The Amazing Wildlife of the Oregon Coast (and where to see it!)
I live less than two hours from the Oregon Coast and have spent years visiting it as often as I can. I love the contours of the rocky coastline, the rhythmic sound of waves, and the smell of salt in the air, but what I REALLY love are the animals. I’ve been up and down the Oregon Coast in search of interesting creatures and this guide is a compilation of what I’ve learned. It’s the guide I wished I had years ago. If you share my enthusiasm, find a good pair of binoculars and enjoy our tips on seeking out the wildlife of the Oregon Coast.
Seals
Harbor seal nurses her pup at Coquille Point in Bandon, OR
About: There are a couple types of seals that you might see at the Oregon Coast. Harbor seals are one of the most common marine mammals around the coasts of the United States and they are year-round residents of Oregon. Babies are born at around 25 pounds and can grow to be close to 300 pounds as adults. Fully grown seals can be up to 6 feet long. Their fur ranges from brown to gray, and may have darker spots.
Northern fur seals are less common and tend to stick closer to the Northern Oregon Coast. Their flippers are longer than those of Harbor seals and their dense, coarse fur ranges from gray to brown to black. Males can be up to 600 pounds and 7 feet long, females up to 140 pounds and 5 feet long.
Seals are enthusiastic hunters of fish and crustaceans. They are agile and graceful in the water, but tend to be pretty sedentary on land. Resting on the rocks and sandy beaches helps them avoid predators, regulate body temperature, conserve energy, interact with other seals, and nurse their pups. Look for bobbing heads out in the water and sack-of-potato-like sunbathers on land. When seen on land at a distance, they can be easy to mistake for driftwood at first glance due to their color and general lack of movement.
Harbor seals lounge at the mouth of the Siletz River
When to look for them: Seals live throughout the year on the Oregon Coast, so there’s no need to coordinate your search based on the season.
Where to look for them: Harbor seals can be seen along the entirety of the Oregon Coast. They like lounging on both rocky ledges and sandy beaches. Bays where rivers empty into the ocean are good spots for seal sightings as these tend to be good fishing areas. I’m pretty much always on the lookout for little heads bobbing in the water whenever I can see the ocean.
These are pretty reliable places to find them:
Salishan Spit where the Siletz River empties into the Pacific (near Siletz Bay Park)
The sandy spit across Netarts Bay
Nehalem Bay State Park
Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area
Alsea Bay
Coquille Point in Bandon
Other tips: Occasionally seals hang out on beaches where humans visit as well. Mother seals may leave their pups on the beach while they hunt. Seeing a baby seal alone does not mean it’s abandoned or needs help. Do not approach adult or baby seals on the beach. If you’re separated by a body of water, you’re good to go. Otherwise, give them lots of space.
Sea Lions
California sea lions bask on the rocks in Newport
About: There are two types of sea lions that can be seen off the Oregon Coast. Steller sea lions live in Oregon throughout the year. They are the larger of the two types, and their fur tends to be lighter in color. They make roaring rather than barking sounds. Males can be up to 2,500 pounds and 11 feet in length. Females are smaller at around 600-800 pounds.
Male California sea lions migrate to Oregon in the summer while the females stay farther south. Males return to California for the breeding season in July. They are smaller than Steller seal lions (although can still be close to 800 pounds), and darker in color. They make a distinctive loud barking sound.
Napping sea lion in Newport
When to look for them: Steller sea lions can be seen throughout the year along the Oregon Coast.
Look for male California sea lions most of the year, beginning in summer through the spring. Their breeding season is July when they will be in California.
Where to look for them:
Newport, OR is the epicenter of California sea lion sightings on the Oregon Coast. Go to Port Dock One in Newport to see the concrete platforms in the water where sea lions love to lounge. It is free to visit and right on the bayfront. If you’re having trouble finding them, just follow the sound of the barking. The rocky areas around Yaquina Bay are also great places to spot sea lions. From the Yaquina Bay South Jetty, watch them swimming out to the ocean and returning to the bay.
