A wolverine was photographed by a trail camera on April 2, 2011 after being attracted to a camera site baited with a road-killed deer. Audrey Magoun photo.

They look like a couple of teenaged delinquents caught on security cameras.

But these new photos from ODFW are adding to a small pile of evidence that wolverines are back in Oregon and might be here to stay.

The first big news came out Friday when a wolverine researcher reported she found wolverine tracks in the Eagle Cap Wilderness in Wallowa County. All by itself – this was pretty impressive. They’re the first confirmed wolverine tracks ever in Wallowa County and one of the few signs of wolverines anywhere in Oregon since the 1930s.

The new photos make this even more impressive. They show two wolverines at remote camera sites in the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest feeding on road kill deer. Digitially captured more than a week apart, researcher Dr. Audrey Magoun says these are two different animals. Still unanswered – their genders.

Magoun and fellow researcher/husband Pat Valkenburg have been exploring the area around the Eagle Cap Wilderness since January. Winter is the best time to spot wolverines and the pair plan to continue their research next year.

A second wolverine was photographed at a baited camera station on April 13, 2011. Audrey Magoun photo.

Wolverine Bullet Points:

• Once widespread throughout North America, there are only a few hundred known to exists in the Lower 48 states.
• The nearest breeding populations are in the Northern Cascades of Washington and the Payette Forest of Idaho.
• Wolverines were nearly wiped out by trapping and poisoning.
• Despite the low numbers, they are not protected by the Endangered Species Act. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says wolverines deserve protection, but that there are many other species that are more worthy. So the wolverine must wait.

Funding and logistical support for the survey comes from an Oregon Conservation Strategy Implementation Grant (federal State Wildlife Grant), The Wolverine Foundation, Inc., the Wildlife Conservation Society and private individuals including Magoun and Valkenburg, Alaska residents, who use their own plane for aerial surveys.

A wolverine in Yellowstone National Park. Photo from National Park Service.

A researcher working with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife says she’s found the first ever confirmed wolverine tracks in Wallowa County.

Dr. Audrey Magoun found the tracks almost a week ago while hiking through the snow in the Eagle Cap Wilderness. She was able to follow them for about a mile. Judging by their size, she thinks they were left by a male.

This is not just the first set of tracks for Wallowa County, but one of the few signs of wolverines in Oregon in more than 75 years.

The wolverine tracks in the snow. Dr. Magoun’s glove is at left for size comparison. Photo from ODFW.

Wolverines are holdovers from the ice age, which is why they live at high elevations with cold and snowy climates. Magoun, along with her fellow researcher and husband Pat Valkenburg, began looking for wolverines in the Wallowas on a hunch that this area was good habitat for them.

“There is a breeding population in the Payette Forest in Idaho and a breeding population in the North Cascades in Washington,” she says. “In fact, we couldn’t believe wolverine wouldn’t be here. They travel large distances.”

What they don’t know is whether this is a lone wolverine just passing through the area – or if he’s here to stay – or if there are others who’ve formed a permanent population.

Wolverines were once widespread across North America, but probably not in great numbers. Trapping and poisoning killed off most of them and it’s believed only a few hundred remain in the lower 48 states. Oregon’s population was wiped out in the 1930s.

Despite their small numbers, they are not protected by the Endangered Species Act.

Researchers Dr. Audrey Magoun and Pat Valkenburg set up a typical wolverine camera site. Photo from ODFW.

The couple has set up more than a dozen baited remote cameras throughout the Wallowas for a visual capture of one of these elusive animals. So far, no luck. But they’ve photographed plenty of American marten and a few native red foxes.

They plan to return to Wallowa County next winter and continue their search.

Funding and logistical support for the survey comes from an Oregon Conservation Strategy Implementation Grant (federal State Wildlife Grant), The Wolverine Foundation, Inc., the Wildlife Conservation Society and private individuals including Magoun and Valkenburg, Alaska residents, who use their own plane for aerial surveys.

Environmental groups are throwing a victory party Thursday evening at Bark’s offices on SE Grand. Click here for details.

Earlier:

The coalition working to stop the Palomar natural gas pipeline is thrilled over today’s news, first reported right here on Natural Oregon.

