by Katie Boehnlein
Around this time of year, I remember how lucky we are to live in the Pacific Northwest. The beginning of summer is especially lush in our region: trees have reached their full leaf span, animals are raising their young, and the days are long to experience it all. Depart in any cardinal direction from Portland, and one is bound to stumble upon a memorable adventure. Hopefully these suggestions will help you and your family connect with nature and wildlife beyond the concrete and find peace in the many natural areas within our own city limits!
Wildlife Within Portland
One of Portland’s many natural areas is The Audubon Society of Portland, a touchstone to Portland’s 5,000 acre Forest Park. Audubon’s visitor’s center, free and open 365 days a year, displays information about wildlife sightings alongside life-sized taxidermy of the many creatures that live there. It also is home to a Wildlife Care Center, which treats injured and sick wild animals. Visitors can catch glimpses of these animals through viewing windows and say their hellos to resident educational birds such as Aristophanes the Raven. Hikers may see a number of creatures while walking along the four miles of sanctuary trails, including native newts and frogs swimming in the resident pond in early summer. audubonportland.org
One of the biggest juxtapositions of urban and natural is Smith and Bybee Wetlands Natural Area. Bordered by the heavily truck-traveled corridor of Marine Drive, it is part of a system of wetlands and natural areas in industrial North Portland that also include Kelley Point Park and the Columbia Slough. These wetlands offer a bustling home to rare native turtle populations, Pacific Chorus Frogs, salamanders, beavers, and Portland’s beloved city bird, the Great Blue Heron. Gems like Smith and Bybee Lakes within our city always remind me that you don’t have to go far to reconnect with the wild world always outside our front door. goo.gl/JeJv6d
The Arrow Points North
Just forty-five minutes north of Portland along the Columbia River is Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, a mosaic of wetlands, rivers, grasslands, and forests that are home to thousands of birds, mammals, amphibians, and reptiles. The Refuge’s website contains up to date information on events and educational programs and links to an informative brochure which contains a checklist to all the animals spotted here. portlandoregon.gov/parks
Southernly Adventures
If you and your family are bird lovers, you are in for a treat. Just over two hours south of Portland is the Cascade Raptor Center in Eugene, OR, a nonprofit dedicated to educating the public about birds of prey, including falcons, hawks, eagles, kites, and vultures. This means hosting close to 50 resident birds in outdoor apiaries and offering self-guided as well as handler-led tours (1:30 pm, each week day) for the public. Open Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00-6:00, admission will cost between $5 and $8 per person, depending on the age of your family member. eraptors.org
Wildlife Safari, located near Roseburg, is more than your typical wildlife viewing adventure. Home to 90 species of animals, including tigers, lions, and bears, it is an animal park that families can visit year round. Open 9-5, its 1 1/2 hour driving tour allows families to see and even touch favorite wild animals up-close from their cars. The standard admission price ($18 for adults and $12 for children over the age of two) allows cars to go through twice. Wildlife Safari is now offering discounts to NW Kids Magazine readers for their summer events, including “Elephant Waterhole Exploration,” “Rib Roaring BBQ with the Lions,” “Bear Appreciation Day,” and “Overnight Safari Family Adventure Camps.” For more information and special pricing, contact Guest Services at 541-679-6761 ext 210 or e-mail guestservices@wildlifesafari.net. wildlifesafari.net
Westward and Wild
The Oregon Coast is considered one of Oregon’s Seven Wonders, according to Travel Oregon. In addition to wind-swept beaches and quaint coastal towns, the coast is also home to a diversity of wildlife, all of which can be experienced first-hand by families. A good place to start with kids is the myriad of tide pools available to the public. oregontidepools.org is a wonderful resource put together by Oregon State Parks, complete with a colorful map and important natural history information. In addition, The Haystack Rock Awareness Program, an active citizen science program at Cannon Beach, allows visitors to engage with volunteers about the most current wildlife sightings in the area. The group’s website lists program information by the month, which is concurrent with minus tides to allow for the best views of Cannon Beach tide pools and puffins nesting on Haystack Rock. ci.cannon-beach. or.us/~Natural/HRAP/hrap-program.html
About 2.5 hours drive from Portland is Newport, OR, home to the Oregon Coast Aquarium. This summer is the perfect time to pay the Aquarium that long-awaited visit, as there are a myriad of exciting events and programs scheduled. The Aquarium’s website (aquarium.org) has published information about World Oceans Day on June 6th, Edible Ocean Family Camp Out on July 25th, ongoing “Sleep with the Sharks” events, the Aquatots preschool program, and other wildlife encounters with sea lions and octopi. Admission varies upon age, but is $20 for adults and $13 for children ages 3-12. aquarium.org
Heading East
One of Oregon’s most lauded gems is the Columbia River Gorge, also a National Scenic Area. Bill Monroe’s 2011 Oregonian article, “Wildlife along Oregon’s Interstate 84: Miles and miles of great viewing” details the best wildlife viewing spots along the highway. Special highlights include osprey on nesting platforms, salmon at the Eagle Creek Fish hatchery, and big horned sheep east of The Dalles. If Dad is a fan of the outdoors, consider spending Father’s Day at Oxbow Regional Park, located on the Sandy River near Troutdale. The park is hosting an animal tracking event from 10:00am to 1:30pm on June 21st. Participants can pay $6/person or $11/ family, plus $5/car to learn the basics of track identification and awareness skills needed to watch wildlife at close range. Advance registration and payment are required. oregonmetro.gov/parks/oxbowregional-park
Want more adventure? Well, luckily Oregon is home to people who care about conserving wildlife and letting you know how you can view it. For this article, I consulted James Luther Davis’ “The Northwest Nature Guide,” which shares information about wildlife highlights by month. Other fantastic resources for the nature-loving family itching for that next adventure include Oregon Metro’s online calendar, Oregon Zoo’s online calendar, and Portland Parks Environmental Education calendar.
Katie Boehnlein is a teacher and writer living in Portland, OR where you can find her exploring the beautiful natural and historic landmarks of the Rose City by foot and by bike. She grew up traversing the trails and staircases of Southwest Portland, which began a life-long passion for urban wildlife and adventure. You can follow Katie’s musings on urban exploration and other related topics on her blog “In the Midst,” which can be found at kboehnlein.wordpress.com.
