Edmonds Backyard Wildlife Habitat

Attracting Wildlife With Dead Trees

Dead trees provide vital habitat for more than 1,000 species of wildlife nationwide. They also count as cover and places for wildlife to raise young in the requirements for Certified Wildlife Habitats.

• Snags – The name for dead trees that are left upright to decompose naturally.
• Logs – When a snag (or part of a snag) falls on the ground, it becomes a log–also a very useful for wildlife habitat.

By some estimates, the removal of dead material from forests can mean a loss of habitat for up to one-fifth of the animals in the ecosystem.

Dead Wood Good? How Dead Trees Help Wildlife

Wildlife species use nearly every part of a dead tree in every stage of its decay for things such as:

• A Place to Live - Many animals, including birds, bats, squirrels and raccoons make nests in hollow cavities and crevices in standing dead wood.
• A Food Source – By attracting insects, mosses, lichens and fungi, dead wood becomes a gourmet restaurant for wildlife looking for a snack.
• A “Crow’s Nest” – Higher branches of snags become excellent look-outs from which wildlife (such as raptors) spot potential prey and also eat what they catch.
• A Hiding Place - The nooks and crannies of dead wood are put to good use by squirrels and other wildlife looking to store food.
• A Soil Refresher - Mosses, lichens and fungi all grow on snags and aid in the return of vital nutrients to the soil through the nitrogen cycle. Decaying logs on the forest floor also act as “nurse logs” for new seedlings.

Incorporating Dead Trees into Your Habitat

You can create a refuge for hundreds of woodland creatures by keeping snags in your yard (or constructing artificial snags if no natural ones are present).

Despite the importance of snags to wildlife, many modern forestry practices encourage the removal of dead wood from the forest floor in an attempt to control pests and fungi, as well as for aesthetic reasons.

• When should I remove a snag? – Never allow dead wood to rest against your home. Also any trees which may fall on your home (or a neighbor’s home) should be removed. In both these cases, however, consider moving the wood to another safer area of your yard.
• What about termites? – As long as the snags are a reasonable distance from your home, termites and other pests won’t find their way into your home.
• How do I create artificial snags? - If there are no natural snags in your yard, you can create artificial ones by trimming branches on live trees of varying sizes and types. Hardwood trees tend to make better nesting habitats while softer wood is better for food foraging. If you do not wish to create snags from living trees, the use of nesting boxes can be a good alternative.
• How many snags should I have? – Three snags per acre is a good estimate for most areas, but you should check with your local wildlife management authority to get specific recommendations for your region.For more information about the WDFW’s Urban Wildlife Tree Project contact: Chris Anderson, andercda@dfw.wa.govWDFW sale “Wildlife Tree/Save a Snag” Signs for $5.00

Become a WSU Beachwatcher here in Snohomish County!

2010 WSU Snohomish County Extension Beach Watcher Training – March 23 – May 6, 2010 in Everett

If you love Snohomish County’s beaches and are interested in protecting the waters & wildlife of Puget Sound, now’s the time to apply to join WSU Snohomish County Extension Beach Watchers. Beach Watchers are university-trained volunteers dedicated to protecting Puget Sound’s fragile coastal environment through education, research and restoration. All Beach Watchers receive a university caliber, 100 hour training.  It includes expert presentations, field trips and hands-on practice. In return for the 100 hours of training, WSU Beach Watchers continue learning while volunteering at least 100 hours over two years on a number of self crafted Puget Sound projects.

For information or to request an application, visit http://www.beachwatchers.wsu.edu/Snohomish/training/index.htm or call Chrys Bertolotto at

425-357-6020.

Bugs N’ Blights Workshops, Snohomish County, Don’t Miss them!

Bugs N’ Blights workshop dates have changed this year they will be held on the 3^rd Wednesday of each month with a couple of exceptions.

Dates are as follows for 2010:

February, Wednesday, 17th (3rd Wed.)
March, Wednesday, 17th (3rd Wed.) St. Patty’s Day
April, Wednesday, 21st (3rd Wed.)
May, Wednesday, 19th (3rd Wed.)
June, Tuesday, 15th (3rd Tuesday)
July, Wednesday 28th (4th Wednesday)
August, Wednesday 18th (3rd Wed)
September, Wednesday 15th (3rd Wed)
October, Wednesday 20th (3rd Wed)
November NONE
December NONE

January – Examine diagnostic books, tools and computer resources to help you and your customers. Bring your computer, if you like (not required) and other resources to share.

Where: WSU Snohomish County Extension; 600 – 128th St SE, Everett

Cost: $20ea. Save on 4 workshops: $65.

To get registered please download the registration form and send it in.

http://snohomish.wsu.edu/ag/workshops/registrationform.pdf

Parents: 10 Reasons Kids Need Fresh Air Kids who spend time outside have fitter bodies, better eyesight, less stress, and better grades

The National Wildlife Federation’s new Be Out There Campaign aims to educate tens of million of U.S. moms and dads on the importance of helping their kids have more time outdoors and providing tools to do so…

10 reasons a parent should care:

1. Stronger bones and lower cancer risk: Today’s “indoor kids” don’t get enough sun and are becoming Vitamin D deficient, causing health risks.
2. Trimmer and more healthy kids: An hour of play a day is what doctors say is a basic tool in the effort to ward off childhood obesity and diabetes.
3. Improved eyesight: Recent studies find that kids who get outdoor time have less nearsightedness and need for eye glasses.
4. Less depression and hyperactivity: Outdoor time in natural setting (even tree-lined streets) soothes kids and lower their need for medications.
5. Longer attention spans: Children who stare at TV and video games all day have less patience and shorter attention spans.
6. Better at making friends: Children playing together outdoors relate directly with one another, create games together, choose sides and improve their “people” skills.
7. More creative: Outdoor kids are more likely to use their own imaginations, inventions and creativity while playing.
8. Less “acting out” at home and school: Getting kids away from TV violence and video games helps them see that violent behavior does not always solve problems.
9. Measurably better grades in school: The healthy bodies and minds that come with outdoor play are better able to do well in school.
10. A longer lifespan and healthier adult life: Doctors estimate that sedentary and obese children lose three to five years from their life expectancy.

