REFUGE NABRATIVE REPORT
January te April, 1953
KODIAK NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
Russell R. Hottau.
..... BEAVER POND - S.ALTERY COVE, CHI�"TAK PENINSULA- I q�-l-
BEAVER CUTI'INGS OF COTTONWOOD- SALTE..C?.Y COVE - t q :r:a------�------�------�
'------�----�----��------��
CONSTRUCTING NEW FLOAT :FOR GOVERJ'J:•::EI'J'l' DOCK ------
CONSTRUCTING NEW FLOAT
\ \ ' \ ,--� ... -
------/
CHAINING N.NN FLOAT TO DOCK ------�------�------��
NE!N FLOAT CHdlined TO DOCK AND READY TO LBE
(
TRUCK WINCH CONVERT:E.'D TO ANCHOR 1INCH ON SHEARv.ATER II �FUGE NARRATIVE REPORT
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. GENERAL
A. Weather condition••••••••••••••••••••l B. Water conditions ••••••••••••••••••••• , II. WILDLIFE A. Migrator.r birde•••••••••••••••••••••••4 B. Upland game birds•••••••••••••••••••••; 'C., Song bird.e••••••••••••••••••••••••••••5 D. Shore birds•••••••••••••••••••••••••••; E. Small game animal•••••••••••• •••••••••; Fa Big game animal•••••••••••••••••••••••6 G. Fur aniaals, predators, etc••••••••••lO H. Invertebrate••••••••••••••••••••••·••l2 III. REFUGE DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE A. Ph7sical development•••••••••••••••••l3 IV. BC(X)MIC USE OF REFUGE V. FIELD INVESTIGATIONS A. Cattle investigation•••••••••••••••••l5 B., Bear investigation•••••••••••••••••••l9 VI. PUBLIC RELATIONS A. Refuge visitors••••••••••••••••·•••••24
.... B. Refuge participatian••••••·••••••••••24 c. Huntinl••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••25
D. Fishing ••• •• . ••, •• ••••.,.• •• •. ••. ••• • ••2; E. Violation and enf'oreement• ••••••••••• 25 VII. OTHER ITEMS REFUGE !WlRATIVE REPORT
Janua17 to April, 195.3
KODIAK NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
Kodiak, Ala*•
I. GENERAL
A.Weather Con4iit.iont
The Kodiak Retup does not operate a weather station. Weather data is furnialaed b7 the neet Weather Central• Naval st.ation• Kodiak, AlaN:a.
• • :
. • • Temperature - F •
Snowfall Precip. Average Average Extrue Extreme Inches Inches !!!!!! Max1aua Mi,ni•ma Hax:iaua HiniPlll
J&nU&I'1 u.s 4.70 28.2 33.4 24-.S 43.0 10.5
... � Februa17 26.0 6.15 31 •.3 35.7 26.9 42. 0 7.0
March 23.8 3.58 30.2 35.1 25.6 46.0 18.8
April Trace 4.97 38.3 u.6 34.1 52.0 27.2
_,_ Peak Wi.Dd "'uste
Januai7 NW 58 Number of stol"'ls with gu.sts 30 to 55 knots ••••9
Februaey E 46 • �lumber of storas with gusts 30 to 55 knots • • • 11
March WNW 53 Nuaber of storms with gusts 30 to 55 knots •• • 12
April NE 38 Number of storas ld.th gusts 30 to 55 knots •• • .s
General Rell&l'kt
Janua1"7
The mean temperature compU.ed for Januar;y, 19531 sholf8 this month to be the second coldest on record. A record low of 25.1 degrees F • was the recorded mean temperature of Janua1"7.,1951. The time of favorable f]Jing conditions was tweln per cent lower than noru.l and could be contributed mU;DJ;y to the increase in wind velocit7 over twent7 knots over the cumulatin man.
Februa1"7
Comparison of temperatures for Februar,y 1953 with the cumulative mean indicates the average mean, •an maxiJiua and the mean minimum to be slight� hisher than normal. The snowfall, 26 inches, is a new record for Februar.r; the previous high was 14.4 inches recorded in 1952. The average snowfall for Februar;y is 10.9 inches. The nu:aber of stol"lll8 with winds· 30 to 55 knots was ll1 over twice as mar17 as was previousl;r recorded.. No storms with wind in excess ot 55 knots were observed..
March
Although a new record, ZT.'l%, was obtained for the aaount of time the cloud cover was one tenth or leas, last aonth was the second consecutive month that the record snowfall was exceeded• The average snowfall (10.4 inches) was more than doubled -
·l- (23.8 inches) , The previous high1 20,3 inches, fell in 1951. The annual record has already been exceeded this winter with 78.7 inches; the previous high was 71.4 inches obtained in the winter of 1948-1949. The average annual snowfall ie 45.3 inches, A correlation can be found in the number of storm. in which gust• 30 to 55 knots occurred aDi the snowfall. The new record of storms (12) to the cumulative mean is in pro portion as the snowfall. No storms occurred with guste in excess of 55 knots.
April
Early April was very dry with onl.y three and one half per cent of the total 110nthl7 precipitation falling during the first 14 d�e, but at least .05 inch was measured on each of the last 16 dqs which brought the total to nearl1' an inch above the April mean. A trace of snow fell on 6 dqs of the month; total snowfall this winter season ia 78.7 inches. Temperatures averaged about a degree higher than the mean. The lowest temperature occurred on the 8th and the highest on the 12th,
B, Water Conditione ·
This winter was considerabl1' more temperate ae compared to the winter of 1951-1952; intermittent thaws and freezes occurring during all or this period preduced a condition of hardship on the wildlife and domestic herds here. The spring break-up was gradual and the water level remained high through April and Ma7. The lakes opened during the 2nd and 3rd week of this month and Karluk Lake broke ill April 10, Although the first two weeks of April were clear and dry1 a heaT,Y warm rain durin& the last two week• helped considerabl1' to melt the .... snow on the mountaina. By the end or April most of the snow had dis ... appeared on th e lower slopes but snow remained thick on the mountain tops. The record rainfall last fall and the record snowfall of 78.7 .... inches during the winter _.. not produce the high water storage or rapid run-offs as was expec�ed.
