Tag: wildlife
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
Overuse of pesticides is killing off bees essential for pollination
Dead bees under trees sprayed in a mall in Wilsonville, Ore. [Photo by Rich Hatfield of the Xerces Society.] By Deanna Crumbling In Wilsonville, Ore., on June 17, it was discovered that a chemical weapon of mass destruction had left over 25,000 carcasses in the parking lot of a shopping center, and the bodies were … Continued
Deer hunting in Annandale starts Sept. 7
Roundtree Park on Annandale Road. Only two people attended the public meeting on Fairfax County’s deer hunting program Aug. 20. Maybe the low turnout had to do with the inconvenient time, 6 p.m., and remote location at the Fairfax County South County Center on Richmond Highway, which is nearly as far as Mount Vernon. The … Continued
No local public meetings on deer archery program scheduled for Annandale
Deer in Green Spring Gardens. Annandale residents concerned about Fairfax County’s decision to allow the use of archery to control the deer population in several Mason District parks are encouraged to attend one of two upcoming public meetings. Unfortunately, neither of these sessions on the 2013-14 archery program is actually in the Mason area. The … Continued
Farewell to ‘Darling,’ the nature center snake
Darling swallows a mouse. An eastern rat snake that had lived at Hidden Oaks Nature Center in Annandale for 20 years has passed away. Naturalists don’t name exhibit animals—because they aren’t pets and shouldn’t be humanized—but staff members referred to the snake as Darling. He arrived in 1993, when a homeowner found some snake eggs … Continued
Old Annandale farmhouse is for sale, but owners won’t sell to a developer
There are many 100-year-old boxwoods around the house. If you’d like to live in the country but don’t want to give up the convenience of being close to the city, Boxhill Farm is the place for you. It’s a restored farmhouse on seven acres of land in Annandale just outside the beltway, and it’s for … Continued
DeerDeter system prevents deer-vehicle collisions
Dead deer on the side of Gallows Road, Annandale, inside the beltway. With deer-vehicle collisions a growing problem in Fairfax County, a non-profit group called 21st Century Deer Management is teaming up with a private company to urge the county to adopt a humane, high-tech system to keep deer off the roads. So far, in … Continued
Scene Around A-Town: Green Spring wildlife
A heron (?) of some sort at Green Spring Gardens yesterday. Anyone know what this is? The springs at Green Springs are really green.
Scene around A-Town: lots of butterflies
Tiger swallowtail Have you seen all the butterflies around here? “This has been a banner year for the tiger swallowtail, the state insect,” says naturalist Suzanne Holland of Hidden Oaks Nature Center in Annandale. “It is not unusual to have many nectaring this time of year. They are a welcomed addition to backyards everywhere.” The … Continued
Beaver attacks swimmer in Lake Barcroft
American beaver Police from the Mason District report an 83-year-old woman was attacked by a beaver while she was swimming in Lake Barcroft Sept. 4, around 6 p.m. The beaver has tested positive for the rabies virus, according to a police update issued Sept. 5. “The woman managed to get to shore,” states an earlier … Continued
Cop school: Animal Services
Fairfax County has a pilot program to test the 4-poster system for combating deer ticks that spread Lyme disease. [photo from 21st Century Deer Management.] The work of the Fairfax County Police Department isn’t all about chasing bad guys; sometimes it’s about chasing a rabid raccoon or catching an aggressive dog. That’s because a key … Continued
Film captures contributions of pioneer conservationist
By Elizabeth Kirchner The public is invited to a free screening of “Green Fire,” a documentary about Aldo Leopold, the biologist and writer who raised the nation’s consciousness about environmental conservation. Aldo Leopold The film offers plenty of scenes of windy prairies, handsome forests, and purple mountains, but alos piles of elk carcasses, as it … Continued
Animal advocates urged FXCO Board of Supervisors to end bowhunting program
Opponents of Fairfax County’s use of bowhunting to control the deer population told the Board of Supervisors (BOS) Dec. 6 that archery is ineffective and inhumane. Murry J. Cohen, president of a national organization called In Defense of Animals, said, “Bow hunting is an unacceptable and extremely cruel way to kill deer.” Studies show deer … Continued
Feld, Gross battle over transit, development, and deer
Feld Mason Supervisor candidate David Feld proposed so many new ways to spend money at a debate last night, Penny Gross asked, “are you sure you’re a Republican?” That comment came after Feld proposed building more affordable housing in the county, although he also talked about other costly projects. When asked how he would pay … Continued
Archers killed 31 deer so far along Accotink Stream Valley
Since Fairfax County’s bowhunting program started Sept. 24, 31 deer have been killed by archers in parks along the Accotink Stream Valley, says Kristen Sinclair of the Resource Management Division of the Fairfax County Park Authority. Bowhunting in county parks while people are walking on the trails with their children and dogs is “incredibly safe,” … Continued