Nature and wildlife

A group of tom turkeys did some strutting for the ladies the other day on Via Del Cerrito. Read more » about Showing off for the ladies...

Neighbor Bob Bowers says he was inspired by the great photos members have submitted here recently, so he went out this morning in search of bald eagles.  He found them, but he also stopped to snap this Murieta postcard.  You can see this and his eagles shots in the Forums.  Click here. Read more » about A postcard from Rancho Murieta

Thank you to the RM.com members who share news and photos.  Here's the latest great Rancho Murieta nature photo, from Rick Feldman, and his note: "Here is a photograph of one of the otters visiting Bass Lake. We have two or three otters that visit every spring for the last five years. This was taken Friday 1-29-10." Click for a large photo. If you have news, reach us at 354-3916 or editor@ranchomurieta.com.  (Contact info is at the bottom of every page.)
Read more » about Another of Murieta's nature sights

Although sightings in Rancho Murieta have been frequent the last few winters, seeing a bald eagle hasn't lost any of its thrill. Bill Gengler, the birdman of Rancho Murieta, took this photo Tuesday at Lake Chesbro.  The majestic bird was sitting atop the big, dead tree at the curve in the road that descends to the lake.  It's one of the eagle's favorite spots. But we're not only known for our bald eagles... Read more » about One of Rancho Murieta's wintertime residents

The Country Club says it will address the problem of Canada geese on the courses again this winter.  In an e-mail to members, the club reported it has again hired Dog and Whistle Goose Control of Auburn and its trained border collies to keep geese on the move through March.  Members have complained about goose droppings.  RM.com did a video story about the effort last winter.  See it here. Read more » about Country Club will roust geese from courses again this winter

Seasonal streams meander through the area.  (Sacramento Valley Conservancy photo)

The Deer Creek Hills preserve north of Rancho Murieta has a long schedule of events -- hiking, biking and equestrian rides -- planned for 2010. Read more » about New season of nature events planned for Deer Creek Hills

At this time of year, turkey usually means dinner, but the birds are so much more, with a nobility and beauty far beyond their ugliness. Bill Gengler, the birdman of Murieta, offers nine photos of turkeys taken in the last year around our community. Take a moment over this holiday and give thanks for the beauty of nature all around us. Read more » about Turkeys have a beauty beyond dinner

Community Services District Security officers routinely check out the privately owned field behind the Country Store for parked cars that indicate people are trespassing to fish in the river. “We roust them fairly regularly,” said Security Chief Greg Remson. But when Security Patrol Officer Mike Fuentes reached the levee one recent dinnertime, he didn’t see anyone fishing. Instead, two hunters were dressing a deer on the river bank. “You can only hunt deer in certain areas, and a county park in Rancho Murieta is not one of them,” Remson said. The deer had been shot. Read more » about Security helps address poachers hunting behind Country Store

Neighbor Bill Gengler reports: "The Mute Swans returned to Rancho Murieta last week and spent a few days on our lakes. An Old World species and East Coast resident, they do not inhabit the Western U.S.  Most recently they have established residence on a portion of Vancouver Island in British Columbia but nowhere else on this coast.  Like us, it seems they do like our lakes."  Click the link to see more of Bill's photos. Read more » about Grace on our lakes: Mute swans return

Have you ever seen a heron having a fish lunch?  This one -- captured by photographer Bill Gengler -- almost took on more than he could chew as the skinny-necked bird downed a large fish he caught last week at Bass Lake.  What happened next?  Well... Read more » about Maybe more sushi than is advisable...