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Southwest Washington Wildlife Reports
Brian Calkins, Acting Wildlife Program Manager

October 30, 2006

Game Management Division:

Elk Composition Surveys: WDFW biologist Woodin tracking the flight and entering data into a laptop computer during one of the flights.

Elk Composition Surveys: Regional Wildlife Staff conducted aerial elk composition surveys over the Siouxon (572), Yale (554), Toutle (556) and Margaret (524) Game Management Units on the 5th and 6th of September. The Ryderwood (530) and Coweeman (550) Game Management Units were surveyed later after the early archery season. Weather conditions were generally suitable with limited fog and calm - moderate winds during the three survey flights except during the Ryderwood flight when extremely warm conditions may have resulted in fewer total elk seen which can be expected as the elk keep to forested habitat once the sun rises.

Results of these surveys will be included with additional data and used as a portion of the inputs into the Region's Sex - Age -Kill model of elk population estimation. Results of the surveys are as follows:

In some areas, bull and/or calf ratios seem to be down from average. This is probably due to multiple factors including a more severe winter last year and increased harvest in some areas due to early snowfall during the hunting seasons.

These surveys were conducted with a coordinated GPS/mapping software interface to track and document the course flown and to document the waypoints of each group of elk seen. Known as "real-time tracking", this also asists in navigation during the flight. See the photo above of biologist Woodin tracking the flight and entering data into a laptop computer during one of the flights.

The new Wildlife Program Standard Operating Proceedures for flight following and safety were followed during the effort. These proceedures require additional staff on the ground and resources to maintain compliance but do add a measure of safety to the flights.

St Helens Elk Herd Plan: Regional input was completed this week into the latest version of the elk herd plan for Mt St Helens. Hard copy and electronic versions submitted to Olympia. Many thanks for all the help on this task; Scott McCorquodale, Robin Woodin, Brian Calkins, Eric Holman and David Anderson all contributed to the effort.

Longview Elk Issues: District Wildlife Biologist Miller coordinated a meeting with City, Wildlife Management-Olympia, USDA Wildlife Services and Regional Wildlife Management personnel to discuss a buidling elk population in the city of Longview. Meeting was mostly an exchange of information on roles and rules that influence the
managment of elk. The City and USDA Wildlife Services may work further to develop a program to deal with coyote control and potentially elk hazing and removal. The City is not yet at a point where they are ready to take action on this issue.

Exotic Deer In Clark County: Biologist Holman and several fish and Wildlife Officers spent the better part of last Thursday attempting to capture a fallow deer that escaped from a private farm near Dollar's Corner. By the end of the day the deer had led the group on a route of 10 to 12 miles beginning near Dollar's Corner West to the Salmon Creek area near WSU Vancouver then East to the Hockinson area. The deer is very light colored and has large palmated antlers similar to but smaller than Caribou.

Science Division:

Avian Mortality Monitoring: Preliminary results have been received on the necropsy of three geese collected from the shoreline of Vancouver lake that were submitted for testing as part of the agency's Avian Influenza Monitoring Effort. A total of six birds were found dead earlier this month but three of them were heavily scavenged and not suitable for disease testing. Initial results indicate that the birds died as a result of aspergillosis a fungal disease which is not uncommon. This disease is generally a result of the birds consuming the fungus on moldy grain.