Coyote sightings around San Ramon, Calif., schools have been reported recently, the latest one Thursday morning when one of the animals was seen sleeping under a school’s marquee.
What follows is a collection of photos of local coyotes in the wild to help you make sure what you’re seeing is really a coyote. Read the rest of this entry »
In my last entry I wrote about a Cooper’s hawk in my backyard that used a sneaky, outside-the-box hunting technique to catch a sparrow on my bird feeder. Talk about small worlds! Here’s a video I just discovered of a Cooper’s hawk on a similar sneaky hunt, poking around on a patio until it gets a chance to fly up and grab a sparrow on a feeder from below!
This video was taken by YouTube user omniscientomar and used here under a Creative Commons license. He was feeding his 1-year-old kid (background sounds) while he took it.
Acorn woodpecker by Brian Murphy, Walnut Creek, Calif.
In case you haven’t already noticed, there’s a problem with acorn woodpeckers in Walnut Creek’s Rossmoor Retirement Community. Read the rest of this entry »
A survey conducted this month by the American Kennel Club shows that despite a tough economy, pet owners are willing to sacrifice many daily luxuries to provide for the needs of their canine companions. Here’s what the AKC says: Read the rest of this entry »
Gary:
Times are tough right now for many of our neighbors, friends and family. With so much financial unease in our communities, many companion animals are feeling the pinch as well. Many caretakers are not able to provide their animals with the medical care they might so desperately need. Read the rest of this entry »
Raccoon in house by Maureen Wright, Pittsburg, Calif.
You can’t really blame the raccoons for foraging for food … BUT … there are humane ways to help protect your lawn and house and still get along with your wild neighbors.
I’ve put together a 7-page “Gary’s Raccoon Help” and will be happy to provide a FREE COPY to anyone who needs it. It’s full of humane solutions that have been used successfully over the years by many of my other readers. Read the rest of this entry »
California Condor photo courtesy U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Scott Frier
Center for Biological Diversity, Natural Resources Defense Council Help Extend Lead-Ammunition Ban to Protect Iconic Birds
LOS ANGELES — A settlement announced today between environmentalists and the State of California will strengthen protections for California condors by placing limits on the use of ammunition containing lead throughout the species’ range. Read the rest of this entry »
Dr. Barry Kipperman, DVM, DACVIM, from VetCare Emergency & Specialist Care Center, Dublin, Calif., sent me some important information about your pets.
Dear Gary:
This is a wonderful time of year during which we give thanks for our blessings and spend time with our friends and family. This usually means travel, and that means your pets are either traveling with you or are being cared for by a neighbor, friend, or family member.
Mourning dove into window by Tony Martarella, Walnut Creek, Calif.
Dear Gary:
About a week ago I was standing in my bedroom when I heard a thump on the window. The shade was partially down so I didn’t see what caused the noise. When I looked out I saw a bird lying on the sidewalk below. Read the rest of this entry »
