Thanks to @ShoesMcCoat for tweeting us another awesome photo:
“saw a beautiful #fox this morning. photo taken after his breakfast: One less rat in pershing square, #dc”
wildlife
Photo by PoPville flickr user julianne’s
From District Department of the Environment:
“Hippity hop…have you seen Peter Cottontail? If so, we need your help! The District Department of the Environment, Fisheries and Wildlife Division is monitoring the population of Eastern cottontail rabbits in the District. You can become a Citizen Scientist by recording your rabbit sightings and sharing them with our biologists. Your efforts will play a vital role in helping protect and conserve rabbits in the city. For more information on the program and how to become a volunteer, please contact Lindsay Rohrbaugh at citizen.science(at)dc.gov”
“Dear PoPville,
If you walk along the new riverfront park in Georgetown and stop at the concrete corner about that sticks out into the Potomac, you can often see a group of beavers that seem to be making their home around that chunk of concrete. We’ve had the best luck seeing them around sunset, swimming and sitting in the reeds on the embankment. It’s odd they live there. I wonder if the are have made a “dam” and are living in one of the giant drainage culverts/pipes along there.”
Thanks to @sshkri for tweeting the photo above:
“Two foxes running around the World War II Memorial!”
Earlier in the month DCist reported about some fox sightings around town. And we’ve previously spoken about the fox seen around Haines Point. Anyone else spot a fox or two around town recently?
Photo by PoPville flickr user CarrieA
This weekend I saw some crazy photos on Facebook of Deer all over the place – even on Connecticut Avenue. Thanks to CarrieA for uploading these to the PoPville flickr pool. Are others noticing lots more deer (even in the daytime) in unusual places lately?
Ed. Note: Last week we noted mating season was starting soon.
Photo by PoPville flickr user CarrieA
Photo by PoPville flickr user jlgriffiths
From State Highway Administration (SHA) via MPD:
“Deer alert! In the coming weeks, the deer population will enter its mating season and motorists should be on the lookout for the animals crossing roadways and making erratic moves. Called the “rutting season,” this is a time when deer collisions with vehicles are prevalent and often unavoidable. However, the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) cautions motorists to never veer for deer.
“Collisions with deer are not always avoidable, but there are steps drivers can take to reduce the chance of a deer strike,” said SHA Administrator Melinda B. Peters. “For your own safety and that of other drivers, never veer for deer. We see crashes where drivers lose control and vehicles have gone off the road, often severely injuring the passengers.”
Here are some tips for limiting your chance of a vehicle-deer collision (more…)
Nevermind the Mountain Lion Sightings, “a (deer) buck can and will stomp and possibly kill your pet”
Photo by PoPville flickr user johnmcochran2012
The following warning was sent to the 5D-MPD listserv from a dc.gov email address:
“Animal control has been notified and confirmed that Mountain Lion sightings have occurred during the past 3 weeks in dc….
Sighting/Safety Tips (Wild Animals)
Citizens should call 911 for any sightings. DO NOT approach
Keep your pets in at night
Kept garbage in containers”
Though the Washington Post says the Mountain Lion sightings are unproven, attached to the MPD listserv warning was also a “Deer Alert”:
“CAUTION: Those walking pets should make sure they are on a leash, and do not allow them to chase after these deer; a buck can and will stomp and possibly kill your pet. Don’t attempt to pet them. They will bite and may have ticks on them that carry Lyme disease. Remain calm and quiet and allow them to pass peaceably. Smaller wild animals should be reported to Animal Control at 311. If you don’t get appropriate responses for an infestation of smaller wild animals, let the Public Works Committee know and we will work with our Association board to bring this to the attention of the city administrators.”
From the Washington Humane Society:
“On Saturday, September 14 to death at approximately 12:30 p.m. on the 1900 Block of H Street NE. Witnesses have stated there were approximately 15 children ranging in age from 10 to 20 years old involved in the incident.
The Washington Humane Society is seeking the help of the community for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for this horrific act of animal cruelty. The Washington Humane Society is offering a $5,000 reward that will be given to any person who provides such information.
If you have any information about this case, please contact the Washington Humane Society Humane Law Enforcement Department:
Officer D’Eramo
dderamo(at)washhumane(dot)org
(202) 723-5730
Information will be kept confidential upon request.
Warning: Disturbing photo of the scene after the jump. (more…)
Flora and Fauna of Rock Creek Park by artist Rebecca Osten.
Baby hummingbird recuperating courtesy of citywildlife
From a press release:
For the first time in its history, the nation’s capital has a licensed, professionally staffed veterinary facility dedicated to helping wild animals. City Wildlife expects their new facility at 15 Oglethorpe Street, NW, to handle as many as 1,200 orphaned, injured, and ill wild animals the first year. The center opened on July 1. Among the patients they have already rescued are:
o An Osprey who was struck by a truck on the Frederick Douglass Bridge, treated, and reunited with his family group;
o A sick pregnant squirrel, who gave birth to four babies while in City Wildlife’s care and was cured and released with a nest box for her new family; and
o A juvenile Ruby-Throated Hummingbird who was dying of starvation until the center nursed him back to health and prepares to send him to an environment with abundant nectar-producing flowers. (more…)