Wildlife ViewingGuide

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

Northeast Region

ELKHORN

WILDLIFE AREA

The Elkhorn Wildlife Area, nestled below the east crest of the Elkhorn Mountains,

is best known for the Rocky Mountain elk and mule deer herds that frequent the area during the winter. When snow covers the ground, ODFW staff feed elk and deer to encourage them to stay in the higher elevations and out of the agricultural fields in the valley below. In addition to protecting agricultural interests, this provides a great chance for visitors to get a look at these magnificent animals.

The wildlife area is open to the public from April 11 to November 30 for wildlife-oriented recreational opportunities such as viewing, hiking, horseback riding, photography, camping and education. An area of incredible beauty and diversity, it is surprisingly accessible to visitors thanks to two wildlife viewing areas and a nature trail. Both wildlife viewing sites are reached via county roads and are ADA-accessible.

One viewing site is located near the area headquarters; the second is located on the Auburn Tract. The nature trail on Anthony Creek includes a parking area, ¾-mile graveled pathway, a footbridge and interpretive signs. (See map on back.)

Native habitats include wet meadow, mixed conifer forest, grasslands, shrub steppe and riparian which support a diversity of fish and wildlife including numerous species identified in the Oregon Conservation Strategy as species in need of conservation.

Elk Feeding TripsA private concessionaire operates winter elk feeding excursions by way of horse-drawn wagon on weekends from mid-December through February. For a fee, visitors can ride a wagon to the ODFW Anthony Creek elk feeding site, where they can view, photograph and learn about elk behavior and ecology.

Elkhorn Wildlife Area61846 Powder River Lane North Powder, OR 97867

(541) 898-2826

Wildlife Viewing Etiquetten Watch or photograph wildlife without disturbing,

chasing or flushing the animals. Keep your distance from nests and young; never pick up wildlife.

n Stay on existing roads, paths or trails to protect habitats. Leave the area as you found it.

n Use binoculars and a spotting scope to increase your viewing pleasure.

About the Oregon Conservation Strategy The Oregon Conservation Strategy provides a blueprint and action plan for the long-term conservation of Oregon’s native fish and wildlife and their habitats through a non-regulatory, statewide approach to conservation. To learn more, visit the ODFW Web site.

3406 Cherry Avenue NESalem, OR 97303(503) 947-6000www.dfw.state.or.us

Elkhorn Wildlife Area is located nine miles west of I-84 on Powder River Lane. From I-84 take the North Powder Exit (Exit 285)

The production of this guide was made possible by funding from the Wildlife Restoration Program and hunting license and tag fees. Created in 1937 with the passage of the Pittman-Robertson Act, the Wildlife Restoration Program is the nation’s oldest and most

successful wildlife restoration program. Funding for the program is derived from federal excise taxes on firearms, ammunition, archery equipment and arrow components.

The following symbols and terms are used in this checklist:

W Winter: December-February Sp Spring: March-MayS Summer: June-AugustF Fall: September-NovemberA AbundantC Common

U UncommonO OccasionalR Rare

The Elkhorn Wildlife Area is home to many species of wildlife.

MAMMALS

OCCURANCE W Sp S FBatBats (species unknown) C A A A

Pikas, Rabbits, HaresSnowshoe hare (Lepus americanus) C C C C

SquirrelsYellow pine chipmunk (Tamias amoenus) R R R RBelding’s ground squirrel (Spermophilus beldingi) R A A U Red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) R C C R Northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus) R R R R Golden-mantled ground squirrel (Spermophilus lateralis) A A A AColumbian ground squirrel (Spermophilus columbianus) R C C R

Rats and MiceMuskrat (Ondatra zibethica) U U U U

BeaverAmerican beaver (Castor canadensis) U U U U

PorcupinePorcupine (Erithizon dorsatum) U U U U Coyotes, FoxesCoyote (Canis latrans) A A A A BearBlack bear (Ursus americanus) U C C C Raccoon, RingtailRaccoon (Procyon lotor) C C C C

Weasels, Skunks, Badgers, OttersLong-tailed weasel (Mustela frenata) U U U U Mink (Mustela vison) U U U U Badger (Taxidea taxus) C C C C Striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) U U U U Yellow-bellied marmot (Marmota flaviventris) R C C R

CatsCougar (Puma concolor) C C C C Bobcat (Lynx rufus) C C C C

Hoofed MammalsRocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus) A A A AMule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) A A A AWhite-tail deer (Odocoileus virginianus) C C C C Pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) U U U U

BIRDS

OCCURANCE W Sp S FSwans, Ducks and GeeseCanada goose (Branta canadensis) U C C CWood duck (Aix sponsa) R U U UMallard (Anas platyrhynchos) U C C CCinnamon teal (Anas cyanoptera) R U U RCommon merganser (Mergus merganser) R R R R

