Oregon Trappers Should Be Mindful of Wolverines in the Eagle Cap Wilderness Area

ODFW has reminded northeast Oregon trappers that wolverines could be in the Eagle Cap Wilderness Area and of the species’ threatened status under the Oregon Endangered Species Act.

This comes after a wolverine was accidentally captured in a foothold trap set near the Eagle Cap Wilderness in late December. Upon finding the captured wolverine, the trapper immediately contacted ODFW. Wildlife biologists came to the site, tranquilized the wolverine and released it unharmed.

Currently wolverines cannot be trapped in Oregon due to their state-threatened status. No citations were issued in this case because the trapper followed regulations and immediately contacted ODFW. “This trapper did exactly what he was supposed to do following the capture of the wolverine,” said Tim Hiller, ODFW furbearer coordinator. “We appreciate that the trapper also voluntarily pulled all of his traps from the area afterwards.”

In a letter to trappers dated Jan. 27, 2012, ODFW reminded trappers to immediately contact ODFW should they trap a wolverine. ODFW asked trappers to avoid the area or take special precautions when trapping in areas of known wolverine activity, encouraging them to avoid the use of lethal traps such as medium or large body-gripping traps.  ODFW also recommended that trappers familiarize themselves with wolverine sign, especially tracks.

Bobcats and wolverines can sometimes be found in the same areas. However, deep snow usually forces most bobcats out of wolverine habitat and greatly decreases access to that habitat for trappers.

Most bobcat trappers have since voluntarily removed all of their traps from the area where the wolverine was trapped, according to Jim Soares, Secretary/Treasurer of the Northeast Oregon Trappers Association and member of the Oregon Trappers Association.

“Oregon trappers don’t want to capture wolverines or any non-target species,” said Soares. “The trappers I know are very aware of the diversity of wildlife in the area and take precautions to only trap animals they intend to trap.”

In addition to talking with northeast Oregon trappers, ODFW has also responded to Oregon Wild and TrapFree Oregon, organizations that expressed concerns about wolverines and trapping after hearing about the capture. ODFW informed these organizations of its communication with northeast Oregon trappers and that the risk to wolverines from trapping activities in the area is low.

Trapping is a regulated activity in Oregon with special rules based on species, bag limit, season and species status. Since 1985, all first-time trappers and those born after June 30, 1968 have been required to pass an education course before they can obtain a trapping license. The course deals with topics like wildlife identification, trapping ethics, animal welfare, and setting traps so they catch target animals. Oregon currently has about 1,100 licensed trappers.

Bobcat season runs through Feb. 29, 2012 in Oregon. Many other seasons wrap up by that date as well.

Wolverines have been found in Oregon several times since 1936, when they had been thought to be extirpated from Oregon. In 1965, a male was killed on Three Fingered Jack in Linn County. In 1973, a wolverine was trapped and released on Steens Mountain, Harney County. In 1986, a wolverine was trapped in Wheeler County. In 1990, a dead wolverine was picked up on I-84 in Hood River County. In 1992, a partial skeleton was recovered in Grant County.

Most recently, researchers captured images of wolverines on a trail camera and confirmed wolverine tracks in the Eagle Cap Wilderness Area in Wallowa County in 2011. ODFW supports this and other wolverine survey and research efforts throughout Oregon. To date, there is no evidence of a breeding population of wolverines in Oregon.

More information on wolverines: The Wolverine Foundation

Images of wolverines can be found here: http://www.dfw.state.or.us/news/2011/april/042511c.asp

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Oregon Spring Bear Hunt Applications are Due Feb. 10

Salem, OR—Applications for controlled spring bear hunting are due by Feb. 10, 2012.

Hunters may apply online, at a license sales agent or ODFW office that sells licenses, or by mail or fax order using this application (also found on page 17 of the 2012 Oregon Big Game Regulations). Mail orders must be postmarked no later than Feb. 10 and faxes must be received at ODFW (fax 503-947-6117 or 6113) by 11:59 p.m. PT on Feb. 10.

New for this year, the start dates for White River Unit and Hood Unit hunts have been moved up to April 1 (from April 15). Units 45 (Fossil) and 48 (Heppner) have shifted from the W Blue Mts hunt to the S Blue Mts hunt.

There are 4,000 first-come, first-serve SW Oregon spring bear tags available for the SW Oregon hunt. As of Jan. 30, 2012, 2,821 of these tags have been sold. SW Oregon spring bear tags sold out on Feb. 14 in 2011 and Feb. 20 in 2010. Hunters that apply for a controlled spring bear hunt may not purchase a SW Oregon tag until after the draw on Feb. 20.

