At high tide, the slough may be full of sanddabs, English sole, leopard shark, halibut, salmon, and steelhead. Young dungeness crabs abound, thriving on organic matter in the mud. Pelicans and cormorants dive into the water and harbor seals swim up the slough from the Bay, each in search of fish. At low tide, migratory shorebirds crowd the mudflats as they forage for clams, worms, and crabs. Juvenile salmon and steelhead are dependent upon healthy streamside vegetation.
Trees provide food, shade, and protection for growing fish.
In addition, as the new vegetation matures, the creek attracts amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Rising sea level flooded this coastal valley, creating an environment now enriched with a myriad of plant and animal species. Humans arrived several thousand years ago and established many villages along the shore and on the islands within the Bay. Remnants of this rich indigenous culture testify to the comfortable life the native Wiyot people enjoyed. Humboldt Bay NWR is still in the acquisition and development stage.