Observations: January 16, 2001 Time: 4:35 pm Weather: Overcast, flurries

Bobcats Prowl the Park at Night Although not a common sight, a bobcat (Lynx rufus) has been spotted a few times this year along the trails in the interior of the park. In winter their coats are generally a grey colour with black spots. Males are approximately 1 m (3.3') long, and weigh 5 kg (10 lbs). Females are slightly smaller. Bobcats are often confused with lynx, but are easily distinguishable because a bobcat has a white spot behind each ear and the underside of its short cropped tail is white. (Lynx have all black ears with tufts on the tips and an all black tail) Being a more southern feline, the bobcat has shorter legs and smaller paws than a lynx, who lives in greater snow depths. Although able to run up to 50 km/ h (31 mph) and leap almost 2.5 m (8.2'), most of the time a bobcat follows hare trails or stalks squirrels. Its tracks, about the size of a medium-sized dog (5 cm x 5 cm) (2" x 2"), lack a dog’s claw marks and distinct pad pattern. As a member of the cat family the bobcat keeps its claws retracted when walking. Like a cat they often bury their scat, use trees as scratching posts and are generally nocturnal. If you meet a bobcat along the trail or roadway, do not attempt to approach or feed it. Bobcats are usually shy, but may be aggressive when their young are nearby.

Owl Alert! On the hill leading to Saints Rest beach, keep your eyes open for wildlife in the reclaimed gravel pit on the north side of the road. Besides ducks and geese flying over from Manawagonish Creek, at dusk you may see an owl flying long sweeping patrols, often lower than 2 m (6.6'), over the grass. The Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus) hunts at night for small rodents such as voles and mice but it will take insects and even small birds. Short-eared Owls stand about 30-40 cm (12 - 16") and have a wingspan of approximately 1 m (3.3'). Their ears are almost unnoticeable until you are very close. They have bright yellow eyes and a black beak. Their eyes are surrounded by dark feathers with white feather eyebrows. Their call is a sharp bark. While most owls settle in old stick nests or tree cavities, the short-eared owl nests on the ground, usually in depressions in tall grass. In April-June 5-6 eggs are laid. This species is highly migratory, so this owl may not be a permanent resident. Previously this area was dominated by a Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus).

Has a Witch Lost her Broom? Have you noticed that some of the balsam fir trees have an unusual explosion of small branch growth on their outstretched limbs? The shrunken needles within this abnormal growth of upright shoots is pale green or even yellow like an ominous witch’s broom! A fungus called fir broom rust (Melampsorella caryophyllacearum Schroter) causes this malformation. The broom will lose all of its needles by the winter, while other healthy limbs retain their needles for 4-5 years. At times, the infection can spread into the main branch and cause a ball-like swelling on the limb, but it rarely kills the whole tree.

The Naturalist's Notebook is a regular publication. If you have any questions or topics that you would like to see addressed, please call John Gilbert, Manager, Fish and Wildlife, J.D. Irving, Limited, (506) 632-7777 or email honeyman.kelly@jdirving.com