Knowledge of diet composition can inform management strategies and efforts to recover endangered carnivore populations in vacant portions of their historic ranges. One such species, the Fisher (Pekania pennanti), was extirpated in Washington State prior to any formal documentation of its food habits in the coastal coniferous forests of western Washington. Fisher recovery efforts in Washington, based on translocating Fishers from extant populations, have been ongoing since 2008, beginning with the release of 90 Fishers on Washington's Olympic Peninsula from 2008 to 2010. We collected fecal samples or digestive tracts from 13 Fishers opportunistically on the Olympic Peninsula from 2009 through 2013. Subsequently, we identified the species composition of each sample's contents to determine the primary foods consumed by the reintroduced Fishers. Fisher diets were diverse and dominated by mammalian prey. Contents of feces and digestive tracts of Fishers were composed primarily of Snowshoe Hare (Lepus americanus) remains, followed by lesser proportions of Mountain Beavers (Aplodontia rufa), Northern Flying Squirrels (Glaucomys sabrinus), Douglas Squirrels (Tamiasciurus douglasii), Southern Red-backed Voles (Myodes gapperi), shrews (Sorex spp.), and unidentified ungulate species. The diet of Fishers comprised species that occur across a wide range of land uses and management prescriptions, including previously logged forests and mature forests that have been set aside for retention of old-growth forest characteristics. Additional study of prey abundance and Fisher foraging behaviors related to structural habitat characteristics across a gradient of land uses would provide useful insights for enhancing the effectiveness of conservation efforts to benefit Fishers in Pacific Northwest coastal forests.

Two species of pine martens (Mustelidae, Martes americana, M. caurina) inhabit northern North America, with both species overlapping their distributions in the northwest of the USA and Canada. One extinct form (M. nobilis), larger than extant species, is known predominantly from Late Pleistocene cave deposits in the Intermountain West. Here we report on the skeletal remains of pine marten recovered from 2 caves in Wind Cave National Park, Black Hills, southwestern South Dakota. Only introduced marten populations occur in the region today, highlighting the significance of the records for understanding the biotic history of the region. One complete skeleton of Martes recovered from Wind Cave radiocarbon dates to approximately 11,100 calibrated years BP, whereas the other fossil remains from the nearby Persistence Cave date to between 12,000 and 42,000 y old based on associated 14C dates. These remains represent the 1st fossil record of Martes from the Black Hills. Both forms of recovered pine martens, characterizing extinct and extant morphologies, were recovered in the caves but as yet are not understood to be sympatric in the local community.

Grit ingestion is widespread among birds, as an aid for grinding up food and as a dietary supplement of calcium, but is less common among insectivores, especially aerial feeders like nightjars (Caprimulgidae). I report recurrent visits by Common Nighthawks (Chordeiles minor) to a gravel driveway in British Columbia at dusk over a 4-y period. These ground visits were highly consistent (nighthawks landed during 93% of 72 dusk watches) and visits were highly concentrated both in time (95% of time on the ground between 10 and 57 min after sunset) and space (91% of the birds' time was spent in 2 areas comprising only 31% of the visible study site). Birds pecked at the ground in 97% of 198 focal-animal watches. In 43 visits the nighthawks picked up or swallowed some item; in 24 cases this was a small piece of gravel and no other items were identified. Surveys of ground arthropods in the study area over 3 y showed that potential prey were sparse (mean <2 insects m^–2) and the most common insects were unsuitable prey (tiny 3-mm ants). I conclude that the only reason for the nighthawks to consistently visit this gravel area was to ingest grit. The gravel ingested was crushed limestone, which might support a calcium uptake hypothesis. Grit ingestion, occurring within a restricted dusk period, might not explain why nightjars often sit on gravel roads at night, which is a major source of mortality for several species. Information on ground behavior in Caprimulgidae is important for understanding their mortality risks and conservation.