C, Fires
No fires occurred on the Ref'u&e during this period._
-3- II. WIWLIFE
A. Migratory Birda
Exceptionallr good weather prevailed over Kodiak Ialand on Janu&1'7 9, 1953, and the migrator;y waterfowl surve7 was succese- 1'ul.l.y' conducted. This surve7 was •de through the cooperation of tbe U.S. Coast Guard, N.s., Kodiak, Alaska. The surve7 followed a route along the peripheries of Kodiak Island and the southern portion of Afognak Island. The flight was made in a PBY flying 6 hours and 45 minutes at an altitude of 400 to 500 feet and traveling approximatelY 700 mil••• The flying conditions were good with visibility and ceiling unlimited and wind variable from 35 knots in the morning to 10 knots in the afternoon. The high degree of success was due largely to the excellent weather conditions permitting the pilot to fly into the heads of the bays at a low altitude.
:,.� A total of 39,149 waterfowl was observed and estimated during \ ' the'- survey.. As an ana]Jrsis of the composition of waterfowl that winter on Kodiak and were identified, 29.3% were scoters and eiders,
mallard - 15.4%, Pintail • 9.5%, Scaup - 10.6%, Goldeneyes - 12%, Old Squaws 14.1% and other ducks ( Gadwall, Baldpate, teal, Buffle head, Harlequin, Merganser) - 9.1%. The flights into the heads of the bay-s increased the numbers of Mallards observed, thereby changing the percentage composition of the population. Following are the total figures of wintering waterfowl observed and estimated for the past 5 years.
1949 • • • 0 • • • • • • • 31,350 waterfowl
1950 • • • • • • • • • • • 35,615 waterfowl
1951 • • • • • • • • • • • 34,336 waterfowl
1952 . . .. • • • • • • ••36,632 waterfowl
1953 ••• • • • • • • • • 39,149 waterfowl
·- The migration of waterfowl was noted passing through the area during the last two weeks of April. Several floake of Black Br�t ..... were seen in the Chiniak Bay area,. One flock of 35 Canada Geese was seen at Chiniak. Residents of WoodT Island noted a fleck of approx imatelY 1,000 geese migrating northward on April 28. The number of migrating waterfowl appeared higher this year than the previous year.
Pond ducks began to ass\lll8 the courtship behavior by the ena of this period. Eider numbers decreased sharplY and the birds began to fora larce flocks prior to moving northward. a sudden increase of pigeon guille110te was noted.
-1/- B, Upland. Game Birds
The willow ptarmigan began to change its plumage by the end. of this period but for the most part still retained the winter colors. ComparativelY few ptarmigan were killed on the Island this season and the majorit;r of the birds that were killed were taken on the southern end of the island. These birds are habituall7 found in the highest reaches of the mountains on the northern end of Kodiak Isl.ancl, making this a difficult bird to huat .. ConverselY, at the southern end of the island., these birds are found. in the rolling hills and on the tundra, ptarmigan were seen to be movinc to the lowr slopes on April 20, in the Pasagshak area,
C, Song Birdt
The usual winter species of sonc birds resided on Kodiak Island du� this period• Among the birds common were winter wrens, varied thruah, belted kingfishers, red. �Us, snow buntincs, black-eappecl chickadees, magpies and pine grosbeaks.
D, Shore Birds
Wilson Snipe were again observed on Chiniak Peninsula in .April.
Varying Hare
Indications do not show that the numbers of hare have increased ... this ;year, Residents report a lower number in the Olga Bay area as compared to last year, The hare is still numerous in the Uyak and Karluk drainages • .. ..
Indications show that the numbers of hare on the north end of the island re-.in very low.
By April 2;, the hare seen were mottled in color showing that the change froa white to brown had begun.
- 5 - Woody Island and Long Island were su:rTeyed &luriD& March. Sip showed that the introduction of hare on these two island• one year ago was successful and the numbers have increased.
F. Bi& Galle An1m.ala
Sitkan Black-tailed Deer
This winter, although reasonably temperate for bUJII&ns, was severe for the Black-tailed deer. The wintering population showed a slight increase in numbers. Deer were again seen and found wintering in the Chiniak Peninsula area. For the first time known, a small group of deer wintered in the Pasagsbak Bay area. Another repert, three deer were seen on Uganik Island this spring.
Weather conditions were such that low browse and prostrate growths were unavailable to the deer lllUch of the time. The continual thaws and rains followid by freezing weather had their effect on this broWBe.
This winter, ll deer were found dead of natural causes on the Chiniak Peninsula. Upon examjnation of the femur bones, 9 were found to have red gelatinous bone ll&lTOW and 2 showed yellowish gelatinous arrow. Two other deer that had been killed were examjned and both were found to have a red gelatinoua marrow condition. Both were lll&l.es. Although these ex••1nations indicate a starving condition, a check on the browse availabilit;r within the area did not show m;r degree of overuse. B;r and large, browse bad been utilized to a greater extent � as· compared to last ;rear. This increased usa&e did. not affect the un lillited amount of browse available to the ani•l• to &n7 great extent. Small areas within the Chiniak Peninsula range showed a browse conditien of over-utilization. These areas are within the cattle range where both cattle and deer utilize this browse.
. - B;r the clese of this period., the deer had begun to move back t.froa the beach areas. No fawns have been Been to date.
Olympic Elk
No ch&��&e in population over previous reporta. Elk have been reported wintering in the Afognak Lake area and the Raspberr;r Strait area. These observations were reported. by Fish and Wildlite personnel and residents of Kodiak Island. BLACK-TAILED DEER 0 BEACH, INTER, KODIAK
--��------�------��-�------�
BLACK-T.f...ILED DEER, WIJ\lTER COVER, KODIAK �------�------�
YE.ALING BLACK-TAILED DEER THJ.T SUCCUMBED TO WINTER CONDITIONS
YEARLING BLACK-TPJLED DEER FOUND IN A CRITIChL CONDITION LATER SUCCU1IBED TO ST1illVATION. DEER'S JAW Wh.S DEFORMED Mountain Goat
During this perieci 9 female and. 1 male goat were released at Hidden Basin, Kodiak Island. Following is a coaplete list of JIOunt ... ain goats released on Kodiak Island.
