Current Report
	Report Archives

Southwest Washington Wildlife Reports
Brian Calkins, Acting Wildlife Program Manager

June 5, 2006

Wildlife Diversity Division

One effect of the high water level in Pierce Lake is that water backed up into the old Beaver Pond.

Western Pond Turtles: Turtle trapping has been completed at Pierce National Wildlife Refuge. Results during the last week of trapping were down from the previous two weeks. Water was very high in all ponds, creeks, and sloughs, and showery weather discouraged turtles from basking. One effect of the high water level in Pierce Lake is that water backed up into the old Beaver Pond. The results for the third week's activity were: 44 western pond turtles; 5 western painted turtles

Game Division

Bighorn Sheep: Biologist Anderson reported 4 bighorn sheep located in the Klickitat River Canyon north of the Klickitat Wildlife Area. One of the sheep was a female that still had its radio collar. The other 3 appeared to be offspring from the original herd. The sheep were originally released in 1998 in an effort to establish a herd in the Klickitat drainage. The confirmation of these sheep is encouraging as regional staff are considering the possibility of another release into this area in the near future.

Waterfowl Project Field Trip: District Wildlife Biologist Miller met with local DU staff and landowners of Canvasback Lake in northern Clark County. Miller was contacted by the landowners to try to facilitate communication between DU biologists and the landowners. The meeting purpose was to evaluate the property for planting recommendations and large scale project potential. Charles Lobdell, local DU biologist,had some previous knowledge of the property and will help with planting recommendations for the near future. Further evaluation of the hydrology will be required to determine if a larger scale project can be developed to improve duck production and wintering habitat for a variety of species including sandhill cranes, swans and other waterfowl. DU will call another meeting to share potential for the site for other grant projects.

An example from a previous year's banding effort of a gosling that is too small to hold a neck collar.

Resident Canada Geese: District Biologist Miller and Wildlife Biologist Woodin conducted a survey of resident dark Canada goose broods on the Lower Columbia River last week. This effort is part of the preparation for banding. The goal is to ensure that the young will be large enough to hold a band and/or neck collar. See image to the right from a previous year's banding effort for an example of a gosling that is too small to hold a neck collar.

Last week's survey found nine broods totalling 43 goslings at 20-25 days old. Another two broods totaling 8 goslings were slightly older, and one brood of 5 goslings was slightly younger. This confirms the timing for the scheduled banding effort and the end of June.

The emphasis of this effort is on Washington's resident western and dusky sub-species hybrids. These birds are intermediary in terms of color and size from their parent genetics and can measure out as a dusky during hunting season, possibly resulting in a hunter loosing their hunting privileges in Southwest Washington. However, by definition a true dusky breeds on the Copper River Delta in Alaska. By banding these birds they can be identified as local birds and not true duskies. Efforts such as this have been maintained by Federal and State Fish and Wildife Agencies to protect the dusky sub-species while allowing for hunter opportunity.