Discovering Wildlife Lecture Series
Please join us for a series of presentations by biologists about Oregon's fascinating wildlife! These are slide shows are followed by a question and answer forum with the speaker. All presentations are at the Billy Frank Jr. Conference Room in the Ecotrust building, 721 NW Ninth Avenue, Portland, Oregon. Lectures begin at 6:30 pm. Admission is $5 per person. Free if you're a member of Oregon Wildlife. Registration is required. Oregon Wildlife members always register first! If you aren't a member, take a moment right now and join us!
The theme for our 2013 Series is "living with wildlife" with a focus on species that you've probably seen or interacted with. With the human population of Oregon projected to double by the year 2050, we will increasingly occupy land that was previously wildlife habitat. This will lead to conflict unless we can find ways to co-exist and have the willingness to do so.
Wednesday, January 16, 2013 - Bats of the Northwest
The only mammal capable of free flight, bats are important to us and our environment. Consuming insects, and in the SW United States and other parts of our world, pollinating plants and spreading seeds, bats play a critical role in maintaining a healthy ecosystem. With that you'd think that bats would be celebrated for their contributions. Instead bats have, for centuries, been portrayed as evil and menacing creatures.
Pat Ormsbee is the recently retired bat specialist for the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management for Oregon and Washington. She has a bachelor's and master's degree from Oregon State University and was one of the first researchers in the Pacific Northwest to glue little radio transmitters on bats to find out where they roosted during the day. She has worked with bats for over twenty years and developed and orchestrated a long term monitoring program for bats across the PNW known as "The Bat Grid". Currently, Pat is working with colleagues to publish results from The Bat Grid monitoring project, and to develop a national bat monitoring program.
Wednesday, February 20th - Snakes of Oregon
Snake! The word itself elicits a strong, emotional reaction that ranges from fear to wonder. Misconceptions about snakes have made them one of the most feared and least understood animals. Less known about snakes is the role they play in helping control insects and rodents. In effect snakes, like bats, provide a valuable and free pest control service for us humans that is rarely recognized. 15 different species of snakes make their home in Oregon. Most common to the Willamette Valley are the rubber boa, ring-neck, pacific gopher, northwestern garter, and common garter snake. In the southern part of the Valley, this includes the western rattlesnake
Simon Wray is the Conservation Biologist for ODFW's High Desert Region. In this position he works with non-game species, including snakes, throughout central and southeastern Oregon. Join us to learn about snakes and the variety that make Oregon their home.
Wednesday, March 13th - Beaver
North America's largest rodent, the beaver, was once the most widely distributed mammal but virtually trapped to extinction in the early 1800's for its pelt. A decline in demand for its fur and proper wildlife management helped beaver to become reestablished in much of their former range. While beaver foraging and building activities can cause flooding, damaging private property; beaver ponds and dams are also good for Oregon's native fish and other wildlife. Beaver activities can also benefit private landowners by controlling downstream flooding and creating wetlands which improve water quality and facilitate ground water recharge. If managed correctly, conflict with beaver can be minimized.
Dr. Jimmy Taylor is a supervisory research wildlife biologist and field station leader for the National Wildlife Research Center in Corvallis, Oregon. His research project focuses on understanding human-wildlife conflicts and improving management strategies to reduce damage by forest and aquatic mammals, with an emphasis on non-lethal tools and techniques. Join USDA APHIS Wildlife Biologist Jimmy Taylor to learn about Oregon's state animal, beaver, and how we benefit from their activity.
Wednesday, April 17th - California and Steller Sea Lions
The seal and sea lion (pinniped) populations on Oregon's coast are healthy, abundant, and growing. As our human population also grows, so do the number and frequency of pinniped interactions with human activities. More recently, pinnipeds have ventured hundreds of miles up Oregon rivers where our efforts to recover depleted salmon runs may be affected by their foraging behaviors. While pinnipeds are important elements of coastal and marine ecosystems, their behavior can negatively impact other important resources.
Robin Brown is a Marine Mammal Program Leader with ODFW. We hope you can join us for his presentation about sea lions, seals, and efforts to minimize conflict with them.
Wednesday, May 1st - Fish Passage and Lower Deschutes River Temperature Management at Round Butte
Don Ratliff is a Senior Aquatic Biologist at the Pelton Round Butte Hydroelectric Project. Don is joining us to discuss the research behind, and the design, construction, and operation of the new Selective Water Withdrawal and Downstream Fish Facilities at Round Butte Dam. Don will also describe the recent results of the temperature management, anadromous fish reintroduction, and fish passage programs. This is a free event. Click here to register.
Wednesday, May 15th - Black Bear
Most often black in color, North America's most common bear species may also be brown, cinnamon or blond. Oregon has more than 25,000 black bears. At home throughout Oregon, black bear prefer forests, trails and streams. Fast and agile, they're good swimmers and climbers, are omnivorous, with a diet that includes berries, fruit, grasses and plants. Although they will consume small mammals, insects and amphibians, black bear are not normally active predators.
Doug Cottam, ODFW Wildlife Biologist, is joining us to discuss the life history of black bear and conflict with people. Over the past two years, there's been a significant reduction in bear problems along the mid-coast. Doug will discuss why he thinks that has happened. Attend this presentation to learn more about black bear and efforts to minimize conflict with them. Admission is $5 per person. Free if you're a member of Oregon Wildlife. Click here to register yourself and guests for this, the final presentation, in our 2013 Discovering Wildlife Lecture Series!