� Number Age Sex !!!: !!£ Place 2.f Capture
3/2/52 1 Adult Male None Union Bay 3/2/52 l Sub-adult Male None Union Bay 4/3/52 1 104 .Bq 4/28/52 Adult Male 204 Union 4/28/52 1l Sub-adult Male 205 Union Bay / Adult Female Union Bay Pregnant (died) � 5 20 52- l --� 9 ----Adult ...- N- one·�""" 8/15/52 l Adulii M&le l CoPier Lake 11/10/52 1 Sub-adult Male 207 Eagle River 12/9/52 l Adult Female 208 Eagle RiTer 3/19/53 1 Adult Female 101 3/3 53 l Adult Female 209 (pregnant) 4/4% 53 l Adult Fe•le 210 4/4/53 l Adulii Female 211 4/4/53 l Adult Female 212 4/7/53 1 Adult Female 213 4/7/53 l Adult Male 214 4/11/53 1 Adult Feale 215 4/11/53 1 Adult Feaal.e 216 (pregnant) 4/11/53 1 Adult FeJB&le 217 (pregnant)
{' The total number of mountain goat released on Kodiak Island is , .J.9; of 'Which�are males and 11 are females. The only k:lown mortaliiiy occurring during this prograa was l female, leaving 10 females surrlvin&• .... One rancher has seen trails in the snow on the side of one aountain in Kalsin Bay area that could not be attributed 1io any other animal. . .. This coincides with the record of goats seen in this area la.t fall•
-7- Kediak Brewn Bear '---'"-
The total known and estimated bear kill this period is 30. The total known kill is 20 and the remainder is ille&al and unrecorded kill. The followin& tables show the bear kill this period., ahowin& the coaparieona to the correspendi.ng period of previous years and shows a break-clown as to sex, areas of kills, � the classification of the kills.
TABlE I. I January l throU&h April 30 � m9. ill! � lli.l
Resident hunter• 8 4 s 3 1
Non-resident hunters 6 7 10 8 19
Defense of life or propert7 l 0 0 0 0
Contrel 0 0 0 0 0
Scientific collector• permit 0 0 0 0 0
Estt.ated unrecorded kill - .. 10 I letala lS Il lT """i'l 30 l
TABLE II. Januarz 1 throu&b A:eril JO !!!!. Female Unknown Tetal ... Resident hunters 1 0 0 1
..... Non-resident hunters 14 s 0 19
Defense of life or property 0 0 0 0
Scientific collectcrs permit 0 0 0 0 Tota le 15 s 0 20 J ,....-·"'
-V- TABlE III.
Bear Kill bz District
District January through April
A - Off the Refuge 0
� 0
c - Uganik Bq 3 Viekoda Ba;r 1
!! 0
I 0
! 0
G - U7ak Ba;y 10
H - Karlllk Lake 5 Fraser Lake 1
Q TOTAL 20
The bear kill this period is aliptl)- higher than correspondin& s 4 ... period durinc tbe previous years. Hunting b;r registerecl &W.d.ee started earlier this year, which increased the kill. Karluk Lake broke a month and one-half earlier inct-easing the bear kill in that area.. Although the bear han been alew to e•rge from. hibernation, all but one non-resident hunter bas successfuJ.q taken his trophy. Registered guides interviewed state that their observations indicate consiterably fewer bear than were ob served during preceeding ye�s at correspondin& times. Observations next per:l:id will show whether this trend is true.
The largest bear on record this peried is 10 foot 5 inch squared hide measure.nt.
One bear was taken this period !or food purposes.
- ,_ I
- , I Roy Lindsley Wins Record I For Largest Alaskan Bear I Boone-Croc"ett Glub ''big one''. Suddenly Lindsley Makes The Award saw a bear coming along the a The world's record Alaska side of the mountain on Brown Bear was taken on Ko- direct course to their positioo. he bear· diak Island in the spring of ''I wasn't certai n t 1952 by Roy Lindsley, accord- coming toward us was the one we had een The ing to a recent announcement b stalking. a 'by the Committee On Records museum people wanted of the Boone and Crockett large male and I didn't want Club. to shoot one unless they could The ear never chang Under the new official scor- use it. b he ing syliltem for North Ameri- ed course, I'm certain rear can big game trophies, adooted didn't see us. Suddenly I by the club in 1950, Lindsley's lized we couldn't get out of 30.()6 and bear has a score of 30 12-16. his way. I raised the his ·It is based on skull measure- sighted for a s pot below ments. eye. Beck was urg;ing me to The former record was shoot. I fired. 'Dhe hear went 100 30 9-16 and had been the re-, down and rolled about feet cord since 1908. Tne new j down the mountain," was the • way Lindsley described the world's record bear is now · mounted life-size and forms' �lld!!!l�---..!l���aA..,...,.. part of an Alaska Brown Bear habitat in the Los Angeles t U D ld a County Museum. I Lindsley, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service fisheries I management representative, . ahot the big bear at the, re- n:o�
1ao 13Nllna - 110 3A01S
lll'I\flO J.UOdlll\1 NOillfl� lJIJ\UlS lNHIVW l:JIAlllS Wfll1lHllld lJ.l1dV�OJ
NO INn SI!O .IOIOW UO.!.Il XS1
S!)nOOBd 110 NOINn SilYS 110 >IVIGO>I G, Fur Ani.Jnal.s, Pr!dators, Rodents and gther Mappal•
Beaver
The beaver season this year preduced onl.7 27 pelt•• The table below compares the total number of beanr sealed for the past four years.
1950 • • .. � $ � � 275 1951 • • • • • • • 235 1952 • • • • • • • 138 1953 • •
.• • TOTAL�
The bearer population appears stationar,y on the island. The range of the beanr includes all area northeast of a line bet...een Old Harbor and the head of Viekeda 8&7, all of Afognak and Shuyak Islands and the group of su.l.l islands within Chiniak Bay•
The season on beaver extended from February 1 to March 31 of this year.
Land Otter
Land Otter are abundant on all of the Kodiak - Afognak Island group. A comparatively small amount of trapping is done on Kodiak Island, but the trapping pressure is very heaY7 on Shwak Island. Appraximately 100 land otter were taken from this 8111&11 island this year. Shuyak Island has an area of 69 square Ja:i.les• .The pelts taken froa the isl&Dd are considered aaong the veey best and bring top prl.. a. Otter sign is very abundant over all of' the island and this area aust be almost ideal..q suitecl to this anill&l.
