VISITORS FROM THE WILDS

The night was gradually giving way to the soft, erie light of early morning. The rays of the rising sun were diffused through low hanging clouds which hovered about the summits of the Tatoosh and the Ramparts. Here and there a tiny wisp of smoke gave evidence that someone was already preparing for another day when, from within the shadows of a clump of Douglas Firs, emerged a Red Fox. This Red Fox has visited us a good many times and Chief Ranger Barnett reports regular boarders in a Cross Fox and several Raccoons who came to his home for the scraps that are always waiting for them. In the woodshed of Ranger Davis is a Western Winter Wren who seems so satisfied with his surroundings that he gives every indication of making the place his permanent stamping ground -- although after seeing this diminutive little creature and hearing his bubbling song one would hardly say that "stamping" ground was the proper term to use. On several occasions the Harris Woodpecker was noted exploring the bark of the Hemlocks and the tiny Creeper also gives these same trees about the Museum the "once over" for his livilhood. Of course there are Camp Robbers, Stellar Jays -- whose handsome blue body and black head cause much admiration on the part of our visitors -- the coarse appearing Northern Raven and his cousin the Western Crow are also very much in evidence. As yet we have seen no weasels although these serpentine creatures are always seen sometime during the winter. So we are always on the lookout for them. However we are well supplied with Douglas Squirrels, both the Oregon and Chestnut Backed Chickadees, Ruby and Golden Crowned Kinglets and along the Nisqually River close by the Water Ouzel rattles out his characteristic song. Wild life is always abundant around headquarters during the winter months.