Out & About
Report banded geese
to boost study
OUTFIELD – Wild goose roundups have been underway at parks and golf courses from Spokane to Yakima since June 16 as Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife biologists band goslings and molting adults for an ongoing study.
“Goose nesting counts have been declining for10 years in most rural survey areas, while complaints about urban geese have been rising,” said Mikal Moore, WDFW waterfowl specialist. “This marking project, and information returned by hunters and birdwatchers, will help us understand movements of geese.”
Geese may become habituated to urban areas that are closed to hunting. When people feed geese, they also encourage the animals to remain in urban areas, rather than migrate naturally, she said.
People who hunt or observe geese with bands or can help by reporting the codes to U.S. Geological Survey Bird Banding Laboratory, (800) 327-BAND or online at www.pwrc.usgs.gov/BBL/ homepage/call800.htm.
Gunfire begins
at national parks
OUTSHOOT – A hiker in Glacier National Park was cited this week for firing her .357 magnum into the ground to frighten away an allegedly aggressive whitetail deer.
She was cited for discharging a firearm when not under “imminent danger or threat.”
This was the first reported incident of a firearm being used in Glacier since Congress legalized the carrying of loaded firearms in national parks earlier this year.
A grizzly bear recently was shot and killed in Denali National Park after a hiker had a run-in with the bruin. That case is under investigation.
Passes offered
for motorcycles
OUTBOUND – Motorcycle and open-top vehicle owners have a new way display federal interagency recreation passes and Northwest Forest Pass.
Decals that fix to windshields are available for Interagency Annual, Interagency Senior, Interagency Access, Interagency Volunteer, Golden Age, Golden Access, and the Annual Northwest Forest Pass.
Federal officials had received requests for a pass that could be displayed without worry of theft from motorcyclists and open-top vehicle drivers.
The decal is free to people who have purchased one of the passes.
They’re available from most Forest Service offices in Oregon and Washington, including the information center, 1103 N. Fancher in Spokane Valley.
Info: www.fs.fed.us/r6/ passespermits
Mount Spokane plan
released for comment
OUTDO – A revised Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Mount Spokane Master Facilities Plan has been released and public comments will be accepted until July 14.
Washington State Parks officials say the new document replaces the one issued in September and includes an additional option called the Facilities Renovation Alternative.
Potential expansion of the Mount Spokane Ski and Snowboard Park facilities will be addressed later in a separate document.
Info: www.parks.wa.gov/plans/ mtspokane/