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Southwest
Washington Wildlife Reports
Fred Dobler, Wildlife Program Manager
May 1, 2006
Region 5 Wildlife Areas
Mt. St. Helens Wildlife Area Forage Maintenance: Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Hauswald has been fertilizing elk forage on the mudflow over the past three weeks. Approximately 68 acres have been fertilized to date and lime has been applied to about 40 acres as well. Weed control work is also expected to get underway this week with the help of WDFW's Western Washington Weed Crew to hand spray scotchbroom on the area.
A volunteer work party is scheduled on May 6th to plant seed over an eroded area near the eastern part of the wildlife area. Hauswald and Volunteer Mike Braaten will lead this effort. A second work party is scheduled for May 13th to begin pulling and cutting scotch broom in an area where we hope to rehabilitate a forage stand where the productivity has dropped. Work on this site will continue into the summer.
Wildlife Diversity Division
Peregrine Falcon Monitoring: Occupancy surveys continue for this year's statewide peregrine falcon monitoring. These surveys are part of ongoing monitoring of Peregrine Falcons by both Washington State and the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Birds have been reported at most historic sites and current efforts are focused on determining if sites support a breeding pair. Biologist Holman reports that the Table Mountain peregrine site is occupied by the falcons and that he has located their nesting ledge and observed incubation.
Western Pond Turtle: A total of 133 turtles have been captured so far this year at Sondino Ranch and Bergen Road. Transmitters have been placed on 14 female turtles. Of the 14 females, 6 are all wild and 8 are head-start turtles. Habitat conditions at all sites in the Columbia River Gorge are excellent this year as winter rains have benefited critical wetlands.
Game Division
Mt St. Helens Winter Mortality Survey: The final Mt. St. Helens Wildlife Winter Mortality Survey was conducted on April 25th with the help of volunteers from RMEF, the Mt. St. Helens Preservation Society and 14 students from Toutle High School. During the survey, participants spread out covering sections of the remaining mudflow area where most of the elk use occurs. When a dead elk is found the location is documented by GPS coordinates and the age and sex are recorded. Bone marrow from the femurs is also evaluated to determine body fat condition.
During the survey a total of 38 new elk mortalities were observed that had not been located in previous surveys this winter. This brings this years total for the survey area to 63 which is the second highest total since 1999 when the surveys began. In that year a total of 79 winter mortalities were recorded.
The Region 5 Wildlife Program Staff extend their thanks to all of the volunteers who participated.
The
Lower Columbia River Canada Goose Nest Survey took place last week resulting in some unusual finds. |
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The survey is carried out on foot. Every nest that is found is documented for habitat type, number of eggs and evidence of incubation. See image to the right for a goose on the nest incubating eggs.
Once counted, the nest is covered up by the surrounding down to keep the eggs warm until the adult returns and also to keep the eggs out of sight of predators like ravens. Unusual eggs do occur (see image to the right), where this odd-shaped egg was found lying on the ground.
Another unusual observation was made by Doug Kitchen of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife of the goose nest he found.
Big Game Hunting Seasons and Rules: Regional Wildlife Program and Customer Service Staff reviewed and provided edits to the draft version of the 2006 Big Game pamphlet. Due to the fact that 2006 is the first season in the new 3-year hunting season package, considerable changes have been made to season structure, timing, etc. The pamphlet should be available in its final version for the public in mid May. Hunters are reminded to check the pamphlet closely for any changes to hunts that they are considering.
Conboy NWR Elk Surveys: Biologist Anderson and Ellenburg assisted the USFWS with an elk survey in the Glenwood Valley. A total of 333 elk were observed. The 2005 April survey was the peak survey last year with 359 elk tallied; so numbers were slightly less this year but comparable. This survey is being conducted to monitor year around use of Conboy National Wildlife Refuge and the Glenwood Valley.