Fraser Lowland

Mean daily high at Bellingham International Airport (7 km away) over the past 30 days was 66°F, 0.5°F below normal for these calendar days. October temperatures in the Fraser Lowland are running slightly cool, with no unusual heat or cold stress on ecosystems.

Rainbow trout were recorded on 2026-09-26 from Bellingham. While flagged as threatened in community databases, the resident rainbow trout form itself is not ESA-listed; only anadromous steelhead populations have federal protections under designated segments.

A Northern Red-legged Frog (federally threatened) was observed on October 4 in South Bellingham, with 8 documented sightings in the past 30 days around Bellingham, Bow, and Lummi Island. This threatened species breeds in still waters during fall staging season; the ecosystem contains 245 acres of seasonally-flooded forested wetlands managed for biodiversity protection.

Oceanspray, bigleaf maple, and Nootka rose are all showing colored leaves and falling leaves as of October 3rd. Deciduous woody plants across the Fraser Lowland are entering active leaf-drop and color change this week, the normal progression for early October as day length shortens and temperatures cool.

Thirty American White Pelicans were recorded on 2026-10-02 at Locust Beach. The species begins southbound migration from interior breeding grounds around September, moving toward Pacific coast wintering areas through November.

A Sharp-tailed Sandpiper was recorded on 2026-10-05 at Lummi Flats with 6 separate reports. This Asian shorebird stages in Alaska before heading to Australasian wintering grounds; juvenile migration southbound peaks from mid-October through early November on the Pacific Coast from British Columbia to California.

A coho salmon was recorded on September 9, 2026, from Bellingham, a time when juvenile coho migrate from freshwater to ocean. Multiple coho ESUs on the West Coast are federally protected as threatened or endangered; localized populations face pre-spawning mortality and habitat constraints.

Mayfly larvae were recorded on September 18, 2026, at Bill McDonald Parkway in Bellingham. Mayflies are pollution-sensitive indicators that require clean, well-oxygenated water to complete their aquatic life stages and signal stream conditions suitable for other sensitive aquatic taxa.

Eastern Cottontail rabbits were observed 10 times in Whatcom County in the past 30 days, with the most recent sighting on September 20. This introduced species, first brought to Washington in the 1930s, was recorded across multiple locations including Bellingham and surrounding areas, confirming ongoing presence in the region during fall season.

Whatcom County crossed into severe drought conditions the week of September 15-21, with 61.90% of the county now classified at D2 (Severe Drought) or worse, up from 16.68% the previous week. Severe drought restricts water and forage for terrestrial mammals and insects across the ecosystem.