Fex
Fox are very n\11118rous over all of' the Kodiak - Afognak Island group. These anisls are bl&JMd by the sportsmen here for the low population of hare at the northern end of Kodiak Island. Silver f-. are very nw.rous within the population.
-1o·
______-.______Only a very few fox. ware taken by trappers this year. Thia is a result of the low price paid for furs.
Weasel (Ermine)
According to reports by trappera, the population of weasel shows a downward trend this year•. This little weasel was not as plentiful this year to the trapper.
Marten
No change over the previous report.
Mink
The mink released at the outlet of Karluk Lake en October 29 1953, have spread to the opposite end of the lake, appraximatel.7 12 miles away• 'l'wo Jli.nk were seen on Cascade Creek this spri.nc b7l a registered guide. The trappers froa the village of Karluk: did not trap the lake area this year fer fear that the7 would possibl7 snare a mink by mistake. J
Alaska Red Squirrel
No change ewer previoua report•
. ...
Ground Squirrela
.. � The first ground squirrel was seen out of hibernation on April ll, 1953. This was seen on the dock road in the town of Kodiako
_,,_ H, Invertebrates
Insects
For th e past several years the Shelikof side of Kodiak Island has been infested with three types of insects which denude the brush and trees over considerable areas, These insects were collected last year and sent to the entomolog division of the Forest Service in Juneau, Alaska, The Forest Service sent the specimens to their laborator'J' in Portland, Oregon, who in turn, sent them to Washington, D.C. for po �iTe identification,
The DiTision of Insect Identification in Washington, D. C . , made the following identifications:
(1) The small light colored larvae are sawflies "Tenthredo sp," belonging to the fami.l.7 "Tenthredinideae,"
Sawf]Jr damage te forest trees is usual.l.y more serious on conifers .. However, JDail1' broadlea! trees suffer defoliation from insects belonging to this f&lli.q, Some sawf'q larvae feed b7 strippinc oft the upper surface of tbe leaf; others devour the whole leaf leaving onl7 mid-rib and lateral veins - damage similar to your description.
(2) The moths collected at Larsen Bay haTe been identified as "Geaaetrideae, eperrita sp. (autUiin&ta (Guen,) complex), Complete biolog;r was not published , Feeds on birch, alder, etc," Caterpillars of the fam.iq Ge018trideae can be recognised by the wq they travel. Caterpillars aon along b7 grasping with the hind pair of prolegs while they extend the body forwarcl, then holding with the front legs while they bring up their rear, This produces a looping or measuring motion,
(3) The large larvae collected at Terror Bay and Uganik B81' belong to the fu:i.l1' "Notodonticlae, Phoesia op. (Near or equals riaoa Pack, )" Soem species belon&ing to this faai.]Jr also con 8UII8 all ef the leaf except the mid-rib and. larger veins,. Larvae of such leaf eaters soaett.es live together between brown and curled leaves,
-I�- lli.. REFUGE DEVELOPMENT ANDMAINTENANCE
A. Ph7sical DeTelepaent.
Patrol Vessel No. 156, Sbearwater II.
SeTeral very necessary repairs and changes were made to the "Shearwater II" this period.
1 Two new oil wing tanka were installed in the holG. with a capacity of 560 gallons of fuel. The boat now has a capacity of 860 gallens of oil. The tanks are appraxillately 3 feet in diueter, 5 feet long and constructed of t inch sheet iron.
A completel.7 new steering device was installed to replace the com pleteq wom steering aechani•; the new device is a steering gear assembly taken from a truck, as was the old on.. The steerin8 roci was found to enter the steerin& &ears at an angle 1 therefore a uniTersal was installed to offset this iaperfecti•n•
An extension of 3 inche a was placed on the leading edge of the rudder for counter drag and a wedge was installed on each side ef the trailing edge of the rudder to prociuce drag and, it is hoped, more control.
The bottom was painted with a plastie anti-fouliq paint. instead of the usual copper paint.
The �opper shoe on the bow stem was refitted and reset.
New .ahogaey screens for the side running lights were installed. \
A new l/4 waft "L" type antenna qstea was erected. and prelilli.nary testa show excellent results. The aircraft receiTer was put inte ope�ion.
Tie-down lines were made for pel"'l&llent use aboard the Teasel. Six rope bumpers we-re made to replace the old. tiNs used as bumpers.
The l4 foot tender was completeq overhauled this period. The skiff was recaulked, re�ed, and repairs were made when necessary. An iron reinforcement �s installed on the eye for strength. The skiff was
- IJ- painted gr«Y outside and international orange inside•
Experaenta are now being conducted with different. size and pitch propellers to deteraine a better and JROre efficient screw for this boat. It appears that a 22 x 2.3 inch propeller is proper.
The fleat at the dock •s completed and chained to the dock. Pilinl will be driven in the near future which will complete this project.
A weatherproof electrical outlet was built on the dock making the use of 110 volt electricit.7 safer and more efficient.
Will7s "4 wheel driw" Truck
The Kodiak Refuge aquired a new Wil.]¥a "4 wheel driw" truck pn J anuar;r 22. This is a proper addition to the equipaen:, and is "just the thing"•
IV• ECONOMIC USE OF REFUGE
None.
. ..
-14- v. FIELD INVESTIGATIONS
The following is su bmitted by �ohn E. Lutz, Wildlife Management Biologist.
Cattle Investigations
Cattle were fed throughout this period by all ranchers except Sid Old. Old fed only the calves and the cows requiring special care. Joe Zentner fed all his stock approximate!� one and one-half pounds of feed per head per day. The Rock ranch cattle had access to a good supply of winter browse and only the calves and hospital group were fed. Dave Henley fe5 throughout most of this period and Tom Felton fed from two to th ree pounds of feed per head per day. Felton normally feeds more than the other ranchers because his winter range is less extensive than that of the other ranches and because ground conditions are more severe on his grazing lea se. -I The�e was no cattle mortality this period caused by bear, but many· cattle died from drowning, bogging down, and falling. The following table summa rizes the data obtained on winter losses and it should be re membered that reticence on the part of th e ranchers and conflicting statements make accurate data difficult to get on this subject. The table should, therefore, be considered as absolute minimum figures. Ranch Natural Winter Losses Remrks I Felton 7 cows drowning, bogging down \ Rock 1 steer bogging down 1 cow 'just died along the beach' 2 horses old age and severe weather
Henley 0
Zentner no report but some losses highly probab le
Old 2 cows ca use not reported
. .. A n�ber of Felto n's losses are due to cattle crossing creeks cov ered by soft ice wit h consequent drowning or freezing.
