Category Archives: Wildlife

Interpretive Blogs about Wildlife and Plants

Mountain Beaver (aka “Boomer”), (Aplodontia rufa)

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Test your knowledge with this ‘True or False’ quiz on Mountain beavers (answers follow):

  1. Fur trappers nearly wiped out Northwest boomer populations.
  2. Boomers are closely related to North American and Eurasian beavers.
  3. Boomers or “mountain beavers” are related to squirrels and will climb trees.
  4. Boomers must drink one-third of their body weight each day.
  5. All beavers fall trees, build dams, and live in lodges.
  6. Mountain beavers communicate via tail slaps, which is why they are called ‘Boomers.’
  7. The largest flea known lives exclusively on Mountain beavers.
  8. Boomers have unique teeth.  
  9. Boomers are asocial most of the time.
  10. These rodents live in deep burrows.
  11. Boomers have limited ability to see and hear.
Young Mountain beaver
(courtesy NPS and USGS)

Answers:

  1. False. Trappers nearly wiped out the American beaver populations, (not the Mountain beaver).
  2. False. Mountain beavers are not even in the same genus with real beavers (genus Castor). The Mountains do have several similarities in that they are relatively large rodents, smell bad, and have brownish-grey fur. This compact rodent weighs less than 2 pounds.
  3. True. Molecular results consistently identify a ‘sister’ relationship between the mountain beavers and the squirrel family (Sciuridae). Mountain beavers have large, curved front claws perfect for climbing, will climb nearly 15 feet up a tree to forage.
  4. True. These mammals are considered to be a living fossil with primitive, inefficient kidneys. They must drink a lot of water to survive. They live in watery/moist habitats up to the tree line in areas ranging from British Columbia south through to extreme western Nevada.
  5. False. Mountain beavers are strictly herbivorous and do not build dams or lodges, or have much of a tail to slap. Typically food includes ferns, salal, nettles, fireweed, bleeding heart, salmonberry, brambles, rhododendron, and young tree saplings.  
  6. False. Slap a less than 2-inch tail? Ouch. American beavers have a large flat tail that they slap to make noise.
  7. True. Hystrichopsylla schefferi is one of the oldest fleas in evolutionary history and females can be up to .5 inches long. Fortunately, the flea only likes Mountain beavers.
  8. True. Mountain beavers have unusual tooth projections and simple form. They are ever-growing.
  9. True. This rodent is not social…except to breed. They stick very close to their home burrow at all times.
  10. True. They create tunnel networks to store food, raise young, and avoid predators. Predators include cougars, owls, skunks, weasels, and domestic dogs. Tunnels can include ten or more exits.
  11. True. Limited sight and hearing is common for animals that spend a lot of time underground.

A few surprises?

Boomers, or “Mountain beavers”, would have a tough time living up to the merits of the well-loved American beaver.

These animals can become a nuisance

If they are a problem, contact the Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife for regulations and relocation options.

REFERENCE:
–Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, beavers (https://myodfw.com/wildlife-viewing/species/beavers)
–Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, Aplodontia-rufa (https://wdfw.wa.gov/species-habitats/species/aplodontia-rufa#living)
–Encylopedia Britannica, Mountain beaver (https://www.britannica.com/animal/mountain-beaver)
–USDI National Park Service, Mountain beaver (https://www.nps.gov/pore/learn/nature/mountain_beaver.htm)
–Wikipedia, hystrichopsylla schefferi and Mountain beaver (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/…)

Black-tailed & Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus)

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Photo courtesy of National Park Service

Black-tailed deer eat too much of my coastal garden

Healthy Black-tailed deer populations exist in western Oregon (and most likely my back yard). This ‘edge adapted’ species looks for forests with mixed age classes where it can hide in the dense forest cover during the day and eat everything in your garden in the morning or evening.  

Identification

Black-tails are a subspecies of mule deer which are found across the Pacific Northwest, from California north into Alaska. A large male (a “buck”) might stand three feet at the shoulder and weigh around 200 lbs.  An adult female (a “doe”) might weigh around 130 lbs.

Their tawny-brown coloring makes them difficult to spot. The wide, triangular tail with the white underside however is easy to spot as they gleefully bound into the forest after eating all of the flowers on the deck.

Adaptations

Deer communicate through touch, vision, sound, and scent which gives us humans some options for discouraging deer dining in our gardens. They are not as shy as one might think and have made themselves quite comfortable on our back deck, eating potted blueberries, petunias, and azaleas.

First off, they have excellent hearing and are not intimidated by barking humans. They know you are not a dog.

Domestic dogs are considered one of their predators. Other predators include coyotes, cougars, and humans.

Black-tailed buck, photo courtesy of National Park Service.

Male Blacktails have great vision and can spot other animals up to 2,000 feet away, even while chewing. The females do not seem to have that same capacity or are simply fascinated by a weird human running their direction and barking.

