But our wildlife is facing a very real extinction crisis.”

Oregon ranks fifth among U.S. states with the highest number of at-risk animals. Federal regulations require states to update their wildlife action plans every 10 years to qualify for federal and tribal wildlife grants. Oregon’s completed 2026 plan must be submitted to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service by October 1, 2025.

The revised plan includes specific conservation strategies for iconic species. For Southern Resident orcas, approved management plans focus on restoring salmon habitat, improving fish passage, maintaining hatchery production, responding to oil spills, managing marine debris, and evaluating renewable energy project impacts.

A notable frustration for conservation advocates is the lack of dedicated state funding to implement the action plan. A bill that would have increased the state’s transient lodging tax from 1.5% to 2.5% to ensure regular funding for wildlife conservation passed the Oregon House but died in committee before reaching the Senate.

“Without dedicated funding, Oregon’s conservation plan is just words on paper,” critics argue, emphasizing the need for legislative action in the 2026 session.