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

Photo: The otter's dinner

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

Photo by Martin DeGrazia

This is a Ronald Bog otter, calming enjoying his / her dinner in spite of the camera held by Otter Whisperer Martin DeGrazia.

The otters and cormorants at Echo Lake appreciate the state of Washington for stocking the lake with trout but they don't stock Ronald Bog. 

However, there's enough fish to keep the otters happy.



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Wild creatures among us: Otters

Wednesday, December 4, 2019

Otter at Ronald Bog
Photo by Martin De Grazia
By Diane Hettrick

A man I knew who worked in a building on Echo Lake told me a story years ago about being in the building at 5am and seeing animals he didn't recognize leaping and playing in the water. 

We took the story to the Echo Lake neighborhood association and after a lot of research, identified the creatures he saw as freshwater otters.

Then, people who lived around the lake started telling otter stories. It's apparently one of those things you know about if you live there. 

My favorite story was the young man who was fishing off one of the docks. He was catching a lot of fish and thought it would be a great idea to keep them in a basket and put the basket under water.

When he was done, he pulled up the basket - and it was empty. The otters were probably delighted with the bonanza.

A rare photo of an otter out of water
running along the shores of Ronald Bog
Adult males are 4 feet in length and weigh 20-28 pounds
Photo by Martin De Grazia
I have heard many other otter stories since. 

Martin De Grazia lives on Ronald Bog and sees otters there regularly. 

They are very elusive and I have few local photos, so I am pleased that he was able to get a number of photos and share them.

Otters live in burrows with underwater entrances or hidden dens near the water. They spend most of their time in the water, hunting for fish, and other water creatures, such as crayfish. 

They are a particular boon to Echo Lake, which has the dubious distinction of being home to a species of invasive crayfish.

Otter at Ronald Bog
Photo by Martin De Grazia
Otters are opportunistic, though, and will follow any good food source. 

George Piano of Lake Forest Park told a story about coming home to find an otter fishing in his koi pond. She ran off, but not before getting a few of his prize koi. 

A few days later, she was back, this time using his pond to teach her pup how to fish.

George's home in Lake Forest Park has a steep ravine behind his property, which drops down to McAleer Creek.

Otters playing in the waters of Twin Ponds
Photo by Debbie Arthur

I think it's safe to assume that every body of water and every stream in Shoreline and Lake Forest Park has otters. This week, I received a photo taken by Debbie Arthur of otters in Twin Ponds. Kevin Urie reports they are in Boeing Creek.

The Department of Fish and Wildlife says that "In late fall, the pups leave to establish their own territories. During this time, wandering youngsters are seen far from water, traveling on land between lakes, ponds, and from one stream drainage to another."

Otters at Ronald Bog
Photo by Martin De Grazia
This is a partial explanation for the stories about otters being seen traveling across the Kruckeberg Botanic Garden in the Richmond Beach neighborhood. 

Since there are no streams or bodies of water nearby, I am still curious about where they are coming from.

It's also interesting to think that, aside from the occasional fish pond, the otters are finding enough fish in the lakes, bogs, ponds, and streams, to sustain life and breed.

-----
This article was originally published January 11, 2016. Since then, Martin De Grazia has become the Otter Whisperer, apparently part of the otter clan. The otters stare at him but they don't hide and he is getting some amazing photos from Ronald Bog.




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Photo: Lake dweller

Sunday, December 1, 2019

Photo by Martin De Grazia


What is the strange creature on shore - the one with the odd contraption attached to his face - no wait, now it's gone. It makes a clicking noise. I will have to stare harder to understand this. 

He spends a lot of time by our Bog but never comes in the water. Sometimes we think he is one of us. Sometimes we are not sure.

This will require much more study.

--Bog Otter



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Photo: Otter at Ronald Bog

Sunday, November 24, 2019

Photo by Martin De Grazia

Otters are shy and elusive. They frolic at dawn and live in burrows with underwater entrances. Seeing them is a rare thing.

Except for Martin De Grazia. He has spent so much time photographing wildlife at Ronald Bog that the otters have apparently accepted him as one of their own.

