Showing posts with label wildlife. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wildlife. Show all posts

Photos: Squirrel vs snow

Thursday, February 7, 2019

Photo copyright Gloria Z. Nagler


So there you are, peacefully chewing on your dinner, minding your own business, and suddenly a clump of snow lands on your head.


Photo copyright Gloria Z. Nagler

Yecch!





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Coyotes are everywhere right now

Monday, January 21, 2019

Coyote by King's on the CRISTA campus last week
in the Hillwood neighborhood
Photo by Gina Fieser
By Diane Hettrick

This is mating season for coyotes and they are everywhere right now - all over Shoreline and Lake Forest Park.

Hormones are high and behavior can be a little dicey.

In pioneer days, coyotes (Canis latrans) were restricted primarily to the sagebrush lands, brushy mountains, and open prairies of the American West. Wolves occupied the forests. 
Coyotes have since taken advantage of human activities (including the reduction of gray wolf populations) to expand their range throughout North and Central America.

There are dens in every wooded area. Coyotes are not nocturnal by nature (they have adapted to night to avoid humans) so they have no trouble going about in the daytime.

In 2016 this coyote killed a dog in its
backyard then lay down for two hours
Photo by Jennifer Meredith Dodd
During mating season, do not leave small children and pets unprotected. Fortunately Child Protective Services and leash laws have prevented most of this behavior.

Don't leave your pets out at night - and daytime is a problem now.

Last weekend a coyote attacked and killed a dog in Lake Forest Park.

Particularly do not leave pet food outside. If you feed your animals outside, supervise and pick up the food afterwards.

You may want to avoid walking your dogs in wooded parks, streets, and trails right now.

Here are more warnings from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife:
  • Never feed coyotes
  • Don’t give coyotes access to garbage
  • Prevent access to fruit and compost
  • Enclose poultry (chickens, ducks, and turkeys) in a secure outdoor pen and house

After they mate, things will settle down until spring when it's time for the two year olds to leave the den and find their own homes.



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Coyote kills dog in Lake Forest Park

Thursday, January 17, 2019

Over the weekend, a coyote attacked and killed a dog in LFP. (See map of the exact location).

The Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife's website has good information and tips for dealing with this issue.

Please keep your pets on a leash and under your control at all times. 
Don’t feed wild animals!

Additionally, here are some tips from the LFP Wildlife Management Plan:

When urban wildlife becomes comfortable in the close proximity of humans, it may be necessary to modify their behavior to avoid conflict with humans and pets. Hazing is the process that facilitates this change and is by necessity a community response to encounters with wildlife. The more often an individual animal is hazed, the more effective hazing is in changing the animal’s behavior.

Hazing employs immediate use of deterrents to move an animal out of an area or discourage undesirable behavior or activity. Deterrents include loud noises such as whistles and horns, spraying water, bright lights, throwing objects, and shouting. Hazing can help maintain an animal’s fear of humans and discourage them from neighborhoods and public areas. Hazing does not harm animals, humans, or property.

Hazing should never injure the animal. An animal injured by hazing becomes less predictable and may respond aggressively. Hazing is not necessary when an animal is already trying to avoid the encounter by leaving the area or taking a concealed position at a distance, especially in a wildlife habitat area such as forest or other large open spaces.

Coyote walking down the path in Grace Cole
Photo by Sara Lorimer 2012
Hazing and behavioral change

Some urban coyotes have become comfortable in close proximity to people. To safely coexist, it’s important to modify this behavior and attitude in resident coyote populations. Urban coyote behavior needs to be reshaped to encourage coyotes to avoid contact with humans and pets.

Hazing is the process that facilitates this change and is by necessity a community response to encounters with coyotes. The more often an individual animal is hazed, the more effective hazing is in changing coyote behavior.

Hazing employs immediate use of deterrents to move an animal out of an area or discourage undesirable behavior or activity. Deterrents include loud noises, spraying water, bright lights, throwing objects, and shouting. Hazing can help maintain coyotes’ fear of humans and discourage them from neighborhoods such as backyards and play areas. Hazing does not harm or damage animals, humans or property. Behavioral change also involves human activities such as how to identify and remove attractants and how to responsibly protect pets.

See attachment for more details.



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Photo: Lydia's tail

Wednesday, January 16, 2019

Photo copyright Gloria Z. Nagler


Conveniently, Lydia's tail doubled as a bottle brush.



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Photo: Whoa! An entire bowl for me!

Sunday, January 6, 2019

Photo copyright Gloria Z. Nagler


Happy New Year to me!" exclaimed Lydia joyfully. 

(takes so little to please a squirrel when you think about it)



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Managing beavers in urban settings

Saturday, January 5, 2019

Learn all about managing beavers in urban settings at the next meeting of the Thornton Creek Alliance.