Last year, 488 bears were taken by hunters during the spring season. See spring bear hunting statistics for more information

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Oregon Youth Spring Turkey Hunt Set for Apr. 7-9

This year’s youth spring turkey season will be April 7, 8 and 9, 2012 (Saturday, Sunday and Monday).The season dates are misprinted in the current 2011-12 Oregon Game Bird Regulations (page 15).Due to an ODFW staff error, the regulations list April 8-9, 2012 (Sunday-Monday) as the season dates.Youth turkey season is always the weekend before the general spring turkey season which begins on April 15.The Fish and Wildlife Commission adopted a rule that will begin the season on Saturday, April 7 and extend it by one day this year due to the error.The youth spring turkey season is open to licensed hunters age 17 and under.Youth that don’t fill their tag during the youth season can go on to hunt the general season April 15-May 31.The youth turkey season is one of several youth-only hunts in Oregon.

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Some Oregon State Wildlife Areas Close Feb. 1 to Protect Big Game

Dayville, OR—State and BLM lands on Phillip W. Schneider Wildlife Area in Grant County will be closed to all public access from Feb. 1-April 14, 2012 and in future years. The winter closure began last year and is a cooperative effort meant to protect wintering mule deer as part of the Mule Deer Initiative, an effort to restore mule deer populations which have declined in Oregon and across the West.

All lands west of Foothill Road on Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area (La Grande) will also be closed to entry Feb. 1-March 31 to protect wintering elk. Wildlife areas Elkhorn (North Powder) and Bridge Creek (near Ukiah) are also closed to entry from Dec. 1  to protect wintering big game. (Elkhorn reopens April 11 and Bridge Creek reopens April 15.)

Mule deer and other wildlife naturally struggle to maintain energy reserves in late winter. Minimizing human disturbances should big game survival and their overall fitness throughout the year.

Motor vehicle use is already restricted on Phillip W. Schneider Wildlife Area. But more and more people are hiking the area during the sensitive winter time period, in search of antlers shed by deer and elk.

“Late winter and early spring is when mule deer are most vulnerable because their energy reserves are low,” explained Ryan Torland, ODFW district biologist for Grant County. “People and pets put deer on the move and use up energy reserves that could otherwise help them survive the winter.

By mid-April, deer will be recovering from the winter and starting to move onto their summer ranges,” added Torland. “And shed antlers can still be found on the wildlife area at that time.”

In its prime, nearly 30,000 mule deer wintered in the Murderers Creek Unit, but that has declined to an estimated 5,300 today. Severe winters, habitat changes that worsened conditions for mule deer and predation all contributed to mule deer’s decline.

The closure is one of a number of steps being taken to increase mule deer populations in the Murderers Creek Unit. ODFW biologists believe habitat is the biggest factor affecting mule deer. Juniper trees and invasive weeds like medusahead rye and cheatgrass have replaced bitterbrush, sage-brush and other forage that mule deer rely upon during the winter months.

ODFW is working with BLM, U.S. Forest Service and partner sportsman organizations like the Oregon Hunters Association, Foundation for North American Wild Sheep, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, and Mule Deer Foundation to improve mule deer habitat. Together, the groups have removed juniper trees on 3,221 acres in the Murderers Creek Unit, treated invasive weeds, planted shrubs and created food plots for mule deer. The habitat improvements should also benefit other game animals and wildlife species identified in the Oregon Conservation Strategy as species in need of conservation.

In other parts of the state where Mule Deer Initiative efforts are focused, ODFW is reducing predator populations, increasing Oregon State Police presence, and reducing hunting pressure.

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Oregon Hunters must Report Results by Jan 31 for a Chance to Win Special Tags, Penalty for Not Reporting Begins 2013

Salem, OR—Hunters need to report the results of most big game and turkey hunts by Jan. 31, 2012. Hunters should complete a report for each and every deer, elk, bear, cougar, pronghorn and turkey tag purchased, even if they didn’t fill their tag or go hunting. The participation and harvest rate information is critical for setting tags and seasons.

 

Report online or by phone at 1-866-947-6339. To complete the report, hunters need the following information:

• Hunter/Angler ID# (ODFW ID#), which is printed on all licenses and tags
• Number of days hunted
• If they mentored a youth during the hunt
• Wildlife management unit where hunted
• Number of antler points on the side of their animal with the most points

At this time, only about 37% of 2011 tags have been reported.

