Cape Cod Wildlife
Updated: Jul 9, 2021
More than just a summer vacation destination, Cape Cod is rich in diverse wildlife. And if you plan accordingly, you may be able to spot some of the beautiful creatures during your time here.
Seals
If you have visited the Cape and Islands before, chances are you’ve encountered one of our infamous species of marine mammals. Loved by many, and hated by some, gray seals populate nearly all coastlines of Cape Cod. But if you are looking for a place to be guaranteed a sighting of seals, definitely go to the Chatham area. Near Monomoy Island, there are large populations of seals that live in the coastal waters. Many boat tours operate in the area offering to take you out to spot seals, but it is entirely unnecessary. If you are a bit patient you can go to a beach in the area and wait until you see a head peek out of the water. Another great location for spotting seals is the Fishermen’s Pier in Chatham. The fishermen unload their daily catch and tend to throw the damaged goods to the seals, causing the seals to hang around for free food. It’s nearly a guarantee that you will see a seal if you visit the Cape, as long as you keep an eye out for them.
Dolphins & Whales
Right next to a marine sanctuary, and the summer feeding grounds for migratory whales, Cape Cod Bay is a fantastic place to see whales and dolphins. It is unlikely you will see them from shore unless you are one lucky person, but there are remarkable whale watching tours that run throughout the Cape, taking you out into the bay to see many of the unique species that call these waters home. Some species you may see are common dolphins, Atlantic white-sided dolphins, and humpback whales. A more rare species to see, but one that many are on the lookout for, is the North Atlantic right whale. While critically endangered, a large number of the remaining individuals live off the coast of Cape Cod, making it a great place to see these special whales.
There are multiple whale watching companies throughout Cape Cod, however, the best that I recommend is Dolphin Fleet in Provincetown. Incredible in both service and location, Dolphin Fleet is guaranteed to provide you with an amazing whale-watching experience. Provincetown is located at the tip of Cape Cod, meaning you will already be incredibly close to where the whales are, cutting down on ocean travel time. You get the most out of the time you're spending on the boat! In fact, Provincetown is so close to the deep ocean habitat of the whales, that if you are lucky, you can visit Race Point Beach and you may be able to see whales close offshore. Pro Tip: Keep an eye out for water spouts, it's the best way to spot whales in the open ocean, as they tend to blend in!
Great White Sharks
The icon of Cape Cod and the Islands, great white sharks have been in the spotlight for their steadily growing population within the recent decade. Due to the aforementioned large population of seals, the white sharks call Cape Cod their summer home, as they have an abundance of food to feast on. While the sharks are growing in population and spreading throughout nearly all coastal waters, leading to signage on every beach warning visitors of the wildlife that may lurk in the waters, the white sharks are still largely concentrated in the Chatham area where the seals reside. But a general rule of thumb is that wherever there are seals, there are probably sharks nearby.
While these great whites are often allusive from shore, you can download the Ocearch app and it shows you the location and history of all the sharks that have been tagged. This way, you can see if there have recently been any tagged sharks in the area. Additionally, if you are willing to fork up some money, you can go on an exclusive expedition with the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy. They bring you out on a boat and with a spotter pilot on hand, they try to track down great whites for you to see during your time. However, if you happen to own a boat and get lucky, you may come across a white shark on your own adventures!
Shore Birds
Cape Cod shorelines are home to a large diversity of shorebirds, leading many birders to flock here in hopes of spotting some beautiful creatures. On many beaches there are protected areas for the nesting sites of our piping plovers, and endangered shore bird. Small and fast, they can be hard to spot, but if you keep an eye out around there marked territories, then you may get lucky. You may even chance spotting some chicks, which are my personal favorite, as they look like tony cotton balls with legs.
With many of the shorebirds residing in estuarine environments, Cape Cod is the perfect home for them. Fort Hill in Eastham is known to be one of the top birding locations due to its large diversity of birds. And with walking trails alongside the marshes, it’s the perfect place to connect with nature and keep an eye out for birds along the way.
While I love sharing my passion and knowledge of wildlife with you all, I beg of you to always respect wildlife, keep your distance, and don’t disturb or harass any individuals. This planet is their home too and they deserve to be treated well and shouldn’t undergo harassment for any reason. Always know the rules and regulations regarding wildlife in your area beforehand, and I urge you to contact trained professionals if you feel an animal is in need of help. While we all want to help, it is so easy to mistakenly cause harm to animals, so leave it to the professionals!
If you‘ve been lucky enough to spot wildlife during your time on Cape Cod, drop them in the comments below! I’d love to hear all your stories!
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