Wildlife Situation?

[Winni]

Does anyone have any information on how this springs floods have affected the lakeside wildlife? I'm particularly interested to hear from anyone that might be connected with the Loon Preservation Committee. How have the loon nests fared?

(I'm sticking my neck out starting a new thread here again, so please people, stick to the topic and be respectful! I really want to know the answer to this from people who have substantiated information. I'm not looking for a "debate", please.)

[Quilt Lady]

When the waters came up, the mink that lives in our neighbor's breakwater moved out. I watched her as she took the family to the new den. I hope she comes back. It's a treat to see her scampering along the shore on our rocks. The local otter is still in the area but I'm not sure where the den is. Now, if only the pair of sharpshin hawks would just quiet down. They have a nest in a big tree nearby and are making such a racket! The loons near us do not seem to be a nesting pair . . . but they are still out there. Fortunately, they have been sticking close to shore so they are safe.

[Gavia immer]

I feel your pain regaurding hawks. Redshouldered hawks once nested near me, and I know why they aren't considered songbirds.

There have been many different birds nesting under the embankment near me. Now that the embankment is under water, well...

[KBoater]

Last night I almost hit a beaver crossing the road by Lake Wentworth Heath. . He was very large and was lumbering along. From the back I thought at first he was a raccoon until I pulled along side. I wonder if he is going to start a new dam to help in flood restoration.

[Zee]

I would imagine the high water will have an effect on nesting loons. They typically nest at the waters edge and their old nest sites are underwater. If anyone has a concern with any pairs who normally nest in their area, a call to the Loon Center in Moultonborough may be in order. Will the Loon Center assist in building loon nesting platforms? Or, do they have some they would be willing to "loan" out? That might be a solution for some areas.

[Winni]

Originally Posted by Quilt Lady

When the waters came up, the mink that lives in our neighbor's breakwater moved out. I watched her as she took the family to the new den. I hope she comes back. It's a treat to see her scampering along the shore on our rocks. The local otter is still in the area but I'm not sure where the den is. Now, if only the pair of sharpshin hawks would just quiet down. They have a nest in a big tree nearby and are making such a racket! The loons near us do not seem to be a nesting pair . . . but they are still out there. Fortunately, they have been sticking close to shore so they are safe.

Hi, Quilt Lady!
I'm wondering if you live near me, as we too have a mink and otter that visit us. I usually only see the mink in summer and have not seen him yet, though he is usually quite tame...almost scarily so! I usually see quite a lot of the otter, and have not seen him since just before Ice Out. (He's a riot to watch skidding along the ice when there's just a slight covering of water over it!) It worries me that I haven't seen him.

We also have a merganser pair that usually nests near us. Last year they had 24 (honest!) babies! I haven't seen them since just after Ice Out. I haven't seen our usual loons in the cove either.

This is why I'm kind of worried and really wonder what's happening to all the wildlife. Thanks for your input.

[Quilt Lady]

If you recall some PM's you exchanged with DRH, you'll know where I am since I was formerly refered to as "Mrs. DRH". Small world! We aren't that far away. I fully agree on the fun of watching the antics of the otters. During the winter we often see slide marks ending in the area kept open by our circulator. Oh, the many things we get to see and enjoy by being full time residents! And, oh, the many things we have to endure (high water, snow, power outages) because we are full time residents. It's all part of the total lake experience!

Later this summer, if a small boat named "Escape Pod 1" putts by, wave, because that's me!

[Winni]

Hurrah! I just saw two really big loons in front of our house! With all this calm water, they must think it's May or October! It was good to see them, anyway. Perhaps that means there is hope.

[Sparrow Hawk]

MJP:

Don't worry about the animals. It is good that occasionally their populations get wiped out. This is how nature works. By the way, those megansers are nasty birds. They eat a ton of fish. My brother used to shoot them when he was a kid so they wouldn't eat too many of the game fish he liked to catch and grill.

[ApS]

Originally Posted by Sparrow Hawk

MJP:"...By the way, those megansers are nasty birds. They eat a ton of fish. My brother used to shoot them when he was a kid..."

Mergansers don't eat as many (or as large) a fish as Cormorants, which are currently crowding Mergansers out of their natural northeastern lakes; however it's illegal to shoot any migratory bird, including the Bald Eagle—another fish eater. (Federal Migratory Bird Act of 1917).

If your brother was shooting Mergansers on the lake, chances are that the expended lead bullets would impact our much-loved Loon population as much as lead fishing sinkers have. Lead sinkers have been banned in New Hampshire to reduce lead poisoning in our population of Loons -- still another migratory bird that eats fish.

[dogboy]

Twice in last few weeks I've seen deer while hiking on south end of Bear. While it's always a treat, it's also a warning as they carry ticks and ticks carry Lyme Disease --- something we should all watch out for. My suggestion is that if you find a tick on you, get tested for Lyme - if positive test, then you get antibiotics. All it takes 1 one tick to get Lyme. We wear hats and use plenty of bug spray. We also give each other 'head checks' after our hikes.

[Sparrow Hawk]

APS:

I stand corrected. It was actually the Cormorants he used to shoot, not the mesangers. The birds look very similar. Don't worry about the lead problem, it has been years since this happened.

