You’ve heard or a polar bear? Here’s a Kohler bear, taken by Rob Kohler (cell phone, safely on his deck) Aug. 28 “near the north end of the airport on Duck Lake Dr.”

bear kohler web

“One of my pets having a snack,” says Gary Iversen, our favorite Duck Lake photographer:

Earlier this summer, Ed Mitchell from Beacon Wild Life Rescue (“day job” = Beacon Pest Control) rescued a baby seal, stranded near the Jetty. It was transported from here to Lynnwood PAWS (not affiliated with North Beach PAWS), where they cared for the pup and helped teach it how to fish. Last week, Mitchell helped the Lynnwood crew (Kevin Mack, Sam Haskins and Nicki Rosenhagen) place the now-60 pound seal in the harbor, near where some adult seals were lounging. Kevin Mack took these photos:

Carol Sroke, you are the hands-down, paws-up winner of the Aug. 31 “Photo of the Day Contest.” Your grand prize: $1 in free groceries from the new, expanded IGA! (Whenever that happens . .. )

What kind of bird did Jeff Daniel discover this morning, just north of the Taurus approach? Could it possibly be . . .?

Longer shot of the Gary Iversen masterpiece:

Little shark? Baby porpoise? Washed up  just north of the Jetty, yesterday afternoon:

. . . and scores. . . . Gary Iversen has really stepped up his photo game, I suspect our man on Duck Lake is on some kind of photographic steroids. Here’s his latest:

And I’m not talking Sharky’s gift shop — a Web site devoted to shark sightings has the following posting — the big question is, were they really sharks, or dolphins? (No photo evidence):

Ocean Shores, WA  —  On July 31, 2009 Rick Chastain, his 4 year old son Cooper and 15 year old niece Kiara Drake were in between Damon Road and beach access West Chance A La Mer NW, Ocean Shores at Grays Harbor, Washington. There was a light fog with over a mile of visibility. It was 2:30 PM and the air temperature was approximately 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Chastain reported the following ; “I was watching three to four whales, about 300 yards off the shore, when I caught a glimpse of a dorsal fin in the breakers. As I watched more than one appeared, usually 30 – 40 feet apart from each other. They were traveling across the water rather than up and down. Then as we were watching a seal appeared between us and the sharks. We watched as the sharks would roll in the waves as they were breaking. The sharks would roll and the seal would show up 50 feet or so in either direction. They were actively chasing it up and down the shore. One shark would roll and before it made it under another would surface from the other direction. Then we would see another approximately 30 – 40 feet away from where the first had surfaced. I was watching the Seagulls and it did not seem that they were able to pick up any scraps. At least while I was there. We watched for an hour and they were still actively surfacing when we left. Whether they caught the seal or not I have no idea. But the seal kept surfacing quite aways from where the sharks were each time. I believe there was only one seal. There were many, many people enjoying the warm weather. Many were surfing with long boards and body boards, as well as using boogie boards. Most of them had no idea what was only 100 feet away from them. The sharks appeared to be 12 – 15 feet in length with a dark colored back and dorsal fin and a white underbelly.” 

from Joan Baus:

A cougar was seen crossing St Rt 109 last evening and went onto the PAWS property.   It was very large, reported to be as long as one lane of the road is wide.

I called the sheriff, the state patrol, and the game people, doubt they did anything.   I also called out to the shelter several times before I was able to reach Cec – they were outside with the dogs in the Freedom Fence.    They quickly pulled the dogs in, but I just want all to know it has been there and could be hanging around.

My hope is it is the same one seen at the elementary school a couple days ago and is just going home back up in the hills.

But, please be aware and if you have addresses for any other volunteers or people who frequent the place, please pass this on.