Douglass Squirrels Sighted in Briarcrest

Wildlife enthusiast, Chris Southwick sighted native Douglass Squirrels (Tamiasciurus douglasii) in her backyard habitat last week.

Douglass Squirrel - Tamiasciurus douglasii
photo credit - Chris Southwick

Douglass Squirrels are one of the "Native" species of squirrels in WA State, but they are increasingly rare since their habitat has been overrun by the common Eastern Gray Squirrels shown in the photo.

They have also been sighted at Hamlin Park and in Boeing Creek Park areas.

ph credit - Chris Southwick

WDFW has information on most of our native wildlife species.  They recommend building nesting boxes to attract the Douglass Squirrel. Plans for constructing a nesting box can be found at the WDFW site at this link. 

ph credit - WDFW

Douglas' squirrel (Tamiasciurus douglasii)
Body: 7" Tail: 5" 
Douglas' squirrels are small native tree squirrels. They are dark chestnut on the back fading to a reddish- or brownish-gray on the sides; their underparts are orange to gray and are offset by a short black stripe. The eye ring is pale orange. Their tails are somewhat bushy, slightly flattened and have a black tip. Douglas' squirrels vocalize often and have a range of calls from a low "chirr" to a sharp staccato "cough".


Chris Southwick serves on the board of the Puget Sound Bird Observatory and conducts permitted "bird banding" actions at her Briarcrest home. She lives near the Grace Cole Nature Park, which is located in Lake Forest Park, but is adjacent to Shoreline.

Cats Indoors! Wiley Coyote on the Loose!

Pet owners in Paramount Park Neighborhood beware. Coyote prowling in the neighborhood today! 

Coyote just resting in Paramount Park Meadow

This sighting is not terribly uncommon. Coyote's have been seen here many times over the years.

It's obviously advisable to keep your pets indoors when coyotes are around. Cats have been known to disappear. Also a good idea to keep pet food indoors.

Here are some tips from Russell Link of WDFW.

http://wdfw.wa.gov/publications/pub.php?id=00610

Living with Wildlife - Coyotes

Category: Living with Wildlife - Species Fact Sheets
Date Published:  2005
Number of Pages: 8
Author(s): Russell Link, Urban Wildlife Biologist

INTRODUCTION:

From bats to woodpeckers, the animal species covered in this series were selected after surveying agencies and organizations that receive calls from the public about local wildlife. While many people call for general information about wildlife, in many cases the calls are from people who are—or think they are—experiencing a conflict with a wild animal and are seeking a way to remedy the problem.

It’s important to note that not all wildlife create conflicts. Although it might not appear so at the time, the animals, which are often referred to as nuisance or problem animals, are innocent. When a conflict exists between humans and animals it is usually because the animal is only doing what it needs to do to survive. It is simply following its own instincts, and intends no harm or discomfort.

Dealing with a conflict can be difficult because it is often a community issue. Some people habitually feed and perhaps inadvertently shelter wildlife, while their neighbor may not want wildlife around at all. "One persons nuisance is another persons joy", etc. This scenario can create undesirable situations for people, pets, and the animals themselves. Raccoons, coyotes and squirrels that are fed by people often lose their fear of humans and may become aggressive when not fed as expected. These hungry visitors might approach a neighbor who might choose to remove these animals, or have them removed.

A conflict also can quickly alter a wildlife lover’s perception about a certain species, especially when the situation exceeds his/her current level of tolerance. Such is the paradox that wildlife around homes and property present: We want them and we don’t want them, depending on what they are doing at any given moment.

Each entry in the “Living with Wildlife” series begins with a description of a species followed by details on feeding behavior, reproduction, and other biological information. For people needing to learn more about an animal to help solve a conflict, details on tracks, burrows, nest sites, etc. are provided. Finally, for those interested in attracting the animal, tips for attracting and maintaining its habitat are provided.

The section “Preventing Conflicts,” encounters between home and property owners and wildlife found in yards, gardens, and structures are described. This section describes several methods for resolving human-wildlife conflicts, including changing human behavior or perceptions so that people are willing to tolerate some damage.

Next, public health concerns for each species is described followed by the animals’ legal status. Before taking any action to remedy a conflict associated with wildlife, its legal status must be determined. All mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians that occur in the wild in Washington are protected or regulated by state and/or federal laws. These laws not only pertain to the killing of regulated species but may also prohibit live trapping and relocation, harassment, and possession of the animal dead or alive.

Adapted from "Living with Wildlife in the Pacific Northwest"

Written by: Russell Link, Urban Wildlife Biologist

Salmon BACK IN the Classroom?