Joint Statement from Bark, Columbia Riverkeeper and Hey! NW Natural

“Today Palomar Pipeline withdrew its FERC application to construct a 220-mile-long natural gas pipeline that would have served proposed Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminals on the Columbia River. This news comes just 2 weeks after Bark and other Palomar opponents submitted comments to FERC requesting the immediate withdrawal of the application. Bark, Columbia Riverkeepers, Oregon Sierra Club and the grassroots community group Oregon Citizens Against the Pipelines have fought tenaciously against Palomar since it filed its FERC application in 2008. Their opposition is based on the lack of need for LNG in Oregon, the impact of the associated 47-mile long clear cut through Mt. Hood National Forest, the use of eminent domain on rural Oregonians and the decimation of fisheries along the pipeline route.

Bark Community Organizer Olivia Schmidt summarized the meaning of this victory for Oregonians, “The withdrawal of this application is a victory for Oregonians and for Mt. Hood National Forest. NW Natural [backer of Palomar LLC] shouldn’t expect Oregonians to sacrifice the Wild & Scenic Fish Creek, the Clackamas River, the Pacific Crest Trail and towering Old Growth forests for more fossil fuel infrastructure. Cancellation of the Palomar Pipeline proves that engaged communities and grassroots organizing can protect what Oregonians hold dear: clean water, healthy forests, intact fisheries and defense of our public lands.”

Dan Serres, Conservation Director for Columbia Riverkeeper, highlighted the impact this would have on the possibility of Liquefied Natural Gas development on the Columbia River, “Palomar has always been the lynchpin to LNG development on the Columbia River. Without Palomar, the Oregon LNG terminal has no way to connect to its target market in California. This is not only a great victory for Oregonians, it is a crushing blow to the last remaining LNG proposal on the Columbia River.”

Sha Spady, owner of the equestrian center Big Oak Stables, a landowner on the Palomar Pipeline East of Molalla had this to say “I am very happy to hear this news. As a landowner on the pipeline route, Palomar’s withdrawal means that our stables that provide equestrian programs to underprivileged youth will be able to continue un-interrupted by pipeline construction. As a native Oregonian I am proud to know that the watersheds and old growth forests of Mt. Hood have been protected by the commitment of grassroots communities in our state.”

Martin Evans, spokesperson for the Hey NW Natural Campaign and a native Oregonian, cheered the news today “Mt. Hood National Forest is where I spent my summers as a child and my wife and I are continuing that tradition by spending every possible moment there with our daughter. Mt. Hood National Forest is a place that is iconic to our state and deserves protection from needless projects like the Palomar Pipeline. Today I am proud to be an Oregonian that stands in solidarity with my community to protect Mt. Hood.”

Statement from Ivan Maluski, Conservation Director for the Oregon Chapter Sierra Club

“The withdrawal of the permit for the Palomar gas pipeline today is a huge victory for the people of Oregon. Proposed LNG development along the Columbia River and Oregon Coast is and always has been a terrible idea. LNG development and the Palomar pipeline have posed one of the most significant threats to farms, forests and rivers in the Willamette Valley and Mt. Hood National Forest over the past decade. We are glad to see that in addition to withdrawing the western portion of the pipeline originally intended to access proposed LNG import infrastructure, Palomar and Northwest Natural Gas have also decided to withdraw the permit for the controversial eastern section of pipeline across the Mt. Hood National Forest as well. The eastern section of the proposed pipeline would have had significant impacts on old growth forest and Wild and Scenic stretches of river in the Mt. Hood National Forest. With renewed concern over the potential for large-scale earthquakes in our region in coming decades, Oregonians should continue to question proposals to build massive gas pipelines and LNG infrastructure that pose both environmental and public safety risks.”

Today, the Palomar Gas Transmission company filed papers with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to withdraw the project. But at the same time, Palomar says it’s exploring options for a new pipeline in the future.

How serious are they about developing a new pipeline? How long will it take? Big questions with no easy answers. At least not today.

Palomar spokesman David Dodson says he won’t speculate on time frame for developing a new project. But he says the company remains convinced that the demand for natural gas in the Portland metro area will continue to grow and the one current pipeline isn’t enough.”The need is there,” said Dodson, “but when is the tough question.”

For the record, Dodson disagrees with my use of the word “dead” to describe the status of the pipeline.

Environmental groups have fought Palomar on two fronts.