Sea lions are plentiful around Astoria. Look for them in the water and on the rocky jetties.
Steller sea lions tend to be in less populated locations but stay at the coast year-round.
You might see either type of sea lion at Three Arch Rocks National Wildlife Refuge off the coast of Oceanside (near Tunnel Beach), at areas surrounding the Sea Lion Caves between Yachats and Florence, or at Shell Island across from Cape Arago.
The Sea Lions Caves are a privately-owned tourist attraction that offers a viewing area for California and Steller sea lions (although they are not always present in the caves). Paid admission is required to visit the caves if sea lions are there. Adult tickets are $16, children 5-12 are $10 each.
Other tips: As with seals, keep a generous distance away from sea lions. They are enormous and are not friendly, particularly when on land.
Seals versus sea lions: Sometimes seals and sea lions can be hard to tell apart, especially when they’re out in the water at a distance. Here are some tips for distinguishing them:
Seals are smaller than sea lions.
Seals are not always spotted, but if you see spots, you’ve got a seal.
Vocalizing in general indicates sea lions. They tend to be loud. Barking is typical of California sea lions.
Seals have small front flippers and wiggle around while moving on land, whereas sea lions will use their larger front flippers to prop up their bodies.
Sea lions have small ear flaps, while seals do not.
Seals spend more time in the water than sea lions and are less likely to congregate in groups.
Elephant Seals
Male Northern elephant seal
About: Elephant seals are the largest of the pinnipeds, a group that includes seals and sea lions. Females look a lot like large sea lions, but males have a large proboscis that makes them unmistakable. Elephant seals are huge. Males can be 12 feet long and over 4,000 pounds. In other words, they are heavier than most midsize cars. Females are notably smaller, but can still be 9 feet long and 900 pounds. Pups are born around 60 pounds. Their coats are light brown without spots.
Elephant seals spend most of their time at sea. They come to land most often to breed and molt. In Oregon, most sea lions out of the water will be molting.
Elephant seal pups
When to look for them: Potentially year-round.
Where to look for them: Elephant seals are much less common along the Oregon Coast than seals or sea lions. Full disclosure, I haven’t seen them on the Oregon Coast (yet!) and my pictures are from California. According to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, sightings happen most often along the Southern Oregon Coast, although elephant seals have been spotted as far north as the mouth of the Columbia River. The only place where elephant seals can be seen on land potentially year-round is near Cape Arago State Park.
Other tips: Elephant seals are huge. Keep your distance if you see them.
Whale watching
Whale Watching Center at Depoe Bay
About: The most common whales off the coast of Oregon are gray whales. Oregon has a group of resident gray whales that live here year-round as well as a much larger group that migrates through the area twice a year. The winter and spring migrations are prime time for whale watching.
Less frequently, several other species of whales can be seen from the Oregon Coast including humpback whales, minke whales, and blue whales. Humpbacks and blue whales stay farther away from shore and are harder to spot from land. They are also less common in the area than gray whales. Minke whales often frequent similar areas as gray whales and are easily mistaken for them at a distance.
If you’re lucky, you might see other cetaceans as well including orcas, dolphins, and porpoises.
Spouts from blowholes can help draw attention to surfacing whales
When to look for them: Whales can be seen along the Oregon Coast more or less year-round, although numbers vary based on time of year.
December-January: over 20,000 gray whales migrate south along the Oregon Coast on their way to Mexico.
Late March-June: over 20,000 gray whales migrate through Oregon on their way north to Alaska.
During peak migration times in late December and late March, Oregon State Parks host Whale Watching Weeks, where volunteers at sites along the coast offer help in spotting gray whales as they migrate.
Summer and fall: Oregon’s resident 200-ish gray whales come close to shore to feed. The Central Oregon Coast is best place to look for them during this time.
Humpback whales are most often seen during their summer migration, but stay farther from shore and are harder to spot.
Orcas are most often seen in mid-April when they hunt gray whale calves. They generally only stick around for a couple weeks.
