Yesterday in a forest along Little bear creek the rising ground water
flushed a bunch of deer mice out. I was surprised by one that hopped past me
in the middle of the trail, and within 5 minutes I had seen at least 3 more.
Then I saw the first of 3 Barred owls, all looking very plump and well fed,
sleeping it off in different trees but within 20 yards of each other. One
stuck it out and obliged us as I brought by two classes of kids to see them.
To add to my kid coolness, while the kids were watching the owl I hand
caught a rather slow deer mouse. I lost my coolness when the little rodent
bit me which extracted howls of laughter and when the mouse dashed off my
hands the owl made a pass at it but the mouse got under cover with plenty of
time to spare and the owl swerved off and left. A good show.

Rob Sandelin
Naturalist, Writer, Teacher
Snohomish County