Seattle City Council President Richard Conlin may have saved the day on the "Seattle in the Classroom" program, at least for Seattle Schools.

Councilmember Conlin leaves no doubt that he
loves our salmon!

According to the satirical news blog Seattle Salmon, Councilmember Conlin has seen to it that SPU look high and low for a solution to the funding problem to ensure that this program is continued in Seattle Schools.


Seattle Salmon, is normally a media outlet that one would not look to for the straight story. But, for whatever reason they posted the below story:



Way to go Councilmember!  This is a great program to preserve the link for kids to real fish in real streams. Now, we just need to make sure the little fry can swim downstream and upstream in our local creeks. Will WDFW let the kids release the salmon in Thornton Creek?

City of Seattle to preserve “Salmon in Schools” education

Seattle City Council and Seattle Public Utilities exploring all options to save program

Seattle – The Salmon in Schools program, cut by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) last fall as part of the State’s 2010-2011 fiscal year budget reductions, will likely continue in Seattle schools.

Upon learning that WDFW may no longer fund the statewide program, Seattle Council President Richard Conlin requested that Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) find a way to support the program for Seattle school children.  SPU is offering additional support for the program at a cost of $10,000 per year through the Restore Our Waters program.

“Environmental stewardship starts young,” said Council President Richard Conlin. “Kids learn best by seeing and interacting with nature and wildlife.  The Salmon in Schools program is a successful example of hands-on education.  I had to do something to preserve this valuable resource, and I hope that other municipalities and organizations around the state will do the same.”

The Salmon in Schools program, established in 1991, is an educational project that encourages respect for our aquatic resources and promotes responsible behavior toward the environment.  Large tanks and salmon eggs are provided to both public and private schools and students learn about the salmon lifecycle and the interrelationships between water quality and habitat issues by watching the salmon hatch and grow into fry.  Eggs are provided by state and tribal hatcheries.  The salmon are released into local streams after about 12 weeks.  Statewide, an average of 495 schools participated each year, reaching 40,000 students.  Approximately 50 of those schools are in Seattle.

In addition to supplying the eggs and providing and maintaining the tanks, WDFW funding has supported administering the permits necessary to release the salmon into the streams.  All schools raising salmon require permits and staffing the administration of these permits will need to be resolved for the program to continue.

WDFW is exploring ways to continue the program with private or non-profit funding if the cuts become permanent, and in the meantime SPU has offered to assume the cost of  maintaining the tanks used in Seattle schools. SPU will also continue partnering with local watershed groups, Seattle school district staff, and teachers to implement and maintain the educational component of the program.

“This program is an engaging way for youth to garner an understanding of the important connections between salmon and healthy waters,” said Ray Hoffman, Director of Seattle Public Utilities.

For this year, salmon eggs have already been delivered to schools across the City and kids and grown-ups alike are excited to watch them hatch, grow and swim away down one of Seattle’s streams.

Salmon in the Classroom Program - A Victim of Budget Cuts?

The Salmon in the Classroom programs have been a fixture of our elementary school curriculum for a couple generations now in the Puget Sound region. Educators sought to instill the natural interest, curiosity of kids and environmental values by providing experiential learning opportunities.

Scientists and students at UW School of Aquatic and Fishery Science monitor salmon

The "Salmon in the Classroom" projects have been a yearly event that created excitement and anticipation of fullfilling a worthwhile goal for students. Kids participated actively, by feeding, checking water temperature and doing the final salmon fry releases into local creeks.

In Seattle, the largest watershed is Thornton Creek. It is salmonid habitat, with at least five species of salmon - coho, chinook, sockeye, cutthroat and even steelhead. Salmon fry releases by students have been a fixture in Thornton Creek and several of the other largest watersheds in the City.

But now sadly, the programs may be coming to a halt due to budget worries and water quality concerns. Typically, the UW School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences hatchery has supplied teachers and classes, grades 1-6 with the eggs in carefully controlled programs.

"Eyed" salmon eggs from Issaquah Hatchery

Every year 40,000 schoolchildren in WA State have been introduced and participated in the lives of salmon. But now, WDFW (Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife) which manages the resource and which is facing the same drastic cuts every State Department faces, has had to eliminate the program as a result of the last special session of the Legislature. According to an article in Seattle Times WDFW Program Manager Christy Vassar says, 

"We are sorry to lose the program. Tens of thousands of young people learned about the natural world for the last 20 years, but these are extremely tough economic times, and all state agencies are required to cut back." 

