Tag Archives: The Sea Ranch

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This is the first photo of an American Badger sent in to Mendonoma Sightings in the six plus years I've been doing the column, so you can see how rare it is to see an American Badger. This juvenile Badger had apparently fallen down a cliff and was unable to climb back up. Craig Tooley and Rita Peck, trained in wildlife rescue, were called after members of our ambulance service had seen it alongside Highway One in Sonoma County.

Craig said the little fellow - or gal, we don't know for sure - was VERY feisty. An man employed by the Park Service happened by and helped Craig and Rita get the Badger in a box. They climbed the steep cliff and let the Badger go in the grassy meadow - a successful wildlife rescue!

Below is a photo of a Badger mound that was seen on The Sea Ranch in 2007 and photographed by Dibby Tyler. The Badger was never seen.

To see more of Craig Tooley's wildlife photos, here's the link to his website: http://ruffimage.com/

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The expression on the faces of Harbor Seals is so endearing it is easy to fall in love with them. Siegfried and Gretel Matull have been studying and photographing Harbor Seals at The Sea Ranch for some years now. Recently Siegfried photographed two very relaxed seals. It seems all was peaceful in the rookery.

 And then the Matulls got very lucky. A Harbor Seal gave birth right on the beach and Siegfried got the shot!

And here is the pup with its mom. Siegfried says Harbor Seal mothers are wonderful in taking care of their newborn pups. You can see they have a close, loving bond.

Thanks to Siegfried for allowing me to share his wonderful photos with you here.

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I'm very pleased to have Siegfried Matull doing a guest blog today. He and his wife Gretel live on The Sea Ranch and delight in seeing and photographing nature.

"For many years my wife Gretel and I have been admiring and photographing Gray Foxes, which now show up year-round on our property. Our biggest surprise occurred when, for the first time, we saw a Gray Fox climb up into a tree.

"Gray Foxes are the only members of the fox species that can climb up, down and through trees. They have relatively short legs but they are very powerful. One time we watched a Gray Fox in a tree, slowly descending BACKWARDS down to the ground. We have watched several times how Cats also climb backwards down from trees in the same way the Gray Fox performed.

"On another occasion we were also tremendously surprised when a Gray fox was descending down a steep branch, supporting itself by holding on with its tail around the branch.

"Surprises never end in our beautiful Mendonoma Coastal area!"

A big thank you to Siegfried for his guest blog and beautiful photos.

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What brings you contentment? For a sheep on The Sea Ranch Robert Scarola believes it is spring grass.

And looking at the happy expression on this sheep's face, I would have to agree with Robert. I thank Robert for allowing me to share his photo with you here. There's a web site to see where the flock is on TSR. It is: http://thesearanchsheep.com/

If  you'd like to add a caption for this photo, click on Comments below to do so!

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A Turkey Vulture with its wings outstretched is an amazing sight to see. Allen Vinson recently photographed one on The Sea Ranch with the Pacific Ocean and big sky as a backdrop. Nice view, Turkey Vulture!

Turkey Vultures take sun baths to warm up and also to kill any bacteria left from their jobs as Mother Nature's garbage collectors. I don't want to think where we'd be without these carrion eaters doing their jobs.

May we all do our job to help clean up Mother Earth. Happy Earth Day today and every day!