This was an extremely hard winter for the cattle and although losses were not excessiTely high, none of the livestock were in good conditionJ All lost a great deal of weight, appeared thin and bloated, and were Jluggish. Although the cattle ate a great deal, the forage had little value, especiall� the leached bluejoint grass (Calamagrostis canadensis). Some cattle were reported to be obviously short of breath.
Calving began about mid-April and was in progress at the close of the period. A high number of premature calves, cripples, and deformed calves are aborted or born each year; normally this occur�n the Zentner ranch but this spring the Rock ranch was also afflicted.
-15'- The fo�lowing table lists the calving losses and total calves at the close of the period.
Ranch Calving Losses Total Live Calves
Felton 1 CCM and calf (natural deaths) 23 1 cow and calf (shot att empting to save calf) 1 premature calf
Rock 1 cow and calf (natural deaths) 17 (includi ng 3 cripples)
Henley 1 cow and calf (natural deaths) 2
Zentner 2 premature calves 14 1 deformed calf
Old none reported 8 �
The few old Hereford cows in the Felton he rd are responsi ble for most of the Felton calving losses. The great majori� of the Felton herd is now composed of an Angus-Galloway cross.
Notes of Interest Regarding Various Ranches
Felton ranch: Mr. Harold Felton, brother of the ranches owner, arrived in Kodiak late last f�ll and brought with him farming equipment. He intends attempt ing to raise grains for winter feeding of the liTestock. If he is succ essful, the venture wi ll greatly decrease the operating costs of th e ranch.
Rock ranch: Along with his other winter losses, MarTin Fox regretfully tells of losing the ranches' best dog. Fox @ad the hound tied to a rail in the back of his pick•up truck and, after hearing strange noises, stopped the vehicle and found that the dog had been bouncing along the road be hind the truck, strangled to death.
Henley ranch: Ten Hereford heifer calTes were added to the herd on January 1; these were purchased in the st ates and bring the total herd to 16 animal s plus 2 calves born this April. Henley is still working on the interior of th e barn (about 18' by 36') which he began building last sumner.
Zentner ranch: Zentner had his Super-Cub plane secured inside his hangar at Pa sagshak Bay most of this period. He completed the hangar ea rly this period.
Old ranch: Due to the extremely poor road conditions leading to the Old ranch, the owner got to town very few times during this period and he waa not co ntacted by this office. Hightower ranch:
As far as is known, neithe r Hightower nor his wife Tisited Kodiak during th is pe riod. There are no ro ads leading to th eir ranch in Sal tery Cove.! I . Eusene Erwin and Jake Foley both have active grazing lea ses but thei r ope�ations are small and were not closely followedo
....
... JP'•
-rr- Deer and Cattle Relationships
The winter weather during this period was harder on the wild life and ca�tle than that of the preceding several winters. Snow storms alternating with rainfall and freezing weather produced difficult ground conditions. 'l'hroughout most of the period, a crust of varying thickness lay on top yhe snow and this hindered the movements of both deer and cattle. Fo.:JF \vere usually able to v.falk upon th e crust without its breaking.
Both the ca ttle and deer ha d moved to the winter feeding grounds along the beaches and fed extensively upon kelp and other debris washed up o�to the shore. In the areas where the cattle ranged, they were in direct c�mpetition� 1n'ith the deer for the near-shore brovme and th e sea shore debri . Generally, the deer were more retiring than the cattle and were found urther from the shoreline although they also ranged along the beach, usua ly in early morning and again in mid to late afternoon.
A considerable number of deer are felt to have died due to the severity of the winter. � number of remains were found and undoubtedly many nore will not be located. Those which were discovered were examined, bone marrow was checked and samples l'\l"ere taken. The bone marrov.f and the general condition of the qnimals indicated that starvation was the imme diate cause� of death. In each case, foxes had been feeding on the carcass and in most instances little but hair and skeletons ·were left. Autopsies vrere per for ed on tvw deer, both males, and the specimens were forvJarded to the Arct " c Health Research Center in Anchorage, Alaska. Reports from these have lot yet been received. . Spruce needles were found to constitute approximately 25 per cent of the total stomach contents in one male deer, although spruce is neither a c�mnonly eaten nor a preferred food species. The remaining 75 per cent wa Tiiainly chewed browse. In no areas "ras there evidence of overbrowsin by deer although certain bushes along trails were extensively eaten. H.pp .rently these deer starved to death in the r;,idst of a good food supply This apparent contradiction will be discussed belm·•·
The area from ��omen's Bay to Kalsin Bay i.Jhich includes the Felton ranc suffered the most severe ground conditions of the ranching area. The cattle and deer suffered accordingly. The great ��jority of st arved deer were found in this area; the Felton cattle appeared in poorer .. condition than other cattle although they receive more supplementa� feed during the �'inter than any other group of cattle. These cattle suffered a high percfntage of winter kills. Felton's difficulties are partly ex plained by fuis location 1t.tlic h permits deep snmv-s and a late spring thmv-. Further, hi$ grazing le ase contains less utilizable vdnter range and not ably fewer teach areas than the rest of the ranches.
Beyond the Kalsmn Bay area, the ground conditions improve gradually towards Cape Chiniak. Spruce forests found from about one-third the v1ay from Kalsin Bay to Cape Chiniak extend all the way to the Cape and afford more open ground conditions. In the spruce areas the deer find abundant sh�lter and more e�sily available browse. It isin the region of these sprucr grovffihs th�t most of the Rock ranch cattle spend the winter .
.. ff- �rther, in the Cape Chiniak area the topography is less rugged than from Kalsin Bay northeast>-;-ard and the sun shines more directly here and has �ore war�ing effect than where the. mountains cast shadows in either the morning or the afternoon. There is a striking difference in the amount o� snovl betvJeen, for example, 11iddle Bay and Cape Chiniak.
Neither the Rock or the Old cattle need to be fed much during the winter because they utilize this open country; likewise, the deer in the Cape Chiniak area are in much better condition than those elsewhere.
