Lots and lots of creatures live on Assateague Island, and/or in and on the surrounding waters. Despite the often harsh conditions that occur in a coastal environment, a wide variety of animal species have managed to find a niche on, or around, Assateague, which stretches from southern Maryland to northern Virginia in the Atlantic Ocean. Each of the island's different ecological zones provide habitat for a multitude of animals; these include birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates. Today, I'll write about the mammals - those air-breathing, warm-blooded creatures like us, who walk upon the ground or swim in the ocean.
More than twenty-five types of mammals live in or around the island of Assateague; the most well-known are the wild ponies. They are descendants of feral horses and ponies; the first-known being the blinded Spanish pit ponies that were ship-wrecked on the island from the galleon La Galga, and were noted in a report to Spain by the Spanish ambassador. The people of coastal Maryland and Virginia were taxed upon ownership of livestock, and they allowed their stock to run free on Assateague to avoid payment of said taxes, and, so, the "wild ponies" of Assateague came about. The 80-plus ponies living on the Maryland end of Virginia receive only contraceptive darts for care; the ponies in Virginia belong to the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company, and are kept on Assateague via a contract with the US government. The ponies feed primarily on salt-marsh cord grass, but also consume beach grass, greenbriar, bayberry, poison ivy, and many other types of vegetation that are not in the usual horse's diet.
Other large mammals also roam the parks (the Assateague National Seashore and the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge) grazing and browsing on low-lying vegetation. They are the indigenous Virginia White-tailed deer, and the non-native Sika deer, a miniature type of Asian elk, who were introduced to Assateague in the 1920s. On-going research is evaluating the ecological effects of Sika deer on both native vegetation communities and their effect upon other wildlife, including the native white-tailed deer.
The other other mammals range in size from small rodents, to bats, to furry critters, to large marine mammals - including the bottlenose dolphin and several species of whale that feed in the island's offshore waters. Besides the Atlantic bottlenose dolphin, the Atlantic white-sided dolphin, and the common dolphin are frequently seen around the island - in the ocean and in the channels and bays.
Whale sightings include the fin whale, humpback whale, pilot whale, sperm whale and right whale. Seals are occasionally seen resting on Assateague Island, also; usually sighted are the harp seal, harbor seal, and, rarely, the hooded seal.
Red foxes build dens in sand dunes and roam the island hunting for mice, birds, insects, and berries. Opossums and raccoons provide the important environmental service of waste removal, feeding on the island's carrion, as well as insects, larvae, berries and small rodents. The only marsupial in North America, the opossum give birth to premature young which complete their development in a pouch on the outside of the mother's body.
Rodents such as the meadow jumping mouse and meadow vole live in grasses bordering both salt- and freshwater wetlands. They feed on seeds, wetland plants, and in the case of the jumping mouse, insects. Though seldom seen, both river otters and muskrat make their home in the island's marshes and adjacent waterways.
A listing of mammals on and around Assateague Island:
Chincoteague/Assateague ponies
Red fox
Whales - fin, humpback, pilot, right, and sperm
White-tailed deer
Bats - little brown, red, and silver-haired
Delmarva fox squirrel
Raccoon
Eastern cottontail rabbit
Dolphins - Atlantic bottlenose, Atlantic white-sided, and common
Sika deer (miniature Asian elk)
Mice - house, meadow jumping, and white-footed
River otter
Rats - Norway and rice
Least shrew
Muskrat
Virginia opossum
Meadow jumping vole
Seals - harbor, harp, and hooded
Showing posts with label rats. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rats. Show all posts
Friday, July 20, 2018
Friday, November 21, 2014
Rats
The rats have probably lived in the Githens Acres neighborhood since before the white settlers came. What is now Githens Acres was changed from a typical foothills meets the prairie ( with a seasonal creek) area to a large apple orchard that covered hundreds of acres. The Silver Lake Irrigation Ditch was put in for the various crops in the area, by the various owners - Mr. Githens being the orchard owner. My brother-in-law, Jim, bought his house in the mid-1960s, when Githens Acres was located far north of the City of Boulder, and living in that area was considered "living in the country." Now the neighborhood is surrounded by the City, and the seasonal creek serves as a "green way" for wildlife on the move - coyotes, bears, mountain lions, bobcats, raccoons, and an occasional otter.
