Wildlife

[old goat]

From Moonshine Ink news briefs online--
"The Return of Sandhill Cranes
LAKE TAHOE

Sandhill cranes, birds that once upon a time had all but vanished from the Tahoe region, are migrating to Lake Tahoe this spring. “More and more, these cranes are stopping to spend the summer here,” says Tahoe Institute for Natural Science co-founder and executive director Will Richardson.

Formerly a popular game bird, only an estimated three to four pairs were believed to nest in the entire state of California in 1944. In 1970, lawmakers in the state took action granting sandhill cranes fully-protected status. Six years later, nests were documented in the Sierra Valley, but it was still many decades before they started to reach the Tahoe region. In 2015, a milestone was reached when a breeding pair with a colt was discovered at Teichert Ponds in Truckee. In 2018, a pair began nesting at Grass Lake near Luther Pass, the first documented breeders in the Lake Tahoe basin.

“People need to be mindful that they are still highly susceptible to disturbance, and should be given plenty of space whenever a nest or a pair with a colt is found,” says Richardson.

The big winter of 2023 led to a major uptick in attempted nesting in Tahoe, with additional breeding either suspected or confirmed at Pope Marsh, Washoe Meadows State Park, and the Upper Truckee Marsh. Unfortunately, not all of these nests were successful last year.

“We believe that the Upper Truckee Marsh nest likely failed due to disturbance from recreational paddlers, despite the fact that the California Tahoe Conservancy posted clear signage for paddlers to stay away from the active nest,” says Richardson. Other nesting sites, such as those at Washoe Meadows State Park or the Teichert Ponds in Truckee may be subject to disturbance from people walking their dogs off leash.

To learn more about the research and conservation efforts led by the Tahoe Institute for Natural Science, visit tinsweb.org."

I saw one 2 years ago on Donner Lake. I hadn't realized it lived here (Teichert Ponds).

[evdog]

From today...last thing I expected to come across out here was a badger

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[Woo-Dus]

Pretty lucky to witness this.
https://youtube.com/shorts/zfL-2-Eoc-Y?si=SVHJ8qWyzFlcM7WJ

[old goat]

Wow

[mcski]

From today...last thing I expected to come across out here was a badger
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In SoCal?? I had no idea they even existed there. They give no fuks

[evdog]

In SoCal?? I had no idea they even existed there. They give no fuks

This was actually NV just above Bullhead City, maybe a mile outside CA. But I saw one in Socal (Carrizo Plain) a couple years ago. Had no idea they existed here either.

[SoVT Joey]

Pretty lucky to witness this.
https://youtube.com/shorts/zfL-2-Eoc-Y?si=SVHJ8qWyzFlcM7WJ

Is it just me or does that cat look like it may be pregnant?


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[Woo-Dus]

I was thinking the same. The whole situation felt weird, the elk seemed like a roadkill, the guts looked to be gone but the cat was still being very protective of the carcass. Cats will have their litter about this time of year. Maybe she was pregnant, needed the meat and the coyotes had already been feeding that’s why they were hanging around.



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[SoVT Joey]

Heard a wolf howling the other night here in VT. I’ve listened to coyotes yip my entire life so definitely was them. Only other place I’ve heard wolves was in Montana when I was living there. It was pretty crazy. I was shocked to hear it.


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[buttahflake]

What? Yikes

[Norseman]

[muted reborn]

Did a short hike last night on Grandeur and we saw a bit everything. Coyote was stalking some deer. Snake is a gopher snake.






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[John_B]

It's terrible photo quality but this little guy ran in front of my wife and I while we were walking to dinner last night. There were a bunch of turkeys around so I assume it was chasing one of them. On our way home I walked into the bushes where it had been and found a gut pile and fur from what looked to have been a cat or Pomeranian.

[plugboots]

[2bjenny]

This cute little northern saw-whet owl moved in next door. Tiny but loud, beeps through out the night. Sounds like a truck backing up.

[The Reverend Floater]

Eggs. Sandpipers has them.

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[evdog]

Gnarly spider I saw on the trail tonite



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[Vt-Freeheel]

Some hungry Robins wondering who I am

[Harry]

Baby owl




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[Harry]

Mama owl




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[Djongo Unchained]

Great pattern on that Barred owl.

2bJenny's pic of the little Saw whet owl was a winner too.

[Harry]

Daddy owl.



this pic taken from inside the house


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[The Reverend Floater]

A Vegas pool hawk.



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[Djongo Unchained]

Daddy owl.



this pic taken from inside the house


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Don't let GG out with those hunting owls around. Cat killers supreme.

[AK47bp]

Do owls rip heads off animals? The past week I found 2 rabbits on my street with their heads gone with their bodies intact. Just weird they weren’t eaten, just beheaded. Read somewhere owls may do that.


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