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Southwest Washington Wildlife Reports
Fred Dobler, Wildlife Program Manager

April 24, 2006

Region 5 Wildlife Areas

Klickitat Wildlife Area: Area Manager Ellenburg has been fielding numerous calls about this springs turkey season, He had a high participation rate for the Youth hunt held April 8-9 even though the weather was stormy and uncooperative for turkey hunting. Opening day of the spring general season also saw a good turn out of hunters; the weather again was a culprit with hunters seeing either rain or snow through out the weekend, not the warm sunny days one thinks about when going turkey hunting. Just a little reminder positively ID your target and safety should always be your first concern. Area manger Martin Ellenburg can be reached at (509) 773-4459 if you have questions about hunting turkeys on the Klickitat Wildlife Area.

Mt. St. Helens Wildlife Area Elk Forage Maintenance: Wildlife Area Manager Calkins, Assistant Manager Hauswald and Volunteer Mike Braaten have been working on elk forage maintenance projects. This has included reseeding areas near the Toutle River where minor erosion has occurred over the winter and fertilizing existing forage stands. About 18 acres were fertilized last week and about 2 miles of erosion prone area was walked and seeded as needed. This work will continue into May and June. Through a Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Grant we should be able to expand this years fertilization effort to over 100 acres. We also plan to lime at least a portion of the fertilized area to boost forage production by balancing soil acidity.

Wildlife Diversity Division

Sea Lion Hazing: District Wildlife Biologist Miller continues to assist the Marine Mammals Project with seas lion harassment at Bonneville Dam. A gunner sits in the front of the boat and discharges the cracker shell in the direction of the lion and attempts to herd them away from the dam and fish ladder areas.

Peregrine Falcon: Monitoring of the Lewis and Clark Bridge is being conducted regularly this spring by Washington State Department of Transportation biologists. Last week WDFW biologist Woodin assisted in observations of the pair of Peregrine falcons on the bridge that presents clear signs of occupying their nest box with egg incubation. Ongoing monitoring will continue.

Employees from ODFW , USFWS and volunteers assisted WDFW in searching the islands for nesting Canada geese.

Game Division

Lower Columbia River Goose Nest survey: This week the Columbia River from Longview to Gray's Bay was searched for nesting Canada Geese. In 1985 an index set of islands were selected and nest counts are conducted each year at this time. Employees from ODFW , USFWS and volunteers assisted WDFW in searching the islands. Nest data is collected on location, habitat, predation if present and egg count. This data is used to monitor the resident population of geese and is critical in the development of an early goose hunt. Information is also gathered on the nesting numbers of dark geese that resemble the dusky subspecies but do not migrate.