]he high incidence of abortions, premature calves, and deformed calves of th� various ranches and the poor condition of the cattle in the winter may w�ll be linked somehow to the deer starvation. l'�ost y,rild ani mals are ab l� to withstand quite severe weather provided a plentiful food supply is av�lable. The deer in this case starved in spite of the food.
±t is felt that perhaps a deficiency ( or possible an overabund ance ) of som� critical trace mineral or vitamin is responsible. I
�ones from many of the winter�killed deer were saved and it is hoped that these can be ashed and analyzed for a deficiency in some mineral. If such is found to be the case, a simple solution would be to provide 'doctored' sflt blocks.
ttt is possible that a cobalt deficiency is responsible. Theor etically, shortness of breath, loss of appetite, and a general run-do condition r�sults from a lack of this mineral. The underlying effect is an inabilit� of the animal to utilize the iron with a consequent lowering of the haemoglobin content of the blood. Furthermore, it is reasonable to suspect this mineral as volcanic and alluvial soils are supposedly low in cobalt co nt�nt. A cobalt deficiency would produce no easily identifiable symptoms anq this fact makes a diagnosis more difficult. I Bear Investigations
J Throughout most of this period the bears vlere in hibernation and th� have been extremely slow to emerge. Reports from Olga Bay at the southern end of the island indivate that no, or at best very few, bears were wander�ng about during the v-dnter. Normally, at le ast some males are seen througpout the winter and it is not uncommon to see tracks coursing over the snow-covered ground. The first big-game hunters of the year arri ved here on1 April 2 and had difficulties finding the bears hoped for.
I The first reports of bear on the Chiniak Peninsula \'Jere re ceived on �arch 15. One bear was sighted near Cape Chiniak and it was in a stream t�rning rocks over. This was confirmed by checking the tracks in the irrmedi�te area. No reports have been received since that date of a bear anywhere within the ranching area. I I The same weather conditions which worked hardships on the deer and cattle have also apparently delayed the emergence of the bears. I
_,,_ Bear-markin roBdiuw,s: - [A good deal of time was spent this period attempting to � obtain a satisfactory paint for marking the bears. Letters were sehh \ to many che�cal manufacturers and only two appear to have products l which may prove satisfactory. The ideal product should have the follov ing charact$ristics: r1 I 1. �Jat r insoluble after application, 2. Low viscosity to promote spreading on application, 3. Qui k drying to prevent soiling or rubbing off, 4. Adh�rence to animal hair which might be wet or damp, l 5 Bri ht colors in at least 7 distinguishable shades, I . f, 6. Sol�rble in some solvent to pennit removal if necessary. One product 1.-1hich apparently meets all these requirements is a pigmented rubber cement or paint. This does not separate on standing and thus ha an additional advantage not found in anything else tested. It is available in a >dde range of colors and the colors are miscible. Samples were obtained from the C. P. Hall Company, 2510 First National Tower, Akror 8, Ohio. I We received a sample of red paint and thinner. This was tested on both my �og and a wet section of deer hide. It worked well on both in spite of t�e fact that the deer hide was wet on application and it rained on the hid� •vhile the paint was drying. On a sunny day, the rubber paint dries in l sss than five nunutes, except in places where the hair is matted. On the wet deer hair the paint took about 3 hours to dry completely but th e vast jority was dry vdthin 20 minutes.
Super Kern-Tone and lacquer were also tested.
Super Kern-Tone is a Hater-miscible, rubber base paint and it cannot � used \Vithout thinning with water as it is much to o viscous straight f rn the can. \!hen this is applies it penetrates well ( perhaps ordinarily Ewhen the hair is not wet but oily this -vrould not be true) into the hair b t takes a long time to dry. It was not dry on the deer hair after 18 h�urs and because it is wate r soluble, washes out with rain if it has not 1 been allowed to dry. This paint was considered because ,of th e advertised 1 quick-drying time ( foun hours) but it is not felt to be a
. . . practical marljing medium.
I Lacquer was also applied to the >'let deer hide and it dried more slowl than the diluted rubber paint but more rapidly than the un diluted rui ber paint. The lacquer was diluted as recommended by the manu facturer, uPont, to one part lacquer to one and one-half parts thinner. The lacquer penetrated the hide well and if the rubber cement proves too costly, th�s would be the next logical thing to try. However, on standing the lacquer tends to separate; blue lacquer was mixed w�th white lacquer and the white pigment gradually settles. This would be a disadvantage for use in set[ bottle stations where the paint could not be thoroughly shaken just befor� application.
- 2.,0- [ Oil paints were mixed in varying proportions of pigment, linseed oil, quick dryer, and white lead. In all cases the pigments and white l ad settled to the bottom of the test vials le aving a r . clear supernatant fluid. For this reason, it is not felt that any ' oil-base p "nt would be suitable for use in the set bottle marking stations. T
One other manufacturer, the Bakelite Company, 230 Grove Street, Bloomfield, New Jersey, suggests the use of a solution of a compound known as BJQ-11890. This is a polyethylene emulsion in methanol and wa te r. 1 They suggest that this be mixed with any bright acid or direct dye Jand a non-ionic wetting agent. After this solution is applied it must be fixed with alkaline formalin in water. Dr. Herbert ':l. Mackinney ot the Bakelite Company suggests the use of a compartmented capsule which would hold both the dye and the fixative.
[ This could then be shot from a shotgun and if the capsule could be d�esigned to prevent end-over-end flight, it should prove easier to use tha a cross-bow for manual marking. The prima� problem at this point invo]jves the development of such a capsule. It would need to be sturdy eno�gh� to withstand the initial shock when the shell fired and yet fragile en dugh to break upon hitting the bear. This hurdle n�y well prove an insurmo table one with present funds and personnel.
Eve� effort will be made to obtain a section of bear hide for sendin� to Dr. �fackinney for laboratory tests. Perhaps, as a conser vation ges�ure, the company will stand the costs of developihg this method.
Shotgun mlking tests:
_ -·-...� Tests were made vdth shotgun pellets of several types. Shot was remove from a number of 12 gauge shells and various amounts of povr f d) der removed. As no accurate scales were available, the po>vder was removed as a perce�tage of the normal load. High-base shells were used si nce no low-base sqells were available in Kodiak.
