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always for the community VOL 25 NO 5
September 2020
www.valleysentinel.com
SPOTLIGHT
Faith Sula at work
Teens Helping Seniors Danville student launches local chapter By Staff Writer
17 year old San Ramon Valley High School Senior Faith Sula wanted to do something to help during this COVID crisis. Back in March when the shutdown happened, she learned of
ECRWSS
PRESORTED STANDARD US POSTAGE PAID DANVILLE, CA PERMIT NO. 70
See TEENS HELP page 5
The view along the Martinez Shoreline trail offers not only great panoramas, but a close up view of restored marshlands that provide habitat for many birds in season. Information panels along the way describe cultural and natural history as well as information about the firds, fish and other wildlife in the park. Dogs are not allowed in most of the park.
The shy Ring-tail Cat (Bassariscus astutus) is sometimes seen in Contra Costa County
Postmaster: Dated Material
By James M. Hale
In my more than fifty years as a wildlife biologist, many of my most memorable moments were my encounters with Ring-tailed Cats (Bassariscus astutus). These delightful, mammals, primarily inhabit the arid regions of southwest North America. They may be found in Oregon, California, Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, Utah, Texas, Nevada, New Mexico, Arizona, Baja California, and Mexico, down to Oaxaca. I’ve enjoyed observing them during research along the south fork of the Trinity River in Humboldt County, the Sutter Buttes in the Central Valley, the Sonoran Desert of Arizona and New Mexico, to the Chihuahuan Desert of Mexico. Early California settlers called them Miner Cats, because they are
catlike, and sometimes would cohabit cabins with them. My friend’s cabin along the Trinity River had a resident “Miner Cat”, who instituted Integrated Pest Management, by keeping the rodent population under control. It became habituated enough for me to pet it, as it jumped up on my lap to check me out. Although normally secretive and shy in nature, and often unnoticed, Ring-tailed Cats are widely distributed and well adapted to disturbed areas. Rocky desert habitats associated with water, riparian canyons, caves, mine shafts, and abandoned wooden structures are preferred habitats. Locally, in Contra C o s t a C o u n t y, t h e y a r e
elusive, and their population is unknown. A road-killed individual was recently observed in Tilden Park, and they have been live-trapped along the delta in Antioch. I have seen their tracks in Las Trampas Regional Park, Kaiser Creek, Bear Creek in Briones Regional Park, and Mount Diablo, near Marsh Creek. Anecdotal accounts have come from Sleepy Hollow in Orinda. Unfortunately, these wonderful animals have been legally trapped for their fur. Extensive trapping led to population declines in some areas. The Ring-tailed Cat is now a Fully Protected species in California. Also known as the Ringtail, Ringtail Cat, Bassarisk, and Cacomistle, the
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Ring-tailed Cat is a member of the raccoon family. The facial mask and ringed tail are similarities with its relative, the raccoon. It’s other cousin, the true Cacomistle See RING TAIL page 3
Fall Home & Garden pages 6-7