Whoa, Dan Herrera posted to the Capital Naturalist Facebook Group on Friday:

“This bobcat was observed at the C&O Canal in DC! iNaturalist doesn’t show any observations in the area, and the last documented bobcat in the district appears to have escaped (but is now returned) from the zoo. So this is quite the find!

North of Georgetown – closer to the Palisades neighborhood”

Ed. Note: Although, it does look a little bit like Cookie…

Thanks to newzguy1234 for sharing the updated photo of the construction progress on Sunday.

Ed. Note: “The opening of East Potomac Pool is currently scheduled for summer of 2020.” Knock wood, knock wood. You can read about why it’s taking so long here.

Thanks to Anthony for sending: “Checkout this random Chandelier found hanging in the middle of Meridian Hill.”

From the National Parks Service:

“To protect and restore native plants and promote healthy and diverse forests, Rock Creek Park is announcing its deer management window of operations starting Nov. 20, 2019, through March 31, 2020.

Extensive safety measures will be in place to protect park visitors and neighbors during operations. Biologists, who are also highly trained firearms experts from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, will be working under the direction of National Park Service (NPS) natural resource management specialists and in coordination with U.S. Park Police and local law enforcement to conduct reduction actions at night when the park is normally closed. Read More

Photo by PoPville flickr user Phil

From DPR:

“Today, the DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) released the 2019-2020 Indoor Pool Maintenance Closure Schedule. Beginning Monday, November 18, DPR’s indoor, year-round aquatic centers will temporarily close in phases, to undergo yearly scheduled preventative and corrective maintenance.

In partnership with the Department of General Services (DGS), the closure periods include pool drainage, water circulatory system repair, chemical controller service, and outstanding work order abatement. Pools at Dunbar, Ferebee Hope, HD Woodson, Marie Reed and the Therapeutic Aquatic Center will remain open for the duration of this winter’s maintenance schedule.

Indoor Pool Closure Schedule: Read More

Thanks to Mindy for sending:

“Meridian Hill Park sign is gone. 7am Saturday. Not vandalized or knocked over but GONE!!! I didn’t walk through or around to see it was somewhere else.” Read More

Thanks to Penny Cavachon for sending.

Not all will be pleased.

“Dear PoPille,

Do you know if they’re ever going to reopen the bike path through the zoo that was closed last year? I hate going through the tunnel on Beach Drive.”

Jenna shared with us from the Rock Creek Park Facebook page:

“As you may know, Rock Creek Park and DDOT are embarking on the next phase of restoration work along the multi-use trail from Rose Park in Georgetown to Broad Branch Road at Beach Dr. In addition, there will be an installation of a new trail along the north side of Piney Branch Parkway to Arkansas Ave. and over to 16th Street. In the area just south of the Zoo tunnel, a new pedestrian bridge will be installed and the trail that loops around the Zoo tunnel will be repaired.

The good news is that all of the necessary compliance work and construction documents for this ambitious project have been completed. Earlier this spring, DDOT advertised the project for bids with the hope of starting construction in October (with a two year construction schedule). Unfortunately, we have been informed that the bids have come in well over the estimated cost for the project. Read More

Thanks to Aaron for sending this “Nine (or ten??) point buck wading in Rock Creek”

If you spot a hawk or any interesting wildlife around town, lunching or otherwise, and get a good photo please send where you spotted it to [email protected] and I’ll add it to the queue. Hawks around Town is made possible by a generous grant from the Friends of the White Whale Society.

“Seeds drifting through space for years took root in a farmer’s field. From the seeds came pods which had the power to reproduce themselves…” – Dr. Miles J. Bennell | Invasion of the Body Snatchers, 1956

They’re already here! They’re growing silently in your favorite parks. They’re climbing over trees, covering the forest floor, and slowly taking over the ecosystem–vine by vine, sprout by sprout! They’re leafy invaders from outer space and they’re hiding in plain sight!

Well, technically, they aren’t from outer space and they certainly aren’t going to turn you into a pod person. The aliens we worry about at Rock Creek Conservancy come from all over planet Earth, and are a major problem for the forests of Rock Creek Park. Today, we’re talking about invasive plants.

The extraterrestrials from the 1955 sci-fi novel The Body Snatchers planned to leave Earth depleted of all resources before moving on to the next planet. Similarly, the non-native invasive plants that take root in Rock Creek Park wreak havoc on entire ecosystems. They monopolize space, nutrients, and sunlight until the local flora and fauna can’t live here anymore. Read More