We’re down to the final two.
The votes were SO close last round, so we’re having a runoff.
We’ve eliminated bobcats, coyotes, squirrels, and raccoons.
Vote for your favorite.
We’re down to the final two.
The votes were SO close last round, so we’re having a runoff.
We’ve eliminated bobcats, coyotes, squirrels, and raccoons.
Vote for your favorite.
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That is tough I love seeing hawks, when I hike or even driving around. Raccoon are cute and have a mischivious personality. Years ago when I helped a friend take care of her 96 year old aunt. Raccoon would come to her patio every night, she left out catfood, which no one could persuade her not to do. Skunks also came every night, the skunks would put up their tail and keep moving around the food dish, making it almost impossible for the raccoon to get it. One raccoon sneaked up to the dish, stood on the side, then slyly looked the other way, while he put out a hand to grab some food, he looked like a kid stealing candy. Another raccoon made himself comfortable on the one of the patio chairs. I guess I have to vote for the raccoon.
I struggled between hawk and tarantula. As cool as the tarantula is, hawk won (in my mind) handily, as such a beautiful majestic bird.
I voted for the cutest one. So far, not in the lead. Are people really voting for a tarantula?
You must not be from here. Tarantula is the obvious choice. it’s not about cute, but more about Mt. Diablo and the area. clearly the answer is yes, people are voting for it.
@Tarantula Lover
You’re right, it’s not about cute, but it’s also not about the mountain……it’s about Claycord.com, and Claycord.com in no way even comes close to resembling an ugly creepy crawler. That’s the absolute worst choice. I can’t believe it’s even in the running, let alone in the lead. YUCK!
It’s too bad you think it’s ugly and don’t see the significance. Be a little more open minded. You don’t have to like it but clearly there is a reason it’s in the lead.
@Tarantulas Rule
Open minded? We’re talking spiders here. If you don’t want a hawk or an eagle and wish to stay on the ground, then a rattlesnake is a much better choice than a tarantula.
It’s too bad you think it’s ugly and don’t see the significance. Be a little more open minded.
You must not read the comments section very often.
Well….. I see HAWK is in the lead… but what kind of hawk?
There are Red Tailed Hawks, Goshawks, Marsh Hawks, Sharp Shinned Hawks, Coopers Hawks, Red Shouldered Hawks, Swainson’s Hawks, Rough-legged Hawks, Ferruginous Hawks, Northern Harriers….. my personal favorite is the little Sparrow Hawk (which is actually a Falcon & it’s true name is “Kestrel”).
Then there are all the other Falcons, but those were not named as choices…. so… what kind of hawk will it be?
Do you need to add each type and rerun the poll using ranked choice voting? LOL
Anything but “cornsnake” would be totally not right, let alone unthinkable…my 2¢.
Squirrels and Bobcats are what automatically comes to mind when I think about this part of the Bay Area.
Why were deers not an option?
1 write in vote for REINBEAR
No Cornsnake, no vote !
I think it should be the dodo bird
Reinbear
Clayton Coyote sounds good plus they like to roam the city streets at night.
Can’t decide between a tarantula and a hawk? Why not a tarantula hawk? They’re all over Diablo and Black Diamond.
Beautiful creatures. Just don’t piss them off.
No matter which one wins, I suspect some unhappy Karen or Woke Wanda will complain that it is somehow racist or inappropriate in some form or way.
These are all cis-white mascots. I only vote for mascots representing discriminated minorities. But not actually representing them cuz that’s racist too. Instead I only vote for mascots that represent what me and my white friends think would make those minorities happy. Ironically our own racism drives those assumptions. Thus it should either be an inanimate carbon rod or Boaty McBoatface
Wild turkeys? They’re everywhere!
I love Wild Turkey, the bourbon.
Red Tailed Hawk – ubiquitous in the Diablo range
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..as are turkey vultures… if and when the situation is just right.
