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Posts from the ‘Environment’ Category

Oct 11

Decline in Gig Harbor bat population predicted

batsIn 2013, the Gig Harbor Times.com posted an article questioning the disappearance of the bat population.  Prior to 2013 we observed many bats during summer months.  At dusk, just after sunset, bats were seen swooping and fliting about as they fed on insects.

The US Forest service seems to answer that question in a confirmation of the  bat “white nose syndrome” fungus presence is Western Washington as of October 2016.

The Gig Harbor Times suspects that recently discovered evidence of “white nose syndrome” in Western Washington has been present for many years.  The decline of our local bat population is scientifically undocumented and only observationally reported in the Gig Harbor Times.com

What does that mean for Gig Harbor and Western Washington?  Bats consume thousands of pounds of insects including mosquitoes.  The Zika virus and West Nile fever are two emergent diseases that first arrived on the east coast.   In 2012 the east coast, coincidentally, experienced a massive die-off of bats  (5.7 million bat deaths) due to the white nose fungus.

Mosquitoes breed in small standing water sources.   Breeding grounds can include gutters, plant pots, blue tarps, old tires or anywhere water can accumulate.   The Gig Harbor Times.com recommends that one should inspect their surrounding environment for sources of standing water.  Both renters and homeowners need to be  responsible for their personal health protection in this coming fight against emergent diseases.

 

 

Sep 17

Is the banana slug disappearing from Gig Harbor?

The banana slug (Ariolimax columbianus) common to the Pacific Northwest has, apparently, disappeared from parts of Gig Harbor, Washington.

The banana slug will go into a type of dormancy similar to hibernation called “estivation” in a hot dry climate.

Even so, in many areas that remain wet, moist and shaded the banana slug will be evident all spring, summer and fall.  The banana slug presence, if not in plain site, is evident by the slimy trail of mucus which they secrete as a protective layer.

Gig Harbor gardeners may experience the destruction that banana slugs cause in a garden.  Hosta plants are a favorite target for slugs. The full undamaged leaves of the Hosta plant indicates an absence of banana slugs.  The use of slug poison by the gardener may explain an intact undamaged Hosta.

The GigHarborTimes observes that this summer has provided relief from the insatiable banana slug.  However, we hope that the disappearance is only temporary.
Banana slugs perform an important service in the environment by eating leaves, dead plant material and animal droppings which are excreted as a rich natural nitrogen fertilizer.

Will the banana slug return to Gig Harbor?
We don’t have the answer to that question.  But as slimy as they are, we look forward to a mild wet spring and the return of the banana slug.

Hosta-plant

Hosta plant

 

 

 

 

Jun 8

San Onofre nuclear power plant closure may avert disaster

Located on the beautiful Southern California pacific ocean coast, the San Onofre nuclear power generation plant is being closed because of problems in steam generator systems according to a report in today’s LA Times.

The Gig Harbor Times applauds this decision not because the nuclear plant is old and worn but because it represents a monstrous hazard in terms of environment, health and safety.

The San Onofre nuclear plant sea wall is 25 feet tall. It was designed to withstand a 7.0 earthquake according to a March 2011 LA times article .  The geological fault most likely to directly threaten the San Onofre nuclear plant lies about 5 miles offshore according to the article.

Consider the tsunami that destroyed the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station.
The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant was  built 32 feet above sea level  and its seawater pumps built 13 feet above sea level.  The tsunami height coming ashore was 49 feet. The earthquake was a  magnitude 9.0

Additionally, the Tohoku tsunami earthquake in Japan lowered the ground (subsidence) by one to four feet.  The sea wall designed to protect the town of Kamaishi was easily overcome.

The San Onofre nuclear generation station seawall on the pacific coast of California – a disaster waiting to happen:
san-onofre-nuke

“Fukushima”  is the nuclear power plant.
“Tokoku” is the main earthquake generated tsunami.
“Kamaishi” is the town with the sea wall that was overcome.

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