[ODFW-News] Project improves wildlife habitat in Klamath County

[ODFW News]

For Immediate Release Wednesday, Jan. 04, 2006

Project improves wildlife habitat in Klamath County 

MALIN - A juniper control project scheduled for later this winter will
improve habitat for mule deer, pronghorn and a variety of other wildlife
species on 400 acres of Klamath County ranchland. 
 
The project is funded in part by an $18,500 grant from the Oregon
Department of Fish and Wildlife's Access and Habitat Program.
 
The 13,000-acre ranch, owned by Gerald and Judith Scanlan, straddles the
Oregon-California border with 2,500 acres on the Oregon side. Located
within ODFW's Klamath Falls Wildlife Management Unit, the property
provides winter range for hundreds of mule deer. There also are good
numbers of pronghorn on a seasonal basis, and a variety of upland birds
and other wildlife.
 
Over the years, junipers have spread throughout the property, competing
with other plants for space, nutrients and water. Removing junipers will
open habitat for other native tree and plant species such as mountain
mahogany, bitterbrush and forbs and grasses.
 
"While the focus is on improving big game winter range, the project will
benefit all the wildlife on the property by preventing the junipers from
encroaching into other important wildlife habitat types," said ODFW
habitat biologist and regional A&H Program coordinator Larry Pecenka. 
 
The project also includes coating a pond on the property with bentonite,
which will help seal the pond from leaking and allow water to be stored
through the summer to benefit wildlife.
 
The Scanlans have received A&H Program funding for two previous habitat
projects on the ranch. In return for these grants, the landowners allow
public hunting on the property on a by-permission basis.
 
The Access and Habitat Program was created by the Oregon Legislature in
1993 and is funded by a $2 surcharge on hunting licenses. Funds raised
by the program are distributed through grants to individual and
corporate landowners, conservation organizations and others for
cooperative wildlife habitat improvement and hunter access projects
throughout the state.
 
For information about the A&H Program call program coordinator Nick
Myatt, 503-947-6087 or visit the Web site at www.dfw.state.or.us/AH/.
 
###
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://listsmart.osl.state.or.us/pipermail/odfw-news/attachments/20060104/36e6bd0a/attachment.htm