It's the only explanation for the dozen photos that De Grazia just got of the Bog otters.

--Diane Hettrick




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Photo: Flyby

Monday, September 2, 2019

Photo by Gloria Z Nagler


Sheesh, thought Sid, I really wish Hedy would practice her takeoffs somewhere else!




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Photo: Baffled squirrel

Saturday, August 31, 2019

Photo by Gloria Z Nagler


People are always trying to outsmart squirrels - this idea might work!




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The Curious Mystery of a Dead Mole

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

A life and death drama played out in John's back yard overnight


John is a reader from Lake Forest Park who sent in this mystery and the crime scene photos

We had an interesting event happen overnight in my backyard. We've been battling a mole problem for the entire summer and when I woke up this morning and looked outside I was shocked to see that a good portion of our backyard was torn up.

After rubbing the sleep out of my eyes to make sure I was seeing things clearly I went outside to investigate.

It appears that something entered the yard in the dead of night and tore up the sod looking for the mole. 

The body was abandoned at the scene
It wasn't until later in the afternoon when I got home from work that I noticed the dead mole laying on top of the grass with what appears to be two bite marks on its body. 

We heard nothing overnight and was wondering what animal may have helped us win the battle against the mole.



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Photo: Sid grabbed a little shut-eye before venturing forth to crack the next hard nut...

Friday, August 23, 2019

Photo by Gloria Z Nagler


Sid grabbed a little shut-eye before venturing forth to crack the next hard nut...



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Photo: This way I'll see the owl coming

Sunday, July 28, 2019

Photo by Gloria Z Nagler

Best to keep your back to the wall...



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Photos: Bunnies in May

Wednesday, June 26, 2019

Photo by Wayne Pridemore



Both bunny photos are from May - but they were in my Unfinished Business file (which is voluminous).

The big bunny with the mouth full of foliage was published. He's from Wayne Pridemore's backyard garden.

After she saw the photo, reader Ginger Hayra, Master Native Plant Steward and Community Gardener, sent in this information:

The plant that the rabbit is eating in the picture appears to be the noxious weed: common groundsel
I've been pulling it up along the streets in Innis Arden. Apparently there are not enough rabbits there! : )
PS Kale (and all brassica) buds are quite tasty. Feel free to graze around the edges of Plot #18 at the Sunset Community Garden. But don't tell the rabbits that the purple ones (Kohlrabi) are the best and ever so much better than groundsel!

Baby Bunny
Photo by Mary Igl

But soon after, Ginger Hayra's wish was granted. Mary Igl sent in this photo (previously unpublished) of a cute little bunny in Innis Arden.

So groundsel's days are numbered - at least in Innis Arden!

DKH



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Photo: "The nerve of some sparrows!" huffed Dougie the Douglas' Squirrel...

Tuesday, June 25, 2019

Photo by Gloria Z. Nagler


 ..."trying to cadge food from a Squirrel Feeder!"



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Photo: Coyote in Innis Arden

Wednesday, June 19, 2019

Photo by Bill Schnall
By Diane Hettrick

This coyote must live in the hillside near 17th Pl NW in Innis Arden because he or another member of his pack has used this street before.

Look how calm he is - and how healthy looking.

The photographer says that the area is full of bunnies and chipmunks. Clearly there are enough to go around.

Northridge neighbors in north central Shoreline are seeing coyotes on the streets as well.

It's really just not a good idea to have outdoor cats or to leave your small to mid-size dogs outside.




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Lake Forest Park is a duckling-friendly city

Thursday, June 13, 2019

Ducklings in the drainage pipe
Photo courtesy City of Lake Forest Park

Earlier this month it was the Lake Forest Park police to the rescue. (Ducklings down the drain)

This week it was Public Works who responded to the report of a mother duck acting distressed at the McAleer Creek bypass.

Public Works went into rescue mode.

It was discovered that ducklings were stuck in the drainage pipe and mom was outside the pipe quacking for help.

All little ones were rescued and released near mom in the creek.



