Local critters (Mercer: camp, snow, dogs)

[psychomantis]

I regularly see large Red-tailed Hawks sitting on lamposts while driving on the Parkway East/West. Once every year or so there will be a black bear sighting, but they are more common in the rural mountain areas east of Pittsburgh like Somerset. There are lots and lots of deer, and during mating season they go NUTS and are running everywhere! My g/f has totaled 2 cars from deer strikes and I have had many close calls from deer darting out in front of your car at the last second while driving at night. There was a day last year when I saw a 3 roadkilled deer in just a 2-mile stretch of road. One looked like it had been hit by a tractor trailer b/c there was blood & guts splashed everywhere for 50ft.

[sparrowmint]

We have a ridiculous amount of deer in our yard and in the neighbour yards frequently. Thankfully we don't ever seem to see them on the road. Raccoons and rabbits are plentiful as well. I've seen more wildlife in the few months living here than I ever did growing up in a rural area (farmland, not in a town or village).

[raubre]

Originally Posted by South Range Family

Filthy Canadian geese are everywhere.

And thier poop.

[Johnny C]

Sasquatch are sometimes seen in wooded areas of the north hills.

[Benzman66]

Originally Posted by raubre

And thier poop.

You mean THEIR poop!

[raubre]

Originally Posted by Benzman66

You mean THEIR poop!

Thank you Webster.

[ferraris]

It's crazy how much wildlife there is even in the most urban parts of the region. I've seen Turkeys running around South Oakland quite a few times. The thing that really sticks out to me is when I saw a large buck in Frank Curto Park along Bigelow Blvd. I really wish I had had a camera...it was really something to see a huge buck juxtaposed against the skyscrapers.

[hempfield mania]

Yes to all of the above.

We had a weasel in our yard this summer. Must be why the voles/moles sightings are way down this year.

A little east of here, fishers are making a big comeback since being reintroduced across the state by the PGC.

Another animal that is everywhere, including all the city parks, is coyotes. If you have a house cat and let it roam, you are taking your chances. Most large breed dogs don't stand a chance against a wild yote.

Bears are becoming more common in western Westmoreland and all of Allegheny Co.

[Tinare]

Peregrine Falcons hang out outside my window on the ledge of my office building. There are two main nesting sites -- the Gulf Tower and Cathedral of Learning -- in the city.

[rhondee]

In addition to all the deer I see at the park I also have spotted a coyote, and about a month ago I saw a red fox. At first I thought the fox was a large cat scampering across the road. The large bushy tail with that distinctive white tip is what gives it away.

The park is within the city of Pittsburgh.