The
INSIDE Meth dealer arrest
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Evergreen says goodbye
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7pm
Abbey Road LIVE!
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VOLUME 37, NUMBER 27 • JULY 8, 2014
Preparing for the season on seal pups Submitted by the Whale Museum
Summer has arrived… and that means it is time for harbor seal pups. If you have spent any time in the San Juan Islands, you have probably noticed that we have a lot of harbor seals. In fact, the Salish Sea probably has the most dense harbor seal population in the
Lopez Center
world. These seals are also the only pinnipeds that can be found here year-round. Every June through August, nearly 2,000 new seal pups are born around the islands. Although it can be thrilling to see these adorable, largeeyed youngsters sunning on the beach or bobbing in the water next to their mothers,
Outdoors, Weather Permitting
Friday, July 18th, 7:00 pm
Opening act: Caroline Aiken $15/adult $10/youth $35/family of 4 • Tickets @ PSR, Lopez Bookshop, Blossom, LCCA & online • Bring a blanket and chair • Beer garden
Contributed photo
Mother and pup. it is important to make sure that our bustling human population does not hinder the seals’ well-being. Harbor seal pups found alone on beaches generate a lot of concern from local residents as well as visitors. How can you help? The best thing to do is to give it space. Zero human interference actually maximizes the pup’s chances for survival. If you come across a pup this season, please follow these simple rules: Do not touch or move it; do not feed it; do not pour water on it; do not try to drive it back into the water. Do keep people and dogs at least 100 yards away (it’s the law). And do call the stranding hotline at 1-800562-8832. Another way you can help
is to make sure you are not polluting and pick up trash when you see it; one of last season’s harbor seal pups was recently sighted with a plastic packaging band digging into its skin. Something as simple as cutting through plastic loops before throwing them away can save lives. Unfortunately, even without human interference, not
all of this summer’s pups will survive to be adults. The natural mortality rate for harbor seal pups is very high The harbor seal population in the San Juan Islands has not grown or decreased for almost a decade. This doesn’t leave a lot of room for new seals. Its hard to think about seal pups dying, but they do provide food and nourishment
for dozens of other local animals, from bald eagles to sea stars to crabs. Please help us respect these natural cycles for the benefit of the entire Salish Sea ecosystem! Report all stranded marine mammals (dead or alive) to the San Juan County Marine Mammal Stranding Network at 1-800562-8832.
What you should know about raccoons Tickets Required- $15 suggested donation Available at Lopez Winery Tasting Room, Blossom Natural Foods, & Paper-Scissors-on-the-Rock Dress Warmly, bring a blanket & a chair. www.islandstageleft.org
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There are no bears, wolves or mountain lions on the island. When the sun goes down there is little to fear from the wild world when it comes to large predators. Smaller mammals like the raccoon are wild and can cause problems especially when humans interact with them as if they were domestic creatures. But Shona Aitken, education coordinator of Wolf Hollow Wildlife Rehabilitation, says raccoon attacks in the islands are very rare.
Lopez Center
Contributed Photo / FWS
Raccoon in a tree. According to Aitken, if an animal is fed consistently by people they lose their wariness of humans, and they can become more confident. She added that raccoons, which are omnivores, mostly forage for smaller meals like snails, slugs and berries. “They eat a wide range of stuff,” she said. “In general they are not hunters.” Adult raccoons weigh 15 to 40 pounds, their weight
Live in Concert
Sunday, July 20th, 7:30 pm
Beppe Gambetta Italian Acoustic Guitarist
Tickets @ PSR, Lopez Bookshop, Blossom, LCCA & online Advanced $13/adult, $6/youth • Door $15/adult, $8/youth
being a result of genetics, age, available food, and habitat location. Some males have weighed in at over 60 pounds. The average life span of a raccoon in the wild is two to three years. As long as raccoons are kept out of human homes, not cornered, and not treated as pets, they are not dangerous, according to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Raccoon populations can get quite large in urban areas, due to hunting and trapping restrictions, few
predators, and human-supplied food, according to the USFWS’s website. During this time of year, raccoons are out more frequently in the day searching for food to feed their kits. Aitken added that the best way to deal with raccoons is to make sure they are not enticed to come onto your property. This can be accomplished in a few steps: 1: Spray your yard and deck with unpleasant scents like coyote urine (available for purchase online), lemon SEE RACCOON, PAGE 8