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Southwest Washington Wildlife Reports
Brian Calkins, Acting Wildlife Program Manager

October 1, 2006

Region 5 Wildlife Areas:

Progress on Shillapoo Projects: It has been a busy summer and fall for Assistant Manager Hauswald and technicians Boylan and Ridenour. Field mowing conducted to maintain Canada Goose winter habitat is nearing completion. Wetland basins have also been either mowed or disced to prepare them for wintering birds and as part of a program to control reed canary grass and reestablish native plants. We have also been contracting labor crews from the Larch Mt. correction facility to remove large thickets of blackberry along Lower River Road and Lake River to make way for future enhancement work. We are also working on replacing fencing in some locations along Lower River Road. As the fences are replaced they will be moved back from the edge of the roadway. This is being done because the fences were essentially on the edge of the pavement and were often clipped by passing vehicles on the narrow road. Moving the fences back should also allow for some limited shoulder parking in a few areas providing some relief when parking areas overflow particularly in the spring during popular fishing seasons.

Wildlife Diversity Division:

Western Pond Turtle: This seasons field activities are coming to an end as we have collected 56 juvenile turtles through the head start program. Drought conditions are believed to be a factor in the success of several nests.

We are currently working with the Bonneville Power Administration to determine if funding will be available for fiscal 2007. Current indications are that this will be the final year of BPA funding and funding levels will be reduced from past years.

Bald Eagle Management: WDFW received a draft bald eagle management plan for the Columbia Gateway project that is being proposed by the Port of Vancouver. The bald eagle plan is directly tied to a broader mitigation plan that is being negotiated between WDFW, private conservation groups and the Port.

Game Management Division:

Region 5 Deer Herd Composition Surveys: Black-tail and mule deer herd composition surveys have been completed in Region 5. The surveys are conducted annually during the period beginning August 15 and continuing through September 30th. These data are used to estimate the annual ratio of fawns to does throughout the Region. This productivity data is then used as one of the inputs into the Region's Sex - Age - Kill method of population estimation.

Wildlife Program Staff along with volunteers actively conduct surveys as well as documenting any deer seen during other work (or play) activities during this time period. Please submit records of any deer observations that may have been made to Biologist Holman, at the Region 5 office. Summaries of this year's effort will be included in future reports. Thanks to all those that helped out with the deer surveys, especially the members of the Yacolt Burn Sportsman's Club.

Pheasant Opener: Acting Program Manager Calkins and Technician Boylan surveyed the usage levels at the Woodland Bottoms and Shillapoo release sites on opening day of the Western Washington Pheasant season. Car counts are used as an index of hunter numbers that are evaluated to determine the future allocation of birds between the sites. Boylan tallied a total of 129 cars at Shillapoo 76 of which were at the South Unit and 53 at the Vancouver Lake unit. Boylan heard complaints from a few hunters that others had started hunting a few minutes early which is a common complaint at Pheasant release sites. Calkins found 23 cars at the Woodland Bottoms site. At this location birds could be seen walking through the fields as the hunters worked the brush lines. Also, cattle were present on part of the site and we recommend that hunters avoid the cattle pasture area until the herd is removed. Two hunters in this area had their hunt disrupted when their dog became interested in the cows two of which chased the dog off.