"Endangered Status: Western Gray Squirrels Face Imminent Extinction in Washington State"
The western gray squirrel population in Washington state has been reclassified as endangered due to climate change and land development, with the species now "seriously threatened with extinction." Despite a recovery plan implemented in 2007, the squirrels' primary habitat has declined by over 20%, and there are now only three isolated populations remaining. Climate change, including increasing wildfires and warmer temperatures, is a major factor in their decline. This reclassification highlights the urgent need for conservation efforts to protect endangered species in the face of environmental challenges.