Quiet forest walk beats noisy freeway jam
Ancient Veteran Douglas Fir in Mountain forest
Public appreciation of the wild creatures that share this planet with us is growing rapidly. So is awareness that heedless destruction of natural habitat is wiping out native animals and birds at a tragic rate around the world.
The Mountain/Cove Forestlands seem silent and peaceful compared to the roar of the city, yet they pulse with many forms of life, inter-connected and inter-dependent in ways that not even the finest naturalists come close to fully understanding.
Fortunately, you don't need to be versed in wildlife biology to appreciate the song of a wren, the sight of a scurrying squirrel or a glimpse of graceful black-tailed deer. One's life is greatly enriched by such things, and we will all be infinitely poorer if we let greed, carelessness and ignorance destroy them.
Too many people believe that if a tract of forest is levelled for a development project, the animals and birds that were fed and sheltered there will simply move on to some other green place.
But it doesn't work that way.
Even the smallest songbird must have its bit of territory. Larger animals such as deer and bear require many acres of space. Level this habitat and most of its creatures will perish, because the nearby territories are already fully occupied by others.
The Mountain/Cove Forests are rich in wildlife. Close to 100 species of wild birds have been recorded there, including some relatively rare ones such as the barred owl, pileated woodpecker and Pacific-slope flycatcher.
From tiny hummingbirds and bushtits to great horned owls and bald eagles, the variety is notable. Among the smaller mammals are the rare Pacific water shrew, several species of bat, chipmunk, Douglas, gray and northern flying squirrels, Pacific jumping mouse and southern red-backed vole. There are coyote, red fox, raccoon, marten, spotted and striped skunks, snowshoe hare, bobcat, black bear, and deer.
While, all the time, the healthy, growing forest constantly cleans and oxygenates the air and prevents flooding by slowing and retaining runoff water.
