4A • July 22, 2016 • Seaside Signal • seasidesignal.com
SignalViewpoints
Let’s brush
up on our
À ag etiquette
M
y kids had some business at the Sea-
side Public Works of¿ ce where they
met Dale McDowell. He had a cool
present for me. It was a small wooden box con-
taining a chunk of the old sidewalk and another
of the asphalt from the street by the Methodist
Church (I think). Only one thing better would
have been part of the 1914 date, but these piec-
es will always be special. Thanks, Dale!
SCENE & HEARD
CLAIRE LOVELL
JOHN DUDLEY/FOR EO MEDIA GROUP
“Big Daddy” alpha bull keeps its eye on a kayaker in Little Beach.
‘Animal versus animal’ as
elk, dogs clash in Gearhart
By R.J. Marx
Seaside Signal
A
pet whippet was trampled and killed by a herd of elk
at the Reserve at Gearhart this month. In another inci-
dent reported to Gearhart Police, an elk kicked a dog
and broke the dog’s legs. A Little Beach resident said
he saw a herd menace kayakers this month when they
approached too close to the shore.
“They will sometimes get aggressive,” Wildlife Communica-
tions Coordinator Michelle Dennehy of the Oregon Department of
Fish and Wildlife said. “It can happen anytime. The advice for pets
and people is to try to keep away.”
Oregon has two types of elk, Dennehy said, Roosevelt elk on
the coast and Rocky Mountain elk in the Cascades. Roosevelt elk
bulls typically weigh 900 pounds, and cows clear 600 pounds.
Roosevelt elk in western Oregon have the larger body size, but typ-
ically Rocky Mountain
elk — prevalent in East-
ern Oregon — have larg- SEEN FROM SEASIDE
er antlers. “This makes
R.J. MARX
sense when you think
about how Roosevelt elk
need to get through very
thick brush,” she said.
With calving season, people and their pets are well-advised to
steer clear of the herd, she said, which can reach 60 or more.
Dogs no match
A sign posted by the dunes in Gearhart warns: “Keep clear of
the elk. Elk will charge to defend calves.”
Gearhart Police Chief Jeff Bowman said the risk increases at a
time when elk cows are protective of newborn calves. “It all boils
down to an animal versus animal, and the elk aren’t going to back
down from a dog coming at them. They’ve got babies. If people
are walking and not having their dogs on a leash, they’d better be
looking for the elk.”
Everywhere there are elk, “people should have their dogs on
leash,” naturalist and photographer Neal Maine said. “A mod-
ern-day dog really doesn’t understand an elk, and most people
think the elk are going to run away from a dog. Elk can chase
them, much like people take their dogs to the beach to chase birds
around for exercise. Coyotes and wolves are two of their past ene-
mies, so they’re all set up to take them out.”
The behavior may be brutal. Once they get a dog down, “they
pound on them with their feet,” Maine said. “It’s part of their reac-
tion to a predator.”
“If your dog is cornered — you wouldn’t want to intervene,
unless you’re really foolhardy,” Maine added.
John Dudley has a home by Little Beach in Gearhart, ground
zero for the elk population, where he chronicles the path of the elk
with his camera.
“The difference lately has been there have been calves in the
herd, week-old calves,” Dudley said. “It’s postpartum time for the
cows.”
One “alpha bull,” recognizable by a small but visible scar on his
right shoulder, in the herd is particularly aggressive, Dudley said.
Sometimes the bull becomes “rather agitated,” herding the
others, corralling them, and ¿ ghting off young bulls who consider
themselves “pretenders to the throne.”
Dudley said he witnessed an encounter when a kayaker in the
estuary was pulled toward the shore by the tide. The kayakers
drifted closer to the herd and they pulled out cell phones to ¿ lm the
encounter .
“Suddenly something spooked the elk and en masse they gal-
loped south,” Dudley said. “They could have just as easily stam-
peded over the kayakers.”
Taking cues
Normally, Gearhart’s elk herd “kind of moseys,” Bowman said.
Hikers and visitors should take heed when “their heads come up
from their feeding and they’re staring at you and they’re not turn-
ing,” he said. “Turn around and go back,” Bowman said. “They’ll
leave you alone. They aren’t going to chase you down. Their heads
are going to go back down and they’ll continue eating.”
