Hood Canal Adventures specializes in educational wildlife viewing tours, however you’ll also see plenty of wildlife by renting kayaks and exploring on your own. All the wildlife species discussed here can be seen from your kayak while paddling in the immediate area. All photos shown on this page were taken during our tours.
Harbor seal at Dosewallips Estuary.
The Dosewallips and Duckabush estuaries and Dabob Bay are home to large colonies of harbor seals. When visiting these areas you’ll find seals hunting in the water, hauled out on the beach, nursing pups, or curiously popping their heads out of the water to keep an eye on you. Harbor seals are a protected species and while visiting these areas you must abide by the Marine Mammal Protection Act which dictates you do not harass, harm or pursue the animals. Please stay 50 yards away from seals, especially when hauled out and nursing. Before you paddle to these areas we will review with you the rules of the Marine Mammal Protection Act and NOAA guidelines to minimize your impact on them. Orca, Harbor Porpoise, Humpback whales, Steller Sea Lion, and California Sea Lion have also been spotted on our tours.
Grazing Roosevelt Elk at Dosewallips Estuary
Roosevelt Elk are a common site in Brinnon are sometimes spotted at the Dosewallips and Duckabush Estuaries from our kayaks. Elk can be dangerous so please take care to view them from a distance.
American Bald Eagle at the Dosewallips Estuary.
This photo of an American Bald Eagle was during our Dosewallips Tour and is a common site on all our tours. They do not seem to be leery of kayakers so you can often view them up close. On several occasions they have snatched fish from the water right in front of our kayaks!
Turkey Vultures at the Dosewallips Estuary.
These giant birds are abundant in the Dosewallips Estuary while salmon are spawning.
Oysters, oysters everywhere! This photo was taken at the Dosewallips Estuary where the water is so clear it seems like you’re flying over the beach! The Hood Canal produces world famous oysters which can be found on almost every beach in the area. Locals and visitors alike enjoy harvesting oysters year round and there are a number of oyster farms that make up a major industry in the area. The Dosewallips and Duckabush tide flats are the most popular areas to find oysters. If you chose to harvest shellfish from our local beaches, you can purchase your shellfish harvesting license and oyster shuckers from the Brinnon General Store. Take our Oysters On The Beach Kayaking Tour to learn how to shuck oysters during our lunch stop.
Spotting River Otters is always a special treat. We came across of these otters hunting small fish while on a Lunch In The Wild Kayaking Tour.
Great Blue Heron at Duckabush Estuary.
Standing up to 4 feet tall with a wingspan of over 6 feet, these flying dinosaurs are impressive. Great Blue Herons are a common site while paddling the shorelines of the Hood Canal. This heron was just trying to stay warm on a frigid winter day at the Duckabush Estuary.
Sunflower star on the rocky shore of Pulali Point.
You may see many types of marine invertebrates including Sunflower Stars (photo), Purple Ochre sea stars, Kelp crab, chiton, shore crabs, nudibranchs, mussels, jelly fish and more. Join us on our Tide Pool Kayaking Tour for an educational guided tour at low tide!