The Jan. 31, 2012 reporting deadline is for hunts that end between April 1 and Dec. 31, 2011. April 15, 2012 is the deadline for reporting hunts ending between Jan.1-March 31, 2012.

Hunters that meet the appropriate Jan. 31 or April 15 deadlines for their tags will be entered into a contest to win one of three special big game tags. Winners choose the tag (deer, elk or pronghorn) and may take an either-sex animal during an extended season and expanded hunt area that allows them to hunt nearly statewide.

Reporting hunt results has been mandatory since 2008 and is meant to eventually replace phone harvest survey calls that determined hunter participation and harvest rates. Oregon was one of the last Western states to adopt mandatory hunt reporting. Reporting rates were low in other states until penalty fees were introduced.

Since 2008, reporting rates have been too low and ODFW has continued to call a percentage of hunters by phone to get the needed data. To bring hunter reporting rates up, ODFW will begin charging a penalty fee to hunters that don’t report on time. The fee will be set by the Fish and Wildlife Commission in October 2012, during the 2013 big game regulation setting process. ODFW’s proposal to the Commission is to charge a fee of up to $25 to hunters that fail to report on deer and elk tags, as these tags have some of the lowest reporting rates. The fee will take effect for 2013 tags, with hunters facing the penalty when they purchase their 2014 hunting license. (Year 2014 licenses go on sale Dec. 1, 2013.)

“We were hoping a penalty fee would not be necessary but despite all our efforts to get the word out, reporting rates are still too low to phase out phone surveys,” said Tom Thornton, ODFW game program manager. “It only takes a few minutes to report and the information is critical to setting big game seasons.”

“We do thank all the hunters that have reported on time,” Thornton added.

Since reporting became mandatory in 2008, ODFW has gotten the word out through press releases, on the front page of the regulations, postcards to hunters, advertising online, in the regulations and by offering the chance to win special big game tags. Hunter reporting rates averaged 58 percent in 2010, 37 percent in 2009 and less than 15 percent in 2008 (for 2007 tags).

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Youth Spring Turkey Hunt is April 7-9, 2012

Salem, OR– This year’s youth spring turkey season will be April 7, 8 and 9, 2012 (Saturday, Sunday and Monday). The season dates are misprinted in the current 2011-12 Oregon Game Bird Regulations (page 15).

Due to an ODFW staff error, the regulations list April 8-9, 2012 (Sunday-Monday) as the season dates. Youth turkey season is always the weekend before the general spring turkey season which begins on April 15. The Fish and Wildlife Commission adopted a rule that will begin the season on Saturday, April 7 and extend it by one day this year due to the error.

The youth spring turkey season is open to licensed hunters age 17 and under. Youth that don’t fill their tag during the youth season can go on to hunt the general season April 15-May 31.

The youth turkey season is one of several youth-only hunts in Oregon.

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Oregon DFW HQ, Updates on Wolves and White Sturgeon on Jan. 6

Salem, OR—The Fish and Wildlife Commission will meet Friday, Jan. 6 at ODFW Headquarters, 3406 Cherry Ave NE, Salem.

The meeting begins at 8 am and proceeds through this agenda.

The Commission is expected to take action on plans to purchase a new ODFW headquarters building in Salem. The lease on ODFW’s current location runs out Aug. 31, 2013.  With assistance from the Department of Administrative Services over the last year, ODFW has conducted a search for suitable properties in Salem. Criteria for reviewing properties included cost, public access, building size and configuration, and availability of parking.

The proposed new building is located at 4030 Fairview Industrial Drive SE in Salem. The purchase will be financed by $16 million in bonds approved by the 2011 Oregon State Legislature. At the full bonding amount, the debt service on the 25-year bonds will be roughly equal to what ODFW now pays to lease its headquarters plus property taxes on the leased space. At the end of 25 years, ODFW will have full equity in the property and reduced operating costs. Like current lease payments, the bond will be repaid using hunting and fishing license and tag revenues.

The Commission will be briefed on the Governor’s 2013-15 budget process and the 2011 Oregon Wolf Management Report summarizing ODFW’s wolf management activities since January 2011.

Finally, the Commission will consider issues related to the white sturgeon fisheries in the Columbia and Willamette rivers.

