Puget Sound Eyes on Wildlife Promoting understanding, appreciation, and conservation of wildlife and wildlife habitats

More and more Americans are heading to mountains, marshes, fields, and forests to see and appreciate free-ranging wildlife in its native habitat.

Within a two-hour drive of Puget Sound are thousands of acres of public lands that serve as habitat to hundreds of species of wildlife — “watchable wildlife.” It may be an elk herd, woodland songbirds, migrating salmon, or an alpine meadow filled with wildlfowers. All are part of Puget Sound’s beautiful and bountiful wildlife.

Puget Sound Eyes on Wildlife is a cooperative regional program. It builds on national watchable wildlife efforts to increase the availability of wildlife viewing areas and promote learning about wildlife needs, habitat protection, and viewing ethics.

Formed in 1992, Puget Sound Eyes on Wildlife collaborates on dozens of watchable wildlife projects. Our unique partnership involves the Olympic and Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forests, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Pilchuck, Black Hills, and Seattle Audubon Societies, Trout Unlimited, and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, plus a host of other project-specific partners.

Our vision: that people understand wildlife habitat relationships and assume personal responsibility for wildlife conservation.

Whether at a viewing site, a photographer’s blind, along an intepretive trail, at an exhibit or festival, or in a classroom, Puget Sound Eyes on Wildlife projects are carefully designed to give people the opportunity to unobtrusively experience wildlife and their habitats, or to learn more about wildlife and their needs.

A community-based program, pseow strives to build a broad constituency for wildlife conservation and for land management practices that maintain healthy ecosystems for all wildlife.

A sampler of PSEOW sites...

These are just a few of the sites on the Olympic and Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forests where you can watch and enjoy Puget Sound's wildlife. Additional viewing sites are noted in the Washington Watchable Wildlife Guide and other publications available at bookstores. Contact any of the PSEOW partners for other viewing locations and for information on how you can learn about and help protect wildlife and habitats.

1. Quinault Rainforest Nature Trail & Quinault Lakeshore Wildlife Viewing Trail — Wander along the half-mile trail through the rainforest, or explore the planned universally accessible trail along the shores of Lake Quinault. Look for cavity nesting birds, marbled murrelets, osprey, deer, elk, small mammals, and rainforest vegetation. South Shore Rd. off Hwy. 101, near the Forest Service Quinault Ranger Station.

2. Brown Creek Pond Interpretive Trail — A rare opportunity to explore a wetland along a trail winding through alder and maple groves at the edge of a riparian area. Universally accessible trail is in the planning stages. Look for deer, beaver, waterfowl, songbirds and neotropical migrants, cavity-dependent species, amphibians, riparian vegetation. Hwy.101, w. on Skokomish Valley Rd., r. on FS 23, r. on FS 2353, sharp r. on FS 2340 to Brown Crk. Campground.

3. Mt. Ellinor Trail — Hike 3 miles through old-growth forest to steep alpine/upland meadows. Look for wildflowers, mountain goats, small mammals, gray jays, songbirds. Hwy. 101 to Hoodsport, w. on Rt.119, r. on FS 24, l. on FS 2419 to lower trailhead; continue on FS 2419.014 to upper trailhead.

4. Seal Rock Marine Interpretive Trail — This half-mile universally accessible boardwalk trail leads through forest, intertidal, and salt water ecosystems, along a bluff and onto the beach. Look for bald eagles, sea mammals, sea birds, shellfish. In the Seal Rock Campground, along Hood Canal and Hwy. 101.

5. Boyd Creek Interpretive Trail — Follow an old road bed to see a successful fisheries habitat improvement project. Look for spawning chinook salmon and steelhead trout. A universally accessible trail and interpretive signs are being planned. On Forest Service Rd.37, along the North Fork of the Nooksack River as it crosses Boyd Creek.

6. Gold Creek Pond Viewing Site — A paved universally accessible trail leads half-way around the lake, along goose, osprey, and beaver habitat. Look for waterfowl, ospreys, geese, great blue heron, songbirds, bull trout, kokanee. Brochure is available. Just off Hwy. I-90 and Snoqualmie Pass, Exit 54.

7. White River Elk Viewing Site — From a landing along the road, take in a spectacular view of Mt. Rainier and a favorite summer hang-out for the White River Elk Herd. The elk site below the landing features additional habitat restoration. Brochure is available. Gravel Forest Service Rd. 72, along Dalles ridge off Hwy. 410. Call (206) 825-6585 for more information.

8. Corral Pass Viewing Site — Along the road look for elk and mountain goats. At the top of Corral Pass, look for migrating hawks and neotropical migrant birds. Other viewing opportunities are abundant along the road to Corral Pass. Interpretive signs are being planned. On FS 7174 off Hwy. 410. Rough road; check at White River Ranger Station for information (206) 825-6585.

Forest Waterwood Display, Olympic Learning Center - Traveling display explaining the role of downed wood, riparian vegetation, water quality, salmon, and aquatic insects in a watershed. * !

Grizzly Bear Educational Display & Pamphlet - Free-standing display on the ecology and recovery of grizzly bears in the North Cascades, plus information brochure. *

Biodiversity Education Trunk - A mobile trunk distributed to schools, with photos, field guides, and artifacts on forest fauna. *

Birding List for Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie Nat’l. Forest - Brochure with list of species, their likely viewing seasons, and habitat information. *

Eagle Nest Display - Spectacular mobile exhibit featuring a real eagle nest, interpretive panels, and hands-on activities on bald eagle habitat, nesting needs, and protection efforts. !

Wildlife Viewing Ethics Materials - Brochures and posters on ethical and appropriate behaviors for wildlife viewing and habitat protection. !

Forest Wildlife Habitat Brochure - Booklet exploring forest ecology, wildlife habitat relationships, wildlife viewing ethics, and identification of ecological communities on the Olympic Peninsula. !

* - Completed
! - In progress