Wildlife Damage Management, Internet Center for

 

Title

PROTECTING JUVENILE SALMONIDS FROM GULL PREDATION USING WIRE EXCLUSION BELOW HYDROELECTRIC DAMS

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

April 1995

Predation by ring-billed gulls (Larus delawarenis) has been identified as a significant threat to migrant steelhead and salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) smolt in the Columbia and Snake Rivers. Bird predation appears highest immediately below hydroelectric facilities. Installation of overhead wire/cable exclusion systems over the tailrace area of 12 dams has been completed to reduce gull predation. Data collected from 1 of the facilities as well as observations from other dams indicate that overhead wire/cable exclusion systems are effective in reducing predation by gulls.