USFWS Update, March 2022

Mesha R. Wood (she/her/hers)

Park Ranger, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

 Steigerwald Lake NWR will be reopening to the public May 1
There is still plenty of work to be done, but we look forward to having the community home with us again this coming May. While some of the amenities, artwork, and even part of some trails won’t be completed for opening day, we hope that those that return to experience it for the first time since March 2020, will enjoy the chance to take in the scenery, wildlife, and growing plants.

Stay tuned for more information to follow (bookmark our USFWS website) about what to expect (including access and trails) and visitor services offered (amenities and public engagement) closer to the reopening in May.      

Volunteer at SLNWR Overlook, ©USFWS

   Image description: Stasia Honnold of Washington Trails Association stops at the first overlook at SLNWR on the west levee to take a picture of Mt. Hood

which appears in the far distance, rising above Steigerwald Lake 

Daylight Savings and the Impact We can Help Mitigate 
Daylight savings, while the same general time year after year – ALWAYS catches me by surprise. And even as the saying goes, “fall back – spring forward”, somehow I always mix the antics and get confused if it is fall back or fall forward, as well, I’ve definitely fallen forward just as often as I have fallen backwards… 
The switch takes a bit of time for me to adjust to as is the case for many. As I sit at the Refuge I wonder – how does this alteration of time, affect wildlife? 
There are many opinions about this for sure. I welcome you to read this article from Discover Magazine for some thoughts on the impact to animals. One thing this article reminded me of was, that the hours many species of wildlife thrive during (usually the darker ones when human activity is minimal) are very important. The relevancy here is that our closing times are adjusted per sunrise and sunset, to account for this. While the Refuge may seem like a great moon-lite outing, our automatic gates close daily to help provide respite for the wildlife that call the Refuges their home. As days get longer and Steigerwald Lake reopens in addition to seasonal trails at Ridgefield, we ask again that in planning your visit you keep an eye on the clock and exit before the posted closing time. 
Check out our NEW official USFWS Refuge websites for closing times, and much more. Note: While Ridgefield’s website remains the same URL, Steigerwald Lake’s has slightly changed.  

  Great Horned Owl, ©USFWS Southwest Region 

Image Description: A close up of a Great horned owl staring into the eyes of the view, with tufted ears pointing up and the yellow of their eyes very prominent

Question of the month. Which of the following species might you see in the water at one of our Refuges? 

     1.   River Otter 

     2.  Wood Duck 

     3.  Garter Snake

    4.   Alligators 

    5.  All of the Above

    6.  All but 4 

That is right, it is F. While we don’t have alligators at our Refuges (phew!) we do have River otters, Wood ducks, and garter snakes, that if you are lucky, you might just see swimming. 

While watching Wood ducks seems a regular treat, I do see the occasional Otter family splashing around. However, the other weekend, I watched a garter snake slither from the bank right into the water and was amazed. I stepped back and watched it for a bit, moving around in the water just fine, until it circled back toward land and went along its way. While I have seen rattlesnakes in eastern Oregon in the water, I hadn’t really thought about a garter snake as a swimmer, until this day. (sorry no picture as I didn’t have my phone or a camera on myself). It was a good reminder that wildlife and nature can reveal some pretty fun and new things to us, and even surprise us.  

On your next visit, I encourage you to stop to think about what might be under the surface, emerging or visible on the water – as there is always more than the eye sees. This time of year, egg masses of various amphibians fill our shallower wetlands and macroinvertebrates that start their life as aquatic species, are tucked away in the water till warmer days. Dragonflies, damselflies, mayflies, stoneflies, and mosquitos ALL start their life cycles in the water. Watch for them hovering in the wetlands later as temperatures increase. 

Dragonfly, ©Mesha Wood, USFWS 
Image description: A Red and orange colored adult dragonfly sits on the gravel road with wings spread.

To read past updates from Ranger Mesha, visit our archive page here.