A western segment was designed to bring natural gas from the proposed Bradwood Landing LNG terminal on the Columbia River. But when Bradwood went bankrupt that pretty much ended those plans. Dodson says today’s filing is the kiss of death for a western segment. But those are my words, not his.

The other half of the project called for building a pipeline from Eastern Oregon, over the Cascades, and into the metro area. Instead of imported LNG, this one would have brought in domestic natural gas from the Rocky Mountain region. Environmentalists were opposed to this plan too, partially because the route went through the Mt. Hood National Forest.

Today’s filing hints at what the company’s next move might be. It says they struck a deal with the Confederate Tribes of Warm Springs for a shorter route – which means a smaller footprint in the Mt. Hood National Forest and avoids an over the river crossing of the Deschutes.

Should they move forward on this new route, it’ll be interesting to see how environmentalists react. How soon might it happen? Dodson didn’t know, saying it would depend on market forces.

One final note. NW Natural is a major investor in Palomar. The company’s annual meetings in Portland have become the focus of huge rallies by Oregon’s environment movement. We’ve got video from last year’s rally.

I’ve also attached a copy of today’s filing.

Video: Highlights From Thursday’s LNG Protest In Portland

Palomar Pipeline Withdrawal

ODFW says it found the year old female yesterday – thanks to the signal from her radio collar. The collar sends out a special alert when it doesn’t move for four hours or more, and that’s when the agency suspected something might be wrong.

A photo of the yearling female when she was collared February 25, 2011. Bob Swingle, ODFW photo.

So far, ODFW says it has no reason to think that this is anything other than a natural death. They didn’t see any signs of foul play. But the carcass was sent to the Washington State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory for a complete examination.

The Imnaha pack has at least 14 other members.

For More Information:

ODFW Wolves

Shot on December 30, it gives us a close up look at three members of the Imnaha wolf pack in Northeast Oregon. That includes the alpha female and a pair of one year old pups. By now, the pups are full grown.

ODFW says it counted 16 pack members, bigger than previously believed. The agency thinks the pack produced six pups last year instead of four.

Courtesy ODFW

Pull out the traps – a federal appeals court says there won’t be any more killing of sea lions at Bonneville Dam.

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ordered a stop to the killing saying that wildlife officials didn’t really explain how killing sea lions is supposed to help salmon and steelhead.

At first look, the answer to that question seems obvious. Bonneville Dam is a big bottleneck for salmon working their way upstream to spawn. It forces them into a small area and makes them easy pickings for California and Steller sea lions.

But the legal standard appears to require a “significant negative impact” and the court says federal and state wildlife officials didn’t prove that’s what was happening.

The trapping and killing of sea lions at Bonneville began in March of 2008. Since then, 40 sea lions were euthanized.

This was a tricky issue from the start.

In the early 2000s, wildlife officials worried about the increasing numbers of sea lions arriving at Bonneville every spring. They’d hang out just below the dam for several months, feasting on salmon and steelhead. Just how many fish they ate depended greatly on whether the salmon were having a good year, or a bad one. In some years, the sea lions were eating more than 4% of the fish at Bonneville.

Plus, salmon and steelhead are listed species. So are Steller sea lions. California Sea lions aren’t listed, but they still have lots of legal protections. Does it make sense to kill one group of protected species to help another?

In this case, the appeals court said, “no”.

If you want to read the full opinion, click here.

Opinion for: HUMANE SOCIETY OF THE UNITED S V. CARLOS GUTIERREZ, 08-36038

Each year, BPA pays a bounty for northern pikeminnow caught in the Columbia River. The fish, according to BPA, eat millions of young salmon and steelhead.

For 2010, BPA will pay a total of $1.2 million for 173,112 pikeminnow.

Continue reading for the full press release.

Pikeminnow program pays off big and helps save salmon
Final fish count includes record-breaking catch

Portland, Ore. – Anglers hooked large payoffs during this year’s Northern Pikeminnow Sport Reward Fishery Program, raking in over $1.2 million by catching 173,112 of the voracious salmon eaters.

The program provides cash for catching pikeminnow, a large member of the minnow family, in the Columbia and Snake rivers. These predators chow down on millions of young salmon and steelhead every year. Research shows that reducing the number of pikeminnow helps salmon and steelhead survival.

One angler earned $81,366 during the six-month season, breaking the individual record for catching specially tagged fish that are worth up to $500.  He hooked 13 tagged fish and earned $6,500 in the process.

