Critters of Cascade Lake at Moran State Park

A bald eagle’s call pierces the air. Perched on the crown of a Douglas Fir, it scans Cascade Lake with laser-focused gold eyes. Perhaps it spots a Kokanee salmon that completes its entire lifecycle in freshwater. But the eagle is not the only one hunting for fish today. Splash! A river otter pops its whiskered face out of the lake, clasping a fish between its teeth. Another day passes at Cascade Lake, as life brims above and below the surface.