Tag: wildlife
Rabid raccoon found at Luria Park
A rabid raccoon who has been chasing people and pets in Luria Park has been confirmed to have rabies, the Fairfax County Health Department reported Oct. 27. Anyone who has been in contact with the animal – or whose pet might have been exposed to rabies – should contact the Health Department Rabies Program at 703-246-6004.
A spotted lanternfly, a dangerous invasive, spotted in Annandale
An adult spotted lanternfly. [Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture] If you see a spotted lanternfly, an invasive insect that has made its way to Virginia, the Fairfax County government wants you to kill it immediately. A “hitchhiker” adult spotted lanternfly was recently found in a shipment of produce at a grocery store in Annandale. There have … Continued
Deer hunting allowed in parks, beginning this Saturday
Signs like this are posted on trees in parks where deer hunting is allowed. Deer season in Fairfax County parks begins this Saturday, Sept. 11, and runs through Feb. 19, 2022. During this period, qualified groups of hunters are authorized to use archery to kill deer in designated areas across the county.
Public urged to stop feeding birds
A sick bluejay found in the D.C. area. [Belinda Burwell] Wildlife officials don’t yet know why so many birds are sick and dying, but they urge residents to stop feeding birds until there are answers. Wildlife managers in Virginia; Washington, D.C.; Maryland; and West Virginia began receiving reports of sick and dying birds with eye … Continued
Cicada lessons at Belvedere featured on TV news
Belvedere students examine a cicada. [Photos: FCPS] By the time the cicadas from Brood X started emerging earlier this month, students at Belvedere Elementary School in Annandale were ready and eager to study them up close. Two environmental educators, a librarian, and a resource teacher have been educating students about the 17-year cicadas for weeks, … Continued
Local photographer turns cicadas into media stars
Many people think of cicadas as creepy and annoying – but they can also be cute, fun, and talented. That’s the positive side of the Brood X invasion highlighted by photographer Oxana Ware of North Arlington.
First cicadas spotted in Annandale
Cicada sighting in Annandale backyard. The first cicadas from Brood X are beginning to emerge from the ground where they’ve spent the last 17 years. If you’re lucky, you might see a cicada or two in your yard now, but in a week or so, a wide swath of the Eastern United States will be … Continued
Ill raccoon spotted near nature center
If you’re planning to walk near the Hidden Oaks Nature Center in Annandale, watch out for a potentially rabid raccoon. A sign at the Nature Center urges people to watch out for a “raccoon displaying symptoms of illness seen near the trail and stream April 12 and 13.” That stream backs up to the Lafayette … Continued
Visit Fairfax invites the public to play Cicada Bingo
Get ready for a cicada lovefest. [Visit Fairfax] If “Virginia is for Lovers,” the cicadas should feel right at home. When the billions of cicadas in Brood X will emerge next month after spending 17 years underground, they will have one thing on their minds – attracting a mate and producing the next generation.
17 things to know about the 17-year cicada invasion
Soon our yards will be full of cicadas like this one. [Scientific American] As we’re nearing the end of one plague, we’re about to be inundated by another. Billions of cicadas in Brood X, hidden underground for the past 17 years, will emerge across parts of the East Coast and Midwest in May. The D.C. … Continued
Fairfax County has no plans to harm the Mantua beavers
A beaver in Huntley Meadows Park in Alexandria. “The county has no plans to trap, remove, or relocate the beavers at the Mantua pond,” said Fairfax County Wildlife Management Specialist Katherine Edwards. That statement was made in response to a petition titled Save the Mantua Beavers by a Mantua resident concerned about a pair of … Continued
Hidden Oaks adjusts to pandemic with new custom programs for families or ‘bubble groups’
Nature Your Way at Hidden Oaks. By Suzanne Holland Even though Hidden Oaks Nature Center is not open for the public to visit the exhibits, the park is busy with children and adults enjoying outdoor programming. Hidden Oaks, located in Annandale Community Park, is at 7701 Royce St., Annandale. In December, Hidden Oaks is offering … Continued
Document wildlife during Virginia BioBlitz
An Eastern box turtle [Virginia Academy of Science] Local residents of all ages are encouraged to help scientists document the biodiversity in parks and backyards by joining Virginia BioBlitz 2020. The program kicks off on Saturday, Sept. 26, with presentations on Zoom by the Virginia Academy of Science and its partners, including the Fairfax County … Continued
Deer hunting approved for several Annandale-area parks
Signs like this one, in Holmes Run Stream Valley, are posted in parks approved for deer hunting. Fairfax County’s annual archery program to cull the deer population starts Sept. 12 and runs through Feb. 20, 2021. Bow hunters who meet certain qualifications are allowed to shoot deer from temporary deer stands installed in trees in … Continued
Residents can help prevent beetle invasion
There’s a killer on the loose in Fairfax County and residents can help catch it. The Asian Longhorned Beetle is an invasive species that attacks and kills many kings of shade trees, including its favorite, the maple. Staff of the county’s Urban Forest Management Division asks residents to keep an eye out for this insect … Continued