Western Gray Squirrel - Sciurus griseus
Most of the mammals in my area are nocturnal and/or crepuscular (active at dawn and dusk). During the day I mainly see squirrels, foxes, and deer. Two of the squirrels in my neighborhood remain active all year, the Western Gray Squirrel and the Chickaree or Douglas Squirrel. At this time of year they mainly eat mushrooms, mistletoe berries, acorns, pine nuts and seeds. They search for food daily, but also have caches of food to eat when snow blankets the ground. They are incredible tree climbers and acrobats, and can rotate their hind feet 180° backwards when climbing down a trunk. During winter they usually live in a hollow tree or limb, or abandoned woodpecker cavities.
Most of the mammals in my area are nocturnal and/or crepuscular (active at dawn and dusk). During the day I mainly see squirrels, foxes, and deer. Two of the squirrels in my neighborhood remain active all year, the Western Gray Squirrel and the Chickaree or Douglas Squirrel. At this time of year they mainly eat mushrooms, mistletoe berries, acorns, pine nuts and seeds. They search for food daily, but also have caches of food to eat when snow blankets the ground. They are incredible tree climbers and acrobats, and can rotate their hind feet 180° backwards when climbing down a trunk. During winter they usually live in a hollow tree or limb, or abandoned woodpecker cavities.
Chickaree/ Douglas Squirrel - Tamiasciurus douglasi
A Gray Squirrel's tail is approximately 9"-12" long. A Chickaree's tail is 4"-6" long.
I found this Chickaree tail in the forest this week! Some predator caught one, and left the tail untouched. Pine Martens, Bobcats, foxes, owls, and Goshawks are their predators. Pine Martens hunt mainly on the ground for rodents at night, but will also pursue prey in trees. Goshawks are diurnal forest hunters, and Chickarees are their preferred prey! Bobcats are nocturnal and mainly hunt for prey on the ground, but can also easily climb trees. The Pygmy Owl is diurnal, and the only owl I've seen in our neighborhood. I doubt that it could catch a Chickaree because it is quite small (7" tall). Foxes are mainly nocturnal and crepuscular, but I have often seen them during the day. Unlike other foxes, the Gray Fox can climb trees! So maybe a fox or a Goshawk caught the Chickaree!
Gray Fox - Urocyon cinereoargenteus
Gray Foxes are usually solitary, except during their breeding time from January through February. These lovely foxes mate for life. Pups are born sometime between April and May. Both parents care and feed the young. In winter, the adults eat birds (e.g.quail), mice, squirrels, and rabbits. They live in hollow logs or trees, under large rocks, or in underground burrows.
Mule Deer - Odocoileus hemionus sp.
We have two types of Mule Deer in our area, the Columbian Black-tailed Mule Deer and California Mule Deer. The easiest way to identify them is by the marking of their tail. The Columbian has a black stripe down its tail ending in a black tip. The California deer's tail is white with a black tip. These deer bred last Fall, and the fawns will be born sometime between June and July. The males will drop their antlers between January and March, and regrow them between April and August. These deer do not mate for life. Males usually stick with males, and females with females except for brief periods of breeding.
Striped Skunk - Raccoon
Mephitis mephitis - Procyon lotor
In the evening, I occasionally see a Striped Skunk feeding on bird seed down by our bird feeding station. They are primarily nocturnal mammals. During the winter they mainly eat mice, gophers, voles, rats, seeds and nuts. Breeding season extends from February through April. Kits are born around the middle of May. They live in underground dens in the winter, and when raising their young.
I rarely see Raccoons, as they are mainly nocturnal. In winter they eat nuts, mice, squirrels, and seeds. They also store up fat for winter, usually an additional 1/3 of their body weight, and could survive the entire winter without eating if necessary! They mate sometime from January to March. Young are born between April and May. The female raises the young on her own. In the winter, Raccoons live in an underground den, sometimes with up to 24 other Raccoons!
A Gray Squirrel's tail is approximately 9"-12" long. A Chickaree's tail is 4"-6" long.
I found this Chickaree tail in the forest this week! Some predator caught one, and left the tail untouched. Pine Martens, Bobcats, foxes, owls, and Goshawks are their predators. Pine Martens hunt mainly on the ground for rodents at night, but will also pursue prey in trees. Goshawks are diurnal forest hunters, and Chickarees are their preferred prey! Bobcats are nocturnal and mainly hunt for prey on the ground, but can also easily climb trees. The Pygmy Owl is diurnal, and the only owl I've seen in our neighborhood. I doubt that it could catch a Chickaree because it is quite small (7" tall). Foxes are mainly nocturnal and crepuscular, but I have often seen them during the day. Unlike other foxes, the Gray Fox can climb trees! So maybe a fox or a Goshawk caught the Chickaree!
