The word “raptor” means to seize or to grasp, from the Latin raptus. And yes, our word “rapture” is related, meaning to literally be carried away by a feeling. In some Pentecostal contexts, to be “raptured” is to be transported to a higher place.
In ornithological terms, raptors are fierce predatory birds that hunt with their terrifying, grasping talons as well as their beaks. These include our local Great Horned Owls, Western Screech Owls, and Red-tailed Hawks. Since we’re now approaching Halloween, Dia de los Muertos, and All Souls Day, it bears mentioning that owls, in particular, have a long and mythic history stretching from the ancient world into present times.
The idea that owls are “wise” is but a mere wisp of the bird’s significance in antiquity. A small owl was the familiar or animal companion to Athena, who is described in ancient texts as being “owl-eyed” herself, referencing the iridescent and reflective qualities of her gray eyes. Perhaps because the owl’s night flight is silent, many cultures credited the owl with the ability to pass between the realms of the living and the dead, especially in the “thin” seasonal space between the autumnal equinox and the winter solstice, which is fast approaching.
Some stories describe owls being tasked with carrying messages to and from the underworld, a motif retold in Harry Potter’s letter-carrying owls. Folk songs of the American South warn against the call of owls as a signal that someone is dying.
More than 30 species of raptors live in California at some point in their life cycle, and all are protected by the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 USC, 703-711) as well as state laws and local ordinances. And yet, these birds are in peril.
In national terms, loss of habitat, high-energy electric transmission lines and barbed wire fences are common killers of these birds, and environmental toxins have depleted many raptor species. With climate change, trees that support nests for Red-tailed hawks, kestrels, and barn owls are disappearing from once-wooded areas, placing these birds in closer contact with civilization and its discontents (like your speeding car).
And here in our valley, people shoot raptors in defiance of the consequences. Local wildlife rescuer Cleo Watts comments, “People who have chickens sometimes shoot hawks,” adding that this appears to be a common occurrence in Altadena.
Another constant threat to these birds is rat poison since hawks and owls often feast upon small rodents, and the poison travels up the food chain. Even non-poisonous glue traps may harm birds of prey, who swoop down to snap up the conveniently immobilized snack but then get themselves fatally hung up in the grip of the super-sticky adhesive.
Still, another peril is the current outbreak of avian influenza, AKA bird flu. The current strain (H5N1/HPAI) affects a wide variety of wild birds, including raptors.
Just an aside: if you have caged pet birds indoors, or if you have the aforementioned chickens, they are potentially at risk for bird flu. How? Because it’s a dangerous world out there, folks. The virus is shed in the saliva, mucus and feces of infected birds – a teeming microbial stew that’s everywhere, in the very air we breathe and every surface we touch– and is transmitted to other birds via ingestion or inhalation.
Bird flu generally travels bird-to-bird, and then affects dairy cows and other animals. Transmission to humans is rare but not impossible. It’s critical to minimize exposure. If you’ve got indoor pet birds, remove your shoes before entering the house, and dump out that outdoor birdbath or make it into a pedestal planter. And if you have chickens, ducks, geese, or turkeys, you basically need to suit up as though you’re dealing with nuclear waste when caring for them. Disinfect everything you can, and plastic-wrap anything you can’t.
And as for that Caesar Salad or that tall, room-temperature, malty pint o’ Guinness, skip the raw egg for now.
There is, however, some good news for raptors in the recent opening of the new Raptor Rescue located at the San Dimas Nature Center, located at 1628 North Sycamore Canyon Road in San Dimas. Props to Supervisor Kathryn Barger, of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors 5th District, for her donation of $200,000 to the new program. It is the first county raptor rescue program in the history of Los Angeles.
Prior to the July 11th opening of this program, following the closure of Wild Wings of California, San Gabriel Valley independent rescuers and licensed rehabbers like Watts, along with citizens encountering a raptor in trouble, had a dwindling list of resources. Recent changes in regulations enforced by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife have also hastened the closing of other small independent rescue programs.
The new San Dimas Raptor Rescue anticipates serving 250+ injured or orphaned raptors annually, birds that will ideally be rehabilitated and returned to our urban wild. Birds that are too injured to be released will live on at the center as ambassadors of the wild, visiting schools as a way to inform and inspire students about the beauty and importance of protecting raptors and all wildlife.
We reached out to the Department of Parks and Recreation public information team to ask what’s best to do when we encounter a raptor in trouble. The team advised via email, “We recommend when residents find a raptor (adult or baby) to call (sic) local animal control who can safely – for the bird and the human – determine next steps for the bird, including transfer to San Dimas Raptor Rescue. Residents should contact these experts.” The Public Information Officer who answered our emails added, “If animal control picks up a very injured animal, it is sent to a veterinarian for care off-site.”
To reach San Dimas Raptor Rescue, visit https://www.lacpf.org/sandimas-raptorrescue or call 909-599-7512. Note that the Center is seeking volunteers as well as donations.
Speaking of chickens, we’re off on a breakfast jag– bacon, eggs, and marmalade — in this week’s listings. In our county, if you have fewer than 500 chickens or 10 or fewer hogs, it’s likely that you are within the law without obtaining a permit or license. Of course, if you have a HOA, check first, and bear in mind that if your neighbors are in close proximity, they may have opinions worth hearing — they may cry “Fowl!” As for ginger cats, they tend to be feisty, so start with one or two.
Adoptable Animals from Devore Shelter
All of the below listings and photographs in this section (as well as two “urgent” gorgeous Belgian Malinois dogs further down the scroll) are courtesy of the San Bernardino County – Devore Shelter. Listed this week are Bertha, Petunia, Tabasco, Reginald, Jagger, Miles, Sunny, Fanta, Julius, Hashi, Pam Beesley, and Jim Halpert. To locate each of these animals, enter the A-6-digit ID number into the site search bar.
- Devore Shelter
- www.sbcounty.gov/acc
- 909-386-9820
- 19777 Shelter Way, Devore, CA 92407
Whole Lotta Bacon Goin’ On
Pigs are smart and social. They may often be leash-trained. Neutering and spaying are required to prevent porcine behavioral issues and the potential of piglets. They get absolutely huge. They shed their bristles. They generally comport themselves with some degree of earthy aroma. And when they’re bored, meaning neglected, they may become aggressive and destructive.
Note that pigs will root and uproot everything in their path, just for fun. This is why they’re great at finding truffles. A safe home for a pig begins with a securely fenced yard. They need space with plenty of shade, a comfortable shelter, a constant supply of fresh drinking water, and a pool and wallowing area.
Are they easy-peasy, no-brainer pets? No. Which is why they often end up in shelters. But for some, they become true companions and may live for 20 years or more – hey, no cheap shots about pork chops.
Meet #A802703 Urgent Bertha
She’s a potbelly pig, and that’s no diss. Age unknown, medium size, white and gray.
Her proper name probably does not include the word “Urgent,” but there you have it.
Meet #A802704 Urgent Petunia
Age unknown, black, unspayed lady porker.
Meet #A804576 Tabasco
He’s a dude described as “large.”
Age unknown, gray in color.
Wattle it be?
And as for chickens. The primary stipulation in Los Angeles County is that chicken coops must be 35 feet from neighboring structures and 100 feet from anyone else’s home if you have a rooster.
If you’ve ever been roused from a dead sleep—shades of My Cousin Vinny, who’s also disturbed by owls – by the raucous vocalizing of a chanticleer, you already know why.
Meet #A803784 Reginald
Male, large, tricolor.
His name is derived from “Rex,” meaning king, and he’s sure to rule the roost.
Meet #A803785 Jagger
Yeah, he can still strut his stuff and shake a tail feather to impress the chicks.
All of the above are at Devore Shelter.
Ginger-licious
Gingers possess an enduring mystique. Red-headed humans reflecting russet evidence of a recessive gene probably originated in the Celtic world, and among the Udmurt people of the remote Urals of western Russia. In feline form, gingers tend to have freckles on their noses, as do many redheaded humans.
About 80 percent of red or ginger cats are male. Their marmalade coloring is the result of the “O” gene which produces phaeomelanin. Anecdotally, red cats seem to be more sociable than lots of other cats, less likely to hide out in the linen closet for unknown reasons, but their bouncy personalities may be a reflection of their breed rather than their color.
All photos in this section below are courtesy of the Devore Shelter.
Meet #A802713 Miles
Male DSH kitten, 9 weeks old, not yet neutered.
Meet Three Gingers
These three ginger dudes were taken from the same location in San Bernardino, now beng held at the Devore Shelter. They may be siblings or otherwise related.
Meet #A804910 Sunny D
Large male DSH ginger tabby, five years old.
Meet #A804912 Fanta
Large male DSH ginger tabby, five years old.
Will only be released to a rescuer.
Meet #A804913 Julius
Medium-size male, three years old.
Meet #A804830 Hashi
Age and gender unknown.
This is one roughed-up ginger who needs help now. Will be released to rescuer only.
- Devore Shelter
- www.sbcounty.gov/acc
- 909-386-9820
- 19777 Shelter Way, Devore, CA 92407
More Marmalade-Love at Pasadena Humane
Meet #A516805 Chives
Small, DSH male kitten, 12 weeks old, not yet neutered.
“Cream” tabby with marmalade base.
Meet #A516440 Sour Patch
Small DSH male kitten, eight weeks old, not yet neutered.
Meet #A516558 Orange
Large, DSH male cat, age six years, neutered.
- Pasadena Humane
- www.pasadenahumane.org
- 361 S.Raymond Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91105
- 626-792-7151, x975 for adoption appointment
A Dunder-Mifflin Moment
We love those reruns of “The Office” so much that we almost miss our tedious, soul-deadening day job. And we still dream of enshrining our stapler in Jello.
We don’t know much about two stunningly beautiful Belgian Malinois dogs, one named Pam Beesley (#A804000), and one named Jim Halpert (#A804002), except that both were collected from the same Muscoy location on the same day and are listed as urgent at Devore Shelter. Pam is available to rescuers only, while Jim is listed as “urgent” with a medical waiver.
Meet #A804000 Pam Beesley
Large female canine, Belgian Malinois breed, three years old, chocolate-brown and black. Listed “urgent,” will be released to a rescuer only.
Meet #A804002 Jim Halpert
Small male canine, Malinois breed, five months old, cocoa-brown and black. Will only be released with a medical waiver.
- Devore Shelter
- www.sbcounty.gov/acc
- 909-386-9820
- 19777 Shelter Way, Devore, CA 92407
Meet Zephyr
This lovely gray girl cat was named for the gentle west wind that signals the start of spring. She was rescued from a backyard in Pasadena while she was in heat. Her ear was just tipped because the rescuer had initially intended to release her after she was spayed—but not now! The ear-snip will heal right up. She’s ready for adoption.
- Female feline
- Breed: DSH, gray tabby
- Age: One year old (approx)
- Size: 8 lbs.
- Spayed, chipped, vaxxed
- In fine health
- Friendly personality
To meet Zephyr, contact www.kittcrusaders.org
Thanks to our friend Darlene Papa for this next post.
Meet Geordi and Dotti
This brother-and-sis pair needs to be adopted together. They were plucked from a feral colony, are about five months old, and were born on 3/20/24 (they’re both Aries!).
These DSH kittens, both black and white, are both “fixed,” vaxxed, and chipped. Sweet purr-r-r-r-sonalities.
To apply for adoption, visit https://www.lifelineforpets.org/dotti–geordi.html
