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Southwest Washington Wildlife Reports
Fred Dobler, Wildlife Program Manager

January 30, 2005

Wildlife Areas

Cowlitz Wildlife Area: Wildlife Area Planning (CAG)– Assistant Vanderlip and Manager Grabski held the first of two scheduled Citizens Advisory Group (CAG) meetings for the 2005 wildlife area planning process. CWA staff approached the fourteen members in attendance with draft goals and objectives for the wildlife area and listened to issues and concerns. Many of the members agreed to use similar objectives outlined in the 2000-2003 addendum of the Cowlitz Wildlife Area plan with recreational access and habitat management at the top of the list. The next CAG meeting is scheduled tentatively for June 4, 2005 to meet the planning time line.

Cowlitz Wildlife Area: White Pass Educational Presentations– This past week CWA staff traveled to the White Pass School District to give presentations to three 7th grade biology classes. Students were informed on the role of the CWA and wildlife areas across the state, wood duck biology and nesting habits, basic predator/prey adaptations, and how they as a class can get involved in local projects.

Cowlitz Wildlife Area: Watchable Wildlife– The bald eagles have returned to the Tilton River forested corridor across the highway from the Cowlitz Wildlife Area office. Early morning visits should be fruitful.

Game Division

A beaver dam and impoundment on WDFW land in Lewis County has been backing water up onto adjacent private property. Removal of the dam or removal of the beavers were determined to not be appropriate solutions at this site, since dams are quickly re-built and beavers would likely re-colonize. Instead, a baffle tube was placed into the dam last week by Wildlife Biologist Woodin.

Beaver Dam Baffle Tube– A beaver dam and impoundment on WDFW land in Lewis County has been backing water up onto adjacent private property. Removal of the dam or removal of the beavers were determined to not be appropriate solutions at this site, since dams are quickly re-built and beavers would likely re-colonize. Instead, a baffle tube was placed into the dam last week by Wildlife Biologist Woodin.

Baffle tubes are permeable double-walled structures and can be made of perforated pipe and/or fence wire. The idea is to allow drainage within the dam structure yet not make the sound of running water. It is the sound of running water that triggers beavers to construct dams.

After creating an opening in the dam structure, a 12 foot long tube made of an inner layer of 2 inch chicken wire and an outer layer of 4 inch field fencing was placed. After wiring the tube to two fence posts, wood debris was placed on top to re-create the dam structure.

The site will require monitoring to insure the impoundment level remains at an acceptable level. Additional baffles can be inserted if needed.

Perhaps the most satisfied goose hunter from the 04/05 season was Kalama resident Kody Shriver. Kody harvested a 10+ pound western Canada goose on the final day of the hunting season, his first goose.

Area 2A Goose Season Closes–The general goose season in Goose Area 2A concluded on January the 22nd. The carefully designed and closely monitored season is designed to offer protection to the dusky Canada goose while allowing for a relatively liberal harvest of the other sub-species of Canada geese. The similarities among the 7 sub-species that winter in southwest Washington makes this undertaking a challenge for both wildlife managers and hunters. During the 2004/05 hunting season, a total of 801 hunters arrived at goose hunting check stations and a total of 1718 geese were checked. Both hunter numbers and goose harvest were similar to those of recent years. Only 20 dark birds were counted against the pre-determined harvest quota of 80 dusky Canada geese.

Perhaps the most satisfied goose hunter from the 04/05 season was Kalama resident Kody Shriver. Kody harvested a 10+ pound western Canada goose on the final day of the hunting season, his first goose.

Chronic Wasting Disease Sampling Effort– During the 2004 hunting season a wide variety of techniques were used to foster the collection of a large number of deer brain tissue samples from Region 5 GMUs. These techniques included; hiring a temporary employee (Biologist Wills), operating deer check stations, establishing drop-off locations for deer heads, contacting previously successful hunters regarding the need for samples, similarly contacting antlerless tag holders, collecting deer heads from local meat lockers, gathering heads from road-killed deer, and offering a prize incentive for those who voluntarily submitted their deer for CWD testing. These efforts encompassed much of the available work time for Wildlife Management Staff during October and November of 2004. A total of 353 brain-stem samples were collected as the result of the incentives offered and sampling goals were either met or very-nearly met in all sampling units.

Ashlyn Woodard, daughter of Fisheries Biologist Bob Woodard, drew 11 lucky winners for the raffle incentive drawing from the 353-name pool.

The CWD sample collection effort was concluded for 2004 when the raffle drawing for prizes associated with the incentive drawing was held at the Region 5 office. Wildlife Program Manager Dobler directed the operation and Outdoor Writer Al Thomas from the Columbian oversaw and will report on the raffle. Ashlyn Woodard, daughter of Fisheries Biologist Bob Woodard, drew 11 lucky winners from the 353-name pool.

Thanks to Ashlyn, Bob and Al for their help with the draw. Additionally, special thanks are deserved for the following businesses each of whom offered prizes associated with the effort; Laughing Bear Cabin near Mt. Hood, the Silver Star tavern in Longview, Mad Dog Outdoors in Longview, Tim Hanigan Law Offices, Fred Meyer stores, the Gun Shop in Longview, Field and Stream Enterprises in Kalama, the Sportsman's Warehouse in Clackamas Oregon, and Bob's Sporting Goods in Longview. Finally, thanks to all of the deer hunters in southwest Washington who submitted their deer for sampling.

Wildlife Diversity Division

Klickitat River Powerline Crossing– Biologist Anderson negotiated an agreement with the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area (CRGNSA) and the Klickitat PUD for mitigation on a powerline crossing over the Klickitat River Canyon. At issue is re-routing of a powerline through a high use bald eagle and waterfowl wintering area. An agreement was made to install bird diverters to increase visibility of the powerline to minimize the potential for avian collisions with the line. The CRGNSA has regulations on minimizing visual and scenic impacts in the viewshed of the Klickitat River. This situation required a compromise and spiral vibration devices were agreed upon as the technique for improving visibility of the line to birds, at the same time minimizing the visual impacts of the powerline to the public.