Category Archives: Wildlife

Interpretive Blogs about Wildlife and Plants

Brandt’s Cormorant (Phalacrocorax penicillatus)

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There are three different types of cormorants on the Oregon coast. Brandt’s Cormorants reside year around and are easily recognizable during breeding season by its unique throat patch.

Photo Courtesy of ODFW

How it got is name

German zoologist Johann Friedrich von Brandt identified and named the species in 1838 while working at the Academy of Sciences in St. Petersburg, Russia. His species description was based on a specimen taken by Russians exploring the Pacific Coast at the time.

Territory for the cormorant extends from Alaska south through Mexico along the Baha peninsula. Year around residency is predominately in the U.S. along marine coastlines and estuaries near the ocean.

Favorite haunts include Washington, Oregon, and California which offer rich food sources associated with California water currents. Populations redistribute along the coast then the effect of this current diminish as this resource dissipates.

Recognizing them

In the breeding season males display an intensely blue gulag pouch. They attract mates by pointing their bill skyward and prominantly displaying their pouch.

They also have wispy white plumes along the side of their head and on their back, which show well against the solid black of the rest of their plumage. In bright light, their feathers have a green iridescence. During all seasons Brandt’s Cormorants have buff-colored feathers that outline the gular region. The other two Oregon species do not.

All Cormorants are fish-eating water birds and have four toes joined by webbing.

Where to find them

Always near the water, cormorants rarely fly over land. Nest building activities are one of the few reasons they ever come to shore.

Nests are typically built in colonies on windward slopes of rocky islands, steep cliffs, and sandy beaches. Brandt’s Cormorant tend to live together in large flocks, particularly in California and Oregon.

Nesting territories reflect this high population behavior and are quite tiny. Male Cormorants arrive at the nesting areas before females to claim their space or existing nest. They vigorously defend their nesting area and begin nest construction or refreshing,

The circular nests are typically around 14 inches wide and just over six inches tall. They contain grass, moss, weeds, sticks and driftwood, feathers, and marine algae.

Let’s Go Fishing

Brandt’s Cormorant are strong divers and excellent swimmers. Unlike other cormorant species, they do not spend a lot of time drying their wings. They do like to fish together.

They even forage schools of fish together in groups that includes other seabirds, and sealions. The group appears to work together feeding in concert. As some birds rapidly surface, others are flying to the leading edge of the flock.

Cormorants dive beside or below a school of fish and drive them to the surface. Remarkably Cormorants are able to dive up to 230 feet. During the chase, they grasp prey in their bills, crush it, and swallow it headfirst.

What’s on the menu?

Brandt’s Cormorant will eat at least 93 fish species such as anchovy, perch, herring, seabass, and other animals such as squid.

Population Declines

Even with superior swimming and fishing, the Brandt’s Cormorant populations appear to be in decline. Human activities such as spills and pollution threaten all seabirds and their prey species.

Brandt’s Cormorants may be more sensitive to the impacts than other birds because they only forage in waters where spills often occur or concentrate. Human (and dog) disturbances can cause birds to abandon a colony or leave a population vulnerable to predation.

REFERENCES:
–All About Birds, Brandt’s Cormorant (https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Brandts_Cormorant/overview and life history pages)
–Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, Pelicans and Cormorants (https://myodfw.com/wildlife-viewing/species/pelicans-and-cormorants)

Lingcod (ophiodon elongatus)

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When a fish smiles…

Lingcod (ophiodon elongatus) are almost primeval looking with large, gaping mouths and 18 large, sharp canine-like teeth. The term “ophiodon” means “snake-toothed.”

Lingcod can sometimes be blue. Photo courtesy of NOAA.

This fish was given the name ‘Lingcod’ because it looked a bit like both a ling and a cod fish. Not because it was either or even related. Lingcods belong to the greenling family (Hexagrammidae).

Description

Lingcod colors can vary. Photo courtesy of NOAA.

This voracious predator can grow to be 5 feet long and weigh up to around 130 pounds. Average size along the Oregon coast is around 2-3 feet (or around 5-10 years old).

The fish has a sinuous body with two successive long fins. They are typically dark gray, brown, or greenish on the back with some copper-colored mottling or spotting along the upper back, and sometimes blue.

Territory

Lingcods are native to the North American west coast from the Gulf of Alaska into Baja California, Mexico. Adults like to be near rocks, inshore up to 230-fathoms deep. Young lingcod prefer sandy or muddy bay bottoms and inshore areas.

As adults Lingcod are fairly sedentary and non-migratory. Males migrate to nearshore spawning grounds in late fall to establish and aggressively defend nest sites. Preferred sites have strong currents and are near rock crevices and ledges.