In September of 2013, Boulder County (and much of the eastern foothills of the Rocky Mountains) was swept with a huge rain storm that flooded the upper foothills of the mountains, sometimes sweeping towns away. The eastern end of the street my sister and brother lives on was completely washed away; when the water finally dried, there was a crevasse that ran between 6 inches to ten feet wide, and from six inches to eight feet deep. I was staying at Kathy and Jim's house, as they were on vacation. Several neighbors and I noted seeing some large rats in the area, immediately after the flooding. We decided that the flood had brought the rats.
Casting back in time, wending through my memory, I remember that the winter that Kathy and Jim went to Peru (and I stayed at their house), I saw a couple of rats. At that time, Jim had two Samoyeds - Suki, the mother, and Boo, her daughter. Neither one of them reacted to the rats - even though the rats ran into a crack under the concrete steps that led into the house. In any event, I've seen the rats off and on for several years. I spoke to Kathy and Jim about them, but, as they had never seen the rats, they took my stories with a grain of salt. This past summer, after the flood, their next-door neighbor complained about "all the rats" that were around her house and garden. She set out traps for weeks, but only caught two rats, while all the other traps were tripped multiple times.
The day after our first heavy snow, Tuesday, 11 November, Jim saw a rat run across the back patio at his house. During lunch, both Kathy and Jim saw a rat run across the patio. That afternoon, Jim got 6 rat traps - the inhumane kind, which is supposed to kill the rat by breaking it's neck when it takes the bait. (Jim couldn't find anyone who wanted to extend a welcome and re-locate the rats elsewhere - ) Jim baited all the traps and placed them outside. One on either side of the patio doors, one at the rear door to the garage, one at the corner of the garage, and two by the back steps where I had first seen the rats, way back when.
Those suckers are clever and strong. Frequently, the bait is removed, without the springing of the trap. But Jim has trapped and killed ten of the rascals. While I was making meatballs in the kitchen on Tuesday, I heard a loud clap and about 5 seconds of high-pitched squealing. I peeked out the window and was looking right into the eyes of a large rat - the levered bar of the trap was right across it's neck, and the mouth was partially open with the tongue sticking out. I was certain the rat was dead. A few minutes later, I glanced out the window again, and the trap was upside down and empty - and you could see the butt and tail-wiggles of the critter in the snow, where it had worked to escape. That was pretty amazing. That was after there was a dead rat in a trap on the patio - and I know that that one was dead - it was frozen solid, because I had to keep Rosie from playing with it, and I checked it. Three hours later, Jim was going to remove the carcase and re-bait the trap, but he couldn't find the trap or the rat. We both walked over the back yard and under the trees, and could not find the trap or the rat. (But I did find a large pile of coyote scat, and a place where a coyote had napped in the sun, so Jim and I think the coyote took the whole kit and kaboodle.) Jim was rather upset because the missing trap was one of the hair-trigger ones that had an extremely powerful snap.
I think the funniest thing that I found was a rat-made slide in the snow. It began under the woodpile under the kitchen window and coasted down about 24 inches to the regular ground level. It had several little twists and turns - just like an otters slide down into a river. One could plainly see the marks of the rats' tails in the middle of the slide, along with an occasional footprint, giving themselves a push... Yesterday leaves had blown onto the slide and it looked as if it were no longer in use. I hope that Jim has caught the majority, or all, of them!
In September of 2013, Boulder County (and much of the eastern foothills of the Rocky Mountains) was swept with a huge rain storm that flooded the upper foothills of the mountains, sometimes sweeping towns away. The eastern end of the street my sister and brother lives on was completely washed away; when the water finally dried, there was a crevasse that ran between 6 inches to ten feet wide, and from six inches to eight feet deep. I was staying at Kathy and Jim's house, as they were on vacation. Several neighbors and I noted seeing some large rats in the area, immediately after the flooding. We decided that the flood had brought the rats.
Casting back in time, wending through my memory, I remember that the winter that Kathy and Jim went to Peru (and I stayed at their house), I saw a couple of rats. At that time, Jim had two Samoyeds - Suki, the mother, and Boo, her daughter. Neither one of them reacted to the rats - even though the rats ran into a crack under the concrete steps that led into the house. In any event, I've seen the rats off and on for several years. I spoke to Kathy and Jim about them, but, as they had never seen the rats, they took my stories with a grain of salt. This past summer, after the flood, their next-door neighbor complained about "all the rats" that were around her house and garden. She set out traps for weeks, but only caught two rats, while all the other traps were tripped multiple times.
