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Southwest Washington
Wildlife Reports
May
27, 2008
Region
5 Wildlife Areas
Klickitat
Wildlife Area Range Sampling: Wildlife Area manager VanLeuven worked with
Range Biologist Asher to sample range plants at the Klickitat Wildlife Area
exclosures. The spring sampling effort focuses on the smaller plants such as
grasses, wildflowers, and shrubs. Each plant present on the plot is identified
and assigned a number that represents its abundance on the plot area. Ten species
of grass, 34 species of forbs, and 7 species of shrubs were found within the
plots. The plots are sampled every 3 to 5 years, to document any changes that
occur in the range plant community on the grazing permit area.
Wildlife
Diversity Division
Western Pond Turtle Management: Biologist Holman continued the
western pond turtle capture effort at the Pierce Ranch Unit of the Ridgefield
National Wildlife Refuge. Forty-one traps have been set in 4 different water-bodies
in an attempt to capture as large a portion of the Refuge's pond turtle population
as possible. Extremely high Columbia River water and cool, rainy weather have
reduced the rate of turtle captures. Following the first 10 days of trapping,
a total of 96 western pond turtle captures have been recorded, encompassing
50 different individual turtles. Sixty incidental captures of painted turtles
have been recorded as well. Thanks to Wildlife Biologist Prince, Fisheries Biologist
Groesbeck, Customer Service Specialist Gonzalez, and Volunteer Renan for their
help during this stage of the project.
Sandhill Cranes: Biologist Anderson coordinated a two-day breeding survey for sandhill cranes in Klickitat County. Ground surveys were followed up by a helicopter survey of Conboy National Wildlife Refuge, Yakima Indian Reservation, State, and private lands to determine this year’s sandhill crane breeding status. A total of 22 pairs of cranes were located with 8 colts (crane young). Several pairs were still incubating eggs. Water conditions this year are favorable to sandhill crane breeding success as snowpack continues to melt and maintain seasonal wetland habitat.
Oak Habitat Management: Upland Game Section Manager Cope, National Wild Turkey Federation representatives Thiebes and Mathis, Wildlife Program Manager Jonker, District Biologist Anderson, and Klickitat WA manager VanLeuven met on site to continue discussions and planning for oak habitat improvement in Klickitat County. The Klickitat Wildlife Area and surrounding ownerships were chosen as initial project areas for the oak improvement project and the group met with Hancock Timber representatives as well to discuss potential cooperative projects on their lands. The 2-day field visit was very productive and set the stage for moving forward with regard to identifying and developing overall goals, habitat conditions that need improvement, general prescriptions, and specific project areas. 2008 will be used primarily for planning and mapping potential project areas with the goal of on the ground oak/conifer habitat improvement starting in 2009.
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