Articles

The Elusive Mountain Lion

April 21, 2008

Mountain lions (Felis concolor) are the largest native North American cat except for the slightly larger Jaguar. The mountain lion is called by more names than any other mammal–cougar, puma panther, catamount or simply–lion. Adult mountain lions are more than seven feet long with a 32 inch tail. Their color is tawny with black tipped [...]

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Living in Harmony with Bats

April 15, 2008
Bat for Sentinal Article

Bats are mammals, just like humans, which mean that all bats are warm-blooded, have fur, bear live young, and feed their babies milk. There are over 1,100 different species of bats in the world making up almost a quarter of all mammal species. They live on every continent except Antarctica. All bats can see, but [...]

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Coyote Lore – Living with California Coyotes

April 8, 2008
Coyote

The coyote is a member of the dog family and is native to California. They are one of the three different types of wild candids (dogs) found in North America. The coyote resembles a small German shepherd dog with the exception of the long snout and bushy, black tipped tail. Its high pitched, yodel-like yapping [...]

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Living Peacefully with Raccoons

March 26, 2008

Native Animal Rescue (NAR),  Santa Cruz County’s only licensed wildlife intake rehabilitation facility,  receives many calls from the public with questions,  concerns and situations regarding raccoons.  Many mother raccoons are trapped,  relocated or killed each year by people who consider them to be a nuisance.  Baby raccoons or “kits” are then needlessly orphaned from their [...]

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Understanding Opossums

March 26, 2008

Spring and summer are upon us and this is the time Opossums breeding season has begun. The Opossum is North America’s only marsupial (female has a pouch) mammal. The female carries and nurses her young until they are about 2 to 3 months old, then they are carried on her back another 1 to 2 [...]

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Got Skunks?

March 26, 2008

You have a mother skunk and her babies living under your house or deck. What should you do to get them to move out? Skunks are normally very predictable and easily manipulated. Hereʼs how to convince them to leave: Place a light source such as a lamp, drop light or flashlight where you suspect the [...]

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Tree Squirrels

March 26, 2008
Fox Squirrel

In the Spring and Summer, squirrels have already built their nests and are having their young. It is also a time when many of us trim trees and branches. If at all possible, please postpone trimming trees and branches with nests in them. Wait until the babies are old enough to leave the nest on [...]

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The Amazing Swallow

March 26, 2008

Whenever we are feeling sorry for ourselves, because it is cold and raining, think of the hardships suffered by swallows. They are intolerant of extremes in weather-they aren’t just miserable-they die! In order to survive, they must travel thousands of miles to find warmth and food. From our cold winter, they fly south to below [...]

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Tips for Helping our Backyard Wildlife Babies

March 26, 2008

Spring is here and this is the time wild birds and mammals have their babies. The following are some tips to help you help our local wildlife. To protect nesting birds in trees, do not trim or cut trees during the months of April through August. The domestic cat is the number one killer of [...]

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Understanding Deer

March 26, 2008

The California Mule deer and Black-Tailed Deer are closely related deer whose range covers much of the state of California . With rapid development of rural areas, deer are losing their natural habitats and are forced farther into suburbia. They now live close to our homes and towns. In a world where contact with wildlife [...]

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