A Mother’s Day Thought

by Jaimie Baxter and Janet Klein

The spring season provides us with a plethora of presents—wildflowers, gorgeous weather and new offspring of our favorite wild animals. If you are lucky enough, you may have the opportunity to witness a northern spotted owl fledging and its mother sitting together on in a tree or a doe licking her fawn clean in an open meadow.

Imagine this scenario. It is early morning and you are running along your favorite trail. Your ear buds are in and your running pace is set. You look to your left and East Peak is glowing in the distance. You look right to the open grassland, and suddenly you see a baby fawn sitting all alone in this open field. You are in awe of the cuteness of this small, brown-and-white-spotted creature. You stop running and tiptoe closer to it. As you get closer, you realize that the mother is nowhere in sight. She must have abandoned her young, or worse, been eaten by a mountain lion. Your mind goes into protection mode and you think that someone must do something. Since you are the only one around, you think it’s up to you to take this fragile fawn to an animal rescue center. STOP!

MMWD equipment operator Darrel Patchin returns a “rescued” fawn to the hiding place carefully chosen by its mother before she went off in search of food. This Mother’s Day, please remember that most babies found in the woods are not lost.

Fawn season has kicked off with an unprecedented number of “kidnappings” this year: concerned folks “rescuing” newborns that appear to be completely alone, when mom had simply settled them down for a nap and gone off to graze. Of the fawns brought to WildCare already this year, nearly all appeared hydrated and recently fed, meaning an attentive parent was nearby.

What should you do if you find a fawn alone? Keep going—Mom will re-emerge when no people are around.

If you should happen upon an animal that appears injured, ill or otherwise in need of help, don’t attempt to provide that help yourself. It is never okay to remove a wild animal from its natural home on the Mt. Tamalpais Watershed. Instead, contact the Marin Humane Society at (415) 883-4621. Their staff is prepared to assess the situation, determine if rabies or another disease is potentially involved, and take appropriate action.

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MMWD Vegetation Ecologist Honored at 2011 California Invasive Plant Council Symposium

by Janet Klein

Each year at its annual meeting, Cal-IPC honors members who have shown exceptional dedication and creativity in protecting California’s wildlands from invasive plants, and this year MMWD’s own Andrea Williams was among the honorees. Andrea received the Ryan Jones Catalyst Award, “for creatively spearheading actions or creating partnerships that make exceptional progress in protecting California from invasive plants.” Specifically, Andrea was recognized for her role as a founding member of the Bay Area Early Detection Network (BAEDN).

BAEDN is a collaborative partnership of regional land managers, invasive species experts and concerned citizens. BAEDN coordinates Early Detection and Rapid Response (EDRR) to infestations of invasive plants, proactively dealing with new outbreaks before they can grow into large and costly environmental threats. This “stitch-in-time” approach prevents the environmental and economic damage caused by these invaders; educates citizens regarding natural resource stewardship; and dramatically reduces the need for the planning and resources required to control large, established invasive plant populations. BAEDN currently boasts 83 federal, state and local partners. Here at MMWD, staff and volunteers participate in BAEDN through the district’s Weed Watcher Program.

MMWD Vegetation Ecologist Andrea Williams

It should also be noted that Andrea was the most “decorated” attendee at this, the 20th annual Cal-IPC conference. She was festooned with ribbons for her many roles as Cal-IPC board member, conference sponsor, staffer, presenter and award winner. Andrea—your colleagues here at MMWD salute you!

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Even More Mt. Tamalpais Memories

by Janet Klein

Recently we have been blogging some favorite Mt. Tamalpais memories, shared by community members who attended our first workshop on the future of the Mt. Tamalpais Watershed. Read more and share your own memories below. Then join us November 15 for our second workshop to help chart a course for this invaluable community asset.

My grandfather’s passing was the first time in my adult life that I lost someone very close to me. For the weeks after his death I would make my way to a knoll above 6 Points and reflect on his life and our relationship with Mt. Tam in the background. It brought closure and serenity.

Fishing at the lakes when I was a kid. I would light a small fire and cook a hamburger with my coffee-can griddle at the lakeshore.

Taking our young children on a hike around Lake Lagunitas or Bon Tempe.

As a hike leader I try to include moments of beauty which are pointed out to hikers. They are often received in awe by visitors new to the area. They are amazed at the beauty so close to an urban area.

