Recent Columbia Basin goose banding project a success
Dr. Craig Hart carries a Canada goose from the holding pen to the banding area. It was released after an identification band was attached to one of its legs.
From Fish and Wildlife Waterfowl Specialist Mikal Moore:
“Thanks to all of you volunteers for your time and effort conducting our Canada goose molt banding operation this year. We captured 1,240 birds, and banded 1,089 new birds.
From Fish and Wildlife Waterfowl Specialist Mikal Moore:
“Thanks to all of you volunteers for your time and effort conducting our Canada goose molt banding operation this year. We captured 1,240 birds, and banded 1,089 new birds.
“Even more impressive, you all contributed 97 volunteer-days to the project, equaling approximately 485 hours. This is truly amazing. We could not do this project without you.”
The total included 693 juvenile birds, 396 adults and 151 recaptures. A bird in the recapture category is one already having a band. The band number is recorded and reported.
The 151 recaptures included three geese banded in Wade Park, California, which is near Oakland, and two geese banded at Park Lake in 1998. Wow this makes those two at least 12 years old.
We checked the Internet and found captive Canada geese have lived for 33 years, but a more common number is put at 20 to 30 years. This is what makes the banding studies even more interesting.
Some geese have neckbands. The neck collars are easily to read with a binocular. Observers are asked to record the location where these birds are seen and report the information by calling the Region Two office in Ephrata at 754-4624.
Remember to keep an eye out for a Canada goose sporting a neckband, number XY 94. After it is spotted and the location reported to the Ephrata office, give us a call too. We want to keep track of its movements. Home: 762-5158, Cell: 750-0541.
Fish and Wildlife cautions about fire danger
Some people are thinking the cool wet spring provides for a low fire danger. However, the moisture has allowed the vegetation to grow more than usual. These plants are now drying out, providing fuel for wildfires.
Restrictions on campfires and prohibitions on fireworks are in place on 900,000 acres of wildlife areas and water-access sites managed by Fish and Wildlife. Where campfires are allowed, they usually must be contained in metal fire rings and kept to less than three feet in height and diameter.
People cause 85 percent of Washington’s wildfires, according to wildfire experts at the state Department of Natural Resources. Obeying fire restrictions and using caution and common sense are the most important steps people can take to preserve public recreation lands and wildlife habitat.
Here are a few campfire safety tips: Never start a campfire when wind is strong or local fire danger is high; Use a screen over and around a campfire to minimize sparks; Keep fires under three feet high and three feet wide; Keep five gallons of water and a shovel nearby; Never leave fires unattended
Extinguish a fire by drowning it thoroughly with water, stirring until cold, and then drowning it again. To report a wildfire or unattended campfire call 1-800-562-6010 or 911.
People cause bear problems in Oysterville
We have said it many times in this column: Don’t feed wildlife.
Fish and Wildlife personnel removed 10 black bears recently that had been fed by people from the town of Oysterville, on the Long Beach Peninsula in Pacific County.
Five of them were relocated to Mount Rainier National Park. The other five we euthanized because they had become familiar with being around people and, therefore were considered dangerous. A bear that learns to associate people with food is a potentially dangerous bear, and cannot be relocated in the wild. The meat was donated to an area food bank.
The Oysterville bear-feeding situation apparently had been going on for some time before a complaint was made. Most, if not all, the bear feeding was conducted at one residence. The residents told Fish and Wildlife officers they were spending $4,000 a year on dog food to feed the bears.
The bears were so familiar around people that when a Fish and Wildlife officer arrived on the scene, one of the bears crawled into the cab of his pick-up truck.
An old saying goes, “A fed bear is a dead bear.” Don’t feed any wildlife, except by using a birdfeeder.
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