Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge

Pastures around Nestucca Bay support six subspecies of geese, including the world's smallest population of Semidi Islands Aleutian Cackling Geese, a subspecies of the Aleutian Cackling Goose, and the only coastal wintering population of dusky Canada geese. The Aleutian Cackling Goose was once endangered, owing to the introduction of arctic foxes to their Alaska nesting islands by fur trappers. Their populations were severely reduced by this change in the ecosystem. Fox removal and other management efforts have increased the number of birds from 800 in 1962 to 75,000 in 2004. The species was removed from the endangered species list in 2001.

From late October to early April, the geese can be observed feeding on the short-grass pastures. In addition to managed pastures, other refuge habitats include wooded uplands, riparian wetlands, salt marsh, and open meadows, which provide safe haven for waterfowl and shorebirds.

Nestucca Bay Refuge is south of Pacific City, just off Highway 101.

Phone: 541-867-4550
Visit their Web site

No Recent Announcements

Edit