“This program provides an opportunity to earn income, which is especially important during these tough economic times, and it’s good for salmon,” said Russell Porter, senior program manager for the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission. “We appreciate the effort of all those anglers who participated, and we look forward to another successful year in 2011.”

Anglers get paid $4 to $8 for northern pikeminnow nine inches and larger caught in the lower Columbia (mouth to Priest Rapids Dam) and Snake (mouth to Hells Canyon Dam) rivers. The more pikeminnow an angler catches, the more the fish are worth. The first 100 are worth $4 each; the next 300 are worth $5 each; and, after 400 fish are caught and turned in, they are worth $8 each. As an added incentive, specially tagged fish are worth $500.

The annual program started May 1 and was originally scheduled to close Sept. 30. Program managers extended the season by 10 days this year, allowing rewards through Oct. 10, 2010. The official fish numbers became available last week.

Since 1991, more than three million pikeminnow have been removed from the Snake and Columbia rivers through the sport reward program. Last year, anglers caught approximately 142,000 pikeminnow. As a result of these efforts, pikeminnow predation on juvenile salmon is estimated to have been cut by 40 percent.

The program is administered by the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission and is funded by the Bonneville Power Administration.  Watch a video with fishing tips and program details. Get more information atwww.pikeminnow.org.

The Bonneville Power Administration, headquartered in Portland, Ore., is a not-for-profit federal electric utility under the Department of Energy that operates a high-voltage transmission grid comprising more than 15,000 miles of lines and associated substations in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana. It also markets more than a third of the electricity consumed in the Pacific Northwest. The power is produced at 31 federal dams operated by the Army Corps of Engineers and Bureau of Reclamation and one nuclear plant and is sold to more than 140 Northwest utilities. BPA purchases power from some smaller projects, including wind generators, and has more than 3,000 megawatts of wind interconnected to its transmission system.

Marine reserves are like state parks in the ocean. They are areas set aside for conservation, research and recreation. But activities like fishing and crabbing aren’t allowed.

So far we have two reserves along the coast at Otter Rock and Redfish Rocks. Now state officials are considering three more at Cape Perpetua near Florence, Cascade Head near Lincoln City and Cape Falcon near Manzanita.

Fishing groups are generally opposed because they’re worried about losing access to good fishing area. But environmentalists think protecting some of the ocean will help improve marine life all along the coast.

Regardless, nothing happens unless the legislature agrees.

For more information:

ODFW Marine Reserves

This is the wolf that was found dead on September 30. The photo was taken in early August when it was captured and fitted with a radio collar. ODFW photo.

The reward for information about the illegal killing of a wolf in Northeast Oregon has increased to $10,000.

Conservation groups kicked in $7,500 on Friday. That’s on top of the $2,500 reward offered by the federal government.

After days of speculation and rumors, U.S. Fish and Wildlife confirmed that an adult male member of the Wenaha wolf pack was found dead in the Umatilla National Forest on September 30. The agency says it hasn’t determined how it died. But Oregon Wild claims the wolf was shot to death.

This is the third known poaching of a wolf in Oregon since they started returning to the state about 10 years ago. Gray wolves are protected by federal and Oregon endangered species laws. It’s illegal to kill one without a permit. The federal penalty alone could reach go as high as $100,000 and a year in jail.

Conservation groups say they’re appalled by the news.

“It’s infuriating when any animal is senselessly and illegally killed, but the facts in this case are especially egregious,” says Wally Sykes of Northeast Oregon Ecosystems of Joseph, Oregon. “The biologists had just fitted this endangered wolf with a hard-to-miss collar and sent out photos printed in newspapers and websites across the state. Whoever shot this wolf knew what they were doing and just didn’t care that it was illegal.”

The irony is that the Wenaha wolf pack hasn’t been a problem for Northeast Oregon ranchers. The pack keeps to itself in the high country and has never attacked livestock. The Imnaha pack, on the other hand, killed at least six or seven calves this year in Wallowa County.

And while some wolf opponents may praise the killing, the person responsible for the wolf’s death may not be doing them much of a favor. Oregon’s wolf management plan gives ranchers more freedom to deal with wolves as their numbers increase. Killing them now keeps them on the Endangered Species list at least a little bit longer, and puts off the day when ranchers have the legal right to act on their own.