Spawning salmon being "crowded" into pens to be sorted at hatchery

The funds had originally come from the federal government, but now the funds will have to be used elsewhere. The amount seems relatively small for a statewide program (my editorial judgement). Cutting the program will save $110,000 for this school year. It costs the schools nothing. Many of the schools have existing equipment which could still be used if it still functions if they were able to get the salmon eggs. But there is also another problem for the schools in the Thornton Creek Watershed such as Olympic Hills Elementary (in the Hamlin Creek Basin on Thornton Creek's North Branch).

According to those familiar with that local program, the Issaquah Hatchery has prohibited the classrooms in Seattle from releasing salmon (nor are they to receive the eggs for such a release) into Thornton Creek!

Thornton Creek and other urbanized watersheds have experience problems for spawning coho. There is a "pre-spawn mortality" problem which has been documented. This is likely due to stormwater runoff in these streams. The runoff is said to contain a toxic mix of sediments, petroleum based products and metals such as copper. The copper comes from brakepads from motor vehicles. The copper IS going to be phased out over the next few years, because a bill was passed last session to ban it within several years.

So, according to sources who know, the Issaquah Hatchery has been able to now put the kiebash on salmon releases in Thornton Creek. It appears that there is actual discrimination going on against our urban streams and our urban classrooms in effect!

In our opinion (Of Paramount Importance), this is a very bad policy for so many reasons.

First of all it's clear that urban school children are now going to be denied the experiential learning that past generations received and a first hand knowledge about salmon streams. This is very wrong educationally and culturally.

Second of all, the $110,000 seems like a large amount of money, but spread across the entire state it was actual an incredible bargain to provide this educational benefit that instilled the value of salmon and their habitat in 40,000 school children. This is a colossal budget misjudgement. What other statewide program offers so much tangible and hands-on scientific understanding to so many children for so little?

Third, why does the Issaquah Hatchery have jurisdiction over Seattle School Children and their families and over Seattle's largest watershed? This is where the taxpayers are in this state who provide the bulk of the tax dollars for Issaquah's watersheds. Seattle and Shoreline have been faithful participants in the WRIA8 (Water Resource Inventory Assessment for the Cedar/Lake WA Watershed).  And they have unselfishly provided funding to restore watersheds all throughout the basin, with little tangible benefit to our cities' watersheds, except for small programs like "Salmon in the Classroom".

What can be done? Tell your legislators. Tell your City and County Councilmembers.  Tell WDFW.

We have a voice and if we really still care about our salmon, and having a legacy for our kids and grandkids to remember what it was like to have salmon in our local streams, we can use our voices to make a difference!


Sure there are so many worthy programs being cut and this is just one more. But, it seems disproportionate to cut one of the few experiential programs that kids really get excited about, and one which actually costs so little.


Let's invest in our future. Invest in knowledge about the environment and our iconic salmon culture. How will kids really learn  about salmon if they are only seen in  history books? 


Oh wait! They're also cutting back on history too. If it's not on the WASL........ forget it! 


Just my 2 cents for salmon! 


Janet

Nature Conservancy Program- Rare Butterflies

The Nature Conservancy, Washington State Chapter is celebrating the release of rare butterflies in South Puget Sound Prairie Lands.

Has anyone in the Shoreline Area spotted one of these beautiful little jewels? 

What butterflies have you spotted here? We can post them on our 

Urban Wildlife column. 

Send us a photo!

It was just a little stage fright.
As a group of 60 Taylor’s checkerspot butterflies were set free on the 
prairies of South Puget Sound this spring, they were hesitant to take flight.
The rare butterflies—known for their orange, cream and black coloring—
lingered in the mesh containers that had been used to transport them
from the Oregon Zoo. Biologists from The Nature Conservancy and
the Department of Fish and wildlife had to coax them out into the gusty day.
“The weather isn’t quite what we wanted, it’s a little cooler and little more
windy than we’d like,” said Hannah Anderson, Conservancy biologist.


(click to see a Draft Report from WDFW)
But as the sun peeked out from behind the clouds, the butterflies
began fluttering around the wildflowers. Some even mated. “They respond
to sunlight like nothing I’ve ever seen,” said Mary Linders, biologist for the
Department of Fish and Wildlife. “Every stage of their life cycle is triggered
by sunlight. It’s remarkable.”
The butterflies were raised at the Oregon Zoo as part of a 
multimillion dollar program  that aims to bring back endangered 
species that have found critical refuge on Fort Lewis. 
The Conservancy has been working closely on the project with
partnering agencies like the Department of Defense and Washington
Department of Fish and Wildlife.