On the Columbia, ODFW staff will ask for authorization to re-open negotiations with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife in order to consider reducing the sturgeon harvest guideline for the upcoming season. The current Joint Accord calls for a harvest guideline of 14,625 sturgeon for 2012. However, Oregon and Washington staffs are estimating the number of legal-sized sturgeon in the Columbia in 2012 will be about 20 percent fewer than in 2011, continuing a downward trend that began in 2008. In response, managers are discussing reducing the harvest rate used to calculate the harvest guideline in 2012 and 2013, two years earlier than called for in Oregon’s conservation plan for white sturgeon in the lower Columbia River. Under one possible scenario, the harvest guideline in 2012 would be reduced to 12,514 which is 15 percent less than what the current Joint Accord calls for and over 25 percent less than the 2011 harvest guideline.

On the Willamette, staff will be asking the Commission to re-affirm the guidance it provided last year to allocate the available harvest to the spring fishing season.  Under the current Joint Accord, the harvest guideline in 2012 would be 2,200 fish. Based on 2011 catches, when the harvest topped 300 sturgeon per retention day, the full guideline would be used up in only 6-8 days of fishing.

Sturgeon seasons for both rivers will be set later in January.

The Commission is the policy-making body for fish and wildlife issues in the state. The seven-member panel meets monthly. Agenda item exhibits are available online or at the meeting.

Public testimony will be held Friday morning immediately following the expenditure report. Persons seeking to testify on issues not on the formal agenda may do so by making arrangements with the ODFW Director’s Office, at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting, by calling 800-720-6339 or 503-947-6044.

Reasonable accommodations will be provided as needed for individuals requesting assistive hearing devices, sign language interpreters or large-print materials. Individuals needing these types of accommodations may call the ODFW Director’s Office at 800-720-6339 or 503-947-6044 at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting.

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Oregon Cougar Hunting Closed in Coast/North Cascade Region for Rest of Year

Salem, OR—ODFW is closing cougar hunting through the end of this year in the Coast/North Cascades region, after reaching the zone’s quota of 120 cougars.

Since Jan. 1, 2011, 120 cougars have been killed by sporthunters or in response to damage or public safety concerns in Zone A (Coast/North Cascade). ODFW closes sport hunting if a zone’s quota is reached.

The closure only applies to sport hunting. Cougars may still be killed if they are threatening livestock, pets or human safety.

This is only the third year that cougar sport hunting has been closed in Oregon. Previous closures occurred in 2001, with one zone closed, and 2002, when two zones closed.

Most of the increased take of cougars in Zone A this year is from “non-hunter” kill, or cougars taken due to damage, public safety concerns, roadkill or other reasons. So far, 59 cougars were killed in this category in 2011, compared to 48 in 2010 and 38 in 2009. Sporthunter harvest of cougars was 61 in 2011, 55 in 2010 and 61 in 2009.

ODFW closely tracks the take of cougars. Sporthunters and any landowner that kills a cougar due to damage or public safety issues must check in the cougar’s skull and hide (with proof of sex) at an ODFW office within 10 days of harvest. During the check-in, ODFW collects data to estimate the cougar’s age.

The data is used to estimate the overall cougar population in Oregon, which is about 5,700 cougars today. To keep the cougar population healthy, ODFW closes sporthunting zones when a certain quota is reached as it was today in the Coast/North Cascades.

Cougar sport hunting in the Coast/North Cascade region will resume on Jan. 1, 2012, when the 2012 season begins with the same quota for the new year.

Find a map of zones and each zone’s quota at the link below:

http://www.dfw.state.or.us/resources/hunting/big_game/cougar/quota.asp

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Hunters Can Now Donate to Predatory Animal Control: Program Created by Oregon State Legislature

Salem, OR—Hunters may now donate to predatory animal control, with proceeds going to Oregon counties to help fund their local predator control programs.

The Oregon State Legislature created this new program with the passage of HB3636 earlier this year.

Hunters purchasing a license, tag or permit at a license sales agent or online will be asked if they would like to make a predatory animal control donation through a $2, $5, $10, $20, $50, or $100 contribution.

Any donation received will be split among counties with a predatory animal control program where the license, tag or permit is valid. For example, if the donation is made with the purchase of a general hunting license, it would be evenly distributed among all counties with predatory animal control programs because these licenses are valid statewide. If the donation is made with the purchase of a controlled big game tag for a particular wildlife management unit, the donation would go to the county (or counties) where that unit is based, provided the county has a predatory animal control program.

Customers may also choose to donate to the program without actually purchasing a license, tag or permit. To designate a specific county for a donation, the purchase must be made at an ODFW office that sells licenses.

ODFW will track all donations and provide monies to the appropriate counties on a quarterly basis.

