photo via National Mall NPS

From the National Mall NPS (National Parks Service):

“This wily coyote (Apetitius giganticus) was spotted yesterday morning in East Potomac Park by our tree crew supervisor. While coyotes are known to inhabit nearby Rock Creek Park, it is rare to see them on the National Mall.”

The photo is a bit far away but Mark also reported to us last week: “Coyote on Rock Creek Golf Course. Kinda cool to see the urban wildlife. That coyote was just hanging out watching us tee off.” (more…)


“Dear PoPville,

My husband and I went to the Aquatic Gardens today [Sunday] around 3:10pm and upon entering, we saw a park staff member or officer in uniform running to the info booth with a flotation device under her arm in a panic. We stopped in our tracks and she said “Did he go to get the gator?” “Where is it?” The person manning the booth said yes and pointed her to the left around the body of water. She ran in that direction and yelled “Tell him I’m over here, okay?” I’m from Florida and we don’t play with that so obviously we left but an alligator?! In DC?! Hoping your readers can shed some light on this.”

Ed. Note: On July 27th 2018 “an illegal 5-foot caiman” was removed from a home in SE. The National Zoo says: “The American alligator is found in the United States from North Carolina to the Rio Grande in Texas.”


Thanks to Paige for sending this extraordinary capture: “This guy (or gal? I’m no ornithologist) was completely un-phased by the humans walking by on the Hill”

If you spot a hawk or any interesting wildlife around town, lunching or otherwise, and get a good photo please send in an email 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 Ben and Sylvia Gardner foundation.


Thanks to Michael for sending from “in front of the Wesley United Methodist Church on Connecticut Ave NW in Chevy Chase. There were several foxes (2+) and were climbing around the playground.”

If you spot a hawk or any interesting wildlife around town, lunching or otherwise, and get a good photo please send in an email 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 Ben and Sylvia Gardner foundation.


Friends of the White Whale Society is brought to you by the team behind Last Christmas Tree in Town.

Thanks to Athena for sending:

“Saw this little guy on my walk this morning in the park at McPherson! Looks like an albino mallard? I don’t know enough about birds to know though.”

If you spot a hawk or any interesting wildlife around town, lunching or otherwise, and get a good photo please send in an email 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 Ben and Sylvia Gardner foundation.


Thanks to Adam for sharing:

“I just rescued a good sized and energetic snapping turtle from a lane of Piney Branch, just short of Arkansas. Is it odd, being a creature of Rock Creek, that it had barnacles on the shell?”

If you spot a hawk or any interesting wildlife around town, lunching or otherwise, and get a good photo please send in an email 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 Ben and Sylvia Gardner foundation.


Thanks to S. for sending from Dupont yesterday: “Just hanging out on a row house step with a piece of lettuce…”

If you spot a hawk or any interesting wildlife around town, lunching or otherwise, and get a good photo please send in an email 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 Ben and Sylvia Gardner foundation.


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