Mailtribune.com - Oregon Outdoors Sections

Creature Feature: Black-crowned Night-Heron

Black-crowned Night Heron

Volunteers aid lactating elk in High Cascades

PROSPECT — Two-dozen members of the Rogue Valley Chapter of the Oregon Hunters Association spent Saturday erecting a relatively harmless yet powerful line of defense in the woods to help Roosevelt elk in the woods near here.

Creature Feature: Dall's Porpoise

(Phocoenoides dalli)

Creature Feature: Red-winged Blackbird

(Agelaius phoeniceus)

Viewing Outlook

CURRY - Harbor seals can be observed in estuaries throughout the South Coast. Look for sandy haul-out sites. Remember, spring is pupping season so please observe these animals from a distance. If you find pups on the beach, leave them where you found them — mother knows where they are.

Creature Feature: Badger

(Taxidea taxus)

Viewing Outlook

CURRY - Harbor seals can be observed in estuaries throughout the South Coast. Look for sandy haul-out sites. Remember, spring is puping season so please observe these animals from a distance. If you find pups on the beach, leave them where you found them — mother knows where they are.

Creature Feature: Common Nighthawk

(Chordeiles minor)

Viewing Outlook

JACKSON/JOSEPHINE - Ospreys and great blue herons are actively fishing along the upper Rogue River corridor and around most local reservoirs.

Creature Feature: Belding's Ground Squirrel

(Spermophilus beldingi)

Viewing Outlook

JACKSON/JOSEPHINE - Ospreys and great blue herons are actively fishing along the upper Rogue River corridor and around most local reservoirs.

Creature Feature: Common Egret

(Casmerodius albus)

Creature Feature: Coyote

(Canis latrans)

Ashland botanist seeks help finding rare purple trillium

ASHLAND — Almost 50 years ago, Ashland botanist Frank Lang took an obscure Japanese botanist on the longest car ride of the visitor's life around Washington to collect specimens of rare trillium flowers for research in the Orient.

Creature Feature: Ringtail

(Bassariscus astutus)

Viewing Outlook: April 30, 2009

JACKSON/JOSEPHINE - Goslings are being seen on the Denman Wildlife Area. Within the next month there will be more, and a few ducklings will appear. Also, ospreys are building nests along the Rogue River and near lakes and ponds. A covered viewing station on the Denman Wildlife Area provides a good opportunity to view waterfowl, egrets, raptors and songbirds.

Creature Feature: Striped skunk

(Mephitis mephitis)

Viewing Outlook

JACKSON/JOSEPHINE - Goslings are starting to be seen in the Denman Wildlife Area; within the next month there will be more, and a few ducklings will appear. Also, the ospreys are back and building their nests along the Rogue River and near lakes and ponds. A covered viewing station on the Denman Wildlife Area provides a good opportunity to view waterfowl, egrets, raptors and songbirds.

Creature Feature: Pacific Jumping Mouse

(Zapus trinotatus)

Viewing Outlook

JACKSON/JOSEPHINE - Now is a good time to search the woods for shed antlers, both black-tailed deer and Roosevelt elk. Look for public winter-range access at places off Obenchain Road and Salt Creek.

April 09, 2009