Black-tails are a popular game animal for hunters. Techniques used include: Spot and stalk, hunting blinds, still hunting, and rattling antlers. Scent control is very important when hunting these mammals.

Scent Deterrents

Scents can also help deter visitors. Deer naturally want to be able to smell their predators. Overwhelming smells can make that difficult to accomplish.

There are smell and taste deterrent sprays which help in the short term. Some strategies might also include hanging scented soaps, human hair, and diesel-soaked rags on or near affected plants. Many a neighbor has questioned why such things hang from our fruit trees and why the small stand seems to smell like a cheap boudoir certain times of the year.

Lastly, there are effective ways to deter damage. Check out the Manage Wildlife Conflicts in Your Home and Garden (https://catalog.extension.oregonstate.edu/pnw719/html) for ideas on blocking access and deterrence and Living with Nuisance Wildlife (https://catalog.extension.oregonstate.edu/sites/catalog/files/project/pdf/ec1579.pdf)

REFERENCES:
–Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife (https://myodfw.com/big-game-hunting/species/black-tailed-deer and publications mentioned above)
–National Park Service, Olympic National Park ( https://www.nps.gov/olym/learn/nature/black-tail-deer.htm)

Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)

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Some people think vultures are ugly. More than just another ‘buzzard’
Turkey Vultures are part of Mother Nature’s Cleanup Crew.

Turkey Vulture (Royalty free Unsplash.com)

Turkey vultures have a large-wingspan up to six feet. These good sized birds (nearly three feet in length) can weigh up to five pounds.

Body feathers are dark, brownish-black with silvery-gray flight feathers on the underside. In flight, the bird seems to wobble, infrequently flapping its wings, and relying on the thermal air currents to carry it low to the ground.

The head looks small in proportion to the bird’s body and is a distinctive gnarly red with few feathers. Juveniles have gray gnarly heads.

Diet and Prey

The beak is interesting because you can see through it from one side to another–the nostrils are not divided. Unlike most birds, Turkey vultures have an excellent sense of smell to help them identify decay.

The relatively short, hooked, ivory-colored beak is weak. The vulture cannot tear the tough hides of larger animals. To solve this problem the vultures hang out with other bigger birds and clean up after.

They rarely, if ever, kill. Turkey vultures typically feed on recent kills, roadside kills, some fruits and vegetables, and fish stranded in shallow water.

Turkey vultures have flat feet that are relatively weak. The feet are poorly adapted for grasping and walking. On the ground it has an ungainly, hopping walk.

The tracks measure between 3.5 and 5.5 inches in length (including claws).

Predators and Defense

The turkey vulture has few natural predators and keen eye sight. Predators include golden and bald eagles, great horned owls, red tailed hawks, and nests can be ravaged by raccoons, opossums, and occasionally foxes.

Turkey vulture in flight (Courtesy of ODFW)

Defense

Vultures lack a syrinx which is the vocal organ for birds. Rather than graceful twitters, it grunts and hisses low with its. Young hungry birds will often grunt; adults during the courtship display will also grunt.

This bird uses rather creative defense strategies when protecting its nest, fighting, or trying to make a quick exit. The bird will hiss when feeling threatened or when fighting for a carcass.

If it cannot flee, the vulture will feign death or vomit. Even the babies will hiss and vomit. This foul-smelling substance can sting face and eyes.  

Nesting

Turkey vultures nest in sheltered areas that could include crevices, under rocks, caves, dense thickets, old buildings, and hollow trees. The vultures will nest in caves, but generally will not enter the cave except during the breeding season.

A traditional nest is not built. Eggs will rest on a flat area.

Let’s Party

These vultures are gregarious. During the mating process, several birds will gather in a circle and perform a ritualized hopping dance around the circle with wings partially spread.

They will communally roost on dead trees and manmade structures at night. They are able to lower their nighttime body temperature by about 6 degrees C. which reduces heart and respiratory rates, and blood pressure.

Range and Habitat

Turkey vultures are a permanent resident in the southern U.S. and is widespread over open country, shrub and grasslands, deserts, foothills, subtropical forest. It prefers open or semi-open areas and generally avoids heavily forested areas.

Welcome sign of spring

Vultures are a typical sign of spring and what would be spring without some cleaning? Vultures are a critical part of Mother Nature’s Clean-up crew.

As much as we might want to ignore it… cleaning up is a critical task that some body has to do. The Turkey vulture is a real tough cookie. We know it is tough… after all how many birds do you know of whose droppings will kill trees? Amazing.

REFERENCES:
–Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife (https://myodfw.com/wildlife-viewing/species/raptors)
–Wikipedia, Turkey Vulture (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkey_vulture)
–Audubon Society Field Guide (https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/turkey-vulture)