[tis]

Happily, the loons in Winter Harbor are fine and we believe trying to nest.

[SAMIAM]

There was a story in the Herald last week about two people arrested in Mass. that own a trout hatchery and police found the carcass' of 250 blue herons,two ospreys and a BALD EAGLE that they shot for feeding on his hatchlings.The penalty is up to 6 years in jail.....it would be life if I were the judge. Did these guys ever hear of nets?

[Silver Duck]

Out of curiosity, just when is the typical nesting period for Loons, and how long does it last?

I know that they don't get around at all well on land. If they build now, or have built their nests during the last couple of weeks, is there any danger that they will be left "high and dry" too far from the water as the lake level recedes?

Silver Duck

[Lin]

Originally Posted by dogboy

Twice in last few weeks I've seen deer while hiking on south end of Bear. While it's always a treat, it's also a warning as they carry ticks and ticks carry Lyme Disease --- something we should all watch out for. My suggestion is that if you find a tick on you, get tested for Lyme - if positive test, then you get antibiotics. All it takes 1 one tick to get Lyme. We wear hats and use plenty of bug spray. We also give each other 'head checks' after our hikes.

Deer are not the only carriers and not every deer tick carries Lyme disease. White footed deer mice are a big innocent culprit from the ticks especially in stages 1 & 2. Check out:
http://www.aldf.com/DeerTickEcology.asp

My husband and I participated many many years ago in a Deer tick study by Cambridge hospital on outdoor workers/vs indoor office workers when the tick was first discovered in MA. Since then we've developed more of a sense of the disease since my mom came down with it five years ago.

One big problem about getting tested is that even today with the crippling effects of Lyme disease there are many doctors who still do not diagnose the disease or fluff it off. My mom had the best telltale sign ever. A huge bullseye on the back of her calf, we insisted that she had lyme disease, stupid dr told her no, we told her to go back, it was 6 weeks from the time we saw the mark and she was getting sicker and more tired every day. Finally we went with her and insisted she be tested and it was a nurse practitioner who eventually advocated for her. She ended up at Lahey with an infectious disease specialist treating her.

So whether you spot deer or not a person has to be ever vigilant checking their person for ticks, all sizes in all of their cycles.

[Pepper]

Originally Posted by SAMIAM

There was a story in the Herald last week about two people arrested in Mass. that own a trout hatchery and police found the carcass' of 250 blue herons,two ospreys and a BALD EAGLE that they shot for feeding on his hatchlings.The penalty is up to 6 years in jail.....it would be life if I were the judge. Did these guys ever hear of nets?

If I were the judge, the penalty would be a slow death, facilitated by a few thousand slow cuts, using rusty razor blades, at the hands of a few dozen menopausal women.

[Resident 2B]

Pepper,

As always, you are being far too nice!

R2B

[gtxrider]

The lake side wild life should increase in a bit when Bike Week starts.

Don't worry animals can adapt to weather better than humans they have lived outside for years. Their troubles start when man interferes or builds in there habitat.

[Winni]

Originally Posted by Resident 2B

Pepper,

As always, you are being far too nice!

R2B

Ditto! How could anyone be that cruel to animals who are only doing their natural "animal" thing?!? It has often been said that humans are the cruelest animals of all...even to each other.

[BBS2]

Like the guy in MA last year who stomped goslings to death and then kicked the parents to death because he slipped in goose poo. Makes me proud to be human.
But then there's folks who use their instincts and aid helpless animals as in the Moose is Loose thread.
I think that most of us have great affection for our wild "pets". I love to follow the daily lives of our cohabitants at home or at the lake. I think our chubby groundhog died this winter, I'll miss him. But our little chippies are thriving as are birds, squirrels and rabbits.
I can't wait to see the baby mergansers at the lake again.

[onthebay]

I recently was bitten and had several symptons of Lyme disease. I went to the doctor and was immediately put on antibiotics while waiting for the results of the test. Don't wait, the long term affects are too nasty.

[Winni]

Originally Posted by BBS2

I can't wait to see the baby mergansers at the lake again.

Did you catch the picture with my post of 6/2/06, BBS2? You would, I think, enjoy this picture my neighbor took.

We have had wildlife in abundance this year, but there are also concerns. We had a Blue Heron on our dock Sat. morning; I was swimming with a foot long small mouth bass (and that's no fish story; honest!) Sat. afternoon, and we now have a Canadian Goose family (mom, dad, and 2 young-uns) that keep coming back to use our front lawn for their summer residence. Not enjoying the goose poop much; I have to admit my husband gives them a hearty showering with the hose when he sees them there, but I just take too many pictures! Drives him crazy. They leave for a while, but always come back. Can't believe how close they let me get before they start hissing and chasing me, though!

We've also had two big loons coming in awfully close this year, as in, right next to our dock! Seems they are all a little confused by the high waters and wet conditions.

I am still worried, however. about the mink and otter that used to live on our shores nearby. We have seen them many times through the years and they frequented our place often in summers. I know they nest close to the water and am worried they may have lost their nests. I have not seen them since Mother's Day. I know people in this forum keep telling me "it's nature's way", but I still miss them and it still makes me sad.