Washington State Department of Agriculture

Biosecurity: Protecting animals, farms, and our food supply

These practices focus on controlling people, animals, equipment, and vehicles that come in contact with livestock. Simple ...
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 traps male Asian giant hornet weeks earlier than anticipated

The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) has trapped a male Asian giant hornet – the first male Asian giant hornet to be detected in the United States. The hornet was caught in a WSDA ...
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

Washington cats confirmed with HPAI as investigation into contaminated pet food continues

OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) is alerting pet owners that at least two domestic, indoor cats in King and Snohomish counties in Washington have become infected with ...
agr.wa.gov

Clearing the air — What to know about avian influenza and spring bird migration

As spring bird migration brings thousands of birds to Washington state, it also increases the risk of avian influenza (bird flu) spreading through the region. Migratory waterfowl like ducks, geese, ...
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

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

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

Eagle-eyed walker finds Asian giant hornet on roadway

Today the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) reported the first confirmed sighting of an Asian giant hornet in Washington this year. On May 27, a resident near Custer, Wash. found the ...
agr.wa.gov

West Nile virus detected in Yakima County horse

OLYMPIA, WA – Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) has reported the first case of West Nile virus (WNV) in a Yakima County horse this year. On September 11, the Washington Animal Disease ...