News

Wildlife on the VINE TRAIL

05/05/2023

by Maureen Gaffney

Have you ever seen a mountain lion on the Napa Valley VINE TRAIL? Yeah, me neither. But that doesn’t mean they haven’t seen you. The mountain lion—Felis Concolor—literally “cat of one color,” is one stealthy kitty who’s a pro at going unnoticed, blending in with the beige/gold grasses and tan oak woodlands. While both bear and mountain lion do call Napa Valley home, they are relatively rare and are most often found (or not, as the case may be) in the farther reaches of the county, away from the relative hubbub of the VINE TRAIL corridor.

What you might actually see on the trail includes beavers, raccoons, deer, skunks, gray foxes, bats and bobcats. And turkeys. Always with the turkeys. While the fox and bobcat sightings certainly feel more special than a turkey, deer, raccoon, or that black and white ambulatory stink bomb, these more ordinary critters are an important part of the ecosystem here in the Valley and should be treated with respect—and an appropriate distance. Especially the skunk.

Hot tip: Skunks will warn you of the impending stench by stomping their feet, clicking their teeth and raising their tails. Good to know! Aside from being putrid, skunks can be beneficial as they like to dine on insects, wasps included. So thank a skunk! But maybe from far away.

Ubiquitous and ever-present, especially when you have some nice flowers or a garden coming up, deer are herbivores and provide the middle link in a food chain. They gain energy from consuming grass or leaves (or your whole dang yard), but are themselves a food source for predators like the mountain lion or other large chompy things that we humans have shoved aside (wolf, for example).

Not knowing what nice thing I could say about turkeys, I Googled it. “Turkeys are intelligent and sensitive animals that are highly social. They create lasting social bonds with each other and are very affectionate; rather similar to dogs. Turkeys have the ability to learn the precise details of an area over 1,000 acres in size.” From OneKindPlanet.org. Well I’ll be a monkey’s uncle (or aunt, rather). I always thought they had the IQ of a cocktail olive and would drown in the rain from gazing up at it. I guess I need to give the gobblers another chance.

Bats are super cool as they zoom around eating pests, dispersing seeds and pollinating things, and the lowly raccoon, reviled for his trash-can raiding ways, also disperses seeds and acts as an ecological clean-up crew, feasting on things nobody else wants. If only he’d do it while leaving the garbage can alone.

These are just a few of the creatures you might find along the VINE TRAIL, and a few quick facts about them. More fun, interesting information about the ecosystems the VINE TRAIL traverses can be found along the trail on the beautifully rendered interpretive panels placed alongside the route. Now, close your computer, put the phone down, and go see what you can see on the VINE TRAIL! And remember, if it’s black and white, furry, stomping and clicking, run away!


 Recent News

VINE TRAIL Maintenance Updates

09/23/24

Napa Valley Vine Trail Highlighted in Afar Magazine

09/12/24

Special Volunteer Opportunity: St. Helena to Calistoga Grand Opening

08/06/24

NVTA Needs Your Input

07/09/24

LOCO-MOTION 2024 RAISES $225K! TOPS $1M MARK OVER 4 YEARS.

06/26/24

Construction Update: St. Helena to Calistoga

06/15/24

Coalition Founder and Board President Speaks with 99.3 The Vine's Barry Martin

05/21/24

The Clif Family Foundation and Napa Valley Vine Trail Coalition Issue $50 Per Acre Donation Challenge

12/06/23

Tackling Big Missing Link

12/06/23

Partner Spotlight: Sportago

11/10/23

Enriching the Journey: Educational Signs Along the Napa Valley Vine Trail

11/10/23

Silver Oak's Exclusive 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon: Finale of the VINE TRAIL Vintner Collection

11/10/23

The Best Outdoor Activities in Napa Valley: A Comprehensive Guide

11/10/23

Fall on the VINE TRAIL

11/10/23

Napa Valley Vine Trail Awarded Global Achievements in Wine Tourism at the 2024 Best of Wine Tourism Awards Ceremony!

11/10/23

Meet Our New Board Member

10/06/23

Partner Spotlight: StretchLab Napa

10/06/23

2023 Napa Valley CanDo's GiveGuide: Giving Back and Supporting the Napa Valley Vine Trail

10/06/23

What is Park Tread?

10/06/23

Napa Valley Vine Trail Shines at 2024 Best of Wine Tourism Awards

10/06/23

Honoring Napa's History: Los Braceros

09/08/23

Partner Spotlight: Wine Country Inn

09/08/23

City of Napa Reveals Plans for Parking-Protected Bike Lanes on Browns Valley Road/First St.

09/08/23

Vine Trail Bridges and their Environmental Impact

09/08/23

Vine Trail Vallejo to American Canyon Groundbreaking

09/08/23

Meet Our New Board Member

08/04/23

Partner Spotlight: Unstoppable Fitness

08/04/23

Trail Partners' "slow and say hello!" Initiative

08/04/23

What If Everyone Did That?

08/04/23

*Updated | Temporary Closure

07/27/23