diff --git a/dev_scripts/database_setup.py b/dev_scripts/database_setup.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..68cf6cd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/dev_scripts/database_setup.py
@@ -0,0 +1,141 @@
+import csv
+import sqlite3
+from pathlib import Path
+
+DB_PATH = Path(__file__).parent.parent / "wilddex.db"
+WILDLIFE_CSV = Path(__file__).parent.parent / "wildlife" / "portland_wildlife.csv"
+DEX_ENTRIES_CSV = Path(__file__).parent.parent / "wildlife" / "portland_wildlife_dex_entries.csv"
+
+
+def create_tables(conn: sqlite3.Connection) -> None:
+    conn.executescript("""
+        CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS species (
+            species_id          INTEGER PRIMARY KEY AUTOINCREMENT,
+            inat_taxon_id       INTEGER UNIQUE NOT NULL,
+            common_name         TEXT NOT NULL,
+            scientific_name     TEXT NOT NULL,
+            kingdom             TEXT,
+            phylum              TEXT,
+            class               TEXT,
+            "order"             TEXT,
+            family              TEXT,
+            genus               TEXT,
+            iconic_taxon        TEXT,
+            conservation_status TEXT,
+            pokedex_entry       TEXT,
+            photo_url_thumb     TEXT,
+            photo_url_med       TEXT,
+            lat_min             REAL,
+            lat_max             REAL,
+            lng_min             REAL,
+            lng_max             REAL,
+            is_unlocked         INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0
+        );
+
+        CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS species_detail (
+            detail_id           INTEGER PRIMARY KEY AUTOINCREMENT,
+            species_id          INTEGER NOT NULL REFERENCES species(species_id),
+            size_range          TEXT,
+            weight_range        TEXT,
+            lifespan            TEXT,
+            diet                TEXT,
+            activity_period     TEXT,
+            habitat_type        TEXT,
+            behavior_notes      TEXT
+        );
+
+        CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS sighting (
+            sighting_id         INTEGER PRIMARY KEY AUTOINCREMENT,
+            species_id          INTEGER NOT NULL REFERENCES species(species_id),
+            observed_at         TEXT,
+            latitude            REAL,
+            longitude           REAL,
+            location_label      TEXT,
+            user_photo_path     TEXT,
+            notes               TEXT
+        );
+
+        CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS lookalike (
+            id                      INTEGER PRIMARY KEY AUTOINCREMENT,
+            species_id              INTEGER NOT NULL REFERENCES species(species_id),
+            lookalike_species_id    INTEGER NOT NULL REFERENCES species(species_id),
+            distinguishing_tip      TEXT
+        );
+    """)
+    conn.commit()
+
+
+def load_dex_entries(csv_path: Path) -> dict[int, str]:
+    """Return a mapping of taxon_id -> pokedex description."""
+    entries = {}
+    with open(csv_path, newline="", encoding="utf-8") as f:
+        for row in csv.DictReader(f):
+            entries[int(row["taxon_id"])] = row["description"]
+    return entries
+
+
+def import_species(conn: sqlite3.Connection) -> None:
+    dex_entries = load_dex_entries(DEX_ENTRIES_CSV)
+
+    with open(WILDLIFE_CSV, newline="", encoding="utf-8") as f:
+        rows = list(csv.DictReader(f))
+
+    inserted = skipped = 0
+    for row in rows:
+        taxon_id = int(row["taxon_id"])
+        try:
+            conn.execute(
+                """
+                INSERT INTO species (
+                    inat_taxon_id, common_name, scientific_name,
+                    kingdom, phylum, class, "order", family, genus,
+                    iconic_taxon, photo_url_thumb, photo_url_med,
+                    pokedex_entry
+                ) VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?)
+                """,
+                (
+                    taxon_id,
+                    row["common_name"],
+                    row["scientific_name"],
+                    row.get("kingdom"),
+                    row.get("phylum"),
+                    row.get("class"),
+                    row.get("order"),
+                    row.get("family"),
+                    row.get("genus"),
+                    row.get("iconic_taxon"),
+                    row.get("photo_url_thumb"),
+                    row.get("photo_url_med"),
+                    dex_entries.get(taxon_id),
+                ),
+            )
+            inserted += 1
+        except sqlite3.IntegrityError:
+            skipped += 1
+
+    conn.commit()
+    print(f"Species import complete: {inserted} inserted, {skipped} skipped (already exist).")
+
+
+def verify_db(conn: sqlite3.Connection) -> None:
+    tables = ["species", "species_detail", "sighting", "lookalike"]
+    for table in tables:
+        (count,) = conn.execute(f"SELECT COUNT(*) FROM {table}").fetchone()
+        print(f"  {table}: {count} rows")
+
+    print("\nSample species rows:")
+    rows = conn.execute(
+        "SELECT inat_taxon_id, common_name, scientific_name, iconic_taxon, pokedex_entry IS NOT NULL FROM species LIMIT 5"
+    ).fetchall()
+    for taxon_id, common, sci, iconic, has_dex in rows:
+        dex_flag = "has dex entry" if has_dex else "no dex entry"
+        print(f"  [{taxon_id}] {common} ({sci}) — {iconic} — {dex_flag}")
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    with sqlite3.connect(DB_PATH) as conn:
+        create_tables(conn)
+        import_species(conn)
+        print("\nVerification:")
+        verify_db(conn)
+    print(f"\nDatabase ready at {DB_PATH}")
diff --git a/wilddex.db b/wilddex.db
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..535ee15
Binary files /dev/null and b/wilddex.db differ