Nearby Nature

Fingers Crossed On Winter Storms

Keep your fingers crossed and hope for the best this long weekend.  The good news is that winter-like storms have finally arrived and we desperately need the rains.  The bad news is that Oakland’s city services are effectively closed through next Monday – and we may need help responding to Mother Nature’s wrath.

After The Rain

Montclarions know that torrential rains can translate into downed trees, mudslides, floods and general mayhem.  We’re already hearing about backed-up storm drains around town, and the weather’s supposed to get more severe tomorrow.

Each year, there seems to be a calamity or two around here.  Most recent messes include the Skyline slide, which blocked the ridge line and took months to fix; and the Shepherd Canyon sinkholes, which caused severe flooding from culverts that needed replacement.

Yesterday there were no grand-scale problems, but many neighbors reported storm drain blockages around the Village.  We think the biggest problem was street flooding near Taurus/Valley View, in the Merriewood area.

It’s a busy time for Oakland Public Works, although the department is now closed.  Locals are advised to call 510-615-5566 to report problems, and calls will be picked up by the Fire Department dispatch.  If the problem is considered an emergency, Public Works will send a crew to the scene.

Montclarion Barry Klezmer sought help for a storm drain yesterday.  “Our area does not have gutters or sidewalks,” he explained.  “The storm drain that is backed-up to the street level was to due the recent excessive rain that triggered a flow of mud and tree/leaf debris.”  City workers are scheduled to arrive next Tuesday.

Over the long weekend, Public Works simply can’t handle non-emergency storm drainage or tree matters.  It seems like you are on your own, so please check nearby drains and try to clear out debris.  You can also pick up free sandbags as well, at your nearby Fire Station.

With the additional stormy weather ahead, we’re wondering whether these minor problems will turn into emergencies.  We’re also wondering if there are enough emergency crews available now.  Just keep those fingers crossed this time.

Mountain Lions Traveling North

Okay, get ready for the mountain lions to make their appearance in the Montclair Hills soon.  They seem to be traveling north these days.

Last Sunday, there was a lion sighting in Hayward.  The Hayward Daily Review reported that residents watched the lion in the grass near little league playing fields.  According to Carolyn Chew, “I was watching it and was just fascinated.  It was watching three deer. The deer ran and got away. I felt like I was in a National Geographic movie.”

KTVU News reported another mountain lion sighting today, this time near Keller Avenue.  They interviewed a witness who watched a lion lounging in a tree for a while – but this feline disappeared before Oakland’s animal control folks showed up.

Mountain Lion Warning

It’s not the first time there have been lions visiting Oakland. According to the Tribune, there was a sighting near Broadway Terrace in December 2004 and several appearances right on the Mills College campus during mid-2003.   Yet these creatures aren’t usually parading around our neighborhoods.

Typically the lions just hang out in more rural reaches, including the protected areas nearby.  East Bay Regional Park officials believe the lion population is doing well, as many local hikers have spotted and reported the cats over the years.  In addition, there’s a strong supply of deer and even feral pigs available for their meals.

Back in 2007,  Redwood Park Ranger Dee Rosario explained that “none of the rangers have seen [lions] because we are always working or making noise.”  Still the warning signs are there for a good reason, because the felines are nearby and ready to surprise park visitors.

Lions don’t understand park boundaries when pursuing prey, however.  They could set their sights on the deer roaming our hills, but we’ll have to see what happens.  Welcome to Animal Planet, Montclair edition.

Blow Me Over, Blow The Man Down

Today we seem to be experiencing “end of days” weather, with amazing winds and record-high temperatures to boot.  It’s over 70 degrees right now, and this is January?  So much for the rainy season, as this feels like fire season instead.

This morning, we weren’t literally blown off our moorings.  However the neighborhood pine trees are all reaching their 80-year expiration dates, and these major gusts could topple a few.  Expect plenty of natural or man-made detritus in our neighborhoods when this all blows through.

Windy Destruction

The Tribune reported on the strange weather and snapped this photo down in the Laurel District, which shows what happens when a single tree meets civilization.  It looks like the house and roof actually withstood the impact of the tree fall, but it’s hard to confirm.  Of course, the Laurel is in “the slants” where wind speeds are lower than the hills – let this be fair warning.

