mystery in nest

[Nancy Stotz]

On a walk this morning I noticed a crow squawking high in an alder over Dixon Creek in NW Corvallis. It seemed to be half-heartedly scolding something, and although I couldn't see anything right below the bird, on a nearby branch I finally noticed a pretty big nest platform that seemed to have something furry and light brown in it. The crow's noise didn't attract any of its brethren, and pretty soon it moved on, as did I. I passed back by the nest about half an hour later and the same brown fur was up there. Attached is a photo.  I'm puzzled as to what it might be. It doesn't seem gray enough for a napping raccoon, and though I briefly pondered a rabbit set in a raptor nest for eventual feeding to young, the hair seems a little long and pale for that too. Does anyone have any thoughts on its potential ID?

Thanks--

Nancy Stotz

[Don A Boucher]

Hi Nancy,

Looks like a raccoon. I think I can make out a couple tail stripes but I'm not super confident about that. The color of the guard hairs rules out a squirrel's tail, because only Western Gray Squirrel's tail could have such long hairs and, if it were, they'd have dark gray bases with silvery/white tips. Raccoons vary in color and can have brown hairs. A Gray Fox could climb into a tree but only its tail would have such long hair, and it really doesn't seem to be color or pattern match for that.

The crow's alarms about a raccoon during nesting season is entirely justified. (Squirrels can raid nests too, BTW, and would also elicit an alarm response). If it was indeed a raccoon, I sure wonder what happened. Did the raccoon eat the nest contents and then take a nap, or was it an abandoned nest?

-Don Boucher