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Southwest Washington Wildlife Reports
July 9, 2007

Region 5 Wildlife Areas

Shillapoo Wildlife Area Invasive Species: Wildlife Area Manager Calkins twice surveyed the site where Water Speedwell had been located on the Vancouver Lake Unit. Good news at this point is that no additional plants were found this week. He also began cutting dense reed canary grass around the primary location where the plant was found. Monitoring in other parts of this wetland, which received a disking treatment last year, found that reed canary grass, which had dominated the basin, has been replaced by a great stand of Wapato and water plantain. As the water recedes further, we might expect to find other native plants including sedges, rushes, and smartweeds sprouting as well.

Assistant Manager Hauswald, in the course of doing purple loosestife and other weed control in the north unit, found two other new weeds that we had never documented on the site. These included two meadow knapweed plants and a single slenderflowered thistle plant. The knapweed was cut and will be sprayed later and the thistle was pulled. Although these two plants disperse seed by wind, both were found at locations where it is quite possible that the seed may have fallen from a vehicle, someone's clothing, or equipment.

A DNR crew from the Larch Corrections Center began work last week on removing Himalayan blackberry on the South Unit. The crew is currently working on some stands along old fence lines that limit sight distance and wintering Canada goose usage of fields and wetlands. These crews were found to be a tremendous resource last year in the removal of blackberry stands with chainsaws in areas where large equipment would be impractical. At a later date we will have the crew move to a forested riparian zone where the understory is dominated by blackberry to remove the undesirable brush so that we can replant native species next year.

Eight-week old Sandhill crane colt receiving a monitoring band.

Cowlitz Wildlife Area: The wildlife area is a popular destination for 4th of July celebrations. Wildlife Area Manager Grabski and Wildlife Technician Morris worked the weekend before the 4th of July and the Holiday itself with Officer Jeschke and Tacoma Power Lands Officer Wilson. Activity was down from the last two years, most likely because the holiday fell during the middle of the week.

Wildlife Diversity Division

Sandhill Cranes: Biologist Anderson is currently working on the Conboy National Wildlife Refuge to monitor this year’s Sandhill crane nesting success. Several pairs of cranes have hatched young, but mortality has been high. Biologists are attempting to band any juveniles (colts) in order to learn more about migration patterns and survival in Washington's only breeding population. The most recent colt captured (SandhillCrane.jpg) was an eight-week old bird nearing the age when it will take its first flight.

Western Pond Turtles: We currently have located a total of 21 western pond turtle nests in the Columbia River Gorge. We've had volunteer help during the past couple weeks, which has helped to relieve schedule issues. Monitoring will continue for another two weeks to determine if there are any female turtles that may double clutch. In late July or early August we will release turtles from last year’s effort to select ponds in the Columbia River Gorge.

Operation Wild Goose WDFW staff with USFWS, ODFW and volunteers captured and banded dark geese at Miller Sands Island.

Game Management Division

Operation Dark Goose: Region 5 Wildlife Staff with the assistance of Region 6, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, and approximately 20 volunteers captured and banded 100 + dark geese at Miller Sands Island. The geese are very similar in size and coloration to the dusky Canada goose that is restricted in harvest by quota. The leg bands and neck collars serve as a visual marker for hunters and goose check station employees not to count these birds as part of the dusky harvest quota. See image at right of dark geese and a volunteer carrying birds to release them.

Hump Island Clean-Up: District Wildlife Biologist Miller and local FWO Lantigne assisted the DNR with a clean up party on Hump Island near Longview. A homeless couple had established a large camp on the island and WDFW provided boat transport for the volunteers that came to clean up the site. Several hundred pounds of garbage was removed from the site as well as evidence of meth cooking supplies.

Hump Island is a part of the area where Columbian White tailed deer are being introduced back into the lower Columbia. It was suspected that the activities of the person camping on the island (in excess of the DNR stay limit) reduced the habitat quality for the deer and possibly even the death of some of the transplanted animals.

Community Service: District Wildlife Biologist Miller and local volunteer Lisa Sudar witnessed a roll over crash on Highway 30 in Oregon on their return from the goose project. First aid was provided to the occupants of the vehicle, which came to rest on its top after rolling over twice as it crossed from the east bound lanes to the north bound lanes. Injures were minor and it was very fortunate that all the occupants were wearing seat belts and in child seats. Local EMS responded and took over treatment.