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avb3 · 04-01-2012, 16:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Astrid

In my area, Procyon lotor, is one of the major nocturnal thieves if one can find a way to get aboard.

You have coons that far north???? When did they start appearing there (I am assuming your location is still "in sight of Alaska".

Astrid · 04-01-2012, 20:25

They have spread north from Vancouver since the 1950s, particularly along the coast. They were introduced into Haida Gwaii in the 1940s as a fur bearing animal whose pelts could be exported to Japan. However, the market fell through, but the raccoon population exploded and they can now be found throughout the Charlottes with something of an adverse effect on native bird populations.

avb3 · 04-01-2012, 22:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Astrid

They have spread north from Vancouver since the 1950s, particularly along the coast. They were introduced into Haida Gwaii in the 1940s as a fur bearing animal whose pelts could be exported to Japan. However, the market fell through, but the raccoon population exploded and they can now be found throughout the Charlottes with something of an adverse effect on native bird populations.

Very interesting. Racoons were unknown in Alberta until they started showing up about 15 years ago, now having made it as far north as the Red Deer river valley. Fish and Wildlife would prefer they were not here, but there is not much that can be done.

Forced introductions of non-native species always has negative consequences, as the indigenous wildlife (and that goes for fish and plants too) is not able to deal with the invasive species.

scook1 · 04-01-2012, 22:52

I kept expecting an M. Night Shyamalan ending.

mbianka · 07-01-2012, 17:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Astrid

In my area, Procyon lotor, is one of the major nocturnal thieves if one can find a way to get aboard.

Astrid:

Indeed! Another reason to keep the hatches secured especially when tied to a dock. This was bought home to me by this little exchange on the VHF. http://biankablog.blogspot.com/2010/...-stowaway.html
Even a high end crewed yacht are not immune from these criminal critters getting on board.

Astrid · 07-01-2012, 19:38

My worst nightmare--Hey lady, we hear yer lookin fur a crew.

**minaret** · 07-01-2012, 19:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Astrid

My worst nightmare--Hey lady, we hear yer lookin fur a crew.

Having seen what happened to a large dog which tangled with two of these critters, I would run from that! A nightmare indeed...

sailorboy1 · 08-01-2012, 06:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Astrid

My worst nightmare--Hey lady, we hear yer lookin fur a crew.

How did you get my family Christmas get together pictures?

shorebird · 08-01-2012, 07:13

Years ago we spent the night aboard in North Vancouver's Deep Cove, and were kept awake all night by racoons screeching and fighting all over the docks and climbing all over the boat. Now it seems otters are becoming the pesky critters, since we are seeing them all over, including downtown vancouver. Between the racoons, otters, and rats, well, we just keep enough openings to provide ventilation. A small bear climbed into an open window in our cabin once...what a mess...

**minaret** · 08-01-2012, 09:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by shorebird

Years ago we spent the night aboard in North Vancouver's Deep Cove, and were kept awake all night by racoons screeching and fighting all over the docks and climbing all over the boat. Now it seems otters are becoming the pesky critters, since we are seeing them all over, including downtown vancouver. Between the racoons, otters, and rats, well, we just keep enough openings to provide ventilation. A small bear climbed into an open window in our cabin once...what a mess...

Otters are a huge problem on our docks. They have an unfortunate habit of crapping on anything touched by a person, ie docklines. They leave a terrible mess on the docks, and one boat had a female give birth to pups in the aft cabin of someone elses boat. Noone could get her to leave, she attacked all who approached. Eventually animal control had to remove her and the pups. A big male moved into my hard dinghy for a while and wouldn't let me approach. I had to get the dog to scare him off. They can be quite large and intimidating...

Astrid · 08-01-2012, 09:49

We don't seem to have a large sea otter population up this way, although there are occasional sightings around the islands. We do have the bears though, but fortunately I haven't had one visit the boat--even a small one can wreak havoc inside a cabin or a boat whilst looking for goodies.

shorebird · 08-01-2012, 10:02

Actually, the otters here in the Vancouver area are river otters who adapt readily to the ocean. They are often mistaken for sea otters which are much larger and slower than their river cousins. This was pointed out to me by the Vancouver Aquarium.
When I talked of a bear entering our cabin, I meant our cabin in the woods, not the cabin of our boat.
BTW, 2 weeks ago an adult black bear was sighted in the middle of downtown Vancouver... in a garbage truck...they figure he was in a dumpster somewhere in the burbs...got dumped in the truck, then re-appeared downtown.

**hummingway** · 08-01-2012, 10:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Astrid

We don't seem to have a large sea otter population up this way, although there are occasional sightings around the islands. We do have the bears though, but fortunately I haven't had one visit the boat--even a small one can wreak havoc inside a cabin or a boat whilst looking for goodies.

It would be river otters at the docks even though it's the ocean. One had a litter of pups under the dock I moored at a couple of years ago. The pups kept wanting to come out and see me and mom would hustle them back under the dock. I nearly stepped on mom one dark night much to both of our consternation. They like to crap in the same spot so if they get on your lines you have to wash them or the pile will just get bigger.

Racoons are wonderfully adaptive creatures. They were originally native to tropical river banks and they just kept pushing north as they figured out new food supplies.

Seagulls are forever bringing things to my boat. Ravens and crows too. Mostly mussels they drop from a height. Ugh.

**minaret** · 08-01-2012, 10:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by hummingway

Seagulls are forever bringing things to my boat. Ravens and crows too. Mostly mussels they drop from a height. Ugh.

Ugh is right. The first thing my kids do on the way down the dock to the schoolbus in the morning is kick all the mussel shells back in the water. Some of the dock dogs have an unfortunate habit of chewing them up and eating them. Sometimes it makes them quite ill. Ugh.