Poll: urban fauna

[Double Mocha Man]

I just thought they were all mascot ideas for the Mariners. Your parents make a good point. This is what happens when your team is out of contention.

[Moxeeguy]

There are a several cottontail rabbits in our yard every evening thru the night till around 7 AM. They graze on the turf grass ..... we have 2.5 acres of lawn surrounded by a coyote-proof fence. I'll find a couple rabbit nests every spring in the taller grass or weeds. The rabbits sense that our yard is safe ..... as do the quail. They squeeze thru the 2"X4" weave of the 5 ft high woven wire fence. The cottontail rabbits hop around the yard with our geese, guineas, ducks and chickens. There are many Ravens here in the valley ...... they are big ...... similar size as Red Tailed Hawks. The Ravens now and then will raid the nests of our guineas and ducks. I've seen them fly off with an egg in their beak ...... and 5 minutes later the same bird is back for another egg. We have the same issue with Magpies ...... but they are a much bigger problem since they eat the chicken eggs ..... raiding the nest boxes every few days. We almost nightly hear coyotes yipping or howling around 11:00 PM. I am pretty certain there are raccoons along the stream that forms our southern property line ..... I saw a beaver just a few minutes ago ..... we'll hear them slapping the water now and then. I've only seen a deer hoof print in a mud puddle in our driveway 1 time in 20 years.

[Jack Merridew]

There are a several cottontail rabbits in our yard every evening thru the night till 7 AM. They graze on the turf grass ..... we have 2.5 acres of lawn. I discover a couple rabbit nests every spring. The rabbits seem to know our yard is safe from coyotes. They squeeze thru the 2"X4" weave of the 5 ft high woven wire fence. The wild cottontail rabbits hop around the yard with our geese, guineas, ducks and chickens. There are Ravens here in the valley ...... they are enormous ...... as big as Red Tailed Hawks. The Ravens now and then raid the nests of or guineas and ducks. I've seen them fly off with an egg in their beak ...... and 5 minutes later the same bird is back for another guinea egg. We have the same issue with Magpies ...... but they are a much bigger problem with my chicken eggs ..... raiding the nest boxes every few days. We hear coyotes yipping or howling almost nightly around 11:00 PM. I am pretty much certain there are raccoons along the stream that forms the southern boundary ..... I see beaver ..... hear them slapping the water now and then. I've only seen a deer hoof print in a mud puddle in our driveway 1 time in 20 years.

Where do you live?

By the way, welcome to the forum. Did you post on the Seattle Times forums before?

[Moxeeguy]

I'm about 5 miles east of Moxee ...... don't post much ..... especially now with the Mariners being in a rebuild mode for what seems like the 5th time since I started following them in 2002. I have a son who plays baseball ..... we're preoccupied with his team and his play.

[seattlefan-daBronx]

Problem in NYC is I see about 4 or 5 of those critters every freakin day.
The rats exiting the garbage cans and roving around the subway tracks 24-7.
Squirrels black and grey fighting over twigs just like the citizens here.
Maldito Pigeons shitting on everything. Dammit I hate those things. They are rats with wings I swear.
You forgot to mention the cucarachas! They are stinkin huge in the summer.
They reach out and high-five you as they stroll to the bodega for a beer.
We'll all be dead when the big one blows up but those critters will step all over our dead bodies.

[Double Mocha Man]

Problem in NYC is I see about 4 or 5 of those critters every freakin day.
The rats exiting the garbage cans and roving around the subway tracks 24-7.
Squirrels black and grey fighting over twigs just like the citizens here.
Maldito Pigeons shitting on everything. Dammit I hate those things. They are rats with wings I swear.
You forgot to mention the cucarachas! They are stinkin huge in the summer.
They reach out and high-five you as they stroll to the bodega for a beer.
We'll all be dead when the big one blows up but those critters will step all over our dead bodies.

Now that's a nice thought...

[D-train]

Problem in NYC is I see about 4 or 5 of those critters every freakin day.
The rats exiting the garbage cans and roving around the subway tracks 24-7.
Squirrels black and grey fighting over twigs just like the citizens here.
Maldito Pigeons shitting on everything. Dammit I hate those things. They are rats with wings I swear.
You forgot to mention the cucarachas! They are stinkin huge in the summer.
They reach out and high-five you as they stroll to the bodega for a beer.
We'll all be dead when the big one blows up but those critters will step all over our dead bodies.

Now that's a nice thought...

Now you know how AOC got elected. lol

[Petert]

I have a pic I have to dig up and show you all:

A ’coywolf’, on the vacant lot next to my house, polishing off and swallowing the tail of what was, until shortly before, a neighborhood cat.

Like a coyote, but much bigger - like a German shepherd on steroids. Sent the photo in to a university biologist, and he came back with the above mentioned assessment.

Took a pic of this guy and he just looked at me like ‘yeah, really - and what the shit are you gonna do ?’ He then walked up the hill like he owned the place. Not skittish at all.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coywolf

[ddraig]

Bears, Deer, Coyotes, and a porcupine! Oh my!

[ddraig]

Growing up in Shoreline from the mid 70's to the early 90's, and right on the edge of an undeveloped park (Hamlin), i also don't recall ever seeing Coyotes, rabbits, or deer. And very rarely did i see a crow. It was all squirrels and small birds, and some racoons that stayed up in the big trees on and around our property.

Now, i encounter crows everywhere and way more rabbits than i used to see. Seems odd.

Another side effect of global warming which will soon lead to the critters running for office and eventually taking over our society within 12 years.

With luck, they will take over the Seattle City Council and restore some needed sanity!