Hugged by an octopus

On a rainy morning in late April, Seaside resident and ocean devotee Angela Whitlock had a special encounter with an octopus in the tidepools at Haystack Rock in Cannon Beach.

As the Marine Reserve Program Coordinator with North Coast Land Conservancy (NCLC) and an occasional interpreter with Cannon Beach’s Haystack Rock Awareness Program (HRAP), Whitlock has spent an abundance of time in rocky intertidal zones along the north Oregon coast. Yet, this was the first time she happened upon an octopus, who swam up close to her and even wrapped its arms around her feet as she stood quiet and still—a respectful guest in the creature’s home.

It was a unique and special experience for Whitlock, who said that she’s “awed by extraordinary marine wildlife on a regular basis”. As amazing as the interaction with the octopus was, there are amazing things happening in the rocky intertidal environment every day: Colorful nudibranchs laying gorgeous rosette egg packets; black oystercatchers defending their nesting territory; and aggregating anemone cloning themselves and creating massive colonies” (to name just a few!)

“The intertidal ecosystem is a living, breathing, vibrant natural resource and also very delicate,” she added. “That’s why it’s so important to have rocky habitat protections in place—such as the marine garden at Haystack Rock, which is overseen by HRAP. Because of HRAP’s dedicated education and outreach, the habitat is thriving and able to support diverse species of marine life.”

HRAP and NCLC have a long-standing partnership, which has deepened further since NCLC adopted Cape Falcon Marine Reserve, located between Arch Cape and Manzanita, to provide stewardship, outreach, and advocacy centered on the reserve site. Cape Falcon is one of Oregon’s five marine reserves, which are managed and monitored by ODFW, and dedicated to conservation and scientific research. These conservation areas, along with protected rocky habitats, help support strong marine ecosystems that will be resilient and adaptable to climate change-related issues.

NCLC adopted the marine program soon after they conserved the 3,500-acre Rainforest Reserve in 2021, as a way to highlight and address the importance of land and sea connectivity. HRAP helps train seasonal staff and volunteers for the organization’s Tidepool Ambassador Program (TAP) at Short Sand Beach, which is adjacent to the Cape Falcon Marine Reserve. TAP offers free public education in the tidepools found at Short Sand.

Whitlock emphasizes the importance of remembering that when people are in the tidepools—or really any wild, natural areas—they are mere visitors of the home inhabited by a myriad of species, from octopi and anemones to barnacles and sea stars. It’s critical to treat those homes with the respect they deserve. A few ways for beachgoers to be good stewards of the tidepools include:

• Keeping your feet on bare sand only

• Refraining from climbing rocks

• Leashing your pets

• Taking nothing and leaving nothing

• Keeping your eyes wide open—because you might just get a hug from an octopus too!