Pheasants, Grouse, Quail and TurkeysChukar partridge (Alectoris chukar) R R R RRing-necked pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) R R R RRuffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus) U C C CBlue grouse (Dendragapus obscurus) U C C CWild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) C C C CCalifornia quail (Callipepla californica) C C C C

Bitterns, Herons and EgretsGreat blue heron (Ardea herodias) C C C C

RaptorsTurkey vulture (Cathartes aura) R C C RBald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) C C C CNorthern harrier (Circus cyaneus) C C C CSharp-shinned hawk (Accipiter striatus) U U U UCooper’s hawk (Accipiter cooperii) U U U UNorthern goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) R R R RRed-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) A A A ARough-legged hawk (Buteo lagopus) C C U CGolden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) U U U UAmerican kestrel (Falco sparverius) C C C C ShorebirdsKilldeer (Charadrius vociferus) R C A CCommon snipe (Gallinago gallinago) U U U U

Doves, PigeonsMourning dove (Zenaida macroura) R U C C

OwlsGreat horned owl (Bubo virginianus) C C C CLong-eared owl (Asio otus) C C C CNorthern pygmy owl (Glaucidium gnoma) R R R RNorthern saw-whet owl (Aegolius acadicus) R R R R

Nighthawks, SwiftsCommon nighthawk (Chordeles minor) U C C C HummingbirdsRufous hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus) R R C R

Kingfisher, Woodpeckers Belted kingfisher (Ceryle alcyon) C C C CRed-naped sapsucker (Sphyrapicus nuchalis) R U U UHairy woodpecker (Picoides villosus) R U U UDowny woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) R C C CPileated woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) C C C CNorthern flicker (Colaptes auratus) C C C C

Flycatchers, LarksOlive-sided flycatcher (Contopus borealis) R U U RWestern kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis) R U U RWestern wood-pewee (Contopus sordidulus) R U U U

Shrikes, VireosNorthern shrike (Lanius exubitor) U R R R Solitary vireo (Vireo solitarius) R U U UWarbling vireo (Vireo gilvus) R U U U

Crows, Jays, MagpiesGray jay (Perisoreus canadensis) U C C CSteller’s jay (Cyanocitta stelleri) A A A AClark’s nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana) U C C RBlack-billed magpie (Pica pica) A A A AAmerican crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) A A A A Common raven (Corvus corax) A A A A SwallowsBarn swallow (Hirundo rustica) R C A RViolet-green swallow (Tachycineta thalassina) U C A CTree swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) U C A CCliff swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) U C A C Chickadees, Nuthatches, Creepers Black-capped chickadee (Parus atricapillus) C C C CMountain chickadee (Parus gambeli) C C C CRed-breasted nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) R R R RWhite-breasted nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) R R R RPygmy nuthatch (Sitta pygmaea) R R R R Wrens, Dippers, KingletsHouse wren (Troglodytes aedon) R C C CAmerican dipper (Cinclus mexicanus) U U U UGolden-crowned kinglet (Regulus satrapa) R U U URuby-crowned kinglet (Regulus calendula) R U U U

Bluebirds, ThrushesWestern bluebird (Sialia mexicana) R C C CMountain bluebird (Sialia currucoides) R C C C Townsend’s solitaire (Myadestes townsendi) R U U USwainson’s thrush (Catharus ustulatus) R R R RAmerican robin (Turdus migratorius) U A A U

Pipits, WaxwingsCedar waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) R R R R

StarlingsEuropean starling (Sturnus vulgaris) U A A A

WarblersYellow warbler (Dendroica petechia) R C C UYellow-rumped warbler (Dendroica coronata) R U U RTownsend’s warbler (Dendroica townsendi) R C C UMacGillivray’s warbler (Oporornis tolmiei) R U U U

Tanagers, BuntingsWestern tanager (Piranga ludoviciana) R U U R

Sparrows, TowheeSong sparrow (Melospiza melodia) U C C CWhite-crowned sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) R U U RChipping sparrow (Spizella passerina) R U U UVesper sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus) R C C CGreen-tailed towhee (Pipilo chlorurus) U R R UDark-eyed junco (Junco hyemalis) A A A A

Blackbirds, Grackles and OriolesWestern meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta) U U U UBrewer’s blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus) R C C CBrown-headed cowbird (Molothrus ater) U C C CBullock’s oriole (Icterus bullockii) R R R R

Finches, Grosbeaks, House Sparrows Cassin’s finch (Carpodacus cassinii) U C C UPine siskin (Carduelis pinus) U C C UEvening grosbeak (Coccothraustes vespertinus) R U R RPine grosbeak (Pinicola enucleator) R R R RAmerican goldfinch (Carduelis tristis) R C C U

AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES Long-toed salamander (Ambystoma macrodactylum) Columbia spotted frog (Rana luteiventris) Western toad (Bufo boreas) Pacific treefrog (Pseudacris regilla) Gopher snake (Pituophis catenifer) Rubber boa (Charina bottae) Racer (Coluber constrictor) Garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis)