The other day a friend mentioned that she (and her dog) met a cougar in the Gabriola woods. Now there’s something to keep in mind if you go off for a hike, hmmm? Somebody asked me a while ago if cougars can swim. Of course they can, and here’s proof in a Youtube video: (The [...]
Filed in Gabriola Island,wildlife 3 Comments so far
Howard Houle wrote to tell us that: The Regional District of Nanaimo is hosting a number of Bear Smart information sessions this spring. Every year conservation Officers respond to calls from concerned residents reporting conflict situations with bears. Many of those situations involve bears and household attractants like garbage cans, barbecues or bird feeders. If [...]
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Today in the forest we surprised a small creature who darted under the bushes and ran off before we could see just what he was. He’d been digging, and had made these two little tunnels, each of which extend for at least a foot. I came home wondering if squirrels dig holes like this. Do [...]
Filed in Gabriola Island,wildlife One Response so far
From the Times Colonist: Fallow deer eating their way across Gulf Islands. Invasive deer with voracious appetites are swimming between Gulf Islands and, as native trees and plants are munched out of existence, Parks Canada and local residents are looking for a final solution. European fallow deer — a different species from the native black-tailed [...]
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And to think that we order Christmas turkeys from the grocery store or from the butcher!
Filed in birds,food,Gabriola Island,wildlife 5 Comments so far
Every now and again a certain Gabriola photographer sends a photo along to share with us; this is the most recent. I’m quite taken with this shot – it’s great to see the detail. Thank you, generous photographer.
Filed in Gabriola Island,wildlife 6 Comments so far
I thought turkey poults were a spring thing, since it was May last time I noticed them. (Gabriola turkey update.) But now the turkeys who hang out by the RCMP station on South Road at Dirksen have lots of little additions toddling about in the grass. Very cute. Maybe one of these days I’ll manage [...]
Filed in Gabriola Island,wildlife 4 Comments so far
You’ve always wanted a good look at squirrel teeth? Here you go, then.
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Our bear is getting more and more publicity. First this, from the Times Colonist: Bear proves its sea legs with swim to Gulf island. A black bear has managed to swim to Gabriola Island, quashing the community’s long-standing reputation as a bruin-free zone. The bear was first spotted May 7 near Twin Beaches and has [...]
Filed in Gabriola Island,wildlife 12 Comments so far
We seem to have some booze-loving animal on Gabriola, and I’m wondering if it’s a bear or some other creature. What’s your guess? This is one of many, many beer cans tossed aside in the forest. (Some have been re-born as trailmarkers.) I’m guessing it had a bit of beer left inside, hmmm? And somebody [...]
Filed in Gabriola Island,junk in the forest,wildlife 4 Comments so far
Now that we’ve got a bear on Gabriola (seen on Ferne Road today), some of us will be a lot more alert in the forest. This list is from Backpacker Magazine’s article, Rip and Live: Learn to Survive a Bear Attack. Here is when and where you’re most likely to see them: Dawn and dusk. [...]
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Somebody has seen a bear down at Twin Beaches, GROWLS says. So, hmmm. If you’re heading down to Taylor Bay, Pilot Bay, or anywhere near there, you might want to be a little more alert than you might otherwise be. And of course that bear could be anywhere on Gabriola by now, or might have [...]
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From the Washington Post: Learn to speak squirrel in four easy lessons. Robert Lishak knows what the squirrels are saying. What we may hear as nonsensical chattering the Auburn University biology professor perceives as the back and forth of squirrels communicating with one another — and with other animals, as well. To study this squirrel [...]
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When a cougar was seen on Gabriola last month, talk in some circles turned to what cougars eat. Deer, we thought. But now it seems that cougars might have other preferences. From the Vancouver Sun: Scientists unlock mystery of cougar diet. When researchers in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve started collecting cougar scat samples, they [...]
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I’m not a hunter, so I don’t usually read hunting-related articles. I’m a hiker, and the closest I get to hunting is wearing bright colours when it’s deer-hunting season on Gabriola. But this… this is an interesting perspective. From The Atlantic: Hunters Are People Too. Like many vegans and vegetarians, I abstained from animal-derived foods [...]
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A cougar crossed in front of my car on Daniel Way on Saturday morning. Handsome with blackish grey fur. This was an adult with round head and a tail, about 2 1/2 to 3 feet long, healthy-looking and presumably quite happy on a diet of venison and rabbits and quail. I reported the sighting. The [...]
Filed in Gabriola Island,wildlife 21 Comments so far
I meant to ask yesterday, after seeing this in the Gabriola woods. Who left this print, do you think? Rabbit? Squirrel? (Length is about 1.5 inches/4cm.)
Filed in Gabriola Island,wildlife 3 Comments so far