Other species involved in the project are the mardon skipper butterfly,
the streaked horned lark and the Mazama pocket gopher; all are candidates
for listing under the federal endangered species act.
Support from Conservancy members allows our biologists 
to focus on bringing these rare critters back for all of us to enjoy.
The Taylor’s checkerspot butterfly is on the verge of extinction.
Once found at more than 70 sites from Vancouver Island, BC to the
Willamette Valley in Oregon, it’s now found only at two known locations in
Puget Sound. Their decline is linked to loss of prairie habitat.


“We think only about 3 percent of our native prairies remain in this region,”
Anderson said.


As part of the captive rearing program based at the Oregon Zoo,
caterpillars have been released into the prairies for several years in a row.
The 60 adult butterflies released this spring will augment the reintroduced
population.


“We’re seeing a lot of success,” Anderson said. “The fact we’re seeing
adults flying after we put out caterpillars, that’s a really good indication.”

photo credit -Prairie Landscape Working group

http://www.southsoundprairies.org/

Nature picture credits (top to bottom, left to right): Photo © Jocelyn Ellis/TNC (butterfly on hand); Photo © Katherine Satherr/TNC (butterflies released).

The Fisher-Lost Predator Returns to Washington

This looks fascinating. The Fisher once lived all over the Northwest. (Maybe it even lived in our Seattle area originally before European settlers and trappers).

Here is your chance to learn about the fine efforts of scientists to bring back the Fisher to the Olympic National Park wilderness areas.

PRESS RELEASE:  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: March 18, 2010
From: Adopt A Stream Foundation
NW Stream Center, 600 128th Street SE Everett WA 98208
Web: www.streamkeeper.org

Contacts:  Tom Murdoch,  Adopt A Stream Foundation Director – 425-316-8592
Jeffery Lewis, Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife Biologist – 360-902-2374

Subject: Lost Predator Returns to Washington – Fishers

Attached: Fisher Photos – high resolution versions the attached + fisher release photos and other scenes available upon request by calling 425-316-8592

A Predator Lost Returns to Washington:With A Little Help From Some Friends

On Thursday night March 24 at 7PM, the Adopt A Stream Foundation’s Streamkeeper Academy presents: Fishers: A Predator Lost Returns to Washington...With A Little Help From Some Friends.  This presentation, which is in partnership with Snohomish County Parks and Recreation at the NW Stream Center in Mc Collum Park (600-128th Street SE Everett 98208), will be conducted byJeff Lewis, a Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife  (WDFW) Biologist.    Jeff is WDFW’s lead for the Olympic Fisher Reintroduction Project and works closely with Patti Happe, the project lead for the National Park Service (Olympic National Park), and Kurt Jenkins, the project lead from the US Geological Survey.

Fishers are  cat sized animals related to Mink, Weasels, and Otters.  They make their living by eating small mammals like rodents and snowshoe hares.  They also eat fruit and berries and help clean up dead deer.  This opportunist will also eat fish.  Unfortunately, the beautiful fur of this secretive and mysterious creature was a major attraction to the fur trade.   That beauty, combined with destruction of deep forest habitat, resulted in Fishers disappearing from Washington State by the mid-1900’s.

The Olympic Fisher Reintroduction Project  project is a collaboration of state and federal agencies, non-profit organizations, tribes, the British Columbia Ministry of Environment and many other organizations, agencies, and individuals.  It is the result of 10-years of planning and preparation that included a status review, a recovery plan, a reintroduction feasibility assessment, a reintroduction implementation plan, and an environmental assessment of the recovery plan, not to mention the ground work involved with actually doing the work.  Since January of 2008, the project has trans-located 90 fishers (50 females and 40 males) from central British Columbia to Olympic National Park in an effort to reestablish a self-sustaining fisher population in Washington State.

While a large part of the project involves getting fishers from BC and releasing them in Washington, that part is small in comparison to the effort, staff, and resources required to monitor the released fishers to determine if the project is succeeding.   “I look forward to sharing some details about fishers and the reintroduction project and explaining how and where we obtained fishers, how they were transported and released, and how we track them to monitor the success of the project,” Lewis says.  “I will also highlight some of our findings so far, predict where the project will go in the next 2-3 years, and talk about the possibility of continuing fisher recovery efforts in the Washington Cascades. Hope you can make it, it should be fun.”  Be prepared to enjoy some beautiful pictures of this beautiful predator back in the wilds of Washington.

Pre-registration by Wednesday, 23 is required by calling 425-316-8592: $5 for AASF members, $7 for non-members.  Proceeds support Streamkeeper Academy.


Photo Credit - John Jacobsen and Adopt-a-Stream