Where to look for them: There are dozens of places along the Oregon Coast to look for whales, spanning all the way from the north to the south end of the state. Anywhere you are able to look down at a large stretch of ocean from a point of elevation is a good place to look for whales.
The Whale Watching Center in Depoe Bay is one of the best places for whale watching based on the presence of staff to help you spot them as well as educational materials about whales. The center itself overlooks a wide expanse of ocean from an impressive vantage point. On days when the weather is bad, the indoor areas of the center provide protection from the wind and rain. It is free to visit.
Some other good places to watch for whales (and to visit in general) include:
Fort Stevens State Park
Ecola State Park
Cape Meares Scenic Viewpoint
Cape Lookout
Boiler Bay Wayside
Cape Foulweather
Devil’s Punchbowl
Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area
Umpqua Lighthouse State Park
Face Rock Viewpoint
Harris Beach State Park
Alternatively, four companies out of Depoe Bay offer whale watching tours by boat.
Other tips: Whales far out in the ocean can be hard to spot. The spouts from blowholes are a telltale sign that you are in fact seeing a whale out there.
Whale watching is easiest in calm weather and in the morning when the sun is behind you. It is helpful to be at a vantage point above the ocean looking down rather than at water level.
Bird life
Common Murres and Herring Gulls off the coast of Depoe Bay
About: The Oregon Coast is rich in both shorebirds and seabirds. Birdwatching at the coast is a fun and often underrated activity that can be done along with other adventures or as a dedicated day for bird enthusiasts. Here are a few of the most common birds you might encounter:
Common Murre: These are the most abundant seabirds of the Oregon Coast. They are dark brown and white and stand upright, making them look a little like small penguins. Common Murres like to nest in colonies and it is not unusual to see them congregating in large groups. They lay their eggs directly on the rocks instead of building nests.
Tufted Puffin: These birds are a blast! They are mostly black with white tufted feathers on their heads and bright orange beaks. Tufted Puffins nest seasonally on the Oregon Coast. They can be hard to distinguish from Common Murres at a distance, but with practice it becomes easier to recognize them. A good trick is to look at their underbellies when they fly. Murres will be white underneath, whereas Tufted Puffins are black. They flap their wings rapidly to stay aloft and look a bit like footballs as they fly.
Cormorants: There are several types of cormorants on the Oregon Coast. Look for thin, black birds that often have a gloss to their feathers. Some cormorants frequent freshwater as well as saltwater habitats.
Brown Pelicans: Pelicans are one of the largest and most striking birds you’ll see on the Oregon Coast. They visit seasonally and are most common in the summer. Look for a wide wingspan, yellow head, and extremely long bill.
Black Oystercatchers: These birds stick around Oregon throughout the year. Look for black birds near rocky coastlines with long red-orange bills and long pink legs.
Herring Gulls: These birds have the look of your classic seagulls. Look for white bodies with gray wings and yellow beaks. They hang around Oregon in the winter.
Pelagic Cormorants at Heceta Head
When to look for them: Birds are present all year on the Oregon Coast, although some species migrate into and out of the area seasonally. Tufted Puffins, for instance, spend most of the year in the open ocean and nest near shore for a short time. Puffins nest at Haystack Rock near Cannon Beach from around April through July when the chicks are old enough to leave the nest.
Time of day can also impact your success at seeing birds. Puffins often spend most of the day out at sea, leaving early in the morning and returning in the evening to their nests.
Where to look for them: Everywhere. If there is a specific species you’re looking for, you might need to be targeted in your search. For birds in general, you’ll have a good chance of spotting them anywhere along the Oregon Coast.
The Portland Audubon Society recommends these areas for birdwatching:
Tillamook Bay
Boiler Bay Wayside
Cape Meares State Park
Fort Stevens State Park
Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area
Coos Bay
I would also add Heceta Head Lighthouse State Scenic Viewpoint and Haystack Rock to this list.
Other tips: Consider investing in a good pair of binoculars for a better birdwatching experience.
