Tide Pooling
About two weeks ago we returned from a wonderful stay on the Oregon Coast. We stayed in a small beach house in Yachats, Oregon. Yachats is a cozy coastal community of about 600 souls half way between Newport and Florence.
It was our first time spending an extended period in the area, and I must say that we will definitely be back. No TV, no telephone, no internet, no other kids but no one was ever bored on this trip.
Yachats is the last outpost before you encounter a 20+ mile stretch of Oregon coastline that is free of development. The recreation opportunities were endless. Since the coast is primarily National Forest and state park land, we can only hope that it will remain pristine for many generations to come.
Among other activities, we spent a few mornings exploring local tide pools in the area. We checked out tide pools at Smelt Sands, Cape Perpetua, and Neptune Beach. Our favorite were the pools at Neptune and the photos included here are from that day. At every location we encounted sea stars, anemones, barnacles, mussels, crabs, fish, snails, and much more. But Neptune had the most abundant displays.
If you are going to explore tide pools, be ready to get wet, wear some sensible shoes – maybe even some gloves, and be ready to do some scrambling on rocks to find some wonderful surprises!
Consult a tide table and plan your exploration to coincide with low tide. Watch out for exposed animals as you walk along. For the best viewing, head for the lowest tide pools that are closest to the ocean. In the lowest pools, you are likely to see the most activity as well as the greatest variety of animals. But be mindful of the tide location and of the ocean at all times – don’t let yourself get stranded or surprised by a rogue wave.
When viewing the pools, tread lightly and be respectful of the animals. Don’t pry any animals from their locations. A gentle touch on a sea star by a curious little girl (or excited adult) is not entirely out of line but try to avoid touching of the animals as much as possible.
When you are ready to go, leave everything where you find it – except for garbage! Pack out any trash that you find (or any trash that you brought). It is never too early to instill some outdoor ethics in your kids.
After the fact, it is fun to learn more about the animals you encountered by consulting a field guide or the mighty internet.
But most of all enjoy the view and your time together, and just HAVE FUN!
