Comments on: Question about carnivores in WA State and/or British Columbia, CA

By: tomeslice

tomeslice — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 00:28:33 +0000

Done!
Thanks Jon! You’re always full of wise mammal-watching advices!

By: Jon Hall

Jon Hall — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 20:26:52 +0000

A list server is an email group… I am sure they have many names. But birders often use them to share info. I guess this dude would be a good place to start… drop him an email maybe? http://britbirderinbc.blogspot.com/… and the Ecuador report should be done by the weekend

By: tomeslice

tomeslice — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 15:46:18 +0000

Jon that is an excellent idea!
How would I find out what birding groups are on the island? It’s a very large island… And what’s a list server? Those questions aside, the concept obviously makes sense, as similar behaviour is exhibited by many other arbroreal mammals with respect to bird feeders!

P.S. – Needless to mention I’m looking forward to your Ecuador Trip report

By: Jon Hall

Jon Hall — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 14:52:59 +0000

OK that sounds like an awesome trip. I imagine there will be some birding group on VI that will have a list server … you could contact them about Martens. You never know, one of them may have a bird table that one visits daily.

By: vdinets

vdinets — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 03:20:57 +0000

No, I don’t have anything special to recommend for Olympic or VI – except that I’ve found Keen’s race of long-eared myotis in hollow Douglas-firs in Cathedral Grove on VI. I don’t know if you’ll find them, but the place is definitely worth visiting, it’s one of the most impressive old-growth forests in the world and right off a highway.

By: tomeslice

tomeslice — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 13:55:06 +0000

Hi Jon!
Yes, I’ve spent some quality time with Orcas at San Juan islands from Port Townsend about a year ago when I was there with my parents.

I think I knew there were no grizzlies on the island itself, but then I guess I was confused, but now I know for sure! Either way, I was planning on taking the day-tour to Knight Inlet which is where the grizzlies are eating the salmons from the river. It should be just about 100% guarenteed for the grizzlies, with small chances for wolves, river otters, martens, and tiny chances for puma.

Other than that, I’m probably going to do a little hiking on my own, either in the Green Mountain area per your Website, or on the Pacific Trail.. I’m also wanting to see sea otters and there is a guy off Port Alice that can take me to see them. Also, night driving and a little spot lighting in the northern part of the island I’m ***hoping*** for that marten which is not at all uncommon on the island, and hopefully a puma that will pose for a picture!

By: Jon Hall

Jon Hall — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 10:52:36 +0000

Hi Tomer, I won’t add to what the others have said but just to make sure you realise that there are no Grizzlies on VI (I got the impression you thought there were). If you want to easily see Grizzlies and Wolf then Yellowstone would be one place for that. Have you seen Orcas before – there is great Orca watching on VI though, jon

By: tomeslice

tomeslice — Sun, 19 Aug 2012 23:03:06 +0000

Sounds good! I think I will do that then!
THanks again for the replies.

PS – Shangai, huh? Nice… China is on my list as well.

By: Coke Smith

Coke Smith — Sat, 18 Aug 2012 22:04:21 +0000

Hello again Tomes! Yes – I re-read my earlier post and I see what you are saying. My post was ambiguous. Absolutely – if the salmon are on time, late August and early Sep can be the BEST time of year. IF they are late or not there, the bears will stay in the forests and look for berries. But I would say you are pretty safe with the salmon runs, but I always recommend to inquire locally…Try the link in my site and they should have some pretty good information. And since you have done a good job seeing the OP critters, the island would be where I would head! Sounds great either way. And sitting here in my apartment in Shanghai, anything in the great northwestern outdoors sounds fantastic!

By: tomeslice

tomeslice — Sat, 18 Aug 2012 21:55:05 +0000

Thanks again guys!
Coke – I did read both your Knight Inlet and Olympic trip reports a few times in the past (and again this time around) and they’re both pretty awesome. One thing though is that you said right now there is no salmon, but from different websites it sounds like after August 25th it’s the high season! I would be there right around the 30th-sept.1st.. I thought late august and September are prime bear watching seasons. In Olympic, I’ve already actually seen the olympic chipmunks and marmots when I was there with my parents a long time ago (both seen from the Hurricane Ridge visitor center!) and I’ve already seen the elk, deer, black bears etc. But between trying to find martens, grizzlies and cats on vancouver island vs. spending a few nights spotlighting (or at least driving up and down) in olympic’s lower elevation roads for martens and cats (staying at sol duc resort inside the park) which would you recommend? From your reports it sounds like BC is more promising.. Maybe with the exception of bobcats.

Joseph – I’m leaving Portland and going to Seattle to visit a friend, and then from there I’m thinking of continuing up to BC, so it won’t be one long haul from portland. But anyway my flight back is from Seattle.. I was thinking of staying somewhere on Vancouver island and do a day-trip where they take you to knights inlent.. In Port McNeil, where would I see grizzlies? Is there a specific place you go see them?

Vladimir – Crater lake actually looks pretty amazing! But it’s too far out of the way, closer to northern california. I’ll have to visit that are whenever I visit Northern Cal (Which I still have to do – sequoia NP and Point Reyes etc.) I know you’re like my wild cat expert – I can’t believe how many pumas you’ve photographed in so many places!!! Do you want to come along and help me find one???? Just kidding. (I did briefly seen one in CR but NO PICTURE Never seen a bobcat) Do you know of anything in Olympic or on Vancouver Island? I’m totally down to spend a night in a tree above a trail, but not by myself.. From your website it sounds like vicinity of waterfalls is a good place to look. I also saw a picture on your website from Mt. Rainier – Was it pure luck or is there any methodology to it? That could definitely be an option.

Anyway, thanks again and I hope to hear back from everyone! I’m still debating whether I’m going to stay in the USA and try some kind of mt rainier/olympic combo OR go to into Canada and do vancouver island.. I guess there are more species I want to see on VI.. Maybe I’ll just do that.