|
Mercer Island
Animals
Mercer Island has a variety of small mammals, reptiles,
amphibians and insects. Many of these are difficult to finds or are only
active at night. Some leave signs of their presence other do not.
Almost all depend on our native habitat remaining intact.
All are impacted by our use of pesticides and herbicides as are our pets.
|
Douglas Squirrel Sighting 5/26/05
I was lying in bed this morning, thinking about getting up
when my cat dashed to the window after a squirrel. The squirrel was on
a 100 year old Douglas fir just outside the second story window of my
bedroom. At first I thought is way a baby Eastern gray squirrel but
then it chattered differently at my cat. When I looked closely, I saw
it was a native Douglas squirrel. This was exciting because it was the
first I have seen one my property, although I have seen others on the
island.
Click here for more information on the Douglas squirrel.
 Squirrel Update 7/05/05 - The squirrel has ventured to
the back yard now, not far from my native hazelnut tree. Perhaps he is
staking it out for the nuts. He sits up in a tree and chatters.
Here is a picture of him in the tree.
Squirrel Update 7/08/05 - Sad news. Today I
found a dead Douglas squirrel on E. Mercer Way when I was weeding along the
roadside by my house. I hope it is not the one who has been visiting
my yard.
|
| beaver |
| fresh water river otter |
| raccoon |
| rodents |
|
|
shrews & moles
-
vagrant shrew
-
Trowbridge's shrew
-
American shrew-mole
-
Townsend mole
-
Coast mole
|
Townsend mole |
|
| bats |
|
|
| mule deer (extirpated) |
| rabbits/hares |
*Most information on mammals from
Pioneer Park a natural history,
Mercer Island Parks and Recreation Department, 1990
Little brown bat |
Links
to Mammals of Washington
Tree frog |
|
Amphibians and Reptiles
Links to Amphibians and Reptile of the Pacific Northwest
|
|
Fish in
Lake Washington Watershed
Lake Washington is the home to a variety of fish including endangered salmon.
The following salmonids breed or migrate through Lake Washington:
- chinook
- sockeye
- coho
- kokanee*
- chum
- cuttroutthroat trout
- native char
For more information see
Salmon Conservation - Lake Washington.
*Scientists say the reasons for the extinction of the Lake
Sammamish early-run kokanee include higher water temperatures due
to global warming in the creek they spawned in; siltation, low
water levels and excessive runoff due to suburban development
and road building; pollution from a landfill; and the
killing of the salmon by a fish hatchery on Issaquah Creek, the run's
only spawning ground.
Pacific Northwest
Arthropods
 |
Links to Arthropods
-
Pacific Northwest Insects This is an Oregon site but most arthropods will be
similar on Mercer Island. This site is not extensive.
-
eNature on-line newsletter has a site that will show you
poisonous and dangerous insects by zip code.
|
|
