I received this story about a blackbird named Bill in a Christmas card from my childhood friend, Linda Gurtz Hildreth. Such a good message…. thank you Linda. Linda and her husband Jeff go out on their large sailboat nearly every weekend and sometimes take the 10-12 hour trip from the west …
Our Backyard Brethren: Recent Wildcam Photos
I took a hiatus with our Bushnell wildlife camera, but have put one up again the last couple months in 3 different places to track our wildlife visitors. Thought I would post a few photos of what's been in our yard, plus what's been waking up my husband most early mornings as it goes through the …
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Great Hikes: Oak Glen Preserve for Fall Colors
Note: I added some spring photos in the photo gallery too. Also click here for a map of the preserve Fall in Southern California falls a little short for this Midwestern transplant. So a recent trip to The Wildlands Conservancy’s Oak Glen Preserve in Oak Glen, with its changing foliage of …
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Wildlife and Predator Friendly Products
In writing an article for the Organic Trade Association I came across an interesting program that certifies livestock producers (ranches, farms) for having wildlife-friendly and even predator-friendly practices. They allow carnivores such as coyotes and foxes to co-exist with their agricultural …
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Rodent Poisons: What Communities are Doing (Part 3)
I heard some coyotes howling the other night and what a comforting sound. I hadn’t heard them for many months and with my last article on this subject opening with a sick coyote, it was nice to hear them sound healthy. I tried not to think about the rabbit or rodent they were probably about to …
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Butterflies: Plants to attract them, and concerns
It's nearing October and I'm still seeing some butterflies around - a few Western Tiger Swallowtails although they're much fewer, some Cabbage Whites and a variety of those little orange ones that I've given up identifying. I checked in with a couple butterfly aficionados on what plants were …
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