In the spring and summer of 2020, we found cysts of the nematode Eustrongylides spp. in Brown Trout (Salmo trutta), Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), and Mountain Whitefish (Prosopium williamsoni) in the Deschutes River. The prevalence and maximum intensity of infection exceeded the range of published accounts for Eustrongylides spp. across a wide range of species. Because the 1st intermediate host is likely to be a tubificid worm, also known as a sludge worm or sewage worm, this exceptional prevalence of Eustrongylides spp. infection raises questions about conditions in the river that may be contributing to the high infection rate in fish.

In late June 2020 in western Montana we observed up to 10 Cedar Waxwings (Bombycilla cedrorum) feeding on tree sap at Red-naped Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus nuchalis) sap wells excavated on 2 limbs of a Water Birch (Betula occidentalis). These observations constitute (a) the 1st report of waxwings feeding at sap wells created by sapsuckers of any species; (b) the 1st report of waxwings feeding on tree sap in early summer; and (c) the 1st report of the consumption of birch sap by this waxwing species. The Cedar Waxwings may have sought tree sap because of the limited availability of early-summer sugary fruits at the time of our observations in combination with the presence of new clusters of sap wells created by at least 1 pair of sapsuckers near where the waxwings were beginning to breed. The prevalent sugars in birch sap (glucose, fructose) are also those most efficiently assimilated by Cedar Waxwings and may have contributed in attracting the waxwings to the sapsucker wells.

We observed Western Toad (Anaxyrus boreas) breeding from mid-May to late June, coincident with a reservoir rise of ≤1.2 m in Lake Cushman, Washington State. Breeding occurred at 5 sequentially inundated sites and included diverse habitats. Early-spawned clutch-strings remained attached to the lake bottom but became vertically suspended during the lake-level rise. Embryos and hatchlings nearest the bottom were in cooler water than those near the top. Development through hatchling stages took up to 40 d for early spawn. Locations of later spawning were shallower and warmer, and larval development progressed rapidly. Ultimately, the extended spawning season and varied sites and habitats may provide reproductive success resilience. Reservoir water-level management during Western Toad breeding and larval development may effect: (1) breeding habitat availability; (2) larval development rates; and (3) reproductive success.

We present evidence of bats transiting and foraging over the ocean along nearshore environments in the northern Gulf of Alaska. Acoustic surveys were conducted on 2 sea-based vessels that anchored overnight off the coasts of 2 national parks (July–August 2019). We documented Little Brown Myotis (Myotis lucifugus) transiting and foraging over the ocean at 14 sites within the nearshore zone at an average off-coast distance of 298 m (s = 154). Little Brown Myotis inhabiting coastal habitats in Alaska are utilizing nearshore environments similar to Vespertilionid bats in the North Atlantic.

Scavenging carrion is an important source of nutrition for Wolverines (Gulo gulo), which are facultative scavengers. Other large carnivores, particularly Gray Wolves (Canis lupus), may compete with and exclude Wolverines from carrion or pose a risk of death or injury to Wolverines attempting to consume these resources. We used a video-camera trap to document a Wolverine scavenging an Elk (Cervus elaphus) being actively consumed by a Gray Wolf in Idaho. The Wolverine investigated the kill, ate, scent marked, and removed pieces of the carcass to cache at other sites. Between the 2nd and 3rd visit by the Wolverine, a wolf returns to feed at the kill. These observations establish that Wolverines do not necessarily avoid kills when Gray Wolves are present and that species interactions are more complex than generally thought.

Misdirected amplexus has been reported between conspecifics, congeners, between different amphibian families, and between amphibians and non-amphibian objects. We observed misdirected amplexus between a Pacific Treefrog and a Western Toad, wherein the treefrog amplexed the toad's leg. These types of events can result in reproductive interference and have also been considered an evolutionary trap for some species.

An observation of an American Pika collecting Yellow-bellied Marmot scat to add to its winter food cache is reported. This unusual behavior was observed in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA and was documented photographically.