Driver ignores signs and runs over threatened species’ nest on beach, WA officials say

Helena Wegner
·2 min read

A driver ignored signs when they drove through dunes on a beach in Washington and ran over a threatened species’ nest, officials said.

Now, wildlife officials are warning others to pay attention to signs posted at beaches.

The driver destroyed a western snowy plover nest at the Grayland Beach State Park in Pacific County, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife said in a June 13 Facebook post.

One egg was completely smashed and another egg was left “cracked and non-viable,” wildlife officials said.

“Quick reminder that if you see signs saying not to drive on the beach … please don’t drive on the beach,” officials said in the post.

Western snowy plovers have brown or grayish coloring with a white underside and a black bill. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Western snowy plovers have brown or grayish coloring with a white underside and a black bill. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

What to know about the western snowy plover

The small shorebird is about 6 inches long with brown or grayish coloring and a white underside with a black bill.

It has been listed as an endangered species at a state level with fewer than 100 breeding adults in Washington as of 2023, the wildlife agency said.

Snowy plovers were also listed as threatened species under the Endangered Species Act, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Because of its small population, the birds are vulnerable to threats, including predators, weather, beach erosion and recreational activities.

To keep their eggs protected from predators, the birds lay speckled eggs that help camouflage them in the open sand.

They also spend “their entire lives between the dune line and the high-tide line,” officials said.

This makes it particularly important for beachgoers to pay attention to signs and closures on beaches that warn of nesting areas, so the western snowy plover and their nests are not disturbed, per the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

They breed from mid-April to mid-September.

The snowy plover breeds along the Pacific Coast from Washington to northwestern Mexico, officials said.

However, in Washington, they are only found in Pacific and Grays Harbor counties, officials said.

Snowy plovers lay speckled eggs, which help hide them from predators but also make it difficult for beachgoers to see. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
Snowy plovers lay speckled eggs, which help hide them from predators but also make it difficult for beachgoers to see. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife

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