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Southwest Washington Wildlife Reports
Brian Calkins, Acting Wildlife Program Manager

January 17, 2007

Region 5 Mt. St. Helens Wildlife Area

WDFW employee throwing "flake" for wintering elk at the Mt. St. Helen's Wildlife Area.

Mt. St. Helens Wildlife Area Emergency Winter Feeding: Severe early winter conditions and public concern for the well being of the elk were factors taken into consideration in the decision to initiate steps to winter-feed elk at the Mt. St. Helens Wildlife Area. Emergency winter-feeding commenced on Wednesday January 10th. We began by delivering 2,700 pounds of alfalfa hay per day. This interim rate was to allow the elk time to find and adjust to the hay. Use of the hay gradually increased to about 80% and we have now increased to feeding about 4000 pounds (two tons) per day. This interim rate will continue through the weekend while elk acclimate to the feed. We currently estimate that we have at least 400 elk on the wildlife area where the feeding is occurring. Next week we will begin to adjust feed rates to the estimated elk numbers, observed usage rates, and weather conditions. Depending on weather and usage rates, we plan to deliver 7 to 10 pounds per elk per day.

The hay we are currently using was grown in the Pasco area and is tested for quality before purchase. The bales are 3X4X8 feet and each weighs 1350 pounds. The rectangular bales are loaded onto a flatbed truck, hauled to the wildlife area and one employee separates the bales into flakes and pushes them off the truck as another slowly drives the length of the area. Two temporary employees have been hired to do most of the feeding. Almost all of the equipment involved in the operation is on loan from other agency programs and installations. Getting this short-term program under way has been a model of cooperation within the agency.

Game Management Division

Mid-winter waterfowl surveys: Biologist Holman and Officer Meyers completed the mid-winter waterfowl survey from the mouth of the Washougal River, up the Columbia to Bonneville dam. The results of the survey tallied: 1,324 ducks (primarily scaup on the Columbia and mallards on Steigerwald National Wildlife Refuge), 670 Canada geese (mostly cacklers and westerns on Steigerwald National Wildlife Refuge) and 62 swans (on Franz Lake National Wildlife Refuge). This year's survey included nearly identical numbers of ducks but roughly half the number of geese, compared to the 2006 survey. Note that again this year, many of the swans were found feeding on the main lake directly in front of the observation point at Franz Lake National Wildlife Refuge. Sometimes the swans are found in the small pond at the western end of Beacon Rock State Park. Those interested in viewing the swans should try each location.

Wildlife Diversity Division

Gateway development project: Biologist Anderson is currently negotiating with the Port of Vancouver on the Gateway development project. Included in this project is the development of a bald eagle management plan to protect a nest site and riparian habitat within the project boundary. The USFWS has also been involved in the development of this plan, keeping in consideration that there is a good chance the bald eagle will be de-listed sometime soon. Once the bald eagle is federally de-listed, the USFWS will no longer consult through the section 7 process on projects that may affect threatened and endangered species.