Wildlife

Otter Looking for Fish in Rainbow Lake, October 29, 2006

The ranch is rich in wildlife with frequent sightings of beaver (Castor canadenses), river otter (Lutra Canadensis), porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum), desert cottontail rabbit (Sylvilagus nuttalli), grey squirrel (Sciurus griseus), yellow pine chipmunk (Tamias amoenus), golden-mantled ground squirrel (Spermophilus lateralis), and coyote (Canis latrans).  The coyotes do an excellent job of keeping down the rodent population. See photos of 15 animals found on the ranch. 

The ranch is a transitory range for mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) and elk (Cervus elaphus - as seen below in  horse pasture - photo by wrangler).  Several cows and does rear their young here each year.

Brown trout (Salmo trutta fario) can be found in the river while Rainbow Lake is stocked with rainbows.  The Oregon spotted frog  (Rana pretiosa) resides in the oxbow area of the river.  Although the frog is not an endangered species, the ranch is taking measures to assure the frog's survival in cooperation with neighboring Crosswater and Sunriver.

Birds that inhabit and raise their broods on the ranch include great-horned owl (Bubo virginianus saturatus), red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis), mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), cinnamon teal (Anas cyanoptera), wood duck (Aix sponsa), Canada Goose (Branta canadensis), and several covey of quail (Callipepla californica). 

Other birds frequently seen on the ranch include osprey (Pandion haliaetus), great blue heron (Ardea herodias), kingfisher (Ceryle alcyon), raven (Corvus corax), red-winged blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus), and further varieties of hawks and owls.

The ranch is an excellent environment for many animals.  Timber, brush, and willow patches provide all the cover they need.  Food is ample to plentiful in the form of grasses and shrubs for browsers.  Birds have a good variety of seeds and fish. 

Where the forest has been thinned, ranch management has designated a multitude of snags and green trees for use by cavity nesting birds.  The ranch has also installed nest boxes in appropriate places for swallows, bluebirds, and wood ducks. 

See a gallery of wildlife photos taken on the ranch

Return to Vandevert Ranch Environment