If none of these practical and important reasons work for you — consider that a child who spends time outdoors breathes healthier air (than indoors), learns to see the wonders of nature, climbs trees, has more fun and learns a deeper respect for wildlife and natural surroundings.

Find out more details about the scientific studies that link increased outdoor time with better health and higher school performance for kids.

Now if we can only get our kids to Be Out There more often!

Issues Affecting the Southern Resident Orcas

Declining Fish Populations

Killer whales are opportunistic feeders which means they will take a variety of different prey species. J, K and L pods are almost exclusively fish eaters. Some studies show that up to 90% of their diet is salmon, with Chinook salmon being far and away their favorite. During the last 50 years hundreds of wild runs of salmon have become extinct due to habitat loss and over-fishing of wild stocks. Many of the extinct salmon stocks are the winter runs of chinook and coho. Although the surviving stocks have probably been sufficient to sustain the resident pods, many of the runs that have been lost were undoubtedly traditional resources favored by the resident orcas. This may be affecting the whales’ nutrition in the winter and may require them to change their patterns of movement in order to search for food.

Other studies with tagged whales have shown that they regularly dive up to 800 feet in this area. Researchers tend to think that during these deep dives the whales may be feeding on bottomfish. Bottomfish species in this area would include halibut, rockfish, lingcod and greenling. Scientists estimate that today’s lingcod population in northern Puget Sound and the Strait of Georgia is only 2% of what it was in 1950. The average size of rockfish in the recreational catch has also declined by several inches since the 1970s, which is indicative of overfishing. In some locations, certain rockfish species have disappeared entirely. So even if bottomfish are not a major food resource for the whales, the present low numbers of available fish increases the pressure on orcas and all marine animals to find food. (For more information on bottomfish see the San Juan County Bottomfish Recovery Program.)

Toxic Exposure

Toxic substances accumulate in higher concentrations as they move up the food chain. Because orcas are the top predator in the ocean and are at the top of several different food chains in the environment, they tend to be more affected by pollutants than other sea creatures. Examinations of stranded killer whales have shown some extremely high levels of lead, mercury, and polychlorinated hydrocarbons (PCBs). Abandoned marine toxic waste dumps and present levels of industrial and human refuse pollution of the inland waters probably presents the most serious threat to the continued existence of this orca population. Unfortunately, the total remedy to this huge problem would be broad societal changes on many fronts. But because of the fact that orcas are so popular, they may be the best species to use as a focal point in bringing about the many changes that need to be made in order to protect the marine environment as a whole from further toxic poisoning.

Surface Impacts

The waters around the San Juan Islands are extremely busy due to international commercial shipping, fishing, whale watching and pleasure boating. On a busy weekend day in the summer it is not uncommon to see numerous boats in the vicinity of the whales as they travel through the area. The potential impacts from all this vessel traffic with regard to the whales and other marine animals in the area could be tremendous.

The surfacing and breathing space of marine birds and mammals is a critical aspect of their habitat which the animals must consciously deal with on a moment-to-moment basis throughout their lifetimes. With all the boating activity in the vicinity, there are three ways in which surface impacts are most likely to affect marine animals: a) collision, b) collision avoidance, and c) exhaust emissions in breathing pockets.

The first two impacts are very obvious and don’t just apply to vessels with motors. Kayakers even present a problem here because they’re so quiet. Marine animals, busy hunting and feeding under the surface of the water, may not be aware that there is a kayak above them and actually hit the bottom of it as they surface to breathe.

The third impact is one most people don’t even think of. When there are numerous boats in the area, especially idling boats, there are a lot of exhaust fumes being spewed out on the surface of the water. When the whale comes up to take a nice big breath of “fresh” air, it instead gets a nice big breath of exhaust fumes. It’s hard to say how greatly this affects the animals, but think how breathing polluted air affects us (i.e., smog in large cities like Los Angeles, breathing the foul air while sitting in traffic jams, etc).

To see how The Whale Museum is trying to alleviate these surface impacts vist the The Soundwatch Boater Education Program.

Underwater Noise

Similar to surface impacts, a primary source of acoustic pollution for this population of orcas would also be derived from the cumulative underwater noise of vessel traffic. For cetaceans, the underwater sound environment is perhaps the most critical component of their sensory and behavioral lives. Orcas communicate with each other over short and long distances with a variety of clicks, chirps, squeaks and whistles, along with using echolocation to locate prey and to navigate. They may also rely on passive listening as a primary sensory source. The long-term impacts from noise pollution would not likely show up as noticeable behavioral changes in habitat use, but rather as sensory damage or gradual reduction in population health. A new study at The Whale Museum called the SeaSound Remote Sensing Network has begun studying underwater acoustics and its relationship to orca communication.