There will be a panel discussion with representatives from Seattle Public Utilities (Deb Heiden), Seattle Parks (Patti Bakker), and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (Ezekial Rohloff).

Thursday, January 17, 2019
6:30 pm social half-hour
7:00 pm program begins
Maple Leaf Lutheran Church, 10005 32nd Ave. NE, Seattle, 98125

This event is free of charge and open to the public.



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Photo: Lyla despised treasure hunts...

Tuesday, December 18, 2018

Photo copyright Gloria Z. Nagler

Lyla despised treasure hunts, but apparently no squirrel party was complete without one.



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Photo: Thanksgiving otter

Friday, November 23, 2018

Thanksgiving otter
Photo by Martin DeGrazia

Bog Watcher Martin DeGrazia spent part of Thanksgiving with one of the bog otters. The otters are so used to Martin that they swim toward him, instead of away. He had time for a brief photo session.

Freshwater river otters live in every significant body of water in the area - Ronald Bog, Twin Ponds, Echo Lake, McAleer Creek. They have been known to travel over dry land and have been seen in Kruckeberg Gardens which has no body of water nearby.

They are normally elusive, hunt in the dawn hours, and build their burrows with an underwater entrance.

DKH


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Photo: Will work for peanuts

Wednesday, November 14, 2018

Photo copyright Gloria Nagler


Yep, it's true, dougies will work for peanuts :) 

Look at that lower incisor! Shot this today, and hardest thing was shooting the pic at close range while giving her nut after nut 'till she found one she approved of, without having my fingers mistaken for food (don't try this at home ;).

--Gloria Nagler



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Photo: No time to say hello - good bye

Wednesday, September 12, 2018



No time to say "hello" - "goodbye" I'm late I'm late I'm late...




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Wildlife: Otter at Ronald Bog

Sunday, August 26, 2018

Otter at Ronald Bog
Photo by Martin De Grazia

I suspect that Martin was up very very early to get this photo as the best time to see otters is dawn.

This guy is a fresh water otter. We have them in every body of water in Shoreline - and in McAleer Creek as well. They're versatile.

They are also elusive. People who live by the lakes see them (and sadly, people who have koi ponds see them) but the occasional visitor will never know they are there.

Considering how elusive they are, this is really an extraordinary photo. Thanks to Martin for sharing!

DKH


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Photo: Bunny in clover

Tuesday, August 7, 2018

Innis Arden bunny
Photo by Jan Hansen


I used to spend summers looking for four leaf clovers. Now, I leave them to my little gardener.

I have a coffee and just watch.

--Jan Hansen



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A poem by An Attorney Sticking Up For Maligned Brown Bears

Saturday, July 28, 2018

Photo by Wayne Pridemore in Alaska


There are poems

About Brown Bears

-walking on two feet-

-eating cookies-


There are scenes:

A murderous Brown Bear

Devouring little girls

With pony tails

And flowered dresses.

Photo by Wayne Pridemore in Alaska


These poems are bad

Bad for Brown Bears

Bad for their character

Bad for their reputation

Brown Bears resent

"Brown Bear " poems.

Photo by Wayne Pridemore in Alaska


Brown Bears are easy going

But they feel they are 

Unjustly maligned

And they peacefully ask 

For retribution.



Yours truly,

Brown Bears by Frank Broderick 1979



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Photos: Mama's little babies

Friday, July 20, 2018

Photo by Wayne Pridemore

Photo by Wayne Pridemore

Wayne Pridemore just returned from a trip to Alaska. He took his camera, of course. He captured some charming photos of a mother bear and her cub.

Wayne says, "For animals great and small, it's often up to mom to teach her little one how to survive and use their instincts wisely."

Photo by Wayne Pridemore

Photo by Wayne Pridemore

He was bemused to find a similar scene in his back yard when he returned.

"The same thing happens in a Shoreline back yard as in the Lisianski Inlet in southwest Alaska." 

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Ducklings and Northshore Fire

Saturday, June 23, 2018

This little guy was the first duckling pulled from
the drain and the firefighter was about to go
back for the other three

Photos courtesy Northshore Fire

On May 31, 2018, a crew from Northshore Fire in Lake Forest Park was able to rescue four ducklings that had fallen into a storm drain and reunite them with their family.

The next day - the full sibling group
It involved a firefighter leaning headfirst into a storm drain vault to grab the ducklings one at a time and pull them out.

The next day, June 1, 2018 the station received a visit from a family of ducklings.



Unknown if the rescued ducklings were part of this sibling group, back to say "thank you".

But nice to think they were.



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Photo: Poem: Lucky rabbit's foot

Friday, June 22, 2018

Backyard Bunny
Photo by Wayne Pridemore


They say a rabbit's foot brings luck,

that doesn't seem right to me, 

but if it is,

image how lucky,

a Hippo's foot would be.


