Creatures You May Encounter

During a hike you will most likely encounter some of our local wildlife. Although you should always steer clear of wild animals it is fun to watch them and binoculars are a great addition to any hike.

Some of the animals and birds you might see are:

Sea Gulls - there are a few types of sea gulls that intermingle in this area. Some tourists like to feed them and find themselves quickly overwhelmed in an Alfred Hitchcock "The Birds" type situation. Sea Gulls are some of the best scavengers on the planet and they have an uncanny communication with each other.

Elk are seen along the trails in early spring more then mid summer. The herd can range from 30 or more, or just a few. Elk sometimes hide in the dense underbrush to have a nap and are virtually invisible.

Of course Bald Eagles patrol the area and in the spring it is not uncommon on the 2nd street trail to see them flying in courtship rituals. Trail hikers have spotted as many as nine Bald Eagles at a time on the trails. There is also an Eagles Nest on the trail. Bald Eagles like most of the other predators in the area are opportunistic and not above stealing a meal. Other birds however like crows will harass the eagles trying to get their share of the fish.

Ravens are one of the smartest birds known and they have perfected the art of stealing visitors picnic items even when sealed in bags! You can tell Raven's from Crows because they are slightly larger and make a croak sort of noise, like a Crow with a very bad cold. They tend to be solitary birds and not hang out in flocks like Crows do.

Deer roam freely along the trails are fairly unafraid of both people and vehicles. Be super careful when driving along Highway 101 or any of our local roads running near trail access points or State Parks especially in the evening as they are hard to spot.

Raccoons love the berries that grow here and unlike elsewhere they tend to be fairly unafraid of people. Keeping on the trail should keep Raccoons in their preferred non-human trod habitat. Mother Raccoons have no hesitation about chasing trespassers!

There are a stunning array of migratory Warblers and five types of hummingbird. The Rufous Hummingbirds that hang out at the Skipanon often buzz hikers heads.

There are three large types of slugs that like to hang out on the trail at various times of the year when it is wet. These are harmless creatures. In addition to the slugs there is their arch enemy the Garter Snake. Garter Snakes are black with stripes. They are thin and do not get very large. They do not bite and pose no hazard to humans. They do however eat slugs and are a very useful part of the ecosystem.

There are also chipmunks and small forest squirrels and other creatures you are bound to see along the trails.

Bring a camera, a friend, and binoculars - Enjoy!!