animals Archives - Page 5 of 8

Scene around A-Town: a big snapper

August 21, 2015

Snapping turtles bite. [Photo by Kristel Wilson] This large snapping turtle was sighted by Kristel Wilson by the footbridge on the Holmes Run trail near Valleycrest Drive in Annandale. She estimates it was about a foot and a-half long and at one point started chasing her with its mouth wide open. If you see it, … Continued

Rabid raccoon attacks man

June 9, 2015

#animals, #health, #wildlife

Fairfax County Animal Control officers distributed rabies information to residents of the Kings Park area today after a man was attacked by a rabid raccoon in the 5300 block of Kings Park Drive on Sunday, June 7. The man was working in his garden around 12:30 p.m. when a raccoon quietly approached him from behind … Continued

Get free milkwood seeds at Hidden Oaks to help save monarch butterflies

June 2, 2015

#animals, #environment, #gardening, #nature, #wildlife

A monarch on milkweed. Have you seen a lot of monarch butterflies this spring? Probably not, because the monarch population is in serious decline. Milkweed plants, the only food monarch caterpillars eat, is fast disappearing due to loss of habitat as vacant land is developed. To help save monarchs, the Hidden Oaks Nature Center in … Continued

Eakin Park project raises concerns about threat to frogs

May 27, 2015

#animals, #nature, #parks, #trails, #wildlife

A frog in Eakin Park. [Photos by Gary Rubin] Preparation for a construction project near the pond in Eakin Park in Annandale has raised alarm bells that the frogs who breed in a vernal pool nearby might be danger. Gary Rubin, who lives near Eakin Park, says his children enjoy watching the frogs and tadpoles … Continued

Local resident bitten by copperhead

May 26, 2015

#animals, #emergencies, #health, #wildlife

Zoya Melnichenko was watering her flowers when she was bit by a copperhead. [Photo by Steve Barrett] Getting bitten by a copperhead is rare in Fairfax County, but it happened a couple of weeks ago right here in Mason District. And that should serve as a warning to other residents who spend a lot of … Continued

Scene around A-Town: Foxes!

May 6, 2015

#animals, #wildlife

The two babies in their den. Michael Thomas, a resident of Broyhill Crest in Annandale, took these photos and video of a fox family, with a mother and two kits, in his backyard. “They seem healthy and happy,” he says. Baby foxes are born with dark fur, which lightens as they mature. The kits in … Continued

Pigs on the loose in North Springfield

May 4, 2015

#animals

Pigs enjoying their freedom. [Photo by Cheri Stronach Brown] Here’s something you don’t see around here every day: three little pigs wandering down a suburban street in North Springfield. Several residents called Fairfax County Animal Control early this morning. An officer arrived on the scene, in the 7400 block of Long Pine Drive, at around … Continued

Sharpshooters take down seven deer at Green Spring Gardens

March 31, 2015

#animals, #Gross, #neighborhood groups, #pets, #wildlife

Deer at Green Spring Gardens. Fifty deer were killed in Mason District parks during the 2014-15 season, including seven shot by sharpshooters at Green Spring Gardens, says Katherine Edwards, the wildlife management specialist for Fairfax County. Archers using crossbows were responsible for the rest. Edwards gave a presentation at the third and final installment of … Continued

Dogs rescued from Korean dog meat farm arrive in Alexandria

January 6, 2015

#animals, #food, #Koreans, #pets, #volunteers

Snowball is one of the lucky dogs rescued from a dog farm and is now safe at the Alexandria Animal Shelter. Sixteen dogs held captive on a dog meat farm in South Korea and headed for the dinner plate were rescued by the Humane Society International (HSI) and arrived at the Alexandria Animal Shelter last … Continued

Dog found in Columbia Pike

November 10, 2014

#animals, #pets

Is this your dog? Heidi Hicks Clary found her found in the middle of Columbia Pike by Mason District Park on the morning of Nov. 7. The dog had a very sweet temperament and appeared to be well taken care of. She had a collar but no tags and had a chip but it wasn’t … Continued

Rescued cats available for adoption

August 26, 2014

#animals, #pets, #volunteers

Emily was rescued by 4Paws. The 4Paws Rescue Team Inc. of Merrifield has been carrying out an ambitious project to rescue cats living in substandard conditions in a shelter in rural southeastern Virginia. The Petco Foundation supported this work with a $10,000 grant to 4Paws. The 4Paws Rescue Team is a non-profit community-based, all volunteer … Continued

Pet shop coming to Barcroft Plaza

August 11, 2014

#animals, #businesses, #pets, #shopping

Chico’s Pet Depot is coming to the Barcroft Plaza shopping center on Columbia Pike. The shop could open as early as September, says Joseph Thorne of the Pet Depot company, although it looks like a lot of work still needs to be done. The shop will sell pet food, treats, pet supplies, and small animals, … Continued

Public support needed for humane deer management program

July 29, 2014

#animals, #nature, #wildlife

The Deer Spay program in action. [Photo by Tom Jackman] If you live around the City of Fairfax, you might be surprised to see deer with “bling.” The deer wearing ear tags were part of a groundbreaking sterilization effort undertaken last winter called Deer Spay. That was the first time the Deer Spay approach was … Continued

Scene around A-Town: a red-tailed hawk

May 5, 2014

#animals, #nature, #street scenes, #wildlife

When a red-tailed hawk dropped in to visit the bird bath at Bob Kovacs’s home in the Columbia Pines community in Annandale, Bob had his camera ready and got this shot.

Bunker the beagle on the loose

April 19, 2014