Subject: [Tweeters] Ssssh. Don't tell the cat people
Date: Jan 25 17:25:15 2010
From: Rob Sandelin - floriferous at msn.com
I went for a hike at Lord Hill park today (Snohomish Counties biggest park).
As I intersected the pipeline trail there was a large brown blob on the
ground at the edge of the grass. With binos it turned out to be a Barred
owl on the ground eating something. Since I have found this owl to be very
approachable, I walked up towards it for a better look and was disappointed
when it flew up into a tree way before I got very close. I thought I would
examine its prey, and I expected to find a rabbit. Instead it was a smallish
house cat. As I looked it over it was very gaunt and kind of unkempt
looking, which is typical of feral animals. As I walked back to my car I
pondered the idea that this new comer owl may provide some controls on feral
cats in local parks. Feral cats have been shown to be detrimental to ground
nesting song birds and other wildlife and in some places their populations
are very high. I began wondering how big an animal (cat) a Barred owl might
take.
Rob Sandelin
Naturalist, Writer, Teacher
Snohomish County.
PS. I also met an acquaintance at the park who witnessed a dog over the
weekend who was having convulsions after eating a rough-skinned newt earlier
on the trail. Since these amphibians contain a potent and deadly toxin this
makes sense but it is the first time I have ever heard of a dog eating one.
I suppose as these creatures migrate to local ponds they might form a hazard
to dogs.