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Southwest Washington Wildlife Reports
September 1, 2008

Region 5 Wildlife Areas
Shillapoo Wildlife Area: Purple Loosestife: Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Hauswald reports that it appears that progress is being made toward gaining control of Purple Loosestrife on all three units of the Wildlife Area. The wetland weed, which competes with desirable native plants, first became a real problem on the Wildlife Area following the 1996 floods, which probably transported seed into the area and temporarily reduced growth of competing vegetation resulting in prime conditions for the plant to establish and spread. Only a few years ago, 20-30 percent of our field time in the summer was being devoted to loostrife control, which increased dramatically in a one year period. A variety of control methods are being used, including introduction of biological controls, hand cutting, pulling, and spraying depending upon the situation at different control sites. This year Hauswald is only finding a few dozen plants each week in areas where we previously had been finding hundreds and far less time is being spent on the control efforts.

Skunkweed (Navarretia squarrosa)

Mt. St. Helens Wildlife Area: New "Weed:" Even though WDFW tries to purchase the best alfalfa possible, one of the concerns Wildlife Area Manager Calkins has had following emergency winter feeding over the past two winters is the potential for introduction of new weeds into the Wildlife Area. As a result we have been paying particular attention to monitoring the area where feeding occurred. Two weeks ago he noticed a plant that he had seen only once before on the site known as skunkweed (Navarretia squarrosa). The Skunkweed plant is about 6" tall and has an odor similar to that of a skunk. From information we have received from various sources, the plant is native and somewhat common in parts of Washington. The previous sighting was a few years ago and only one plant was found and pulled. This year it appears that it is more widespread and associated with the roadway where hay was distributed during winter-feeding. Even though it is a native, it is uncertain whether it could potentially have an impact on areas managed for elk winter forage production. Because of this uncertainty, we will be beginning some control of the plant and monitoring closely in the future for any impacts it may have on winter range conditions.

Boundary Reconnaissance: With permit hunting seasons approaching on the Wildlife Area, Wildlife Area Manager Calkins is attempting to address one of the concerns that hunters voiced last season. Last year some of the hunters ranged further across the area in search of elk than previous years and had difficulty with the west boundary of the area in particular. Calkins hiked in to attempt to locate the northern most property corner west of the old N-1 dam but was unsuccessful in finding it. He found that the corner marker is probably missing due to either erosion or deposition of the North Fork Toutle River. A second trip will be made to mark the corner as closely as possible using GPS coordinates. With this technology we should be able to place signs demarking the boundary with very good accuracy. Despite not locating what he considered the most important marker, Calkins was able to locate five other corner markers and marked these with WDFW boundary signs.

Earlier this year a group of volunteers assisted us by locating boundary markers along 3 ½ to 4 miles of the North property line. The group was successful in locating at least 34 survey markers and recorded the GPS coordinates for each, which will be extremely helpful as we continue to make progress with upgrading the boundary posting on the area.

Sandhill crane survey and banding effort at Conboy Lake NWR.

Wildlife Diversity Division
Sandhill Cranes: Biologist Anderson reports that the final capture efforts for sandhill crane colts (juveniles) have been completed for 2008 at Conboy Lake NWR. Five of the seven banded 2008 colts are confirmed to have fledged. In addition, one unbanded colt was observed fledged from an unknown territory that escaped biologists’ detection. This year’s crane survey and banding effort was a success thanks to help from Jessica Stocking, WDFW temporary employee, that assisted with surveys and banding. Favorable water conditions from spring run-off have attributed to this year’s nesting success.

Game Management Division
South Mt. Rainier Elk Survey: This week Biologists Holman, Prince, and McCorquodale completed the South Mt. Rainier elk flight. This flight is conducted entirely within the Mt. Rainer National Park’s boundary and is part of a cooperative effort with the National Park Service, USGS, WDFW, and the Muckleshoot and Puyallup tribes. The survey is conducted from a helicopter during the hours of 5-8pm. Elk are on a list of species that the Park Service is monitoring on a long-term basis and the USGS is tasked with developing a standard protocol for this monitoring effort. This was the first of three flights being done on the south side of Mt. Rainier this year to assist with refining this protocol. The Park Service and the Puyallup Tribe will complete the other two flights. The Park Service, WDFW, and Muckleshoot Tribe are conducting the north Rainier elk flights. The data collected from the South Rainier elk flight are summarized in the table below.

Mountain goat spotted during a WDFW aerial goat survey.

Mountain Goat Survey: Biologists Holman, Jonker, and Prince conducted aerial mountain goat surveys in Goat Rocks and Tatoosh this week. All surveys were conducted on one day due to favorable weather conditions. 285 goats were observed in Goat Rocks and only 5 in Tatoosh; however, these 5 were in the Mt. Rainier National Park’s boundary and thus were not counted as part of our effort. Of the 285 mountain goats seen in the Goat Rocks, 187 were adults, 25 yearlings, 64 kids, and 7 unknowns. These numbers yield a kid to adult ratio of 34:100

3-Year Hunting Season Setting Process: Regional Wildlife Program Staff and Game Management Division Staff held a public meeting associated with development of the 2009-11 Big Game Hunting Regulations. The meeting included detailed presentation and discussion of issues pertaining to the structure of hunting seasons on a State-wide level as well as locally. Efforts in the next several months will include compilation of internal and public input and finally generation of final proposals to be taken to the Commission. Those interested in participating in the season setting process are encouraged to take the 2009-11 season setting survey on the Hunting page of WDFW's website.

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