The INDEPENDENT, February 1, 2007
Page 21
Ike Says…
From page 3
cause such a wide decline in
the deer herd. So why would
predators be a factor now?
There has been some research
that sheds some light.
A study of Adult Black tailed
deer mortality on Vancouver Is-
land stated:
“We documented mortality
causes and estimated average
monthly survival…for 105 ra-
dio-collared black-tailed deer at
4 sites on Vancouver Island,
British Columbia, from Febru-
ary 1982 through June 1991.
Predation accounted for 61% of
all deaths…and occurred most-
ly during February-June.”
A UC Davis study that was
designed primarily to study
sheep predation as compared
to wild prey, used scat samples
from controlled areas that were
sheep range and had a good
population
of
both/either
coastal Blacktails or Mule Deer.
They found:
“Consumption of deer was
probably considerably greater
than that of small mammals in
all territories given that the in-
dex we used, frequency of oc-
currence, tends to underesti-
mate consumption of large rel-
ative to small prey. Indeed,
based on estimates of bio-
massconsumption for the entire
study area, deer (32%) and
sheep (24%) composed con-
siderably greater proportions of
the coyote diet than did any
small prey, among which the
greatest consumption was of
woodrat (10%), vole (8%), and
lagomorph (6%). Estimated
biomass consumption of mis-
cellaneous rodents not includ-
ed in the present study totaled
less than 8%.
Did you catch the predator
that was mentioned in the
study? Yep, the coyote. So
why would coyotes be a prob-
lem now, when we have always
had coyotes? What we didn’t
have previously was Hair Loss
Syndrome (HLS). A coyote’s
livelihood depends on being
able to catch things to eat.
Looking at the two studies
above, it becomes evident that
coyotes are more effective at
taking adult deer than most of
us ever realized. This is why
the antlerless hunts of the 70s,
80s and 90s had such an im-
pact on the deer herds, and
also explains the severe drop
between age classes in the
deer herd which was observed
in tooth age structure studies.
But reasoning would have us
believe that as the deer herd
declined so would the coyote
population, but this is where
HLS comes into play. The criti-
cal time for coyotes is the same
as for deer and elk, winter.
Now add HLS into the equation
and, instead of having a few
healthy, hard to catch deer in
the woods, deer are becoming
sick right when coyotes need
them the most. From Decem-
ber to April, deer are succumb-
ing to HLS and the coyotes are
mopping up on them. What is
happening is that the coyote
population is being held artifi-
cially high, while the deer popu-
lation continues to decline.
This is a predator pit situation
TRIVIA ANSWERS
Trivia answers
(from page 17)
1. French Canadian trappers
of the Hudson’s Bay Com-
pany.
2. Portland’s Benson Poly-
technic High School.
3. Dorothy McCullough Lee,
in 1949.
4. Hillsboro, in a one-room
log cabin.
5. Silver, in the 200-meter
run.
6. Oregon Health Sciences
University in Portland.
and the end game is that both
deer and coyotes will eventual-
ly decline to very low numbers.
As long as HLS is around, coy-
otes will have an advantage
they never had before.
Is there an easy solution to
this problem? Nope.
Izaak Walton League,
Nehalem Valley Chapter
meets monthly on the 3rd
Thursday at 7:00 p.m. Call
503-429-7193 for location.
Did You Know…
From page 18
ing our contact with the group I
had a healthy discussion with a
young man who was question-
ing why they could not publicly
fight in this manner.
According to Oregon Re-
vised Statutes (ORS) 163.160
“Assault IV” is committed when
a person “Intentionally, know-
ingly or recklessly causes
physical injury to another…”
Even if the fighters are con-
senting adults who engage in
mutual combat, the fight could
constitute an Assault IV. If this
crime is committed in the pres-
ence of an officer, we will defi-
nitely take some kind of action.
The young man felt what they
were doing was not illegal and
was essentially safe. I had to
disagree with the young man
having seen numerous serious
injuries resulting from simple
fights, especially resulting from
subjects receiving a blow to the
head. Unfortunately, I have
also seen fatalities resulting
from one punch or relatively mi-
nor incidents.
The young man asked me if
I was against the concept per-
sonally and I told him I was.
Unless the fighting is a sanc-
tioned event with trained med-
ical personnel on-site I can not
agree with individuals assault-
ing each other under these cir-
cumstances. I have been told
that the Vernonia version of
“Fight Club” is going to contin-
ue to occur. I was even told that
the people involved are doing
this because they are “bored.” I
would hate to see someone
lose their life or get seriously in-
jured because they were
“bored.”
LEGAL NOTICE
LEGAL NOTICE
LEGAL NOTICE
LEGAL NOTICE
LEGAL NOTICE
City of Banks – Public Notice
can be obtained at City Hall, 100 S.
Main Street, or by calling 503-324-
5112.
Applications must be received at
City Hall no later than 1:00 p.m., Febru-
ary 7, 2007.
for the position may be obtained at City
Hall. Appointment to the Planning Com-
mission will be made by the City Coun-
cil at their February 13, 2007 meeting.
Applications can be obtained at City
Hall, 100 S. Main Street, or by calling
503-324-5112.
Applications must be received at
City Hall no later than 1:00 p.m., Febru-
ary 7, 2007.
planting and maintenance of tree vari-
eties to achieve a stable and sustain-
able forest. Trees reduce noise pollu-
tion, runoff, water contamination and
improve air quality in addition to provid-
ing shade and beauty. A Tree Board,
with help from the Oregon Forestry De-
partment, will identify problem trees
and shrubs, obtain professional recom-
mendations, insure proper trimming
and tree care, etc. Five volunteers will
work under the direction of City Coun-
cil. If an interest in our urban forest is
growing on you, volunteer for the Tree
Board by filling out an application at
City Hall, 100 S Main St, or by calling
503-324-5112.
City Council – The City of Banks is
accepting applications from persons in-
terested in a position on the City Coun-
cil. The Council has one vacancy that
must be filled by any registered voter
living within the Banks City Limits for
the past 12 months. Additional informa-
tion regarding City Council qualifica-
tions may be obtained at City Hall. Ap-
pointment to the City Council will be
made by the City Council at their Feb-
ruary 13, 2007 meeting for a term that
expires in January 2009. Applications
Planning Commission – The City of
Banks is accepting applications from
persons interested in a position on the
City of Banks Planning Commission.
The Planning Commission has one va-
cancy that can be filled by anyone living
inside the city limits. This position is a
voting position. Additional information
regarding the necessary qualifications
Tree Board – The City of Banks is
establishing a Tree Board to enhance
the benefits of a healthy urban forest
for it’s citizens. Volunteers will meet a
few times each year to recommend
Volunteers need for the Budget
Committee – The City of Banks is look-
ing for persons interested in a position
on the City Budget Committee. Inter-
ested persons need to live within the
Banks City Limits. Additional informa-
tion regarding these positions may be
obtained at City Hall. Applications can
be obtained at City Hall, 100 S. Main
Street, or by calling 503-324-5112.
Publish February 1, 2007