Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge: Biography and Visit

Founded in 1964, the Willamette Valley National Wildlife Refuge Complex became part of the Willamette Valley Ecoregion (FWS, 2010 and DFW, 2006). The coordinates of the Ankeny Wildlife Refuge are  122 degrees 36 minutes 44 seconds West Longitude, 45 degrees 05 minutes 18 seconds North Latitude (DFW, 2006) situating it between Salem and Albany, Oregon. Ankeny Wildlife Refuge comprises a total of 2,796 acres; 1,765 acres of cropland, which provides forage for wintering geese, 600 acres of riparian forests and 500 acres of shallow water seasonal wetlands (FWS, 2011). A map of Ankeny Wildlife Refuge is available at http://library.FWS.gov/Refuges/Ankeny_map.pdf. During my research, I was unable to come across any information regarding major changes to the boundaries of the Ankeny Wildlife Refuge. 

In the mid-twentieth century, wildlife managers came to the consensus there was a need to take action against the increasing limits imposed on the winter habitats for the Dusky Canada Goose as well as the need for regulations regarding hunting the subspecies (FWS, 2010). The outcome of the consensus was the founding the Ankeny Wildlife Refuge. The management goal is to provide wintering habitat for geese particularly the dusky Canada goose (FWS, 2011).  The subspecies Dusky of the Canada goose breads in a small area of the south-central coast of Alaska, the Copper River Delta, and Prince William Sound and Gulf of Alaska Island (FWS, 2010). With one of the smallest populations amongst North America geese, Ankeny Wildlife Refuge attempts to ensure a winter habitat that will provide for viable population simultaneously, reducing damage to crops on private farmlands caused by browsing geese (FWS, 2010, 2011).

The founding of the Ankeny Wildlife Refuge was a private decision. There was controversy between landowners, hunters and wildlife agency personnel regarding hunting at Ankeny Wildlife Refuge (Rasker, 1989). Currently the main purposes and uses of the Ankeny Wildlife Refuge are wildlife/wildland observation, photography, hiking, environmental education, and interpretation (FWS, 2011). The ability to hunt at Ankeny Wildlife Refuge changed in 1980 with the suspension of this activity. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, there are over 160,000 annual visitors to the Ankeny Wildlife Refuge.

Wetlands in the Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge contain creeks, ponds and seasonal marshes that provide wetland habitat to a variety of wildlife species. Riparian forests with its thick understory provide habitat for various types of wildlife. Grasslands include brush and hedgerows provide winter browse for winter waterfowl (FWS, 2010). Research did not reveal any threats to the ecosystems of Ankeny Wildlife Refuge.

In the wetlands of the complex of Ankeny Wildlife Refuge, one can find broad-leafed pondweed, water plantain, American sloughgrass, and Englemans spike-rush. One will find Oregon ash, lady fern, and skunk cabbage in the riparian forests of the complex.  Additionally, Found in the grasslands of the complex are tall fescue, corn, annual ryegrass and hawthorn.

Found in the wetlands of Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge are red-legged frog, pacific tree frog and beaver. Found in the riparian forests are river otter, rough-skinned newt, black-tailed deer, and red-legged frog. In addition, found in the grasslands are gray-tailed vole, black-tailed deer, red fox, coyote and the common garter snake.

Wildlife is abundant at Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge such as swans, geese and ducks species including, cackling goose, Canada goose, American wigeon, Mallard, Cinnamon teal, northern shoveler, northern pintail, green-winged teal, bufflehead, and ruddy duck (FWS, 2010). Moreover, one will find pheasants, grouse and quail species including California quail and rarely ruffed grouse, blue grouse and mountain quail (FWS, 2010). Common birds include great blue heron, great egret, and occasionally green heron (FWS, 2010). Turkey vultures are common (FWS, 2010). In addition, falcons, rails, coots, pigeons, doves, owls, shrikes, vireos, jays, crows, ravens, larks, swallows, chickadees, bushits, nuthatchers, creepers, wood warblers, tanagers, sparrows, allies, and finches visit Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge (FWS, 2010). The following link contains the Seasonal bird checklist for the complex:
http://www.FWS.gov/willamettevalley/ankeny/documents/birdlist09heron.pdf .  

The number of dusky Canada goose have varied over the decades starting with a population totaling two-thirds of the geese in the Willamette Valley by 1950 increasing its population to more than ninety percent the total geese by the mid-1960s. During the 1970s, lessers, Taverner’s, western subspecies and cacklers began using the Willamette Valley as a winter home. As a result, the dusky population declined while, for instance, cackler population rose to make up eighty percent of the Willamette Valley’s wintering population (FWS, 2010). 

Dusky Canada goose are species of concern making up ten percent of the 250,000 wintering geese in the Willamette Valley; other major subspecies include Taverner’s, lesser, western subspecies and rarely seen are the Aleutian and Vancouver subspecies (FWS, 2010). The decline in population results from an earthquake in 1964 that uplifted their habitat in Alaska leaving the Dusky with a small breeding ground in southern Alaska. Furthermore, an increase in predation by Bald Eagles in particular hinders the reproductive success of the Dusky as well as resulting in the death of adults.

According to the National Biological Information Infrastructure (2008), strict restriction on hunting the Dusky Canada goose began in the 1980s. At Ankeny Wildlife Refuge prohibits hunting of the Dusky. Additionally, the refuge closes during the overwintering of the geese from Oct. – May. Moreover, for those hunters who hunt in the area where the Dusky overwinter, must complete a special identification course before receiving hunting tags for geese. Hunters must report to check stations for inspection as a means of counting the number of geese killed. Additionally, once the hunter has caught his limit, the hunting permit expires.

Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge is one of three wildlife refuges that make up the larger Willamette valley complex. The refuge incorporates local croplands as part of the browsing grounds for overwintering geese and waterfowl. The ecosystem of the Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge is a viable ecosystem because of its incorporation of the surrounding private lands. Moreover, Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge is not isolated from other areas that may serve as habitat for plant and animal species. To the contrary, private croplands surround the refuge to the north, west and south side. However, there is a major interstate approximately two miles to the east of the refuge.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (2011) proposed a plan to maintain the cooperation of cooperative farmers by providing enhanced irrigation capabilities as wells taking over key fields that the geese use.  Additionally, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (2011) proposed, over the next fifteen years, to restore roughly 479 acres (of the three refuges in the complex) to wetland, wet prairie, riparian or upland prairie/oak savannah habitats.

I visited the Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge located at 2301 Wintel Road, Jefferson, Oregon 97352. My visit occurred on Saturday, May 21, 2011. During my visit, the weather conditions were gray skies, cloud cover and light rain.

The Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge is very accessible to the public. There are well-maintained roads throughout the refuge with abundant signage denoting wildlife viewing areas and parking areas. There are no visitor facilities inside the refuge. Additionally, there is no entrance fee for Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge. At the time of my visit, there were no visible signs of damage to the refuge that resulted from visitors. In my opinion, there is adequate access for visitors at Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge.

Visitors can find information kiosks throughout the Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge. Each kiosk contains information regarding the wildlife that is visible in each area. Each sign details biological and migratory information about each fauna species. Information signs for wild flora are also available for visitor education. I found the information provided at the kiosks accurate and informative. The kiosks located inside the Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge provided more information about the biological and migratory information for migratory species than I found during my research.  I did not find there to be any information gaps between the message provided at the refuge kiosks and the information gathered during my research.

The low number of visitors present during my visit to Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge surprised me. The boardwalk that wound through the riparian area of the refuge provided the most enjoyment for me during my visit. The boardwalk appeared to hover over the still water underneath through which the trees descended and disappeared underneath. Unfortunately, the lack of visitor facilities was not enjoyable, particularly the lack of restrooms.

I found the Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge valuable for the same reasons of its published formation, namely, as a habitat for migratory and waterfowl birds as well as a variety of manuals and reptiles. In addition, the refuge is home to various wild plant species. In my opinion, the refuge is currently under proper management. As it appears, the visitor areas are clean and well maintained, the wild plant species are thriving and the wildlife is abundant. The main suggestion I have is to increase the visitor facilities by providing at least one restroom inside the Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge.

The Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge in the Willamette Valley Ecoregion of Oregon is a vital component of the Dusky Canada goose life, amongst other wildlife. The refuge provides overwintering habitat and browse for migratory birds. It is impressive the number of private farmers who came together to work with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in order to create the habitat for wild fauna and flora.  It is reassuring to know resolving conflicts is possible and outcomes such as the creation of the Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge.

References:

National Biological Information Infrastructure (2008) Canada Goose ‘Dusky’ subspecies, U.S. Geological Survey [online] http://www.nbii.gov/portal/server.pt/community/canada_goose_(dusky_ssp)/1629

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (2006) Willamette Valley Ecoregion, Oregon Conservation Strategy [online] http://www.dfw.state.or.us/conservationstrategy/document_pdf/b-eco_wv.pdf

Rasker, Raymond (1989) Agriculture and wildlife: an economic analysis of waterfowl habitat management on farms in western Oregon [online] http://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/xmlui/bitstream/handle/1957/11393/Rasker_Ray_1990.pdf?sequence=1

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (2005) Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge: Public Use Facilities [online] http://library.FWS.gov/Refuges/Ankeny_map.pdf

U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (2010) Dusky Canada Geese, Willamette Valley National Wildlife Refuge Complex [online] http://www.FWS.gov/willamettevalley/Complex/dusky.html

U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (n.d.) Providing compatible recreation at Willamette Valley Refuge [online] http://www.FWS.gov/willamettevalley/ccp/pub_use_issue.html

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (2011) Welcome, Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge [online] http://www.FWS.gov/willamettevalley/ankeny/

U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (2010) Wildlife and Habitat, Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge [online] 

http://www.FWS.gov/willamettevalley/ankeny/wildlife.html

U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (2011) Willamette Valley National Wildlife Refuge Complex, Benton, Linn, Marion, and Polk Counties, Oregon, Federal Register [online] http://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2011/05/25/2011-12964/willamette-valley-national-wildlife-refuge-complex-benton-linn-marion-and-polk-counties-or

Figure 1: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (2005) Willamette Valley Ecoregion Conservation Opportunity Areas [online] http://www.dfw.state.or.us

Figure 2:U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (2011) Oregon coast national refuge complex: wildlife: waterfowl [online] http://www.fws.gov/oregoncoast/wildlife/waterfowl.htm

Figure 3: State Parks (n.d.) Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge
http://www.stateparks.com/ankeny.html