diff --git a/database/add_category.py b/database/add_category.py
index 3f32784..a44ac76 100644
--- a/database/add_category.py
+++ b/database/add_category.py
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ def add_category_column():
         cursor = conn.cursor()
         category = input("What category do you want to add to the species table? ").lower()
         if not column_exists(cursor, "species", category):
-            cursor.execute(f"ALTER TABLE species ADD COLUMN {category} TEXT")
+            cursor.execute(f"ALTER TABLE species ADD COLUMN ? TEXT", (category,))
             print(f"Column '{category}' added.")
         else:
             print("Column already exists.")
diff --git a/database/db_commands.py b/database/db_commands.py
index 09d9218..23a607e 100644
--- a/database/db_commands.py
+++ b/database/db_commands.py
@@ -23,6 +23,30 @@ def get_all_species():
         return [dict(row) for row in rows]
 
 
+def get_species_by_name(species_english):
+    with get_db() as conn:
+        row = conn.execute(
+            "SELECT * FROM species WHERE species_english = ?",
+            (species_english,)
+        ).fetchone()
+        return dict(row) if row else None
+
+def search_species(query):
+    with get_db() as conn:
+        rows = conn.execute(
+            """SELECT *
+FROM species
+WHERE
+        instr(LOWER(COALESCE(CAST(species_english AS TEXT), '')), ?1) > 0
+     OR instr(LOWER(COALESCE(CAST(species_latin   AS TEXT), '')), ?1) > 0
+     OR instr(LOWER(COALESCE(CAST(body_text       AS TEXT), '')), ?1) > 0
+     OR instr(LOWER(COALESCE(CAST(category        AS TEXT), '')), ?1) > 0
+     OR instr(LOWER(COALESCE(CAST(extinction_risk AS TEXT), '')), ?1) > 0;""",
+            (query.lower(),)
+        ).fetchmany()
+        return [dict(row) for row in rows]
+
+
 def get_species_by_name(species_english):
     with get_db() as conn:
         row = conn.execute(
diff --git a/routes/species/species.py b/routes/species/species.py
index dbf19fe..f434c14 100644
--- a/routes/species/species.py
+++ b/routes/species/species.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
-from flask import render_template, Blueprint
+from flask import render_template, Blueprint, request
 import configparser
 
-from database.db_commands import get_all_species
+from database.db_commands import get_all_species, search_species
 
 config = configparser.ConfigParser()
 
@@ -29,5 +29,7 @@ def all_species():
 @page.route("/search")
 def search():
     query = request.args.get("search-query")
+
+    results = search_species(query)
     
-    return render_template("/species/species_search.jinja", results=results)
\ No newline at end of file
+    return render_template("/species/species_search.jinja", results=results, query=query)
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/templates/species/species_search.jinja b/templates/species/species_search.jinja
index 5838a84..d87defd 100644
--- a/templates/species/species_search.jinja
+++ b/templates/species/species_search.jinja
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ Species Database
 {# All Species #}
 <div>
     <form action="/species/search" method="GET" class="search">
-        <input type="text" name="search-query" placeholder="Search all species..." class="bar">
+        <input type="text" name="search-query" placeholder="Search all species..." value="{{query}}" class="bar">
         <input type="submit" value="Search" class="button">
     </form>
 </div>