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I’d have to say Racoons. They are very entertaining to watch on their weekly trips through the yard. I leave a bucket of water out for them to wash their grubs. One especially dry year when there was little to eat, I left food out for them. A mom and her five little ones showed up to eat. The mom came across the fence first, and when I looked back at the fence, five little heads were peeking over trying to figure out how mom got to the food. The kids had trouble paying attention to the food, they were having so much fun rolling and tumbling across the patio. They visited a couple of days, and then they were gone.
Tarantula is an awful choice. I believe rival websites that keep accounts on Claycord for sinister reasons, are stuffing the ballot box now & trying to make Claycord adopt a repulsive mascot!
@Dr. Jellyfinger
+1
When I think of Claycord, I think of folks who appreciate the mountains and fields, the natural beauty of this area. Most of the potential mascots fit into our natural environment, but some represent a little extra: the coyote, for example, is smart and curious – a natural investigator; always alert, and those are qualities I like to think that Claycordians share. The Hawk soars high, riding the thermals, ever vigilant and watchful. I voted for the coyote because – well, because of all the cartoons growing up, and Claycord Coyote sounds kind of cool.
Rolling Monte Diablo’s peak after a Full Moon All Hallows Eve, (very cold), Tarantula’s & I owned the Road!
I vote for “hawk”. I see Claycord as majestically flying over our region keeping an eye out for all of us and calling out things we need to know.
Tarantula? You have got to be kidding. A hawk would be better. And a bobcat would be better than either. How many votes are there?
Olive Garden
🙉
I was the first class of Diablo View middle school and we got to vote on school colors and mascot. We voted for teal and black and the Bobcat as our mascot. So I vote Bobcat. Looks like tarantula will win but what kind of mascot is that. At least Clayton Valley high school is the (ugly) Eagles
Honestly the vote totals have been so close that we might find a way to incorporate a tarantula and a hawk into the site (just not a tarantula hawk). The whole point is just to have a little fun and maybe help teach people about the animals.
If tarantula does win, we’ll make sure however we decide to incorporate it, it won’t be scary looking. 🙂
How about a Hawk gripping a disgusting tarantula in it’s claws that it killed just as a service to all indigenous animals?
Great, . . . .
PETT (people for ethical treatment for tarantulas) will have their knickers all in a twist.
I say we use Senate Rules proposing amendments and require a 2/3 majority!
I would say the staff should pick the mascot because a spider is not a true vote.
Bummer that coyotes are no longer in the running. Living near Lime Ridge I have heard them many times. It is an ancient, eerie sound. My second vote is for hawks…we have so many here, from Red Tails, Cooper’s, Kestrels and so many others. Lots of Turkey Vultures, as well. I have photos of a Cooper’s Hawk drinking from our bird bath. I say the Claycord Hawks!
As someone with severe arachnophobia, I guess this is the last time I’m visiting this website as I won’t want to “risk” seeing something that’ll give me a jumpscare at any given time – on the main page, an article, or wherever the “mascot” will be placed.
[insert snarky goodbye replies here]
@Kiley M.
The Mayor said if a tarantula wins, the image won’t look scary. 🙂
@KILEY M……Don’t forget your banky and don’t let the door hit ya where the good Lord split ya….good day.
How about creating a Bobhawula, combining the best of each three species in the spirit of the strangely neglected rainbear. Or, in the spirit of the food fight above, maybe the worst of each, something that eats your cat, poops around the tree it lives in, and scares the bejeebers out of you when least expected.
“The Thing”
A tarantula in the lead? Really? That would have been my last choice. Poor squirrels and raccoons.
How about a vote on the highest two vote-getters? I voted for hawk on this last round, and will again if given the chance. Respect to the tarantula, but the hawk embodies Claycord more, I think: soaring over all of Claycord, watchful, vigilant, and the hawk’s image doesn’t remind me of the time when a friend insisted I hold a tarantula from Mt. Diablo. I did, but aw, heck no. Leave the big, hairy critters in peace on the mountain, I say.
Tarantula makes the most sense. Also it’s the least common making it the most interesting. Definitely has my vote. Hawk and Bobcat are cool but old news. Boring. Those could be any old news mascot. No one has a Tarantula!