Warrenton Dike  ~  February 15, 2013  

Yes, that is a hoof. Anyone who lives here recognizes that hoof. There is a herd of them that regularly visit the Warrenton Dike Trail. In fact, there are all sorts of animal activity on this trail: Elk, blue heron, bald eagle, coyote, ducks -- many varieties and geese, among other winged and non-winged critters. The Dike Trail is covered with animal tracks and their scat. The geese seem to leave the biggest calling card after their visits.

 

What have you seen out on the trails?

 

 

  Astoria, Oregon, Daily Photo is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Roosevelt Elk

Jewell Meadows Wildlife Area, Oregon ~ December 3, 2011

Our local Roosevelt elk are certainly among nature's most majestic creatures. Almost the size of domestic cows, they are quite a bit larger than deer. Check out the video on this page to see them in action and listen to a description of the reserve. We did not see the herd of hundreds described - only a dozen or fewer were grazing the area on the day we were there, but I have seen them in huge herds much nearer home. Only about five miles down the road they used to congregate on the land that has now become Home Depot, Costco, and Goodwill, among other big boxes. I've also seen them near the airport and the UPS office just across Youngs Bay. Here the elk would swim in the bay around the fencing and get inside the fenced area to graze. It was quite a sight.

I haven't been out to UPS or the airport recently. Does anyone know if the elk still congregate there since the new stores have come in?

There are several places in Oregon along certain highways where you can pull into a viewing area and watch the herds forming in the evenings. As it turned out, we had a beautiful day on which to enjoy elk-watching. Not the least of my enjoyment was the beauty of the area with its back-lit bright-green mossy trees.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Former Osprey Nest, July 2002

Warrenton, Oregon ~ July 21, 2002

Lee first pointed out to me this osprey nest located a few minutes outside of Astoria, a short distance past the point where Highway 101 turns south to venture down the Oregon Coast. With luck we would see osprey each year, and I remember watching the parents bringing food for the chicks. The highway also crossed an elk trail and grazing field where the animals would gather in herds that numbered in the scores.

There is no more osprey nest now, and the elk-grazing here is finished. Instead, you can enjoy the parking lots and stocked shelves of several huge big-box stores with one more currently being built. The tree remains, but it's now so close to the new construction and cleared forest that the osprey have given it up. I still don't know why our small population "needs" such huge stores, or if they will sell enough products to stay open. I can imagine what their incursion is doing and will do to the small local businesses we say we care about and want to supprt. I also know I already miss the wild areas, the elk and the osprey that had learned to coexist with the narrower old highway and with us.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.