Week #30 Happy Thanksgiving!
Have a great weekend and enjoy some more Wild Turkey footage!
Read moreLittle Lake Valley Restoration Blog
Turkey Time
November 18, 2022 The Wild Turkey, Meleagris gallopavo, makes up a large portion of the fauna in Little Lake Valley. It is a resident found year-round, sometimes congregating together in flocks of over fifty birds. A few years ago, I counted over two hundred of them making their way into the north end of the…
Read moreWeek #29 Dances With Coyotes
The coyote is an extremely intelligent animal with keen senses. Watch these coyotes out on the Willits Mitigation Lands forage for food and mark their territories.
Read moreThe Crafty Coyote
October 26, 2022 Coyotes, Canis latrans, are routinely observed in Little Lake Valley. Even if not seen, one can usually at least find their scat and other signs of their presence. It is always a pleasure to see one of these beautiful animals loping past in the distance or intently hunting gophers and voles. Their…
Read moreWeek #28 More Elk Rut Activity 2022
Enjoy this additional footage of Tule Elk behavior during this year’s breeding season. Bugling can be heard up close near the camera and also off in the distance! One of the cow elks being monitored by CDFW can also be seen.
Read moreShades of Autumn
October 17, 2022 This is the time when the Willits Valley begins getting some beautiful fall colors. The orange of the oaks, yellow of the ash and maples, and the red of the poison oak are all being prominently displayed. This year has been different from last year as we have not had any near-freezing…
Read moreThe Secretive Virginia Rail
September 28, 2022 When checking on one of the video cameras that I had placed in Davis Creek, I approached quietly to observe if anything was present at the small water hole. Something moving in the woody debris caught my eye and I saw it was a Virginia Rail, Rallus limicola. It is such a…
Read morePublic Tour of Little Lake Valley Mitigation Land October 29
Join us for a fall walk in the Little Lake Valley to look for Tule Elk and other wildlife. RSVP required at marisela@mcrcd.org. We will meet at 9am at the Willits MCRCD office located at 998 East Commercial Street, Willits
Read moreWeek #27 American Black Bears
Watch as these black bears roam the mosaic of forest, wetland, and streamside habitats in Little Lake Valley. Black Bears have a sense of smell seven times stronger than a bloodhound. Two bears take a break from foraging to play wrestle!
Read moreWeek #26 Elk Rut 2022
The Tule Elk on the Willits Bypass Mitigation Lands have begun the rut.
Read moreSeptember Bugling
September 19, 2022 When the weather begins to cool off and we get some morning fog it is a special time in Little Lake Valley because the Tule bull elk (Cervus canadensis nannodes) begin their version of spring bird song. It is called bugling, but a bugle is not what it sounds like! The first…
Read moreWeek #25 Mammals of Willits Valley
This nice variety of mammals are utilizing riparian habitats for travel corridors, foraging grounds, and other activities!
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