Black bears are year-round residents.

The bears feed on large quantities of

protein-rich fish and carbohydrate-rich

berries so that they can quickly gain needed

weight. Their diet changes seasonally.

At Muir Creek, bears forage on grasses,

skunk cabbage, termites, and berries as

well as salmon. During the salmon run,

bears carry fish remains long distances

from the creek. Other evidence of bear

use and habitation includes many bedding

sites among the ferns and in hollow

snags near the creek feeding areas. There

are numerous bear-scratched trees and

also trees with the bark rubbed smooth

by bear bodies.

Cougar are occasionally sighted along

the creek. Otters are frequently sighted

swimming rapidly in the creek estuary

near the ocean. They sun themselves on

the rocks when the tide is low. Further up

the creek there are otter slides on the riverbank

and twisted tufts of grass marked

with pungent musk. Just below Barker

Creek, ,there is evidence of a favorite otter

eating-place with well used fallen trees,

holes dug in the bank and numerous fish

remains. Mink, martin, red squirrel and

black-tailed deer also live in the area.