Why are we seeing so many owls?
DEAR JOAN » We have had the pleasure of having an owl nest in the untrimmed palm tree in our front yard. We have lived here for 50 years and this is a first.
Mama owl had either two or three owlets — we really aren’t sure. When they were ready to fly, they learned by flying from branch to branch in a tree that abutted the palm.
I never realized owls were so vocal — tweets, chirps, owl conversations and occasionally a scream.
For about 10 days the owls would emerge and we would watch them with fascination. Now they are fledged and gone.
Has this been an exceptionally good year for owls, and is it because of our unusual climate this year? — Jean Renzel, San Jose
DEAR JEAN » It has been an exceptionally good year for almost all living creatures, thanks to the rains we had this past winter.
The rains helped to refill ponds, streams and creeks, and replenish the landscape. Plants grew with enthusiasm and the plants attracted insects, which emerged in the spring in greater numbers than they had in the past five years of drought.
With all the insects, birds and other creatures that live on insects reproduced in great numbers, knowing that there was food and water to support their offspring. That brought larger creatures that view those animals as prey.
I don’t have any evidence that there are more owls than usual, but I think it’s a strong possibility, considering they had plenty of rodents this year to live on.
DEAR JOAN » Recently you wrote about the danger of dogs running alongside bicycles. I want to tell you that we used to do this with our dog many years ago until she got her tail caught in our bike chain.
Fortunately, my husband had a penknife in his pocket that he quickly used to whack off a bunch of tail hair and a tiny piece of the end of her tail. She was one miserable pup for a while after that and we thought she would never forgive us.
I’ve been meaning to ask you if we should be worried about sighting a couple of ground squirrels in our backyard that probably have migrated from nearby Alum Rock Park.
I know they’re a nuisance in the park but am not sure whether we should get a jump on eradication early, or just wait and see what happens. Do you know? — Judy Thompson, San Jose DEAR JUDY » Thanks for your cautionary tale, no pun intended. That painfully illustrates the dangers of biking with your dog.
I also had a few letters from readers giving valid reasons for why they ride with their dogs — larger dogs that need a lot of exercise and the owners’ physical limitations that make walking the dog difficult for them.
They also use the proper safety equipment and have trained their dogs to obey commands. I’m willing to amend my general dislike for biking with the dog given that those requirements are met and the dogs are not over-taxed.
As for your ground squirrels, I cringe at the word eradication, but I would advise you to install barriers to keep them out of your yard. I’m also hearing good things about a device called Mole Max, which transmits a sound underground of a creature in distress. In small incursions, these appear to work well.