Snow melting. Deer's Foot

Russell and I went out at end of day Saturday. The drift by the Ponds Trail entrance was waist high on Russell but all across the south face of the escarpment the snow had melted and thinned to reveal the brown leaves, leaving a patchwork of 60% snow cover and 40% open leaf litter. The flood plain forest floor was still well covered in snow and the two ponds were solid enough to walk across..although thinning around the edges.

Everywhere there were trails of deer. We found new deer beds on the Northern Loop, melted snow where the deer had slept.

Interesting that there was no water flowing in the main Western Wash despite the 0.6 inch of water held in the recent snow and the beginning of the melt.

We walked to the South boundary Trail and there by the old 1960's OWP sign we found a fresh hoof and 4 inches of lower leg of a young deer. A predator or scavenger had brought it there.

The deer continue to be located primarily in the thicker forest east of the east pond.

Many more small passerine birds out foraging than two days ago. Forecast rain should strip away much of snow before more cold and snow arrive later midweek.