On Mon, 17 Apr 1995, Mike Patrick wrote:

> Any comments from those in the know about how much of a problem raccoons are
> for birds? And for those repressing (or not) comments about cats, I have seen
> mine catch one bird (a House Sparrow at that) in 9 months.

Mike,

Cats eat birds and raccoons eat anything they can catch. My in-laws in
Seahurst lost a cat to a family of 'coons a while back, and any good farm
cat knows enough to stay in the barn at night when the 'coons are cruisin'

As far as raccoons and heronrys, I was working at Malheur NWR in 1983
when GBHs and DCCs were displaced from 'normal' colonies due to high
water. In 1982, under similar water conditions, a large cottonwood tree
on, I believe, Cole Island dike was colonized by these 2 species. Eggs
were laid and young were fed until refuge staff launched boats from the
area, birds were spooked, eggs and young were knocked into the water.

Raccoons found the banquet at the base of the tree that night and began
to work the colony until it was abandoned, and little or no production
was had. All because of a few minutes of inattention in launching a
boat. Yes, raccoons can cause all sorts of problems at a nest site - and
so can people.

Jon. Anderson
Olympia, WA
anderjda at dfw.wa.gov