Washington State Department of Agriculture

State proposes springtime eradications to protect communities from invasive pests

Pest Program is proposing eradication projects for the spring of 2026 to eradicate spongy moth and Japanese beetle. The ...
agr.wa.gov

Washington State Veterinarian issues warning on Equine Herpes Virus in Spokane County

OLYMPIA – Over the weekend, the equine community in Spokane County was met with unfortunate news as two horses succumbed to the neuropathogenic strain of Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1) otherwise known as ...
agr.wa.gov

WSDA confirms HPAI in Grant County

OLYMPIA – October 10, 2025 – The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) confirms Grant County’s first detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI or H5N1), commonly known as bird ...
agr.wa.gov

State vets office gives update on canine respiratory disease

OLYMPIA – With recent reports of an unidentified canine illness increasing across the nation, the Washington State Veterinarian is encouraging dog owners to be vigilant to keep their animals safe and ...
agr.wa.gov

State veterinarian confirms rabbit hemorrhagic disease in Island County

The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) state veterinarian’s office has confirmed the presence of Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus type 2 (RHDV2), in rabbits in Island County. RHDV2 is a ...
agr.wa.gov

Raw pet food identified as source of bird flu infection to house cats

OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) and the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) are warning pet owners about the risks of raw pet food after indoor cats in Oregon became ...
agr.wa.gov

New World Screwworm: An emerging threat to mammals

The New World Screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax) may have an unusual name but it’s a very real parasitic fly that poses a serious threat to both animals and people. Although the U.S. successfully ...
agr.wa.gov

Giant hornet gets new name

OLYMPIA – The Entomological Society of America (ESA) has adopted “northern giant hornet” for the species Vespa mandarinia in its Common Names of Insects and Related Organisms List. While there was no ...
agr.wa.gov

What horse owners need to know about Equine Herpes Virus

The equine community in Spokane County is on high alert after two horses tragically succumbed to the neuropathogenic strain of Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1), also known as Equine Herpesvirus ...
agr.wa.gov

Annual invasive pest hunt concludes

OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) has completed its annual invasive pest survey season and will begin removing northern giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia) traps this month.
agr.wa.gov

Washington achieves stage 4 status in NMTS program: Dairy herds free of HPAI

Olympia — Washington State has reached Stage 4 status in the National Milk Testing Strategy (NMTS) program, confirming that no cases of bird flu or Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) have been ...