It is hard to think of just one moment. Every moment away from my computer is a present, especially when I am in nature—Mt. Tam—my backyard.

Doing trail work with MMWD.

Watching students release fish they raised in a classroom aquarium—Trout in the Classroom.

Taking my City College of San Francisco ecology lab class to look at some effects of Sudden Oak Death. Seeing students, many of whom had never been to Mt. Tam, appreciate the area and experience and see the topics we talk about in class. They liked it so much they stayed two hours late to finish the project.

Seeing my first pileated woodpecker when I first moved here from Washington State.

Seeing a coyote on 5 Point Trail on the first day I moved to Fairfax.

Saw some super rad white mushrooms growing out of redwood litter. They were really neat looking. I felt like was in the Northwest, not in central CA.

Introducing new people to the trails and vistas.

Biking up Railroad Grade for the first time and admiring the views!

Running and hiking trails for most of adult life.

As a kid hiking to Phoenix Lake regularly with my brother and feeling the freedom and adventure that went along with it. Being part of something wild brought peace and perspective to me as a teen in the 1970s.

One summer, many years ago: pedaling through the thick fog, climbing the last rocky section of Eldridge Grade, out into the blazing sun of East Peak of Mt. Tamalpais, now a small island protruding through the sea of gray drizzle below. A day forever etched into my memory.

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More Mt. Tamalpais Memories

by Janet Klein

A couple of weeks ago we posted some favorite Mt. Tamalpais memories, shared by community members who attended our September 22 workshop on the future of the Mt. Tamalpais Watershed. Here are more amazing Mt. Tam memories from that meeting. Please share your own in the comments section below.

Riding my bike all day on a summer solstice and watching the sun set over the ocean while the full moon was rising over the bay. I was riding up Railroad Grade.

Photographing foothill yellow-legged frogs at Carson Falls.

Taking each of my one-week-old newborn daughters on their first hikes on Tucker Trail. They loved it.

My 11-year-old child came home from pulling French broom on a school field trip to the watershed—and insisted we go out our back door and pull more French broom behind our house. He didn’t want to stop!!

I have limited experience in the watershed, having recently moved to the area. However, I regularly ride on the trails, typically early in the morning. I would be at a loss if I hadn’t experienced a family of deer walking alongside me on Eldridge Grade. The watershed is a truly magical area.

Enjoying spring wildflowers on display.

Being quiet in natural habitat.

On Saturday morning in the spring, I counted over 150 fire-belly newts on the Kent Trail.

Watching a young bobcat makes its way up a downed log, down the valley and through the grass.

In 1968 I came to Marin as a homeless Vietnam vet and my first full time job was fire lookout on Mt. Tam. I remember a night with the still fog at the doorstop and a full moon overhead. I realized just how special this place is, and vowed never to live outside the slopes of Mt. Tam.

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Mt. Tamalpais Memories

by Janet Klein

At our recent community workshop on the future of the Mt. Tamalpais Watershed, we asked those in attendance to share their favorite Mt. Tamalpais memories. Here is what just a few of them wrote.

Do you have your own favorite Mt. Tam memories? Share them in the comments section below.

Running on the Taylor Trail in a rainstorm between the redwoods and madrones.

Watching a pileated woodpecker teach its offspring to peck bark and extract insects.

Riding my horse up from $2 hill (Horse Hill) and as night fell, watching the moon rise over Richmond. It was summer 1966, in cut-offs, bareback with no helmet, my friends and I singing at the top of our lungs.

Bringing my daughters to the giant madrone (now fallen) behind Pilot Knob and watching them climb the lower limbs.

Seeing the sun rise through the dark trees on the lake.

The day I rode my mountain bike all the way from Fairfax to Muir Beach. Along the way, I saw a river otter in Lake Lagunitas—the first river otter I’d ever seen! That night I slept at West Point Inn. It was a great weekend on Mt. Tam!

Counting newts with my stepson and his dad hiking up Collier (we counted 38!).

A glimpse of a mountain lion on upper Rocky Ridge Fire Road.

The calypso orchids at Rifle Camp.

Taking my gentleman-friend from L.A. on a hike up to Pilot Knob. When we got to the top, huffing and puffing, he asked, “Is this a test?” Well, yes. He won my heart.

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