I Gelatin capsules ;.ffiich had been ordered la st year by ,\cting Refuge Hand�ger Hoffman were tried but did not prove to be satisfacto� paint cont iners. No water could be in the paint or dye as th is dissolves . .. the capsul . Lacquer thinner and printer's ink were placed in the cap sules whic, were then sealed against moisture wit h paraffin. The capsules lwaked, th pa raffin was dissolved, and the idea was abandoned.
Glass shell vials were ordered for testing. A 17 millimeter outside di.$neter vial was the largest size obtainable which would fit in side the bdre of a 12 gauge shotgun.
These were filled vdth water and viscous ink for the tests and corked. The corks were cut off flush with the end of the vial and all air wa� excluded from the vials. Several pellets of Shot were in cluded in same of the vials to insure breaking if fired into soft earth. The vials were secured in the end of the shells by paraffin.
-�1- Jhe results 1-rere as follows: � Powder load Height of shell Remarks �
1/2 normal 1 3/8 inch Vial broke in barrel, paint sprayed about 30 feet, wads stuck in barrel. Tl II II II II \ 1/2 norrnal 1 3/4 inch \ 1/2 normal 2 1/8 inch Vial broke in barrel and part stuck r there �dth wads; paint sprayed 35 feet. 1/4 normal 1 3/4 inch Vial br oke in barrel, sprayed paint Jd feet, powder did not burn, wads stuck,
in barrel. 1 3/4 normal 1 3/4 inch Vial burst, paint flew about 75 feet. · 1/8 normal 1 3/4 inch Primer fired but powder did not, wads stuck in barrel and vial burst. 1/1 normal 1 7/8 inch Vial shattered in barrel, paint not seen leaving. 1/2 normal 1 3/4 inch Vial shattered in barrel, wads left barrel, paint sprayed 40 feet.
After the firing was completed, using a rock cliff as a backdrop, n trace of paint could be found; apparently this was all vaporized. In all cases the vials broke e�ther inside the barrel or immediately tafter leaving. In both the shell with 1/8 normal and 1/4 the , normal load the pm-.rder did not fire but the primer had sufficient po>ver to break th vial and blast the paint sane 40 feet. The experiment "'as te to not a failu but the method appears be.
I It is felt that perhaps using similar vials in a muzzle-loading sh otgun with black povrder will improve the results. Black powder burns more slowly[ and has less imitial shock and might not break the vials within th e barrel. / Refuge Supervisor David L. Spencer has agreed to test this idea.
I Although shotgun pellets would be more convenient and might provide gr ter range, it is expected that a cross-bmv bolt equipped :r vdll with a pai.�v-filled glass bulb be used again this summer to quanti tatively m�rk bears. The cross-boll has disadvantages but until another method can be perfected, it is the only present usable method.
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. .. Pro
J Huch of the coming summer's field �mrk was outlined in the previous n rrative report. Various additions to the previously proposed work '�11 qe discussed below.
f In addition to the bear-marking work intended at Karluk Lake, a small stream 1.'lill be studied for the effect of bear on salmon at an unfenced s'ream from which the salmon can escape to the lak e at their op tion. Heretofore, weirs were placed across the strea."'ll. mouth and the salmon wer� prevented from doing this which is apparently one of the means by which s�lcon escape the bear's depredations. The weirs in the past have created a �ighly unnatural barrier which may have increased predation.
-Z%- The intended fence is shown below:
LAKE
vlebster K. Clark, former Biological /cid, experimented �r.i.th the use of · verted bottles containing paint from which a cork was pulled by a bear. He used tvm bottles suspended above a trail and a bait sus pended from the mid-point of a wire co1mecting the two corks. On pulling the bait, b th stoppers were pulled and the paint theoretically hit the bear regard ess of the direction of approach. In this arrangerr£nt one bottle was ecpected to empty onto the bear and the other on the ground.
This summer it is felt that a bottle marking station can be effectively set up using only one bottle. This will be more economical and "l..rill rea ire only about one-half the r .aterials used in the above r:x· rangement. The difficulty of locating two suitable lin1bs for securing bottles is bvious and this latter method requires but one. This is diagranmed elow. Sufficient slack is left in the wires to permit the bear to be well 1der the bottle when the cork is pulled.
Branch
about Tree ground by foxes) or tree VI. PUBLIC RELATIONS
Januaey 10 Mr. Bill Pinnell Reg. Guide OlgaBq II It It " Mr. Morris Talifson
Februaey 2 Ro�d Ryder Lt, USN Forwerl7 Calif, P.R. USSBurton Ia.
March 19 I Mr, Tom Wardleigh FWS Anchorage March 19-22 Mr. Ro!er AlliR FWS,DJ Anchorage March 2.3 Mr. Phenecie FishBiol. Montana State Game Dept. March .30 Mr. Tom Ward.lei&h FWS Anchorage Mr, Gordon Watson FWS Anchorage
April 4 Mr. Ed. Chatelain FWS, PR Anchorap Mr, Tom Wardleigh FWS Anchorage Dr, Ra7J10nd Hock Public Health Anchorage I Mr. Gerdon Grant FWS Anchorage Mr. Gordon Watsen r-vs Anchorage April 7 Mr, Toa Wardl.eigh FWS Anchorage Mr. Gordon watson FWS Anchorage Mr• Warren N;rstroa FWS Anchorage Mr, John Krog (Norway) Public Health Anchorage I B, Refuce Participation I [d Luts Hoffman attended the Alaska Game Hearing in Kodiak on J anua.ry 22.
Hoffman . ttendec:l the Alaska Geae Commission meeting in Juneau, . .. Alaska, Februar;r 12-2.3. Hoffman was detailed to the Juneau Office until March � to work on waterfowl reports andBear Management Plan.,
Hoffman &nd Lutz attended several meetings of the Kodiak Konser vation Klub, rpplying movies at one meeting. .
- z.Y.· / c, Huntiss
The hare season closed on March 31 and the ptarmigan season closed on February 28, The trapping season for fox, land otter, weasel, closed on January 24 and the muskrat season closed on ·� 31, Beaver season /opened on February 1 and continued until March 31,
The season for the Kodiak Brown bear remained open throughout the period.
D, Fishing
FiShing activit� increased at the end of April with the in!lux in numbers 0f Doizy Varden trout and the aTailabilit7 of the Karluk River for steelhead fiShing.