Elk eat 50 pounds a day — “and they don’t care if it’s your gar-
den, off the golf course or through the woods,” Bowman said.
People should not attempt to approach the elk for cell phone pic-
tures. “If they want to do photography, get a camera,” Maine said.
“Elk photography with a cell phone is not productive.”
“The two times I’ve seen chase-downs, they’d been trying to get
close enough to get a cell phone shot,” Maine said.
Observing nature
Maine advised the best way to enjoy the elk is to appreciate “an
amazing creature that’s been here for thousands of years.”
“We should learn to become observers of wildlife, he said, and
take 15 minutes to watch the interaction between the cows and the
calves and the spikes,” Maine said. “Keep your distance and watch
the phenomena of them moving, feeding, interacting, so you’re
observing something, not just trying to get a picture. Watch their
behavior and be intrigued and interested in that part of it. That gets
missed by the drive-by folks.”
Prior to European settlement, more than 10 million elk roamed
nearly all of the United States and parts of Canada, with about 1
million today.
Maine said at one point, less than a century ago, the elk were
virtually extinct in Clatsop County from over hunting. Hunting was
closed for about 10 years as elk were re introduced into the area.
“There are people who say their grandpa had a picture of elk being
unloaded from a train in downtown Seaside to transplant here.”
To stay safe, keep your dog on a leash, no elk sel¿ es and ob-
serve, don’t interfere, Maine said. “The reason this area is so rich
and so beautiful and so wonderful is because there’s still wildlife
in the habitat. So observe it, enjoy it and have it make your day
richer.”
How did we reach Miss Oregon time with-
out having had any publicity pictures before-
hand? I was À abbergasted when my son said the
Miss O contest was on at the convention center.
Usually the papers are full of contestants’ pics
and bios so a person can make an early choice.
Saturday’s parade time was iffy, too. So I asked
a police of¿ cer and we went to our vantage
point on Broadway. A Boy Scout Troop with
Colors led the parade, which went by almost
before we realized what was going on. There
were 15 or 25 beautiful girls riding in gorgeous
corvettes. They wore lovely gowns though
some of their titles were had to read and some
unfamiliar, too. Everything wound up with a
20th century ¿ re truck elegantly babied by the
department for these many years. A small town
celebration with big values. Thanks, everyone!
July 2, we went to the Putter Room for
perhaps the ¿ rst breakfast buffet from the
new owners. It was great with plenty to eat
and lots of choices. Out the window were
early golfers and many birds — residential
starlings, robins, sparrows and others, darting
all over and enjoying the greens. Everyone
was very nice, even the customers.
July 3, a friend took me to the patriotic
concert of the North Coast Symphonic Band at
the Liberty Theater. Although we were asked to
stand for the National Anthem, I wonder if the
audience would have done so without the re-
quest. Again, though, they seemed to like join-
ing in the singing. With the advancement of the
Colors, however, I didn’t see anyone salute the
À ag. I believe it’s time for the American Legion
to publish some basic information about À ag
etiquette because people don’t seem to know
about it or care about it anymore. Deplorable.
As usual, conductor Dave Becker gave a
¿ ne performance with some favorite Sousa
marches, colonial airs and special songs by
John Williams and Lee Greenwood. There
were guest vocals by Rachel and Andy Becker,
son and daughter-in-law of Dave. They also did
a jitterbug dance, which was really cute. John-
ny Barker, an Astoria High School student did
a terri¿ c snare drum solo in “Field Ayres.” This
was one of two numbers conducted by John
Hammond, retired Warrenton music teacher. It
was a wonderfully varied program played to a
full house. I give everyone credit (without their
names) for a bravissimo performance.
Things have come to a pretty pass when I
have to use pliers to open a carton of half and
half. I’ve hated the plastic rings ever since
they came into existence. Ring-topped cans
are hard, too, but I can manage them. Brave
new world, indeed.
Laugh Line
A couple went to their pastor’s of¿ ce
seeking counseling for a À oundering mar-
riage. “It’s so boring,” they both exclaimed.
The pastor went around his desk, took the
man’s wife in his arms and kissed her passion-
ately on the mouth. “That’s what your wife
needs,” he said, “at least two times a week.”
