Wetlands are more than just beautiful landscapes—they’re alive with wildlife. These rich habitats provide food, shelter, and nesting grounds for birds, amphibians, mammals, and more. Below are just a few of the many species you might spot in and around our local wetlands.​

Mammals

Black-tailed deer

​These shy but graceful deer are often seen at dawn or dusk, browsing along the margins of wetlands for tender shoots, grasses, and shrubs. In the spring and summer, does may be seen with spotted fawns in tow. Wetlands provide a reliable water source and rich plant growth that supports deer throughout much of the year. If you’re walking quietly along a wetland trail, you might glimpse one slipping silently into cover.

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Raccoon

​With their masked faces and ringed tails, raccoons are one of the most recognizable—and adaptable—mammals around wetlands. Mostly active at night, they forage along the edges of seasonal ponds and creeks, searching for frogs, insects, crayfish, and even bird eggs. Raccoons are excellent climbers and swimmers, and their nimble paws help them explore logs, flip over rocks, and open just about anything. You might spot their distinctive tracks in the mud, even if you don’t see the animals themselves.

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Brush Rabbit

​Small, shy, and quick to disappear into cover, brush rabbits are often spotted darting through grassy areas near wetlands, especially at dawn and dusk. Unlike their cousin the eastern cottontail, brush rabbits have shorter ears and tails and prefer thick shrubs and edge habitat. They feed on grasses, herbs, and young shoots, playing an important role in shaping vegetation near wetland margins. With patience, you might catch a glimpse of one nibbling near a trail or bounding for cover with a flash of its white underside.

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Striped Skunk

While they’re most famous for their powerful defense spray, striped skunks are generally quiet, solitary foragers that play a helpful role in wetland ecosystems. They use their strong sense of smell and digging claws to unearth grubs, beetles, and other insects, as well as small amphibians or berries in season. Mostly nocturnal, skunks leave behind telltale tracks and foraging holes. If you’re walking in the early morning or evening, you might spot one waddling along the edge of a wetland—just be sure to give it plenty of space!

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Western Gray Squirrel

The Western gray squirrel is a striking native species with a long, full, silver-gray tail and a crisp white underside. It tends to be larger and more sleek-looking than the non-native Eastern gray squirrel, with longer ears and a more distinctly white belly. Western gray squirrels are typically shy and quiet, moving carefully through oak trees and conifers along the edges of wetlands and upland woodlands.

In contrast, Eastern gray squirrels are a bit smaller, with grizzled gray-brown fur and a less defined contrast between their back and belly. They’re also bolder around people and more likely to be seen in parks and neighborhoods. Unlike their bolder cousins, Western gray squirrels are more sensitive to habitat changes and are a species of concern in parts of Oregon—making sightings a special treat!

Birds

Whether you’re a seasoned birder or just beginning to notice who's singing from the cattails, wetlands are incredible places to see and hear all kinds of bird species! To explore what other birders have spotted near Michael’s wetland, check out all of the recent sightings at the Independence Sports Park eBird Hotspot.

Osprey

Often called the “fish hawk,” the osprey is a skilled hunter you might see diving feet-first into rivers and wetlands to catch fish. With its striking black-and-white markings and large wingspan, the osprey is hard to miss as it soars overhead or perches near water. Ospreys build massive stick nests, often on tall snags or manmade platforms, and are a good sign of a healthy aquatic ecosystem.

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Bald Eagle

These iconic raptors are often spotted near rivers and wetlands, especially during the winter and spring when fish are plentiful. Bald eagles feed on fish, waterfowl, and carrion, and their large nests—built high in trees—are often reused year after year. Seeing a bald eagle soaring or perched in a cottonwood tree is a thrilling reminder of the wild richness wetlands support.

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Great Blue Heron

Tall, stately, and slow-moving, the great blue heron is a familiar sight in wetlands and along creek banks. With long legs for wading and a sharp beak for spearing fish, frogs, and even small mammals, this bird is a patient and skilled hunter. Great blue herons often nest in colonies called rookeries, high in trees near water.​

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Killdeer

Often heard before they’re seen, killdeer are shorebirds known for their loud, insistent “kill-deer” call. These birds are commonly found in open, flat areas near water—including wet meadows, gravel bars, and even parking lots. In seasonal wetlands, they forage for insects and small invertebrates along the muddy edges. Killdeer are especially famous for their “broken-wing” act—a dramatic display to distract predators away from their ground nests. Their bold black neck bands and reddish eye-ring make them easy to identify once you spot them.

