Current Report
	Report Archives

Southwest Washington Wildlife Reports
February 12, 2007

Region 5 Wildlife Areas

Mt. St. Helens Wildlife Area Emergency Winter Feeding: Use rate of hay has declined, particularly at the western part of the feeding area. In response, the daily feed rate has been reduced to 2,700 pounds of alfalfa hay per day. Estimated use rate of hay has been fluctuating from near total consumption to as low as about 50% on some days. Most counts from the road during daily feeding operations have remained above an estimated 300 elk, with almost all of this use being recently at the eastern end of the wildlife area. We will continue to adjust feed rates to estimated elk numbers, observed usage rates, and weather conditions.

A herd of elk visited the KWA headquarters office last week.

Biologists spent time on the mudflow on Feb 9th to collect soil samples and start reseeding some of the stabilization plantings that were damaged in November. Replanting of some of the erosion control plantings has started with about 0.35 mile seeded this week. The increased use of the roadway, where feeding of the elk is occurring, has substantially damaged forage plants along the road. The roadway had been seeded with a forage mix several years ago to increase forage production on the site. The western half will have to be reseeded (about 1 ½ miles or 6 acres).

Klickitat Wildlife Area Elk Herd: A herd of elk visited the KWA headquarters office last week. There were 2 adult bulls, 2 young bulls, and 26 cows and calves.

Game Management Division

Pacific Northwest Sportsman's Show: The annual Pacific Northwest Sportsman's Show was held in Portland from February 7 through 11. Wildlife Program had the lead on display preparation with lots of help from Office Manager Morrison. Staff from all Regional Programs helped man the WDFW booth.

This year's presentation featured the local WDFW Wildlife Areas. Posters illustrating highlights and unique features were on display for the Klickitat, Shillapoo, Mt. St. Helens, and Cowlitz Wildlife Areas. Also featured were posters of successful hunters in the field and various local wildlife species.

Favorite topics of discussion at this year's show included various aspects of Mt. St. Helens elk herd management, sea lion hazing and potential lethal removal, spring chinook run forecasts, etc. As usual, however, the favorite point of discussion was the date of WDFW's Big Game Hunting Seasons and Rules pamphlet.

Goose Nest Survey: District Wildlife Biologist Miller sent out a notice to solicit volunteers for the annual goose nest survey in the Columbia River. Volunteers make up 60 % of the work force on this project, which examines nesting habitat on islands in the Columbia River. Seats are filling rapidly; any interested parties should contact Miller soon.

Wildlife Diversity Division

Bald Eagle Management: District Wildlife Biologist Miller received 5 eagle issues in the mail this week. Three of the notices will be settled with a no-conditions plan, one was sent to Survey Biologist Woodin, and 1 will require more information on the proposal. Many landowners and proponents think the eagle is de-listed and does not require protection, however; until state WAC's are changed, WDFW will need to respond and provide protection to habitat so that eagles do not become rare in the future.