Humans aren't the only creatures who thrive in the beautiful scenery of the central coast. The forests, beaches and marshes around Lincoln City are home to millions of insects, birds, frogs, squirrels, deer, elk and bear. The mature forests and estuaries in the region support a large population of wildlife in a complex ecosystem that we can watch in wonder. The forest-dwelling blacktail deer can be seen all over town, but the best location to spot them is around Devils Lake. They range over the coastal forests, traveling singly or in family groups.
The evergreen and riparian zones also harbor chipmunks, rabbits, porcupines, weasels and badgers. Raccoons and possums are also common.
Another resident of North Lincoln County is the coyote, which preys on insects, birds, rodents and small animals. Every year, a few residents report seeing black bears in remote areas. Other carnivores, more seldom seen, are mountain lions and bobcats.The streams that feed Devils Lake, such as Rock and Thompson Creeks, and the tributaries of the Salmon River host populations of beaver, muskrat, nutria and otter. Beaver dams can be seen on the creeks feeding the Salmon River in Otis and Rose Lodge.
On Devils Lake, populations of geese, wood ducks and egrets delight anglers and waterfront residents.
One of the most beautiful places to see waterfowl and wildlife is the Siletz Bay National Wildlife Refuge, located off Highway 101 just south of Lincoln City where the Siletz River empties into the bay. There, you'll see egrets and herons as well as seagulls and many other breeds.
Other permanent residents of the bay are the harbor seals, easily viewed from the Taft Dock on SW 51st, or from the interpretive gazebo on the west side of the highway just south of 51st Street. The seals, which can grow to six feet in length and weigh up to 250 pounds, bask on the sands at Salishan Spit. They feed on the fish-rich bottoms of Siletz Bay, intercepting salmon and steelhead on their way to spawning grounds up Schooner Creek, Drift Creek and the Siletz River. About 150 of the seals make the bay their permanent home. Biologists caution visitors to stay away from baby seals, even those that seem to be stranded on the beach. Seal mothers leave their young on the beach to rest while they are out seeking food and will soon be back to retrieve them. If you touch them, the mother will not reclaim them. As with all members of the animal kingdom, it's better to leave them alone.
Wherever you go, don't forget your binoculars and a windbreaker. The wildlife are out there, waiting to catch a glimpse of you.
Nature's topographic mix of sea, beach, marshlands, coastal forests, hills and rocky cliffs combine to create an ideal habitat for a common American species – the bird watcher. Home to a breathtaking range of fliers, from a majestic peregrine falcon to a delicate murre, the Lincoln City area is definitely for the birds For more information
Unlike the sunshine tourists from the north, a few Canada geese spend the winter around Devils Lake and its tributaries. Look for them and other migratory waterfowl in Schooner and Drift Creeks, and in the estuaries of the Siletz and Salmon rivers. Swimming alongside the geese in these areas will be widgeons, gadwalls, coots, mallards, shovelers, canvasbacks, grebes and cormorants. Big waders, like the great blue heron and the rarer green-backed heron, dip for small fish in the shallows.
Common murres skim over the waves of the Pacific in speedy flights, and many species of gulls beg for food from passersby. Careful observers will also find the big brown pelicans at certain times of the year on Siletz Bay. The offshore rocky islands, cliffs, and rocks are home to puffins, murres and guillemots.
Many varieties of perching land birds inhabit Lincoln City, but the best spots are in the shrub-covered lands and forested hills on the outskirts. One of the local "trophies" for birders is to see a pileated woodpecker, a spectacular crow-sized bird with a red plume on its head, digging for worms in a dead tree. Its first cousin, the flicker, inhabits the area along with sparrows, juncos, wrens and thrushes.
If you're looking for the bigger specimens, hike the Cascade Head trails to find the peregrine falcons who roam the cliffs hunting for food. Other raptors in the Lincoln City area include hawks, owls and the bald eagle, which nest in the area east of Devils Lake and near Schooner Creek.
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