From the Douglas' squirrels chattering in the tree branches to harbor seals resting on shore, mammals abound throughout Refuge habitats. Here are just a few of the 29 species found in the Refuge.
Marine Mammals
Seals use the shores of the refuge to rest and birth their pups. Offshore, whales can occasionally be seen swimming past.
Harbor Seal
Harbor seals are easily seen bobbing in the waters off the coast of Washington. They can be identified by their smooth spotted skin varying in color from gray to brown or even black. The the cobble and sand beach of the Spit is an important spot for seals to haul out of the water and rest or give birth to pups. One of the greatest threats to the harbor seal population is human disturbance, particularly during pupping season. Seal pups resting on shore should always be left alone as their mothers are likely waiting off shore and will not return until humans are clear of the area.
Orca Whale
Orcas can occasionally be seen swimming off of Dungeness Spit and even more rarely come into Dungeness Harbor and Bay. They are black with a white patch near their eye, a white throat, and a white patch on the belly. They are most commonly seen in the Strait from spring to fall. Dall's porpoise are sometimes confused with juvenile orcas due to similar coloration and size. However, the Dall's porpoise doesn't have the white eye patch and has a bigger belly patch.
Northern Elephant Seal
Ranging in color from brown to gray, elephant seals can occasionally be seen resting on the beach at Dungeness. Males have a distinctively large, elephantine nose. Molting elephant seals are frequently reported as injured, but they are simply going through the yearly process of replacing their skin and hair.
Terrestrial Mammals
From the tops of the trees to the edge of the shore, terrestrial mammals fill many niches on the refuge.
Columbia black-tailed deer
The Columbia black-tailed deer is a subspecies of mule deer native to the temperate forests of the coastal Pacific Northwest. The black-tailed deer are generally smaller than mule deer and have a tail completely covered in dark hair.
Douglas' Squirrel
Dark brown with a buff chest, the Douglas' squirrel is a busy inhabitant of the Refuge forest. This vocal rodent is very territorial and can often be heard chattering at intruders from the safety of a tree branch.