Elk
Roosevelt elk near Gearhart Beach
About: Oregon has two subspecies of elk. Those that live near the coast are Roosevelt elk, the largest of elk subspecies in the United States. They are truly enormous. Bulls can weigh over 1000 pounds and cows up to 700 pounds. They also have largest antlers of any elk subspecies, which males grow in spring and summer. They have darker brown fur around their heads and necks, and lighter brown fur on their bodies. They eat ferns, shrubs, and grasses, and like to graze in meadows near forested areas.
When to look for them: Elk can be seen throughout the year near the Oregon Coast, although some will migrate to higher elevations in the Coastal Range during the summer months. They are generally easiest to spot shortly after sunrise and early evening.
Where to look for them: Elk like to be in and around old-growth forests. Their habitat extends throughout the Coastal Range. Here are some places to look out for them:
The meadows of Ecola State Park around sunrise and sunset on quiet days.
Lincoln City has a group of elk that like to hang out on the north end of town around the Knoll. I saw tracks when I went hiking there.
Jewell Meadows Wildlife Area has viewing areas for elk, as well as a supplemental feeding program that keeps them around. It’s about 45 minutes east of the coast, so it might be a good stop on the way there or back if you’re coming from Portland. Winter is the best time to look for them there.
Along the Southern Oregon Coast, check out the Dean Creek Elk Viewing Area near Reedsport. There is a herd of 60-100 elk in the area and elk can be seen there most days of the year.
Other tips: I’ve seen elk most often when leaving the coast in the evening when I head back to town. Look for them grazing near Highway 101.
Elk are not particularly shy and sometimes come into residential areas. Keep your distance. They are huge and can move quickly.
Tidepool life
Sea Star and Giant Green Anemones cling to a rock face at Bandon Beach
About: Sea stars, anemones, urchins, nudibranchs, crabs, mussels, barnacles, and so much more! Intertidal zones on the Oregon Coast are teeming with life.
Tidepools occur when the ocean recedes with low tide to reveal areas normally covered by waves. These small, calm, glassy pools contain tiny little worlds, each an ecosystem unto itself. One of the coolest things about tidepools is that no two are the same. One pool might be full of anemones while the one next to it has mostly urchins. The longer you look at a tidepool, the more life you will see. Tiny grasping filaments reach out from seemingly inert barnacles to comb the water for nutrients. A shell moves to reveal a hermit crab. Anemones open, extending their delicate arms like the petals of flowers.
Intertidal life occurs outside of pools as well. Sea stars in particular like to cling to rocky surfaces that are usually submerged by water, only to become visible at low tide.
Tidepool anemones
When to go tide pooling: Go at low tide. Tide charts can help you plan your visit.
Where to look for them: There are more tidepools and other intertidal areas along the Oregon Coast than I could list here. Any rocky area along the coast that is exposed at low tide but covered at high tide is a good candidate. Here are some places I have found great intertidal life:
Haystack Rock in Cannon Beach
Hug Point State Park - visit the waterfall accessible at low tide as a bonus!
Short Sands Beach
Tunnel Beach (near Oceanside)
Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area
Yachats
Cape Perpetua
Bandon Beach
Find my article on the best tidepools beaches here.
Other tips: Tidepools often occur near rocks covered in mussels, barnacles, and other critters. Be careful to step on bare rock only to keep from damaging anything living. Likewise, it’s best to leave the tidepool critters alone. Get right up close, but leave them in place undisturbed.
Rocks around tidepools can be extremely slick. They also can be sharp. Wear good shoes and proceed with caution.
Purple sea urchins
To summarize, these are the amazing animals you can see at the Oregon Coast:
Seals
Sea lions
Elephant seals
Whales, orcas, dolphins, and porpoises
Birds
Elk
Tidepool life
Enjoy the wildlife of the Oregon Coast and cheers to your next adventure!
With love,
Emma
Looking for more to do at the Coast? From north to south, here are trip suggestions and travel tips for:
