Medford Station 12: Animal Traffic
BECAUSE OF ITS RAPID GROWTH and short life cycle, many of the dead trees along the Greenway are cottonwoods. These standing dead trees, called snags, are important wildlife habitat. Wood softened by rot is more accessible to birds, insects, and animals. The holes in this snag were drilled by woodpeckers. The culvert across the trail is a convenient entry for animals, many nocturnal, that take advantage of Bear Creek's water. They also make use of the cover that plants, such as blackberry, provide.
The beaver is the state animal and at one time was common along Bear Creek. Their dam building created ponds and marshes that provided habitat for fish, waterfowl, western pond turtles, and many other species. Beaver trapping the the Bear Creek system ended at the turn of the century, but some beavers are still found along the creek. The characteristically gnawed trees and limbs are a sure sign of their presence.
Raccoons are quite common along Bear Creek and throughout the Rogue Valley. They are omnivorous, meaning they will eat all types of food. Often they become a nuisance in residential areas where they feast on cat or dog food left outdoors for family pets. They den in hollow logs or trees.
Your nose will identify the striped skunk, whether you see it or not. It is common along Bear Creek and in residential areas throughout the valley. Like the raccoon, the striped skunk can become a nuisance by eating pet food, knocking over gaarbage cans, or spraying pets and owners with a powerful smelling musk produced by scent glands beneath its tail.
A relative newcomer to southern Oregon is the opossum. The opossum was introduced into Oregon by members of the Civilian Conservation Corps camp at Astoria during the 1930's. Since that time, it has spread throughout the state, and in many areas has become one of the most common members of the mammal community. Opossums represent a very primitive line of mammals called marsupials that retain their young in pouches, and are related to kangaroos.