The day after our first heavy snow, Tuesday, 11 November, Jim saw a rat run across the back patio at his house. During lunch, both Kathy and Jim saw a rat run across the patio. That afternoon, Jim got 6 rat traps - the inhumane kind, which is supposed to kill the rat by breaking it's neck when it takes the bait. (Jim couldn't find anyone who wanted to extend a welcome and re-locate the rats elsewhere - ) Jim baited all the traps and placed them outside. One on either side of the patio doors, one at the rear door to the garage, one at the corner of the garage, and two by the back steps where I had first seen the rats, way back when.
Those suckers are clever and strong. Frequently, the bait is removed, without the springing of the trap. But Jim has trapped and killed ten of the rascals. While I was making meatballs in the kitchen on Tuesday, I heard a loud clap and about 5 seconds of high-pitched squealing. I peeked out the window and was looking right into the eyes of a large rat - the levered bar of the trap was right across it's neck, and the mouth was partially open with the tongue sticking out. I was certain the rat was dead. A few minutes later, I glanced out the window again, and the trap was upside down and empty - and you could see the butt and tail-wiggles of the critter in the snow, where it had worked to escape. That was pretty amazing. That was after there was a dead rat in a trap on the patio - and I know that that one was dead - it was frozen solid, because I had to keep Rosie from playing with it, and I checked it. Three hours later, Jim was going to remove the carcase and re-bait the trap, but he couldn't find the trap or the rat. We both walked over the back yard and under the trees, and could not find the trap or the rat. (But I did find a large pile of coyote scat, and a place where a coyote had napped in the sun, so Jim and I think the coyote took the whole kit and kaboodle.) Jim was rather upset because the missing trap was one of the hair-trigger ones that had an extremely powerful snap.
I think the funniest thing that I found was a rat-made slide in the snow. It began under the woodpile under the kitchen window and coasted down about 24 inches to the regular ground level. It had several little twists and turns - just like an otters slide down into a river. One could plainly see the marks of the rats' tails in the middle of the slide, along with an occasional footprint, giving themselves a push... Yesterday leaves had blown onto the slide and it looked as if it were no longer in use. I hope that Jim has caught the majority, or all, of them!
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
The Critters
Picked up Ed and Lynn in the middle of a rain storm yesterday. I had driven to DIA by going east on 36 to Denver, then heading east on I-76, then I turned onto 96th Street, Tower Road and Pena Boulevard. There were a few traffic slow-downs along 36 and then merging onto I-76, but the rest of the time I was able to fly along at the speed limit. Ed drove us back, taking the Toll road, and having a blast at being able to legally drive at 75 mph again. When we returned, I went to the Barrera house and then Lucy's house. Walking back to the Barrera's, I saw Lynn outside hosing down a throw rug. It seems that Tessa had an upset tummy while I was on my way to Denver.... Maggie May has been a real sweet heart, as have Tensington and Haku, the rats. I do have to comment that Haku drinks almost twice the amount of water that Tensington does... his bottle was empty this morning, and when I held it up to him, he drank half of it again at once. I think Kevin will need to keep an eye on his water consumption for a week, and then let a vet know how much he's taking in. It seems an awful lot for one small-to-medium sized rat.... Lucy still misses her family badly. Since I don't have Lynn's crew to deal with, until a week from now, I can spend more time with Lucy. She really is a people dog - and with the family gone, and Terence gone for 12 hours a day (or more), she's just not getting the attention and love she needs and deserves. ... Rosie and Remy were eager to walk this morning, and Rosie only barked twice before we left the house. Amazingly, Remy never made a sound this morning (he usually barks his head off in greetings). Even though we left the house at 8:10, it was already warm out. We stuck to shady streets for today's walk, and I planned ahead so that we'd cross three creeks during the walk, so the red kids could drink. Remy drank at the first two; Rosie laid in, swam and drank at all three. Then a utilies worker stopped his truck and got out and admired them, so they were all very pleased.
My kits were talking to me through the door before I could get both locks open this morning. I loved and played with and fed all of them. Chokie knocked on the door a few minutes after I arrived home and gave me another bag of food that Coffeepot had brought over for Mocha. Lovey has come inside several times, just to be convinced that I am still here. Nedi has nursed on both of my arms, and is currently hunting dragonflies in the back yard. Mocha is in my second desk chair, giving herself a bath, now that her tummy is full.