Feel free to click on the National Weather Service report for today and next week.  While the winds are beginning to die down, we can still expect gusts up to 30 MPH through tonight.  Today in Montclair doesn’t normally re-issue weather reports, but this is too unusual to ignore.

Please report what you are seeing and feeling out there, if you get a chance.

Video Proof of Redwood Ladybugs

Whenever you hike at Redwood Regional Park, you pass signs about the famous ladybugs and their annual migratory visit.  We’re here to report this isn’t a myth or something that only scientists witness anymore.

Just a few weeks ago, one lucky hiker provided video proof of their existence!  The beetles are here, literally swarming around the Prince and Stream trail intersection.  They have the good sense to stay off actual dirt trails, but seem to be everywhere else.

Redwood Park Ladybugs

So what’s the deal with ladybugs?  According to this SFSU paper, these creatures are true survivors.  All they really need are some aphids to fuel their propagation, and above-freezing temperatures.  The Mediterranean-like conditions around here suit them particularly well.

KQED Quest showed off our local ladybugs last year, which you can view here or below.   “We should be in awe of these beetles,” explained Redwood naturalist Linda Yemoto, because they’re able to catch just the right winds to arrive at their winter stomping grounds – in the same exact trees and places annually.  No scientists have figured out why this perfect migration happens.

Quest Ladybug Pajama Party

We tend to hit these Redwood trails maybe once or twice a month but haven’t been lucky enough to find the beetles in residence.  Naturalist Yemoto said the park hosts “a pajama party for ladybugs” which lasts all winter long.  It’s been cold lately, so they are probably burrowing and getting some sleep right now.

The Park District plans to show wintering sites at their upcoming Thousands of Ladybugs program, on Sunday, January 18th, from 10 am – noon.  No registration is required for this free activity, which meets at the Skyline entrance (map) to Redwood Regional Park.  For questions, please call:  (510) 521-6887.

Yes Virginia, It Snows In Oakland

Since snow is such a rare event around here, everyone went a bit crazy this week when the white stuff started falling.  Heck, it even stuck on the ground for a short while.

What happens when it snows?   Everyone grins with disbelief, that we are graced with snow right now.  Some transform into kids again, and just have to play with the snow.  Since it’s so ephemeral, a lot of people pick up their cameras.  Here’s a quick retrospective from local TV stations and neighbors.

Let’s start with this little boy in Montclair who’s just watching the action from his deck – and which looks like Tahoe and not the Oakland Hills.  The video shows the stuff falling, the little boy checking things out, and a few declarations of “cool” from the boy and his sibling.

Montclair Joy Of Snow

We also have a snowball thrower or two because, well, that’s standard operating procedure with snow.  In this raw footage from CBS5-TV, you see a guy and gal venturing out to the snow-dusted Tilden Park hillside.  The gal eventually reaches down, quickly gathers enough snow, and tosses the snowball at her buddy.  Mission accomplished.

First Toss Gathering Snow

Here’s an action shot, taken up on Grizzly Peak Blvd yesterday.  The snowball is clearly captured in mid-air, a few feet from the thrower.  Meanwhile his companion almost looks ready to catch it, but not sure why.  Also check out the small snowman which stands near the catcher.

First Toss In Air

Next we head a bit south to the Oakland Hills Swim Club, which has been dubbed “Oakland Hills Snow Club” by the YouTuber.  Right outside the entrance, there’s plenty of contrast so you witness the snowfall underway.  It’s coming down pretty quickly at this point.

Oakland Hills Swim Club

There’s plenty of white stuff at the Swim Club, which sits at 1,350 ft above sea level.  Even this bush is nicely decorated by Mother Nature, don’t you think?  I don’t know if this plant is well-suited for deep winter but it should survive the short-term onslaught.

Oakland Hills Snow Bush

So there you have it:  the snows of 2008 right in our Oakland backyard.  It’s so rare and incongruous in Oakland, the land of perfect weather.  Well, a little snow fits that definition too.