Spawning occurs in winter. Mature females leave the spawning ground after depositing the eggs.

Male Lingcods guard the nest until hatch (about 8- to 1-weeks later). Successful spawning would not be possible without this protection. Rockfish, sculpins, kelp greenlings, Sea Stars, and other cod will quickly destroy an unguarded nest.

Prey & Predators

Adults are aggressive predators that will eat just about anything they can fit into their large gaping mouths. Prey includes smaller lingcod, squid, octopi, crab, and large rock fish. Predators include sea lions and harbor seals, along with sharks and larger lingcod.

Fishing

Lingcods are prized by ocean sport and spear anglers, and have been an important part of local cultures.

Restrictions to protect habitat can involve seasons, areas, and equipment. Be sure to check Oregon Sport Fishing regulations and seasonal changes, licensing, and limits.

Lingcods harvested nearshore are often larger and tastier. Going out beyond the bay could be well worth the journey.

The smile…

Fish don’t smile. Mind the fingers… 

REFERENCES:
–National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/lingcod)
–Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, Lingcod (https://myodfw.com/fishing/species/lingcod)
–Fishing Booker (https://fishingbooker.com/fish/lingcod/us/OR)
–Wikipedia, Lingcod (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lingcod)

Deer Mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus)

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What animal can be found in almost every state, and in northern Canada to southern Mexico?

A Deer Mouse

The deer mouse occurs as part of essentially all communities in North America below the treeline (high mountainous areas where trees do not grow). It has the broadest distribution of any species within the genus.   

Photo by David Cappaert, Michigan State University, Bugwood.org

Characteristics

You may not see it in the wild very often. Why? Because it is active at night and a rather small mouse-like rodent.

You may however, see it in a research lab. Deer mice are used because they are easy to care for and keep themselves clean.

This mouse is only three to four inches full grown with a multicolored tail that may be four to five inches long. The colorings, tail length, and markings vary widely with the soft fur color ranging from brown to black. The white underside and feet are consistent. The mouse got the name “deer” because its color pattern was similar to that of a white-tailed deer.

Nesting

During the day the species spends a lot of time in trees a common nest location. They are excellent climbers and swimmers. They will also build soil burrows, use rock crevices, and a variety of other locations for their nests.

Nests are created using grasses, roots, mosses, wool, thistledown, etc.  They are often communal. Deer mouse litters are kept in separate, away from the communal nest.

These mice often stay in their original home range to reproduce. They are social, and will recognize and interact with mice that have overlapping ranges. Communications are chemical, visual, and vocal (such as shrieks, squeaks, trills, and drumming out a warning.

OCD-like Behavior

Movement is usually on foot walking or running. They will also leap when threatened. Limited movement leads to intrafamilial mating and limited gene flow within a range.

This may contribute to OCD-like behaviors that become evident by two months old. One behavior is creating overly large nests in the lab when not necessary.

Reproduction

This rodent reproduces profusely compared to other species and even to local mammals. Food availability, rather than season, will determined breeding opportunities.

It is not uncommon for female deer mice to have three or more litters per year. Captive deer mice have had as many as 14 litters in one year.

Mice reach adulthood at six weeks.

Diet

Deer mice are omnivores and will change their eating habits based on the season. This rodent heavily consumes arthropods such as spiders and caterpillars in the winter with seeds, insects in the spring, seeds, fruits, and leaves in the summer. They will also consume fungi.

Deer mice hoard their food and will store up to one pint of food in ground holes, tree cavities, and nests.

Predators

They are prey for almost everything like larger mammals, snakes, domestic pets, and birds. Deer mice are can carry viruses.

Disease Carrier

One particular virus to note is the Hanta. These rodents can carry the airborne hantavirus. Hanta can be passed to humans during clean up operations and through contaminated food.

Minimize the Risk

To minimize these rodents minimize potential nesting locations such as rock piles, firewood, and vegetation (especially vines connecting trees to attics) before cold weather hits. Close up any openings to your home. Get some help eradicating an infection.      

REFERENCES:
–Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, Deer Mouse (https://myodfw.com/wildlife-viewing/species/deer-mouse)
–USDA Forest Service, Fire Effects Information System (FEIS) (https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/animals/mammal/pema/all.html)
–(Wikipedia, Peromyscus maniculatus (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peromyscus_maniculatus)
–Orkin, Deer Mice (https://www.orkin.com/rodents/mouse-control/deer-mice)
–Animalia, Deer Mouse (http://animalia.bio/deer-mouse)