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Friday, April 23, 2021
At ground level
Whew, some luck was with me this afternoon and I had some wonderful moments watching a Long-tailed Weasel (Mustela frenata). I had trouble choosing which photos to share, so here's a selection of my favorites. Enjoy!
Thanks so much -- so glad you're enjoying the weasel!
Dan -- By chance I saw this weasel while eating lunch at work, but almost any coastal prairie area along the coast has potential. You can check the iNaturalist observations (zoom in to Sonoma or Marin County) for ideas about where to look. In this area, possible sites to try would be the Kortum Trail, or Tomales Point or Chimney Rock at Point Reyes. I've also heard that Ragle Ranch can be an excellent place to see them. There are many observations at Ragle Ranch in iNaturalist:
YES! Thanks for these photos, and the tips for where to spot these weasels! I was guessing Limantour! I'll watch there too! I love your posts...one email I look forward to checking in on every day!
When weasels come onto your property ... they are wanting to help with eradication of gophers! They can slip into the gopher tunnels and eat an amazing number of them... greatest blessing for an avid gardener who is tired of mini potholes all over their land from gophers❤️. They only seem to show up every five ,six, seven years... but they are more than welcome!
Ahhhh... This would explain why there are a wealth of sightings this year! Just after this original post, a number of people posted on the Petaluma NextDoor site with pictures of them!
12 comments:
Extraordinary photographs! The contrast of the lupine with the weasel's fur..you have such an eye.
Wow, such wonderful photos! I am so envious! I have yet to get such a long look at one of these furry beauties.
Wonderful close-ups of an animal rarely seen.
Wonderful photos and you really captured the character of this weasel.
Wow! I've only seen one once here on the Olympic Peninsula. What a beautiful animal, and your sequence of photos captures the beauty and behavior.
Thank you SO MUCH for sharing these!!
PS - I can't stop looking at these. What a gift for us this morning!
Curious to know where these photos were taken. Along Coastal Prairie Trail, perhaps? Did you have a strong telephoto lens? Great photos, Jackie.
Hi, all,
Thanks so much -- so glad you're enjoying the weasel!
Dan -- By chance I saw this weasel while eating lunch at work, but almost any coastal prairie area along the coast has potential. You can check the iNaturalist observations (zoom in to Sonoma or Marin County) for ideas about where to look. In this area, possible sites to try would be the Kortum Trail, or Tomales Point or Chimney Rock at Point Reyes. I've also heard that Ragle Ranch can be an excellent place to see them. There are many observations at Ragle Ranch in iNaturalist:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=any&subview=map&taxon_id=41810
Best,
Jackie
YES! Thanks for these photos, and the tips for where to spot these weasels! I was guessing Limantour! I'll watch there too!
I love your posts...one email I look forward to checking in on every day!
When weasels come onto your property ... they are wanting to help with eradication of gophers!
They can slip into the gopher tunnels and eat an amazing number of them... greatest blessing
for an avid gardener who is tired of mini potholes all over their land from gophers❤️. They only
seem to show up every five ,six, seven years... but they are more than welcome!
Ahhhh...
This would explain why there are a wealth of sightings this year! Just after this original post, a number of people posted on the Petaluma NextDoor site with pictures of them!
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