As you venture outside along Oregon’s coastline, you will encounter beautiful scenery, sandy beaches, dramatic cliffs, and plentiful wildlife. While the Oregon Coast draws in visitors with its majestic and almost elusive scenery, it also has made a name for itself due to its abundance of wildlife. So, while you are out and about enjoying the landscape, also keep your eyes peeled for the wildlife of the Oregon Coast.

Wildlife on the Oregon Coast – The gray whale

Perhaps the most popular wildlife of the Oregon Coast is the massive gray whale. The coast of Oregon is a playground for migrating gray whales throughout the year. Observers can catch a glimpse of these whales during their spring and winter migrations, as they make their way to and from the shores of Baja Mexico up to the waters of Alaska.

The best place for whale watching along the Oregon Coast is found in Depoe Bay, OR. Home to the Whale Watching Center and in-town coastal views, you are bound to see a whale breach if you are patient enough. Gain even better views from the comfort of your hotel room at the Channel House. Perched along the rugged coastline, the Channel House provides the best seats in the house for whale watching.

Roosevelt Elk

The wildlife of the Oregon Coast doesn’t just exist in the water, some exist on land, like the Roosevelt Elk. They are mostly found in western Oregon, along the coast, with the largest concentration in the Cascade and Coast ranges. Most elk migrate from the Coast Range valleys during the spring and return to the lower valleys during winter when coastal storms begin to hit.

Seals and Sea Lions

You might hear them before you see them, seals and sea lions are other wildlife of the Oregon Coast. You can see both in either natural surroundings or in developed harbor areas. Cape Arago and the known as Sea Lion Caves north of Florence are some of the best and most dependable spots for seeing both sea lions and seals.

Both the Harbor Seals and Steller Sea Lions can be seen year-round. The California Sea Lion are seasonal visitors to the Oregon Coast during fall, winter, and into early spring.

Brown Pelicans

The Brown Pelican can be seen almost anywhere along the Oregon Coast. They are typically found along coastal, inshore, and freshwaters. They migrate north in the spring from nesting colonies in Southern California and Mexico. Easily recognized by its large size, huge bill, and its brownish feathers – this one is hard to miss.

Puffins

A coastal bird with a colorful beak; the Puffin is a pelagic seabird that feeds primarily by diving in the water and nesting on rocky cliffs. From May to August, large colonies of nesting puffins can be seen along Oregon’s coast with Haystack Rock, in Cannon Beach, the largest breeding population.

Common Murre

The Common Murre is a penguin-like bird that makes its home in cooler northern oceans and nests along rocky cliffs, spending its winter at sea. It has the most densely packed nesting colonies of any, which is evident with one of the largest colonies in Oregon at the Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area. This area is also home to some of the best tide pools on the coast, allowing for even more exploration of Oregon’s Coast.

Stay at Channel House

Enjoy the wildlife of the Oregon Coast from the comforts of your room at the Channel House. Nestled amongst the beautiful scenery of the Oregon Coast, our hotel combines the comforts of first-class accommodations with sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean, dramatic coastlines, colorful sunsets, and coastal wildlife. Our guest rooms provide oceanfront decks with relaxing whirlpools, perfect for soaking up the beauty of the coast. Start planning your getaway to Depoe Bay and book your stay with Channel House!