My surgeon has informed me that we're now going on to the next type of surgery to try and get my fistula to heal. On Tuesday, July 19, he will place a "Seton stitch" in the fistula itself... he has informed me that it's a much more painful operation than what has been done before, and that every 7 to 14 days, I'll have to go into the office and have him tighten the stitch. And that the tightening is going to hurt like *@^#!!! - but there is a 85% recovery rate for people who have to go on to the Seton stitch operation. And it will take 4 to 6 months to finish this procedure. The alternative, if the Seton stitch doesn't work, is to have the sphincter muscle cut through, which would mean I'd be incontinent for the rest of my life. Oh joy, oh joy....
My kits were talking to me through the door before I could get both locks open this morning. I loved and played with and fed all of them. Chokie knocked on the door a few minutes after I arrived home and gave me another bag of food that Coffeepot had brought over for Mocha. Lovey has come inside several times, just to be convinced that I am still here. Nedi has nursed on both of my arms, and is currently hunting dragonflies in the back yard. Mocha is in my second desk chair, giving herself a bath, now that her tummy is full.
My surgeon has informed me that we're now going on to the next type of surgery to try and get my fistula to heal. On Tuesday, July 19, he will place a "Seton stitch" in the fistula itself... he has informed me that it's a much more painful operation than what has been done before, and that every 7 to 14 days, I'll have to go into the office and have him tighten the stitch. And that the tightening is going to hurt like *@^#!!! - but there is a 85% recovery rate for people who have to go on to the Seton stitch operation. And it will take 4 to 6 months to finish this procedure. The alternative, if the Seton stitch doesn't work, is to have the sphincter muscle cut through, which would mean I'd be incontinent for the rest of my life. Oh joy, oh joy....
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Simmering Saturday
Whew! Just returned from taking Christine to the Denver airport - it's warm, humid, and I drove through five different rain showers on the way home. Maggie May, Tensington, and Haku were glad to see me when I arrived at the Barrera house - I couldn't tell about the fish. I spent time with Lovey, Nedi and Mocha this morning - loved and fed and played with all of them. When I returned to Lucy's, she had left me "presents" both in the basement and the living room; and Terence had left me a note about them, he having left while I was gone. Arrived at Lynn's at 2, and had time to play with Dhisana, Lilly, Lyra and Tess before Christine was packed. Getting ready to feed Lucy dinner, then go over to the red kids' until 7:30, returning to feed the Thore critters, then Maggie May. From now through the 5th, I'll be running from house to house to house to house.....
Knowing I was going to be baking for my bus drivers, I asked Darcie what she would prefer to have: brownies, cobbler, or Berry Uglies. She said since she had never had Berry Uglies, she'd opt for them, and that she never turned down a cobbler, either. So I guess I'll be making all three - brownies and Berry Uglies for the drivers, and cobbler and Berry Uglies for for Darcie's family. - It's fine with me - her kitchen is tremendously well equipped, so all I have to do is provide the makings for the goodies.
State rescue teams have been searching Missouri Mountain, looking for a 53-year-old doctor and his 20 year-old daughter, who went missing during a hike on June 24. Bodies matching their descriptions have been found 5,000 feet above the one of the trails there. - And another young woman slipped and fell off a trail yesterday, falling her her death. - Why don't people use due caution? I know I'm not immortal...
Knowing I was going to be baking for my bus drivers, I asked Darcie what she would prefer to have: brownies, cobbler, or Berry Uglies. She said since she had never had Berry Uglies, she'd opt for them, and that she never turned down a cobbler, either. So I guess I'll be making all three - brownies and Berry Uglies for the drivers, and cobbler and Berry Uglies for for Darcie's family. - It's fine with me - her kitchen is tremendously well equipped, so all I have to do is provide the makings for the goodies.
State rescue teams have been searching Missouri Mountain, looking for a 53-year-old doctor and his 20 year-old daughter, who went missing during a hike on June 24. Bodies matching their descriptions have been found 5,000 feet above the one of the trails there. - And another young woman slipped and fell off a trail yesterday, falling her her death. - Why don't people use due caution? I know I'm not immortal...
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