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Southwest Washington Wildlife Reports
Fred Dobler, Wildlife Program Manager

May 8, 2006

Region 5 Wildlife Areas

Mt. St. Helens Wildlife Area Stabilization Work: Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Hauswald and ten volunteers from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and United Parcel Service teamed up to do some erosion control planting near the eastern end of the Mt. St. Helens Wildlife Area last Saturday. During the day seed was broadcast over an area of about three acres and willow cuttings were also placed in the ground as erosion control measures. The seed mix and willows also provide additional forage for elk that winter on the site.

BSA members attended a seminar presented by WDFW biologist Miller explaining wildlife management concepts and species identification.

Wildlife Diverstiy Division

2006 Boy Scouts of America Camporee: District Wildlife Biologist Miller presented a Wildlife ID seminar for 275 Boy Scouts and their Leaders. Mounted specimens and skins allowed Miller to explain important wildlife concepts as well as help local kids learn wildlife identification. This interface with the public is important because it allows WDFW to inform the public that most wildlife are not endangered and that plentiful populations do exist. Most kids and leaders were very interested in the display and often had experiences with animals that they wanted to share. Biologist Miller has conducted this outreach for over 10 years and has probably contacted 3, 000 to 4,000 scouts and leaders over that time.

Western Pond Turtle Project: Biologist Anderson reports that we have had a total of 183 captures and have 15 female western pond turtles with transmitters at Sondino Ponds. Trapping will continue another two weeks prior to monitoring turtles for nesting.

Aerial image show the encroachment of vegetation surrounding the Bergen Road turtle ponds. Work crews remove blackberries and scotch broom from Western Pond Turtle nesting grounds.

At Bergen Road A 10-man inmate work crew from the Department of Natural Resources' Larch Mountain Correctional Facility assisted Regional Wildlife Staff with a day of vegetation management at the Bergen Road site. Specifically, grass was cut short and blackberries and Scotch Broom were removed from the hill above Dead Tree Pond along with other important areas at the Site. The south facing hill, predominantly vegetated with grass, is favored by the nesting female western pond turtles. This type of vegetation management is needed in the absence of fire or grazing and given the abundance of non-native plants. Nesting should begin at the site in mid June. The attached photo shows the encroachment of vegetation surrounding the Bergen Road turtle ponds. Additional photos show the inmates at work. WDFW thanks DNR for their help with this effort.

Biologist Holman also conducted a training session for a group of volunteers associated with the Oregon Zoo. This year, Zoo volunteers will participate in a portion of the population monitoring effort at the Bergen Road western pond turtle site. Population monitoring involves trapping of the turtles, collection of various biological data, identification of individual animals and release. In past years, the Oregon Zoo has participated in other aspects of WDFW's turtle management efforts, including nest location and "Head Starting" of juvenile turtles. WDFW thanks the Oregon Zoo for their on-going assistance and involvement in the management of western pond turtles.