​Spawned-out salmon in Lowe Creek, near Skykomish.

Wildlife

Seekers of charismatic megafauna will find much more to see in Yellowstone Park than in most of the Cascades. The west side forests have always been noted more for their silence than an abundance of wildlife. The east side, with more varied habitats, food sources and more open landscapes, has more visible wildlife, as does the open high country in summer. 

Even though they may be hard to see because of dense vegetation, wildlife are present on the west side. Deer are present in many areas, though seldom abundant. They are much more numerous on the east side. Elk numbers seem to be on the increase, and sightings more common outside of the relatively limited areas where they were normally seen in most of the 20th century.

Deer near Monroe.

Mountain goat nanny and kid, Alpine Lakes Wilderness. Photo: Greg Shannon

​Mountain goats were once plentiful in the higher mountains, but have become scarce. Many believe this is a result of overhunting, with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife issuing far too many permits for “trophy” kills. This scandalous situation has gone on year after year, depite clear evidence that these animals, once symbolic of the Cascades, are being gradually extirpated from the range.

Black bears are fairly common in foothills during winter months, tending to move to the higher mountains during summer. Grizzly bears are occasionally sighted, but they are very few in number. The population is so small that they simply cannot find each other to reproduce. It may be that almost all grizzlies sighted in the Cascades have wandered south from British Columbia, where their numbers are not as small. These animals likely find enough food and habitat to survive, but live out their lives seldom or never finding mates.

Young black bear climbing a tree near Monroe.

Cougar in foothills close to Monroe Washington. Photo: Don Setzer

​Cougars were nearly extirpated from the Cascades in the early and mid 20th century. Sightings were almost unheard of. But numbers started to rebound in recent decades. It is now not uncommon to see them, or evidence of them, in foothill areas in fall and winter. Beavers are a key part of their diet in the foothills. They tend to disperse more into the mountains during summer. Bobcats are relatively common.

Coyotes are found everywhere, and seem to be on the increase. There is some evidence that their numbers diminish in areas where wolves move in. But it is unknown whether that has happened in the Cascades. Wolverines and fishers still inhabit the Cascades in small numbers, and otters, weasels, badgers and porcupines can all be found in certain areas.

Fish

Native cutthroat trout live in many of the rivers and streams. Many lakes, almost all of which were naturally without fish, are stocked with rainbow, cutthroat or golden trout, or chars such as eastern brook or lake trout. Many lakes now have naturally reproducing fish populations, which have been established at the expense of native amphibians. Seldom visited lakes far from trails can offer good fishing.

Salmon and other anadromous fish spawn in the Skykomish, Wenatchee and Yakima rivers and their tributaries, mostly far downstream of the Alpine Lakes and other Wilderness areas. Snoqualmie Falls blocks access to the North, Middle and South Forks, although salmon can be found in tributaries downstream from the falls.

Birds

The variety of environments in the Alpine Lakes region provides habitat for diverse bird populations. Common species include ruffed grouse, Stellar's jays, hairy, downy and pileated woodpeckers, ravens, thrushes, chickadees and juncos, wrens, swifts, swallows, hawks and many kinds of owls. Water ouzels are a common sight, probing stream bottoms for aquatic insects, even far up into the highest mountains.

Reptiles and Amphibians

Cascade Frog in Hardscrabble Creek. Photo: Jim Scarborough

Although most of these are found at lower elevations, some salamanders and frogs may be found up to timberline or higher. Several species, such as the tailed frog, are unique to the montane environments of the Northwest. Species include the northwestern, long toed, and Pacific giant salamanders; roughskin newt; western, tailed and Cascade frogs; northern alligator lizard; rubber boa; plus Northwestern and common garter snakes. The western rattlesnake is common in drier and warmer east side areas. They are easily avoided and present little danger except perhaps to small pets.

Western rattlesnake, coiled up after a cold night, lower Mad River trail. Photo: Karl Forsgaard

The seldom seen Northern Rubber Boa snake, seen here near French Corral, Wenatchee N.F. Photo: Karl Forsgaard