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Southwest Washington Wildlife Reports
Fred Dobler, Wildlife Program Manager

January 24, 2005

Region 5 Wildlife Areas

Klickitat Wildlife Area: Road Maintenance– Area Manager Ellenburg worked with road contractors and formulated a plan for road work to improve approximately 2 miles of road having drainage, ditch and traction problems. Plans were also made for abandonment of approximately 3 miles of orphaned roads on KWA. These are roads no longer used. Abandonment includes ripping, water bars, adding tank traps to close access for vehicles and reseeding the road bed with native species.

Klickitat Wildlife Area Plan– Area Manager Ellenburg has been making arrangements for the CAG (Citizen Advisory Group) meeting to be set tentatively during the first week in February. This meeting will discuss issues or concerns for the Klickitat Wildlife Area.

Game Management Division

Annual Game Management Division Workshop– Biologists Woodin and Holman attended the annual Game Management Division meetings held in Wenatchee. The three day session included discussions of a wide variety of game related topics including: Game Management Plan accomplishments, a demonstration of the new "Go Hunt" capability on our website, Hunter education, development of the annual work plan, ongoing genetics work related to game species, specific topics included under the headings Upland Game, Migratory Birds, Deer and Elk and Special Species. Upcoming projects of particular interest locally include development of the next three-year hunting season package (2006-2008), plans to again capture and relocate elk on the Mt. St. Helens Wildlife Area (assuming the mountain allows it) and a reduced emphasis on the collection of samples for Chronic Wasting Disease testing.

Wildlife Diversity

Watchable Wildlife– The recent warm weather has created some interesting conditions for wildlife. Mallard ducks have been observed in pairs and courtship activity is beginning. Normally this takes place in late February or early March but with temperatures hitting the mid-60's it is beginning now. Several mallard pairs have been observed in head bobbing and bill tipping behavior. Maybe the ducks know more than we do as far as winter weather forecasting.