SALEM, Ore.—The Commission approved a revised State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP) today, a plan that serves as a roadmap for protecting Oregon's at-risk species and their habitats.

The Plan incorporates the latest available information on species and presents recommended conservation actions to inform and prioritize conservation work for community members, private landowners, organizations, and agencies alike. The revision adds pollution as a new Key Conservation Issue, completes integration of the Oregon Nearshore Strategy, enhances information provided in the Conservation Toolbox to make conservation accessible to all Oregonians, and adds information on species newly identified as being at-risk. The Plan is meant to be used by natural resource partners and will eventually be fully web-enabled and accessible online to ensure that content is navigable.

States are required to complete a comprehensive review and revision of their SWAP at least every 10 years to remain eligible for federal State and Tribal Wildlife Grants, which are a major funding source for conservation in Oregon. The Commission's action today formally approved the eight elements required for the Plan to be submitted to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service by the deadline of Oct. 1, 2025.

In addition to updating the State Wildlife Action Plan, ODFW has launched the "Oregon is Worth Protecting" campaign to raise awareness of species in decline and celebrate the fish and wildlife that contribute to make Oregon a wonderful place to live and recreate. Campaign partners include the Oregon Wildlife Foundation, Jamba, and BiMart with more partners expected to be announced in the future.

During their discussion of SWAP, Commissioners acknowledged the lack of funding for conservation of species in decline and mentioned HB 2977—a bill that, if it had passed in the 2025 legislative session, would have raised the state's lodging tax by 1.25 percent and dedicated those funds to wildlife conservation. Director Colbert said the agency would continue to work to secure dedicated funding for sensitive and at-risk species.

The Commission took the following actions in other business today:

Sage-grouse permit numbers: Modified sage-grouse permit numbers adopted in April, based on more recent information from 2025 population surveys. Permit numbers are increased in several units. The Silvies controlled hunt is cancelled for the 2025 season and permit numbers are slightly reduced in Owyhee.

Amended Non-Native Wildlife Rules: Added the following species to the prohibited list (so no import, sale, purchase, exchange or transport allowed) to help protect Oregon's fish and wildlife from invasive species: golden mussels, non-native abalone, sea turtles Cheloniidae and Dermochelyidae, the entire family of Viviparidae mystery snails and Muricidae oyster drills.

Southern Resident orcas: Approved endangered species management plans for state land-owning or managing agencies with a role to play in Southern Resident orca conservation, which the Commission previously identified as ODFW, Oregon Department of State Lands, and Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. The plans identify existing and new actions to help conserve orcas including restoring salmon habitat, improving fish passage and maintaining or increasing hatchery production; responding to oil spills and managing marine debris that washes up on beaches; and considering impacts to Southern Resident orcas from renewable energy projects or undersea infrastructure (e.g. cables, pipelines, other utilities). The Commission also directed ODFW to review their plan in five years.

Wild coho regulations: The 2025 forecasted ocean abundance of Oregon coast natural coho is 289,000 fish, up from about 233,000 last year and the largest forecast since 2012. Wild coho fisheries for 2025 were adopted as proposed by ODFW staff and approved by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). Seasons are similar to last year, with additional fishing days in some rivers and an across-the-board season bag limit of 3 fish in rivers that are open due to the strong forecast. The Commission also directed ODFW to work with NMFS to explore allowing additional fishing days for wild coho later in the season (November) in the Siletz, Yaquina and Alsea Rivers. There will be no wild coho fishery on the Umpqua River as returns are expected to be very low this year due to a very poor return in 2022 (parents of this year's returning fish) and ongoing environmental issues (wildfires, drought, warming streams and non-native fish predators). Wild coho regulations will be posted on the in-season updates page soon; more information on proposals adopted today is available at the Coastal fall salmon page.

Private Forest Accords Grant Program Rule Revision: Amended program rules to simplify the program, facilitate a prompter distribution of funding, and provide a clearer, more consistent process for applicants and grantees.

Also today, ODFW recognized several organizations for their volunteer work to protect fish, wildlife and their habitats. Both Suzanne Linford (founder of the Protect Animal Migration Project) and Rex Parks (Oregon Hunter Association, Bend Chapter) were recognized the Dave Liscia Volunteer Award for their instrumental work in creating and maintaining progress on wildlife passage in central Oregon since 2015.

Dry Fly Management Company based in Terrebone was also recognized with ODFW's Landowner Stewardship Award for its Redside Restoration Project. Dry Fly has helped create wildlife forage plots, enhance water for wildlife by replacing old livestock watering areas with guzzlers, and is working to increase the amount of native grass seed available for habitat restoration and post-wildfire recovery.

A recording of the meeting is available online at ODFW's YouTube channel.

SALEM, Ore. – ODFW completed a final draft of the 2025 State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP), now available online for public review. A virtual public meeting will be held on Wednesday, July 16 at 6 p.m., where ODFW staff will present highlights from the plan and answer questions.

The public can view, download and comment on the draft plan at ODFW SWAP Revision webpage. This webpage also has information on how to join the July 16 meeting.

