Wild, wild life Wild, wild life (October 13, 2004)

by Tony Burchyns

Palo Alto city Naturalist Deborah Bartens has advice for residents who encourage wildlife to visit their backyards -- don't.

It's better for people to be "citizen scientists," she said, keeping journals, compiling information .

"I'll get calls like, 'That's the biggest rat I ever saw! It's hissing and drawing it's lips back!' And I'll say, 'That sounds a lot like an opossum,' " Bartens said.

Topping her "don't" list: Leaving food out for animals.

A scavenging raccoon can easily kill a dog or cat, she said, and it's possible an overpopulation of such animals can lure bigger predators.

"Now we know that mountain lions can walk into our town," she said. "We know that for a fact. Large carnivores can walk downtown. That changed history for us."

While raccoons, skunks and opossums have been prevalent in Palo Alto's more residential neighborhoods for years, there is now new evidence that deer -- a prime menu item for cougars -- are spreading to areas near El Camino Real.

"We've had deer in the creek all along, so there's always been speculation that mountain lions might follow them down," said Doug Moran, president of the Barron Park Neighborhood Association.

Brian Null of Barron Park is growing more concerned about mountain lions. He keeps 30 chickens, 10 sheep and two goats on an acre of land and says discouraging predators goes hand-in-hand with running a ranch.

"There are a few predators, foxes and hawks, that we have an antagonistic relationship with," he said. "Lately, we've been pretty worried about mountain lions, because we're right next to the creek."

Despite such concerns, though, Null still enjoys encountering wildlife. He recalled a July encounter with fledgling owls as a particular treat.

"I'd come out here (to Bol Park) to walk the sheep and goats, and I'd see all these fledglings. I got one to perch on a stick, and I was able to pet it," he said.

Moran said he treasures the skunks in his backyard, and isn't surprised by their presence all over town.

"It's adaptation," he said. "Skunks, in the old days, when you'd turn on a light, they would scamper away. But now, with automated lights, they've learned not to scamper off. Animals know how to adapt. They're very smart."

Editorial intern Tony Burchyns can be e-mailed at tburchyns@paweekly.com

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