by Bruce Hyde
While referring to something completely different, Donald Rumsfeld memorably said
"There are known knowns. These are things we know that we know. There are known unknowns. That is to say, there are things that we know we don't know. But there are also unknown unknowns. These are things we don't know we don't know."
This intriguing statement came to mind while I was pondering the less evident wildlife around us in Les Albères. The known knowns are obvious and are species that can be clearly identified such as some insects, red squirrels, rabbits, birds, hare; with luck some maybe photographed. Our website tends largely to deal with these.
At the other end of the scale one wonders, too, about the unknown unknowns as no reference book is likely to be all-encompassing. Sometimes these would be species that simply got lost on a migratory journey, got swept in by intemperate weather or just extended its usual range. It would be wonderful and exciting positively to identify one of these - a serendipitous moment! Hope springs eternal.
Then, and this is the main thrust of this blog, there are the species that we just don't see at all, but the books tell us are, or ought to be, there - known unknowns or perhaps in this case "known unseens". Our local reference book L'Albera describes many species like this which one never encounters; but that does not mean they are not there, happily living out their lives away from our gaze. The obvious candidates will be crepuscular, nocturnal or simply shy animals such as pine marten, otter, badger and deer.
Finding evidence of the known unseens is always at the back of my mind as I roam happily through our lovely area. I usually walk with my eyes to the ground - thus missing the birds, but hey, one can't have everything. And it is on the ground that one finds tracks and traces of these unseens.
While referring to something completely different, Donald Rumsfeld memorably said
"There are known knowns. These are things we know that we know. There are known unknowns. That is to say, there are things that we know we don't know. But there are also unknown unknowns. These are things we don't know we don't know."
This intriguing statement came to mind while I was pondering the less evident wildlife around us in Les Albères. The known knowns are obvious and are species that can be clearly identified such as some insects, red squirrels, rabbits, birds, hare; with luck some maybe photographed. Our website tends largely to deal with these.
At the other end of the scale one wonders, too, about the unknown unknowns as no reference book is likely to be all-encompassing. Sometimes these would be species that simply got lost on a migratory journey, got swept in by intemperate weather or just extended its usual range. It would be wonderful and exciting positively to identify one of these - a serendipitous moment! Hope springs eternal.
Then, and this is the main thrust of this blog, there are the species that we just don't see at all, but the books tell us are, or ought to be, there - known unknowns or perhaps in this case "known unseens". Our local reference book L'Albera describes many species like this which one never encounters; but that does not mean they are not there, happily living out their lives away from our gaze. The obvious candidates will be crepuscular, nocturnal or simply shy animals such as pine marten, otter, badger and deer.
Finding evidence of the known unseens is always at the back of my mind as I roam happily through our lovely area. I usually walk with my eyes to the ground - thus missing the birds, but hey, one can't have everything. And it is on the ground that one finds tracks and traces of these unseens.
Roe Deer tracks I have seen tracks of what I suspect to be Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus).
(As an side, I have actually seen what I think was a red deer (Cervus elaphus) one day quite close to Montesquieu. It was in a wooded area and came out of cover just ahead of me. Before I could grab the camera it had darted back. It was too big for a roe deer, being well over a metre at the shoulder.)
For a long time I wondered what it was that frequently left scat on the pistes in the hills. I now suspect it to be pine martens (Martes martes), the habitat being right and "L'Albera" saying they are present. They are very shy but leave tracks
Pine Marten (Martes martes) tracks
Also known to be present are badgers. I saw clear tracks of their presence in muddy areas during the construction of the TGV.
Badger (Meles meles) tracks
Otters are believed to be present, and whenever I go down to the river Tech I look out for signs. On numerous occasions I have specifically searched for them, but have yet to see one in situ.
Dead otter (Lutra lutra) near the lake at St. Génis Sadly, I have seen a dead one near the lake at St. Génis, and Lesley saw what looked like one that had been run over near the bridge taking the D914 across the river Tech near Palau-del-Vidre.
and I have seen what look like otter spraints and tracks.
Otter spraints
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Otter tracks
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Wild boar are present, and abundant one hears, but seldom seen. They leave very obvious tracks with the dew claw marks on either side and behind the main track. They also seem to rub against suitable trees.
Wild Boar (Sus scrofa) track
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Tree used for rubbing
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There are red squirrels around, although relatively shy at times. They leave evidence among the pine cones which they collect and from which they extract the pine kernels in a typical fashion.
Pine cone cache of a red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris)
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After the kernels have been eaten
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It is interesting to find traces of, or perhaps even glimpse an unusual animal. And certainly in my case there is a long way to go before I shall run out of opportunity. I have a small library of unidentified tracks and traces left by various fauna, and a large one of unidentified flora - but that is for another blog.