E, Violation and Enforcement
No violalions were known to have been committed on the Refuge this period. r
VII. OTHER ITID-15
None. by�#-- Ma� 22, 1953 Su�tted asell R. Hof .... Acting Refuge Manager
�vi � Approved � -�-- - ��� � �� � Wil fe Management Supervisor
-z�- :11ALL )WlNALS Wildlife RefUge April, �� National Period Januar;r to 1953 ------�--,-�-�- ·-r--�---(;).. __,- -, (3 : ------(4- > ------.. ( ____ _ R ) + t -;) -. �-drut.--+-----IJensity o le_1 _. iti _j___ m v -�---+------J!j._s.I)Q!l q_l)J>�J!'---- -iotai--- ... . 1 ; 1 eao i Share Trapping I � : � I ' � -d. Populatio 1 � 3i .t: t- ! 8, � I 8 : � I o & Total Acre � � �� • «�il l m eo.tr Types a +) 1 : �i � 1: P.. f !i � f I ftt � Per 1"' '"'o ,.. ro m ft-4 112 I+) ,.. . s.. Ill § hk C:: 0+> 0 Cl) CIS! ' '"' .t: Cl) .t: 0 � �'"' j ::; G) "'-=?.116 Perrru.t Col!lllon Name I _ __ Animal ::z: ra.cn � E-t (/) E-t I Acre� of Ha�itat "'� �- j Number1 * : ra. rz.. , �_::_ '
·-· --· --. r . Land otter I I I I ' Weasel 50 ( e Lt) . I I I 1 I i I; r I • j' I Fex ' I ! :I � I '30 (elt) I t\l r ! ! I I j I ' I I ' Squirrel 0 I t' : : I I II i1 I I I I I I *List I removal -by Predat r Animal H�ter t ! . Ifi o ! I ' i 1 _ l I I I j __j_
by: Russell R. Hoffman Reported
• n - - ---� •• - -"- --•• �--- - 't 2 "" - Ul'LAND GAlli! BIRDS ' R • �r 1 1946) I f Refuge KODIAK NATTQNAT. wrLDt.IFIIi Months of JANUARY to APRIL , 1�..5.3 ) i { I (1) . (2) _
' I . " " I ' .
.
- (' I ' '" . / "] . - . ' . '\....,.. ) "'- . ,, -..... ' . INSTRUCTIONS
Fol"Ql NR-2 - UPLAND GAME.BIRDS.* -'-
(1) SPECIES: Use correct common name.
(2) DENSITY: Applies particularly to those species considered in removal programs (public hunts, etc.). Detailed data � be omitted for species occurring in limited numbers. Density to be expressed in acres per animal by cover types. 'l'his information is to be prefaced by a statement from the refuge manager as to the number of acres in each cover type £ound on the refuge; once submitted, this information need not be repeated except as significant changes occur in the area of cover types. Cover types should be detailed enough to furnish the desired information but not so much as to obscure the general picture. Examples& spruce swamp, upland hardwoods, �verting agriculture land, bottomland hardwoods, short grass prairie, etc. Standard type symbols listed in Wildlife Management Series No. 7 should be used where possible. Figures submitted should be based on actual observations and counts on representative sample areas. Survey method used and size of sample area or areas should be indicated under Remarks.
(3) YOUNG PRODUCED: Estimated number of· young produced, based upon observations and actual counts in representative breeding habitat.
(4) SEX RATI01 This column applies primarily to wild turkey1 pheasants, etc. Include data on other species if available.
(5) REMOVALS: Indicate total number in each category removed during the report period.
(6) TOTAL1 Estimated total number using the refuge during the report period. This may include resident birds plus those migrating into the refuge during certain seasons.
( 7) REMARKS1 Indicate method U3ed to determine population and area covered in surv-.y. Also include other pertinent information not specit1cal� requested.
* Only columns applicable to the period covered should be used •
• ......
W A T E R F 0 W L REFUGE KODIAK NATIONAL WILDLIFE MONTHS OF JANUARY to APRIL ' 19....5.1
( 1) ( 2) (3) ( 4) ( 5) ( 6) Species I First Migrants Seen I Peak Concentration I �ast Migrants Seen I Young Produced Total \ Broods \ Estimated Estimated Common Name ! _Number I Date I Number I Date I Number I Date . Seen . Total for Period 1. Swans: I Whistling swan 6 I Aprill5 25 April 301 25
2. Geese: I I Canada goose 35 I April 15 I Cackling goose Brant 42 I April 19 I I White-fronted goose Snow goose I I Blue goose I· I ·I 3. Duck§.: Mallard I I Black Duck l Gadwall I 0. Baldpate I. � Pintail I I Green-winged teal Blue-winged teal I Cinnamon teal Shoveller I Wood duck Redhead I Ring-necked duck Canvas-back Scaup Golden-eye Buffle-head Ruddy duck Stellar eider 300 Jan.l5 3,000
4. Coot: Fc>rlm NR-1 3-1750 • � . (June 1949) (over) . SUMMA�TBS "'" • -� )duction:
Geese______Total waterfowl usage during period______
_) • r
__ Ducks______Peak waterfowl numbers______
Coots______Areas used by concentrations ______
______Principal nesting areas this season ______
Reported by ______
INSTRUCTIONS
(1) Species: In addition to the birds listed on form, other species occurring on refuge during the reporting period should be added in appropriate spaces. Special attention should be given to those species of local and National significance.
(2) First Seen: The first refuge record for the species during the season concerned in the reporting period, and the number seen. This column does not apply to resident species.
(3) Peak Concentra- The greatest number of the species present in a limited interval of time. \ tion:
(4) Last Seen: The last refuge record for the species during the season concerned in the reporting period.
T ) ' -, ' (5) Young Produced: Estimated number of young produced based on observations and actual counts on repre- sentative breeding areas. Brood counts should be made on two or more areas aggregating 10% of the breeding habitat. Estimates having no basis in fact should be omitted.
(6) Total: Estimated total number of the species using the refuge during the period. This figure may or may not be more than that used for peak concentrations, depending upon the nature of the migrational movement.
Note: Only columns applicable to the reporting period should be used. It is desirable that the Sumwaries receive careful attention since these data are necessarily based on an analysis of the rest of the form. 613&5