Three wildlife stunners surfaced in California in the past week: -- The mystery of Northern California's Ghost Deer was solved. -- A species of deer that has thrived in eastern states but is unheard of in California, white-tailed deer, was spotted and identified by a wildlife expert -- and I also saw the deer myself. -- A fossilized turkey was reported found at the La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles. The ramifications may shock environmentalists. The collective impact of these stories could change the course of wildlife science in California and redefine what some call "native species." The story of the Ghost Deer passed from myth to legend last fall, the tale of a giant deer with antlers that poked holes in the sky and left giant hoof prints. It was said to roam a canyon on the slopes of Mt. Eddy in Northern California and was called the Ghost Deer because one young hunter reportedly shot right through it. My story describing the mystery was published in The Chronicle on Nov. 11 and is archived at www.sfgate.com. I even wrote that the hoof prints I found were "like that of a small elk." Turned out they were. The Ghost Deer is a Roosevelt elk that migrated 75 miles and crossed several ridges to reach its surprise destination.

Fieldscout Dan Dawson described how he was driving on a county road along a ranch property, located a few miles from the reported Ghost Deer sightings - - and suddenly spotted an elk.


View: Full Article | Source: San Francisco Chronicle