The following counties work with USDA Wildlife Services to control predators and are eligible for the program: Baker, Benton, Clackamas, Coos, Crook, Curry, Deschutes, Douglas, Gilliam, Jackson, Jefferson, Harney, Klamath, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Malheur, Marion, Morrow, Polk, Sherman, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, Wasco and Washington. Other counties may have their own predator control programs and could also qualify, or become eligible for funds once they start their own program.

HB3636 designated the following animals to be covered by the fund, “to the extent allowable under state and federal law.” Most current predator control programs target coyotes, cougars and bears.

• “Predatory animals” or feral swine, coyotes, rabbits, rodents, and some birds which are or may be destructive to agricultural crops.
• “Fur-bearing mammals” or beaver, bobcat, fisher, marten, mink, muskrat, otter, raccoon, red fox and gray fox.
• Black bears, cougars, and gray wolves. Special rules guide any take of gray wolves, which are a special status game mammal and are currently considered endangered throughout the state of Oregon.

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Another Oregon Cow Killed by the Imnaha Wolf Pack

La Grande, OR — ODFW confirmed that another cow was killed by wolves from the Imnaha pack over the weekend. The yearling heifer was found dead on private land in Wallowa County.

This brings the total number of confirmed livestock losses by Imnaha pack wolves to 19 since spring 2010. It is the fifth confirmed livestock loss to wolves since an Oct. 5, 2011 court-ordered stay ended ODFW plans to kill two wolves from the Imnaha pack in an attempt to stop further livestock losses.

While the pack is continuing a pattern of chronic livestock depredation begun in spring 2010, ODFW wolf coordinator Russ Morgan characterizes the recent kills as a “significant” change in the pack’s behavior. Previously the pack killed mostly smaller calves, but now it has shifted to larger-sized yearling and adult cows. The timing is also new, as depredation by this pack has not been previously confirmed during the period October through December.

“The latest incident reaffirms that the pack is in a pattern of chronic depredation, which we expect to continue,” said Morgan. “While we believe the appropriate response is lethal removal of these problem wolves under the chronic depredation rule, that option is off the table due to litigation.”

The wolves targeted the ranch twice over two days. The cattle involved had recently been gathered and placed into a holding pasture near the main ranch house, as they were scheduled to be hauled on Monday. On Sunday morning, the landowner discovered that the cattle had been run through the fence and the yearling heifer was found dead a half mile away. The cattle were returned to the pasture, only to be scattered again by Monday morning. GPS radio-collar data shows that the alpha male of the Imnaha wolf pack was present at the site of the depredation and was also in the area when the cows were scattered the next day. Other wolves from the pack were likely with the alpha male, but their VHF radio-collars don’t allow such close location tracking.

The alpha male wolf was in remote country about five miles from the pasture the evening before the Sunday morning attack, yet by 2 a.m. he was only about 300 yards from the main ranch house, on the way to the pasture with cattle.

This rancher had taken a variety of non-lethal measures on different areas of his large ranch over the past two years. He had installed barrier fences with fladry (flagged fencing that can deter wolves) on parts of his ranch and has used a radio-activated guard device that makes noise when a radio-collared wolf approaches. The rancher had also increased monitoring of his livestock and has used a radio receiver to detect when a collared wolf was nearby.

“This is a good example of a situation where the landowner had done everything right,” said Morgan. “I don’t think there are other measures that could have been reasonably taken in this case, so it is a very frustrating situation for livestock producers and wildlife managers.”

ODFW continues to work with area landowners on non-lethal ways to avoid wolf-livestock problems. For example, ODFW sends twice-daily text messages about wolves’ locations to area livestock producers. A range rider funded by ODFW and Defenders of Wildlife has monitored the wolves’ location in relation to livestock.

Besides non-lethal measures, ODFW has also provided some ranchers with permits to kill a wolf they catch “in the act of biting, wounding or killing” livestock or with permits that allow them to haze wolves. The chance to use these permits is rare because wolves typically avoid people and usually attack livestock at night. None of these permits issued by ODFW has ever been used, again because it is very rare for a person to actually be present when a wolf is “in the act” of attacking livestock.

This landowner and others that have lost livestock animals to wolves are likely to be compensated for their losses. Earlier this year, the Oregon State Legislature and Governor Kitzhaber directed the Oregon Department of Agriculture to create a wolf compensation program. The program is expected to be in effect in early 2012. Ranchers that lost livestock since early September 2011 (when a compensation program funded by Defenders of Wildlife ended) will be eligible for retroactive compensation.

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