Keith Tilburg, Poems of Mainly Nonsense



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Photos: Backyard bunnies

Sunday, June 17, 2018

Photo by Wayne Pridemore

So - Wayne Pridemore and Marc Weinberg both sent me backyard bunny photos within a few minutes of each other.

I'm debating. Do they live next door to each other? They both live near RB Saltwater Park. Have the bunnies completely overrun Richmond Beach? They seem to be working on it.

Is it the same bunny?

Is it the same bunny? The lighting is different. But the bunny markings look different to me.

Wayne says "Each evening around 7:30 our backyard cottontail shows up in our little garden. She samples the endive, the lettuce, but her favorite seems to be the curly kale. The rabbit community around the edge of Richmond Beach Saltwater Park appears to be growing because we sometimes see cottontails on other nearby streets."

Eating the Pridemore's endive
Photo by Wayne Pridemore

Marc says "For weeks now we have been entertained morning and evening by a rabbit that loves our grass. During last night's evening meal the sun back-lighted the ears and I was amazed to see the veins highlighted in the late day setting sun.


Actually, Richmond Beach can't be overrun or people would be complaining about the bunnies instead of being charmed and entertained by them.

Photo by Wayne Pridemore

I like this one because Bunny looks so guilty - but can't resist getting that last mouthful.

DKH


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Photo: A deer in the garden

Friday, May 25, 2018

Photo by Nancy Utter

For at least a week the neighbors at Sky Acres have had a trio of deer in their gardens. I first saw the three on 15th Ave NE near where Guitarville used to be. They must have successfully crossed the street and come up the hill to 10th Ave.

I have lived in my house 50 years and this was a first. After several days of nibbling, the one deer I had in my garden moved on.

--Nancy Utter



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Public health seeking people exposed to rabid bat near UW Saturday

Tuesday, May 22, 2018

Bats
A rabid bat was found near Husky Stadium at the University of Washington (UW) on Saturday, May 19, around 2pm and at least one person was bitten.

Multiple people were likely exposed to the rabid bat while attempting to help the individual remove the bat from his hand at a UW fraternity.

If you may have had contact with the bat, seek medical care immediately. Rabies can be life-threatening, but treatable if caught soon after exposure and before any symptoms have appeared. Once symptoms develop, rabies is almost always fatal.



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When NOT to "Rescue" a Wild Animal

Saturday, April 21, 2018

Leave Bambi alone - his mother will return
Photo courtesy WA Dept Fish and Wildlife

Many wild animals do not need to be "rescued" and there is almost NEVER a time when you should remove a baby wild animal from its natural environment – even if it appears abandoned.

More often than not, just leaving a young animal alone affords it the best chance for survival.

Every year hundreds of young wild animals such as fawns, baby seals, and baby birds are needlessly "rescued" and referred to wildlife rehabilitators.

This is extremely detrimental and harmful to the young animal, as well as disruptive and costly to wildlife rehabilitators when they most need to concentrate limited resources on truly orphaned or injured wildlife.

Young owl on ground in Shoreview Park
Photo by Nikki Chau
Unless the animal is showing obvious signs of illness or injury such as bleeding, vomiting, panting, shivering, lethargy, ruffled feathers or fur, attack by cat/dog, leave them there.

You can help by always consulting a licensed wildlife rehabilitator prior to collecting the animal, thereby preventing its handling.

Locally, consult PAWS in Lynnwood  425-412-4040 or Sarvey Wildlife Care Center in Arlington 360-435-4817.

Why these babies do not need rescuing. Young animals are often left alone for hours while their parents gather food.

They are being tended by their parents in ways best for their survival and appropriate for that species, ensuring that they retain natural wild behaviors.

It is normal and typical for a deer fawn to be left alone hiding in a bed. It is also common for young birds to leave the nest before they are fully feathered or flight-ready.

Baby crows live on the ground
Photo by Peggy Bartleson
They will be fed on the ground for a day or two by the parents until they are able to fly.

Careful observation before distressing and collecting these animals should help you make a correct decision whether or not they are truly orphaned or injured and need help.


Yes, very young birds sometimes fall out of nests. If you can safely reach the nest, put it back.

The adults will NOT reject their young because "they smell like people." If the bird is older or you cannot find the nest, place it in a tree or shrub or on a shaded portion of a roof, out of the way of cats, dogs, and children.

Do not unnecessarily handle or move it from the general area where it was found. If a baby bird shows obvious signs of illness or injury, call a wildlife rehabilitator first and describe what you see.

This information also applies to marine mammals. Baby seals are often found on local beaches above the tide line. Their mothers park them there while they go hunt for food.



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