D.C.’s stay at home order during the coronavirus pandemic has left fewer people on the roads and walking down the streets and area wildlife is taking advantage of the extra space.
鈥淪ince we’re not on our roadways or not out in our neighborhood as much, the wildlife is starting to move into them,鈥� said Dan Rauch, a fisheries and wildlife biologist for the .
Since the orders took effect, Rauch said the city has seen more calls for wildlife.
Most of the animals have been around, but are not always seen.
Among the sightings are for foxes, coyotes and wild turkeys.
鈥淔or people seeing those [animals] walking up their sidewalks, or walking down the street, that鈥檚 quite a sight to see,鈥� Rauch said.
The turkeys and other animals usually stick to the city鈥檚 wooded areas and parks during the day.
But without people frightening them away, they鈥檙e exploring a bit more right now.
Along the waterways, a decrease in boat traffic has led to more river otter sightings.
Rauch said don’t be surprised to see a muskrat or beaver in those areas too.
A red-tailed hawk got some attention in one Capitol Hill neighborhood, as it feasted on rodents.
鈥淪o that鈥檚 kind of fun, to have such a large raptor hanging on your alley taking care of your rat problem,鈥� Rauch said.
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With neighboring parks in Virginia and Maryland also closed, Rauch said it is also possible to hear about a black bear sighting.
鈥淚 wouldn’t be surprised if a black bear maybe came to the edge, or into the District,鈥� he said.
Rauch said one thing he noticed is some of the sightings come from people who are not normally home during the day to see the area鈥檚 wildlife in their own backyard.
鈥淭hey’re going to see that groundhog that has been munching on the grass in their backyard or going to see a fox which maybe has a den playing with kits up on a hill nearby in one of the parks.鈥� Rauch said.
