If you stand at the whale skeleton at Union Wharf in Port Townsend and look out across the bay, what do you see? If your answer is Indian Island and Fort Flagler State Park, you are right. But just offshore from the park’s lower campground is an overlooked gem — the wildlife sanctuary of Rat Island (named for its shape, not for rodents.)

Though less well-known than Protection Island farther north, Rat Island also deserves protection. The good news is there are things you can do to help safeguard this special place.

What makes it special? More than 100 harbor seals live on the island, and every year from May till the end of September, they give birth to their pups. Thousands of seabirds also come to this tiny 11-acre island of sand and grassland, most to breed and lay eggs. Some of the birds are threatened species, such as Heerman’s Gulls.

In recent years, endangered Caspian terns came there to nest too. Sadly, in 2023, avian flu killed more than 60 percent of the Caspian terns on the island — at that time the largest nesting spot for terns in Puget Sound. Several harbor seals died too. While the terns did not come back last year, there is still hope that they may return. No avian flu was detected in 2024.

People and dogs present other threats.

Avian flu is not the only peril to Rat Island’s wildlife. Humans and dogs are among the biggest dangers. Even the most well-behaved dog will be seen as a predator by the seals and birds. When they see a dog approaching, the birds fly up into the air — and that’s when eagles swoop down to snatch their eggs and chicks.

A mother seal might also be frightened by dogs or people, and get separated from her pup. Seal mothers and pups identify each other by their unique vocalizations. If a mother seal can’t hear her baby’s cry, she may never return. As long as humans are near, she won’t come back.

Boats can endanger the wildlife too. The seals and birds tend not to be as frightened by motorboats if they simply speed on by, but boats that stop can create a problem. Surprisingly, kayaks are even more disturbing to the wildlife, so to protect the young, it’s crucial for kayakers to stay away from the beaches during the season.

Rat Island is temporarily closed to the public from April 15 to August 31. The Friends of Fort Flagler, a nonprofit volunteer organization, together with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, has petitioned the federal Fish and Wildlife agency to permanently close the island from May 1 to Sept. 30 every year. But everyone can help.

To help protect this unique wildlife haven, avoid the island during pupping and nesting season. If you’re clamming, stick to the beaches in the park. You can also join the Fort Flagler Docent Program. “Docents not only serve as a guardian for birds and seals, they can also learn a lot about wildlife and ecosystems through the program,” said Deisy Bach, who manages the program. “And nothing is more satisfying than seeing a child identify a bird or see a seal for the first time.” 

If you’d like to see the seals and birds, visit the spit near the lower campground during minus tides. Volunteers with the Friends of Fort Flagler Docent Program will be there to provide binoculars and a spotting scope along with information on local wildlife.

Rachel S. Imper is part of the Fort Flagler Docent Program.