Saturday, Sep. 27, 2008

Outdoors briefs: Blue Mountain Wildlife holds open house Oct. 4

Compiled by the Herald staff

PENDLETON -- Blue Mountain Wildlife in Pendleton will have its 11th annual Fall Open House from noon to 4 p.m. Oct. 4.

Live hawks, eagles, owls and falcons will be on display, and there will be falconry demonstrations as well as tours of the rehabilitation center and a drawing. Lunch also will be available for a small donation.

Blue Mountain Wildlife is five miles south of Pendleton.

To get there take exit 209 off Interstate 84, go south on Southgate/Highway 395 for six miles and turn right onto Arabian Drive. Turn left on Appaloosa Lane, and the center is on the right.

Opinions sought for ski, snowboard survey

Ski and snowboard season isn't that far away, and we need the opinions of skiers and snowboarders locally for a survey.

Telling us your favorite runs, resorts, food and mountain party spots in Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Alaska and British Columbia by responding to a survey conducted online by our sister publication, the (Tacoma) News Tribune.

You'll find the survey at http://www.thenewstribune.com/adventure/story/331459.html

EHD outbreak reported along Touchet River

WAITSBURG -- An outbreak of Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease has hit whitetail deer along the Touchet River between Touchet, Prescott and Waitsburg, according to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Pat Fowler, southeast district wildlife biologist, said reports to date indicate at least 50-60 dead whitetails, which he says could mean actual losses are 200 deer or more.

"Archers sitting in a tree stand along the Touchet reported having to leave because of the smell of dead deer in the area," Fowler said.

Other department staff reported sightings of EHD-stricken or dead whitetails in southeast Walla Walla County along Mill Creek and in the west central part of Columbia County.

The disease is common to whitetails, but rarely affects other species. It usually occurs in the driest part of the year when conditions are prime for biting gnats, the carriers of the virus.

Deer in the early stages of EHD may appear lethargic, disoriented, lame, or unresponsive to humans. As the disease progresses the deer may have bloody discharge from the nose, lesions or sores on the mouth, and swollen, blue tongues. They become emaciated because they stop eating.

Since deer hunting season usually doesn't open until after the first killing frost, deer hunters usually don't see live, infected animals. The department recommends hunters avoid shooting and consuming deer that show any EHD symptoms, even though the disease cannot be transmitted to humans.