We have two types of Mule Deer in our area, the Columbian Black-tailed Mule Deer and California Mule Deer. The easiest way to identify them is by the marking of their tail. The Columbian has a black stripe down its tail ending in a black tip. The California deer's tail is white with a black tip. These deer bred last Fall, and the fawns will be born sometime between June and July. The males will drop their antlers between January and March, and regrow them between April and August. These deer do not mate for life. Males usually stick with males, and females with females except for brief periods of breeding.
Mephitis mephitis - Procyon lotor
In the evening, I occasionally see a Striped Skunk feeding on bird seed down by our bird feeding station. They are primarily nocturnal mammals. During the winter they mainly eat mice, gophers, voles, rats, seeds and nuts. Breeding season extends from February through April. Kits are born around the middle of May. They live in underground dens in the winter, and when raising their young.
I rarely see Raccoons, as they are mainly nocturnal. In winter they eat nuts, mice, squirrels, and seeds. They also store up fat for winter, usually an additional 1/3 of their body weight, and could survive the entire winter without eating if necessary! They mate sometime from January to March. Young are born between April and May. The female raises the young on her own. In the winter, Raccoons live in an underground den, sometimes with up to 24 other Raccoons!
Ringtail Cat - Bassariscus astutus
This beautiful dead Ringtail Cat was found on the side of a road by a friend of mine. It didn't have any obvious injuries, but it was probably bumped by a some kind of vehicle and sustain internal injuries. We don't know. It is so sad that it died, but it was an incredible experience to look at it closely. Such a beautiful animal!!!
I've seen these lovely creatures only a few times in my life, always at night. They are about the size of a large house cat, only with a longer, bushier tail. They hunt for prey on the ground and in the trees, where they are excellent climbers. Their diet consists mainly of rodents, rabbits, squirrels, carrion, acorns, and berries during the winter. In the winter they sleep in underground dens, lined and padded with lichen and moss. They are solitary except during the breeding season in April. Young are born in late May to early June. After the kits are weaned, the father assists in the feeding of the young!
Sierra Valley 12/30/19
Sierra Valley
Since the weather had been so lovely and not snowy, we decided to go for a drive to Sierra Valley and look for raptors last week! It was so beautiful! Gorgeous storm clouds hung over this huge valley, casting their shadows across the fields and mountains. I saw two Coyotes run past, too quick to grab a photo, but great to see!
Sierra Valley
Since the weather had been so lovely and not snowy, we decided to go for a drive to Sierra Valley and look for raptors last week! It was so beautiful! Gorgeous storm clouds hung over this huge valley, casting their shadows across the fields and mountains. I saw two Coyotes run past, too quick to grab a photo, but great to see!
Canada Geese - Rough-legged Hawk
Branta canadensis - Buteo lagopus
Canada Geese were in large groups on the wetlands, but not much other waterfowl was present. We did see about 8 raptors; several Red-tailed Hawks, a Kestrel, a Northern Harrier, perhaps a White-tailed Kite, and a Rough-legged Hawk!
I luckily got several photos of the dramatic-looking Rough-legged Hawk, which we had never seen before!!! These beautiful hawks breed in the taiga and tundra across Canada and Alaska, up to the high arctic. The feed on small mammals, including lemmings, voles, mice, shrews, rabbits and ground squirrels. In the winter they migrate down into the U.S. and inhabit pastures, marshy areas, and wet meadows. They are not commonly seen in our area, except for Sierra Valley. Some years there are a lot in the valley in winter, other years there are few to none. We were so lucky to see one of these incredible, long-distance migrants!
Canada Geese - Branta canadensis
We'll go back to Sierra Valley in another month to see what other birds have arrived!
Snow Flurry
Weather Update
Colder temperatures, overcast skies, and dry weather was the pattern this week. We had a short snow flurry that lasted about 30 minutes, with a total snowfall of about 1/10 of an inch! Warm and sunny weather is predicted for the coming week, which I hope is just a temporary break. We certainly don't need another drought year!
Is anything blooming?
Are any insects out and about?
Check back next week for the answers to these questions and more!
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