Oregon is facing a biodiversity crisis. More than one-third of our native fish, wildlife, and plant species are at risk of further declines. The SWAP provides a science-based roadmap to address this crisis by identifying key threats—such as habitat loss, climate change, and invasive species—and outlining voluntary, proactive conservation actions across the state.

The SWAP must be updated every 10 years, and the plan identifies key conservation issues, voluntary actions, and opportunities for agencies, organizations, landowners, and communities to work together to support Oregon's native wildlife.

What's new in the 2025 update:

• A new plan name (previously the Oregon Conservation Strategy)
• Updated species and habitat priorities
• A stronger emphasis on climate resilience
• Clearer pathways for public and partner involvement

About the SWAP Revision Process
ODFW began updating the SWAP in 2023 with an internal review, followed by public outreach and engagement. Staff conducted a public survey to gather input on the current plan and suggestions for improvement. Based on that feedback, staff spent the latter half of 2024 drafting updates to key sections of the SWAP.

From January to May 2025, technical workgroup sessions were held. Recordings and documents from those meetings are available on the SWAP Revision webpage.

ODFW will incorporate public comments and submit a final draft SWAP to the Fish and Wildlife Commission for review and approval at their August 15 meeting in Salem. The Commission-approved draft will be submitted to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) for their review by Oct. 1, 2025. Once the draft revision is approved by the Service in early 2026, an updated version of the current website will go live to make information accessible and navigable.

SALEM, Ore. – ODFW staff will host a webinar on July 17 at 2 p.m., to introduce the public to the updated ODFW sage-grouse management plan. The Oregon Greater Sage-grouse Conservation Assessment and Strategy was last updated in 2011.

The public is invited to learn about proposed changes to the plan and provide input. Staff will incorporate public feedback into the final draft that will be presented to the Fish and Wildlife Commission on Sept. 12, 2025, at the Ontario meeting.

A recording of the webinar will be available for those unable to attend.

For more information about the updated sage-grouse plan and upcoming webinar.

July 17, 2025 (2 p.m.) Teams meeting info:

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SALEM, Ore. — The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is hosting a public meeting to review the agency's draft Endangered Species Management Plan for Southern Resident Orcas (SRO). The online-only meeting is July 9 from 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.

ODFW staff will give a brief presentation of SRO life history and biology, then present information from the draft plan and take public comments. The draft plan is posted online here.

Comments about the draft plan can be emailed to ODFW Southern Resident Orca Coordinator Howard Takata at Howard.K.Takata@odfw.oregon.gov until July 15.

After considering comments, ODFW will then present a final draft management plan to the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission for adoption during their Aug. 15 meeting in Salem. The final draft plan will be posted online at least two weeks in advance of the meeting. Public comments on the final draft plan for the Commission can be submitted using this page.

SROs are a distinct population of orcas native to the eastern North Pacific Ocean. Their population is estimated to number just 74 orcas in three pods (J, K, and L). The Oregon coast is a travel corridor for the K and L pods as they move between feeding areas to the north and south. They have been listed as Endangered under the federal ESA since 2005, by the state of Washington since 2004, and by Oregon since 2024.

The meeting can be joined online or phone:

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NOAA Fisheries photo: ODFW developed a draft management plan for Southern Resident Orcas and is looking for public comment during a July 9 public meeting.

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CENTRAL POINT, Ore. – Learn how to spot and identify animal tracks, splash around in a stream to check out aquatic bugs, and play "survival of the fish-est." Join the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Jackson County Parks, and Rogue River Watershed Council for Wildlife Wisdom every Saturday from July 12 to Aug. 16.

The interpretive series is free to all, although park locations have small day-use parking fees (unless you have the Jackson County Parks Pass.)

July 12, 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., Cantrall Buckley County Park: Wiggly Water Explorers. Splash around with us to learn about the organisms that are a vital part of river ecosystems. Equipment is provided.

July 19, 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., Joseph Stewart State Recreation Area: Under the Turtle Shell. Life is better under the turtle shell, and you'll learn why at this program which focuses on Oregon's two native turtle species.

July 26, 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., Joseph Stewart State Recreation Area: Coats & Shoes, Animal Edition. You'll learn how to identify animal tracks, one of the only things wildlife leaves behind.

Aug. 2, 7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., Joseph Stewart State Recreation Area: Flying Mammals Unleashed, the Nocturnal Life of Bats. This evening program will help you spread your wings of knowledge about Oregon's 15 species of bats – the state's only flying mammals.

Aug. 9, 10 a.m. – 11:30 p.m., Joseph Stewart State Recreation Area: Tracking Tails, Pursuit of the Wolfpack. We'll talk about the tools of the trade for wildlife tracking, and you'll have the chance to try some equipment while learning about Oregon's wolves.

Aug. 16, 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., Joseph Stewart State Recreation Area: Survival of the fish-est. The Wildlife Wisdom interpretive series ends with games, activities, and challenges. We'll put you to the test to see if you would survive the arduous life cycle of salmon. Wear comfy shoes.

For more information about this project, contact Beth Boos (bboos@rogueriverwc.org) or head to https://www.rogueriverwc.org/get-involved/calendar

Wildlife Wisdom flier