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Red-winged blackbird

​One of the most iconic wetland birds, the red-winged blackbird is easy to recognize by the male’s striking red-and-yellow shoulder patches and distinctive, musical call. Their song is often described as a nasal “conk-la-ree!”—a classic sound of spring and early summer in wetland areas. Males sing from cattails, grasses, or shrubs as they defend their territories. Females look quite different, with streaky brown plumage that helps them stay well hidden while nesting low in dense vegetation. Red-winged blackbirds thrive in seasonal wetlands, where they feed on insects and seeds and raise their young among the reeds and rushes.

Reptiles and Amphibians

Common garter snake

This adaptable snake is one of the most widespread in the Pacific Northwest—and wetlands are one of its favorite hunting grounds. Garter snakes are harmless to humans and feed on amphibians, insects, and small fish. Their stripes help them blend into grasses and rushes, and they’re often seen basking in the sun near water’s edge. Garter snakes are an important part of the food web, both as predators and as prey for birds and mammals.

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Pacific chorus frog

This tiny frog is more often heard than seen—its loud, croaking call is a classic sound of spring in the Pacific Northwest. Pacific chorus frogs thrive in wetland edges, breeding in shallow pools and hiding in grasses and shrubs. They come in a range of colors, from bright green to brown or gray, and can even shift their color slightly to better match their surroundings. These adaptable little frogs are an important part of wetland food webs, feeding on insects and providing prey for birds, snakes, and other animals.

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Rough-skinned newt

These small amphibians are a common sight in and around seasonal wetlands during the rainy months. Rough-skinned newts are usually dark brown or black on top, with a vivid orange or yellow belly that serves as a warning to predators—they produce a powerful toxin as a defense. While most are dark above, some individuals can appear lighter brown or even reddish, especially when wet. You’ll often spot them slowly walking across trails or through wet grass in spring as they make their way to breeding pools. As with all wildlife, it’s best to observe without handling.

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Long-toed salamander

The Long-toed salamander is a striking amphibian with a smooth, dark body and a distinctive yellow or orange stripe. As its name suggests, it has notably long toes, especially on its back feet, which help it move through wetland habitats. Found in shallow ponds, marshes, and the edges of streams, this salamander spends most of its life in the water, emerging to breed in the early spring. During the breeding season, long-toed salamanders can often be seen in large numbers, swimming in ponds where they lay their eggs in masses attached to submerged plants. Their young hatch as tadpole-like nymphs, later transforming into efts (land-dwelling juveniles), by late summer. Long-toed salamanders play an important role in wetland ecosystems by feeding on insects and small invertebrates.

Insects and Spiders

Wetlands are home to a wide range of fascinating insects and spiders that play crucial roles in maintaining the balance of the ecosystem. These creatures help control populations of smaller animals, serve as food for larger wildlife, and contribute to the breakdown of organic material. The wetland habitat provides these species with the perfect environment to thrive, especially during the warmer months. Below are just a couple common examples of the many insects and spiders you might encounter in and around wetlands.

Dragonflies and Damselflies

Fast, agile, and beautifully iridescent, both dragonflies and damselflies are fascinating sights around seasonal wetlands. As larvae, both live underwater and feed on small aquatic creatures. Once they transform into winged adults, they become expert hunters of mosquitoes and other flying insects.

Dragonflies are typically larger, with broad wings that remain spread out when resting, while damselflies are smaller, with more delicate bodies and narrower wings that fold above their bodies when at rest. Both play important roles in controlling insect populations and are indicators of water quality and wetland health. Look for them zipping low over the water or resting on reeds and grasses.
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For species commonly found in the Willamette Valley, the West Eugene Wetlands Dragonfly Guide offers detailed information and photographs of local dragonflies and damselflies.

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Spiders (orb-weavers and funnel web)

Funnel Web Spiders are often found in wetlands, where they build distinctive funnel-shaped webs in grasses, shrubs, and under leaves. These spiders lie in wait at the narrow end of their webs, ready to pounce on any prey that comes too close. Their webs are designed to catch flying insects, making them valuable predators in wetland habitats.
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Orb-Weaving Spiders also thrive in wetlands, spinning large, intricate webs that can span across vegetation and shrubs. These spiders are excellent hunters, patiently waiting for insects to become ensnared in their webs. Their webs are often visible in the early morning, glistening with dew.

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Crane fly

​Crane Flies are delicate, long-legged insects often found near wetland areas, particularly in the warmer months. Though the adult crane flies are non-feeding and short-lived, their larvae are aquatic and thrive in standing water. These larvae feed on decaying plant material and play a role in breaking down organic matter in wetland environments.