“Good,” responded the husband. “I’ll
bring her by on Tuesday and Friday”
P.S. The three phases of marriage are lust,
rust and dust. (Courtesy of John Hagee.)
Jewelry, juggling and more at the Seaside Public Library
I
t is summer time in Seaside, and
that means summer reading is
in full swing for all ages at the
Seaside Public Library. As part of the
countywide summer reading program,
this year we are challenging readers
in Warrenton and Astoria to see who
can read the most this summer! Can
Seaside out-read both Warrenton and
Astoria combined? We sure think so!
For more on the community reading
challenge, go to the Seaside Public
Library’s Facebook page, www.face-
book.com/seasidepubliclibrary.
In addition to the summer reading
challenge, which is open to children,
teens, and adults, the Library is also
offers events, activities, and perform-
ers all summer long!
PUBLISHER
EDITOR
Steve Forrester
R.J. Marx
BETWEEN
THE COVERS
ESTHER MOBERG
For kids, Juggler Charlie Brown
will be providing fascinating tricks
and entertainment on July 28 at
10:30 a.m. at the Astoria Library,
1:30 p.m. at the Seaside Library,
and 3:30 p.m. in Warrenton. Other
events during summer reading at the
Seaside Library include an Olympic
Games themed event, Lego club, and
weekly preschool age story times.
The kid’s events in June and early
July have already been spectacular
with such fare as a cowboy show,
craft days, and a comedian.
For teens, upcoming events
include an obstacle course, creative
jewelry crafts, and a summer movie.
All teen summer reading events are
held on Tuesdays at 3 p.m. at the
library. So far Seaside teens have
already learned how to make picnic
food (and enjoyed a picnic after-
ward), had a ping-pong competition,
and created beautiful sand art. The
teen space of the library has had
some updates this summer with the
addition of a new teen reading bench
and display area.
Adults can join in the fun too,
and turn in reading logs for a chance
to win prizes as well as attend great
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MANAGER
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CONTRIBUTING
WRITERS
Katherine Lacaze
Claire Lovell
Eve Marx
Esther Moberg
Jon Rahl
Susan Romersa
Betty Smith
John D. Bruijn
CIRCULATION
MANAGER
SYSTEMS
MANAGER
Heather
Ramsdell
Carl Earl
ADVERTISING
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Brandy Stewart
events at the library including a
jewelry appraisal on Saturday, July
30, at 1 p.m., hosted by the Friends
of the Seaside Library. Registered
Gemologist Danuta Hackett will
join us for a fun ¿ lled afternoon of
antique jewelry appraisal. If you
have an old piece of jewelry that’s
tucked away in the back of your
junk drawer bring it in to have a
registered gemologist put it under
the microscope. Danuta Hackett will
take us on an adventurous history
lesson and treasure hunt that may
shed some light on the origins and
values of your antique and vintage
jewelry. Hackett will be giving her
opinions only on the value of pieces
and no purchasing of any items will
Seaside Signal
Letter policy
The Seaside Signal
is published every
other week by
EO Media Group,
1555 N. Roosevelt,
Seaside, OR 97138.
503-738-5561
seasidesignal.com
The Seaside Signal welcomes letters to the
editor. The deadline is noon Monday prior to
publication. Letters must be 400 words or less
and must be signed by the author and include a
phone number Ior veri¿ cation. :e also reTuest
that submissions be limited to one letter per
month. Send to 1555 N. Roosevelt Drive,
Seaside, OR 97138, drop them off at 1555 N.
Roosevelt Drive or fax to 503-738-9285.
Or email rmarx@seasidesignal.com
take place. Adults can also join the
monthly trivia tournament typically
held the second Wednesday of the
month in the library community
room. Teams compete for bragging
rights of being the “Know-it-alls” in
the room.
If you are into the new Pokemon-
Go game that is all the rage this
summer, stop by the library to
recharge and see if there are any
Pokémon’s hiding around the li-
brary! Who knows if there may be a
rattata or bulbasaur lurking nearby?
Seaside Public Library is lo-
cated at 1131 Broadway. For more
information call 503-738-6742 or
visit www.seasidelibrary.org or our
Facebook page.
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