Wildlife Log

The spring started out with an abundance of raptors. The principle being Short-eared Owls which rested on the fence posts on the road just below the park. Although they were also at times seen in the park. The staff all came in with their count each morning almost always 6 to 12. However as the summer progressed we watched as one after the other was hit by automobiles and eventually they were gone. We even had one day when a visitor came in and asked us what the strange flying hawk was in the park. After talking with the visitor, Seasonal Park Ranger Kerry Brinkerhoff told him he believed the visitor was talking about the Short-eared Owl. He told Kerry it was not an owl but a hawk. Then took Kerry out to his truck and in the back was a dead Short-eared Owl. In late August one of the Poulsen's saw a vehicle hit a short-eared owl, the driver stopped, picked up the owl and threw it over the fence. She stopped, picked up the owl that had a broken wing. She called the Division of Wildlife Resources, who referred her to take it to a wildlife rehabilitation specialist in Perry, UT.

We also saw many hawks during 1999. Most common in the valley are the Northern Harrier; but this year the Swainson's Hawk was also abundant. The Swainson's population was in trouble a few years ago. Pesticides being used in their far off wintering range in Argentina were killing the hawks in large numbers. With help from the U.S. use of the dangerous pesticides was stopped and it looks like the Swainson hawk is finally coming back.

Falcons were often seen in the park during the summer. Towards the end of the summer one was perching daily on one of the telegraph poles just outside the visitor center. Staff were unable to get a close enough view to tell if they were Prairie or Peregrine Falcons.

It wasn't long until we realized why we were seeing so many raptors. The area was over run with a small rodent called the Sagebrush Vole, hundreds of them everywhere, including all around the Visitor Center. Lawns at the visitor center and residence have been destroyed by the resultant burrowing from the infestation. The voles became quite a curiosity for tourists. Voles are not commonly seen by most people, but they were everywhere this year and dozens were seen daily during the middle of the day. It was fun for rangers to interpret to people that these were not a mouse or mole but a vole.

The abundance of voles also brought in other predators. The visitor center had at least two Gopher Snakes (also called a Bull or Gopher Snake) spotted. One right behind the VC gave the guest quite a show as they watched the snake swallow a vole whole. The other was living in a small hole in the rock wall of the VC.

We also spotted numerous Long-tailed Weasels. These have the ability to crawl in rodent holes and Ranger Moeykens and myself followed one that was carrying something in its mouth. Along the trail we found it had dropped its prey, a vole. Seasonal Ranger Susan Conrad saw a weasel on the back patio at closing time one evening this summer. After telling Ranger John Moeykens, the tow of them watched as the weasel headed out towards the tracks. As it did so a bird swooped down and chased the weasel into a hole.

Also during the summer Badgers, Coyotes, Porcupines, and Deer were spotted off and on, throughout the park.

Both Black-tailed Jackrabbits and Cottontails were seen daily. Numerous Cottontails would come out around the VC mostly in the morning and evening but sometimes were out throughout the day. Cottontails were also commonly seen browsing on the Residence lawn throughout the summer.

Two porcupines, an adult and a juvenile were living around the headquarters area during the mid to latter part of the summer. The adult tended to stay more towards the county road to the north, the juvenile was frequently seen around the Visitor Center. For a several weeks was hanging around the Visitor Center parking lot. For a few weeks it lived under the Winters' RV, in the VC compound. One was found dead alongside the county road early in the summer, then the adult was found dead on the east side of the road just south of the VC area Entrance Sign on October 3. The porcupine had been shot with a .22 caliber gun from point blank range. The other porcupine was also reported to be seen dead alongside the road the next week.

Several toads believed to be Great Plains Toads were found around the VC all summer - most often seen at night under the lights where insects were being attracted.

Chief Ranger Rick Wilson spotted an occupied Great Horn Owl nest in the rafters of the old Promontory Schoolhouse/granary building near the windmill. An adult and a fully-fledged juvenile were seen inside the building. Later in the summer we found one dead on the road in the park. One or more of these owls was also seen flying near the VC in the evenings.

A nesting pair of Burrowing Owls was spotted near the beginning of the West Auto Tour. One was also spotted on the prescribed burn near the East Auto Tour.

Also in the evenings and mornings NightHawks were seen flying behind the VC and around the residence.

Later in the summer and early fall we started seeing both Chukars and Gray Partridge. The Gray Partridge hung around the VC and could be seen in large gatherings of around 25 to 40 running around and flying in short bursts. Multiple flocks of partridge frequented the bird feeders and pond at the residence from late summer through the winter of 99-2000. Chuckers are common on both East and West sides of the park, but uncommon between Kings Pass and Poulsen Road.

Northern Harriers were seen on multiple occasions diving in at flocks of the partridges who would fly and scatter as the harrier swooped over them.

Sharp-tailed Grouse were also seen flying near the visitor center and around the pond at the residence.

In late summer when the Matrimony Vines were in bloom around the visitor center we had many Black-chinned Hummingbirds come in. A dozen or more would be seen at one time. They would fly around the bushes for hours, putting on quite a show.

Also at the park residence, deer were seen drinking out of the birdbaths in the front flower box and on the back patio, often during the middle of the day. A doe with twin spotted fawns were observed drinking out of the birdbaths on the back patio and eating the plants out of the raised bed gardens on 8/13/99 at approximately 6:00 PM, the night of our Star Party. Up to ten deer were seen at one time coming down to the pond. One of the fawns has a deformed right ear that is bent over.

Chief Ranger Wilson hit and killed a doe on the night of Sept. 24, as he returned home from town. The deer ran out in front of his truck from between the sagebrush just inside the boundary fence in the headquarters area. A young buck was hit and killed in the same spot about a month before.

One night past midnight in late August, Rick heard a loud slurping sound of something drinking from the ground-level birdbath in the front flowerbed outside the living room windows. Deer had been seen drinking from this on previous occasions. Being unable to see anything in the dark, Rick flipped on the light and found a badger with its head stuck into the birdbath, totally undisturbed by the porch light. When finally finished drinking the badger wandered off around the fence on the NE end of the house. A badger had been seen on a few occasions along roadsides around the visitor center/engine house/residence area after dark during the summer.

About midnight 10/17/99 a porcupine was found on the sidewalk between the house and the garage. Apparently one has escaped being shot.

Ranger John Moeykens saw an antelope in the Promontory Valley this summer. The antelope was spotted on the east side of the road just outside the fence at the Visitor Center/Headquarters area the beginning of July as he arrived to work in the morning. Antelope are rarely seen in the valley, only every four years or so. More typically, they are seen to the far western side of the park in the flats beyond the start of the west auto tour.

Last year (1998) there were several sightings of an exotic large mammal, Barbary Sheep; which were brought in by a private outfit and released on Delwin (Butch) Mills' property for a pay-for-hunt operation. Apparently a couple escaped being shot and wandered off the Mills property and into the King's Peak / King's Pass area. None were reported being sighted this year.

Birds seen at the residence bird feeders and birdbaths this year included House Finches (most common bird at the feeders - unique individuals included both orange and yellow varieties in addition to the common red). Also seen were: a flock of Pine Siskins migrated through, Northern Orioles, Goldfinches, Magpies, White Crowned Sparrows, Juncos, Barn Swallows nesting on the back of the garage, Cliff Swallows nesting on the front of the garage, Western Flycatchers, Western Kingbirds, Lazuli Buntings, Green Tailed Towhee, Wilson's Warblers, Sage Thrashers and a Yellow Headed Blackbird.

Compiled by:

Kerry Brinkerhoff, Seasonal Park Ranger

Rick Wilson, Chief Ranger