South Slough Reserve, Oregon

South Slough Reserve, Oregon

Fauna (Animal Life)

During the winter, the bay contains an average of 50,000 ducks. The reserve maintains resident populations of great blue herons (Ardea herodias) and American egrets (Casmerodius albus), osprey (Pandion haliaetus), gulls (Larus spp.) and bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). In addition, the estuary is a foraging and resting area for brown pelicans (Pelicanus occidentalis) and a major stop on the coastal flyway for migratory birds. Uplands provide feeding and nesting sites for a number of raptors, such as the red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis). Audubon counts in the estuary have identified over 21,000 individual birds of 89 species each December.

The reserve uplands support black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus), elk (Cervus elaphus), black bear (Ursus americanus), porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum), bobcat (Felis rufus), skunk (Mephitis mephitis) and coyote (Canis latrans). River otters (Lutra canadensis) are found in streams and creeks and the upper reaches of South Slough, and beaver (Castor canadensis) are present in freshwater ponds, wetlandsand marshes. Amphibians, such as the giant Pacific salamander (Dicamptodon ensatus), and the red-legged frog (Rana aurora) inhabit the watershed's riparian zones.

Populations of resident harbor seals (Phocu vitulina) and sea lions feed in the estuary year round. Approximately 10,000 harbor seals, elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris), Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) and California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) visit offshore areas annually, with many finding their way into the estuary to feed. The estuary serves as habitat for a number of fish and invertebrates, including shiner perch (Cymatogaster aggregata), surfperch (Hyperprosopon spp.), striped bass (Morone saxatilis), starry flounder (Platichthys stellatus) and dungeness crab (Cancer magister). Anadromous fish, including coho salmon (Oncorhyncus kisutch) and sea-run cutthroat trout (Salmo clarki clarki) spend part of their life cycle in the estuary and the rivers and streams that feed it. Eelgrass beds within the reserve serve as important habitat for a variety of juvenile fish and invertebrate species. The biotically rich mudflat communities are home to ghost shrimp (Callianassa californiensis), clams (Clinocardium nuttallii, Tresus capax, Mya arenaria, Protothaca staminea and Saxidomus giganteus)and numerous invertebrates. The rocky bottom at the Coos estuary mouth is home to barnacles, mussels, sea anemones, snails and clams.