Tag: animals
Get free milkwood seeds at Hidden Oaks to help save monarch butterflies
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
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
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!
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Bunker, a small brown and white beagle, escaped from the family who was temporarily caring for him on Charleson Street in Broyhill Crest, Annandale, on April 17. He is friendly with children and other dogs but is scared of tall men. He doesn’t have a Fairfax County dog license. A reward is offered to the … Continued
Be alert for ‘downed birds’
An eared grebe in Fairfax County. Fairfax County Animal Services Division has have received several reports of “downed birds” around the county. They appear to be eared grebes that likely have been thrown off their migratory track due to recent frigid weather. They have webbed feet and typically swim and fly. They are not accustomed … Continued
Fairfax County needs to use humane methods to control deer population
A young deer in Luria Park in Annandale. By Melissa Klein There was a packed house of rapt animal welfare advocates at the quarterly luncheon hosted by Sandy Lerner at her Ayrshire Farm estate in Upperville, Va., recently. The riveting topic was an exciting new approach in managing wildlife called Deer Spay, or more technically … Continued