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LFP Police to the rescue: Ducklings down the drain

Sunday, June 2, 2019

A distressed mother duck stands by the drain.
Two of her babies are below


Photos courtesy LFP Police

On Saturday, June 1, 2019 Lake Forest Park Officer Wieghat was flagged down by a citizen reporting a distressed mother duck standing over a drainage grate.

Mother Duck and citizens stay back and wait

In the murky water deep below the grate were two of her ducklings.

Deep below ground


Officer Wieghat removed the drain cover and climbed down below the street level to fish out the two ducklings and bring them to the surface, and return them to their mother.

Officer Wieghat returns to the surface
with one of the ducklings.

The mother duck was last seen leading all her ducklings towards Lake Washington. 

Mother Duck and four ducklings on their way
to Lake Washington

The drain where they were found was solidly covered, so it is not known where they went in or how long they traveled underground - or how their mother found them to stand vigil.

But they owe their continued existence to concerned citizens and a community police force with a heart.



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Photo: Raising the white flag

Saturday, June 1, 2019

Photo by Bill Schnall


An early morning visitor to Innis Arden trotted casually down the street.




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Photo: Bunny in the Grass

Thursday, May 30, 2019

Photo by Mary Igl


Shhhh. Be very very still and no one will know that you are here.




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Photos: Why you plant kale

Thursday, May 9, 2019

Little cottontail
Photo by Wayne Pridemore

According to Wayne Pridemore "The cottontails have been out exploring the neighborhood more as the weather has turned warmer. They seem to be scoping out what has been planted in the garden, kale is a favorite. Enjoying a little rest in the warm sun has become a daily routine."

Munch
Photo by Wayne Pridemore

I have a very large Bing cherry tree that we planted 20 years ago. In the intervening years, I think I have harvested and eaten a dozen cherries. Turns out that birds like their cherries slightly less than ripe. I call the tree my Giant Bird Feeder.

Then there are the Asian pears. Some years I have gotten huge amounts of fruit from them, some years not so much. Last year the entire crop disappeared from the tree without a trace of criminal evidence. No fruit with a chunk pecked out of it lying on the ground (birds). No half eaten pear halfway across the lawn (squirrels). No leaves ripped off with the fruit, strewn under the tree.

After many conversations with neighbors, it appears that I provided raccoons with a heck of a feast. They ate the six strawberries, too.

So I'm not planting kale. That is what Wayne Pridemore says brought the bunnies into his yard, where they ate everything else. Thing is, I think that Wayne likes his cottontails, so he'll probably keep growing kale.

And I'm putting up a Wildlife Preserve sign.

DKH



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LFP Police seek culprit who felled tree across Ballinger Way

Tuesday, April 9, 2019

Tree down on Ballinger Way NE
Photo courtesy LFP Police


Lake Forest Park Police are looking for the suspect who took down this tree overnight and partially blocked Ballinger Way.

An eyewitness described the culprit as having thick dark brown hair, large buck teeth and a flat tail.

We are quite sure he/she did not have a permit to cut this tree.

If you see him / her - keep your distance. 



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Photo: Smooch

Friday, April 5, 2019

Photo by Gloria Z. Nagler


Gloria found this couple in Lake Washington. There are turtles all over Shoreline. At Echo Lake and Ronald Bog the turtles line up on logs like this (although this one looks like a beam left over from dock building).

They seem to be sunning themselves because we only see them on warm, sunshiny days.

Gloria says these are painted turtles. I assume we are looking at a parent and a juvenile. If you look closely at the smaller turtle you can see the pattern which is so prominent on the adult.

Another dress design, perhaps?

DKH



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Photo: Well-fed coyote

Sunday, March 10, 2019

Photo by Bill Schnall


Bill Schnall looked out his window at 9am on March 3rd and saw this guy sauntering down his Innis Arden driveway.

He looks calm, confident and well-fed (not by the Schnalls!).

Just another reminder to convince your cats to be indoor only and closely supervise your small dogs in the back yard.

PAWS recommends a pop can with a couple of inches of small rocks / gravel to use as a shaker to haze coyotes away from your property. And of course, don't leave pet food outside.


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