Conservation Northwest protects and connects old-growth forests and other wild areas from the Washington Coast to the British Columbia Rockies, vital to a healthy future for us, our children, and wildlife. Since 1989, Conservation Northwest has worke
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Getting wilder Monitoring volunteers spend a lot of time in the woods en route to remote camera sites. Volunteer Keith Possee encountered this pine marten near Oval Lake in the North Cascades. Keith Possee "Skunks, wolverines, fishers, and martens are all animals I like a lot," Bill said. "It's fun to be around people who know Get involved. what those are Learn more about and get excited by the Cascades Citizen them…the actual Wildlife Monitoring shots we get from Project. Go online to the cameras are conservationnw.org/ really interesting monitoring too." Bill said discovering Washington's wolf packs or getting a "nice shot of wildlife" doesn't excite him as much as unexpected "strange nighttime" photos do. Odd camera angles and unpredictable animal close-ups are the images that Bill finds offbeat and intriguing. Volunteer Guthrie Schrengohst recalls an exciting experience he had in 2010, shortly after installing cameras near Manastash, in Washington. Several days after the camera's Keri Young and Kelli Young-Beach hiking in to their remote camera site. Cathy Clark installation, Guthrie reviewed the images. The first image showed Guthrie applying a lure to a stump. The very next image was of a cougar rubbing its head on the exact same spot. "I have never seen a wild cougar, so it was exciting to see pictures of us standing in the exact same place," Guthrie said. "It's just great to know these animals are out there, and to see what goes on once the people leave the forest." Keeping the Northwest wild The allure of lure Animals tend to avoid humans who venture into their habitat. Lures are strongly scented attractants that overpower human scent and function as a magnet for wildlife. Wildlife from elk to wild turkeys to bobcats can't help but be drawn to investigate. Strategically placed lures help keep animals near the camera for more than one photograph too, which helps researchers identify animals and study their numbers and behavior. Each lure is specially designed to draw in a particular species. Bill Whipple said bear lures smell sweet like marzipan. A lure derived from beaver glands is called "Essence of Beaver," and it doesn't smell too bad either. With names like 1-800 Predator and Beast Feast, it's no surprise that animals return to the scent more than a year after its application, despite rainstorms and other biological factors. Bill often uses a lure named Gusto with a scent he described as "musky but not terrible," similar to the pungent odors of coffee and marijuana. "My favorite lure is 'Silent Partner,'" Bill said. "It's named because trappers get lonely and they need a bottle of smelly stuff to keep them company." Lead volunteer Patrick McGowan said the use of lures is controversial to some, since it is a form of baiting, but at this point their benefit to wildlife research is overwhelming. Many lures smell like carrion to attract predators and scavengers. Upon investigation, ungulates and other prey species exhibit fearful or anxious behavior, whereas predator species may rub up against the scent out of pleasure. "[Lures] improve the chances of getting an animal in the vicinity of the camera, and keeping them around long enough to get multiple shots," McGowan said. "All of the information we've gained has benefitted wildlife, but there's always room for improvement." Guthrie Schrengohst's gets close to a cougar. Conservation Northwest Something for everyone Exhilaration lingers around every corner for monitoring volunteers. Cathy Clark hasn't been volunteering for very long, and her cameras haven't captured any wildlife photos, but that doesn't hinder her enthusiasm for the project. "It is probably how many hunters feel, not bringing home a trophy [animal]," Clark said. "[Hiking into the camera sites, we're] watching the changes in the seasons, noting the wildflowers and the birds and animals we see and hear, and the signs they leave. We are still out there, enjoying our wilderness together and having a good time." The volunteers' relationship to wildlife and other like-minded people keeps them coming back for more. There is something magical and magnetizing out there in the wild country, something that attracts volunteers year-round— regardless of rainstorms, setbacks, and other biological factors. It is a chance to connect and make a difference for Washington's wildlife. Fall 2011 15