A variety of marine mammals inhabit or visit the Otter Rock Marine Reserve. Here are a few of the most common marine mammals you may see while visiting.
While looking offshore at the Otter Rock Marine Reserve, you may see whale spouts between April and late September. Gray whales are the most common whale species seen in the area. As their name suggests, they are gray in color and grow to 50 feet in length. Gray whales are filter feeders that separate food from ocean water and bottom sediment. You may see them repeatedly diving to the shallow bottom of the Otter Rock Marine Reserve to feed.
We are lucky to glimpse some of the 20,000 gray whales migrating in spring and winter off the Oregon Coast. From February to May, they travel north to their summer feeding grounds in the Bering Sea off Alaska. In the winter they travel back south to their breeding grounds in the lagoons of Baja, Mexico. The central Oregon Coast maintains a small resident population of whales that do not complete the full northern migration.
From May through September, gray whales feed among the kelp forests in the marine reserve. Organisms such as mysid shrimp that live in the kelp forests at Otter Rock and near Cape Foulweather and Depoe Bay typically provide enough food to support this group of whales throughout the summer.
(Gray whale, Photo by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife)
Harbor seals forage in the marine reserve and often haul out on nearby rocks to rest between dives or to hide from predators such as orcas. Harbor seals are tan, gray, or silvery white with dark spots. They have pups from May to June. Although the pups can swim at birth, they will remain with their mothers until they are weaned and can forage on their own at 4-6 weeks old.
(Harbor seals, Photo by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife)
Harbor seals can easily blend in with rock, and sometimes you may not realize they are present. Typically, they will raise their heads to let you know that they are there. It is very important to keep your distance and avoid disturbing them. Harbor seals are federally protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. A minimum distance of 100 yards is required. Back up slowly if you are accidentally too close. Never try to touch a seal, and if you see a dead or injured seal, do not approach it. Like all marine animals, harbor seals can carry disease. You can report a dead or injured seal to the Oregon State Marine Mammal Stranding Network hotline at (541) 270-6830.
Sea lions are brown and much larger and noisier than their harbor seal cousins. They can also be distinguished by their external ear flaps and large front flippers that allow them to move comfortably on land.
However, California sea lions are occasionally spotted around the Otter Rock Marine Reserve. Unlike seals, they do not use Otter Rock as a location to haul out or rest.
The best place to observe sea lions safely is at the docks built especially for them at the old bayfront in Newport.
Sea lions rarely come on shore at Otter Rock’s nearshore unless sick. They are susceptible to a disease called leptospirosis. This disease is easily spread to other mammals, including dogs. Keep your distance, and never let your dog approach these animals. Sea lions are also protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
Despite its namesake, Otter Rock Marine Reserve is no longer home to sea otters. In fact, there are no more native sea otters along the Oregon Coast. Sea otters were hunted to extinction along the coast in the early 1900s as a result of the fur trade. This was a huge loss both culturally and ecologically. A future reintroduction effort could help ensure the resilience of Oregon’s nearshore ecosystems. The Elakha Alliance, a non-profit organization formed by tribal and conservation leaders, is working toward restoring a healthy population of sea otters to the Oregon coast.