Most grouse I encounter in the woods scurry into the underbrush or flush into the understory of the woods. This one didn't. It watched me as I approached and even fanned its tail half-heartedly.

I advanced slowly. When I got to within 15 ft., I stopped and stared the bird down. It returned my gaze for a few seconds, then prudently flew off the trail into the branches of a distant oak. (Ruffed Grouse are well camouflaged and tough to see while walking through the woods. Photo by Paul M. Walsh, AP)

Such close encounters with Ruffed Grouse are unusual, but not rare. Certain individuals remain aggressive and territorial all year long. Though drumming peaks in the spring, males have been recorded drumming in every month.

So I wasn't shocked by... Read On

When habitat and homes intermingle, wildlife bumps up against settlement and cute animals become urgent problems. That’s when Dave Vinke gets involved: he’s the guy you call when wildlife gets too close for comfort.

As a nuisance wildlife control operator licensed by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Vinke runs interference between wild animals and humans.(Dave Vinke, of Washington Wildlife Services, is a licensed one-man team who removes unwanted wildlife from homes and yards like this opossum, he caught while trying to bait a Raccoon. Photo by Chris Joseph Taylor)

“With our urban sprawl, it’s a big old mess for everybody,” says Vinke. “They’re cute and cuddly until they’re causing problems.”

Requests for special trapping permits are expected to reach 1,000 by year’s end, up from 789 in 2005, according to Sean Carrell, who issues special trapping permits for Fish and Wildlife. The increase is an indication that nuisance wildlife complaints are on the rise, says Lt. Richard Mann.

Today, Vinke is barreling down the road in... Read On

Messina said it looked as if the animal was trying to find help. It was out in the midday sun, odd for an owl, and clearly disoriented. X-rays revealed the bird had two pellet gun bullets lodged in its body, requiring surgery and antibiotics to keep it alive.

The owl, now recovering from a life-saving operation in Paso Robles, is just one recent local rescue. During the hot summer months, dozens of young Barn Owls were taken in by volunteers after falling from overheated nesting boxes.

The birds, California’s most pervasive owl species, are becoming among the most commonly rescued wild animals in the North County. There are numerous reasons for the increase, including hot or stormy weather, increased development on formerly open land or, in the case of the owl Messina found, a traumatic incident. Other animals commonly seen by Pacific Wildlife Care are squirrels, deer, hawks, Raccoons, Bobcats and more.

Pacific Wildlife Care volunteer Donna Skemp (shown on right), who is taking care of the owl while it recovers, speculates that the owl... Read On

Usually he's the "Bluebird of Happiness" but here he appears ruffled and disgusted with the onset of colder weather in this reproduction of the photograph by Michael L. Smith. This is one of the most famous nature photographs ever created and originally was seen in a National Geographic Society birding book.

Here it has been reproduced on 12-oz. porcelain mugs that are microwave and dishwasher safe. Makes a terrific gift!

Find more Mad Bluebird and other nature gift suggestions in the Nature Shop

With a little encouragement, some birds will accept you as a natural part of their environment— perhaps even as a friend. It's not difficult to win the trust of the guests at your feeders. Here's how to do it.

Begin by filling your feeders at the same time every day, preferably in the early morning, when birds actively seek food. Include a few chopped walnuts or pecans, which many birds relish, where the birds can get at them immediately. Certain birds will catch on and show up soon after you visit the feeder.

On a cold morning, stand or sit quietly for a few minutes about 10 to 15 ft. away from the feeder after you put out the food. It's OK to talk, and in fact the birds will learn to associate your voice with food, but avoid sudden movements.

After a bit of scolding and a few false starts, a bird will come to the feeder. Wow! Jackpot! The first bird gets... Read On