Mt.
St. Helens Wildlife Area, Winter Elk Mortality Survey
On May
5, 2004, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW)
Region 5 Wildlife staff conducted an additional winter elk
mortality survey on the St. Helens Wildlife Area. This survey
is a follow-up to the previous mid-winter survey conducted
in February. These surveys are conducted as one component
of WDFW's ongoing efforts to evaluate and manage the St. Helens
Wildlife Area specifically, and the Mt. St. Helens Elk Herd
in general. Approximately 200 elk regularly use the Wildlife
Area with as many as 700 gathering there during severe winters.
This year's
winter mortalities total 22 animals, with members of both
sexes and all age classes represented. As expected, this places
the (2003-04) winter mid-range in terms of severity. In previous
years, the range of mortalities has been wide, 6-80 depending
on winter severity. The hard work of many volunteers makes
this effort possible. Participants in the May mortality survey
included members of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, the
Mt. St. Helens Preservation Society, and the Northwest Indian
Fisheries Council, along with WDFW personnel from Regions
4 and 5. |
