Megan Urton - Blacktail Deer Upper Canine Survey

This project was designed and implemented by Megan Urton, an Oregon State University undergraduate specializing in wildlife biology, and a lifelong Cordovan. This study is being performed to test the hypothesis, based on anecdotal accounts, that our blacktail deer show an uncharacteristically high rate of upper canines in the population. This trait, which is usually extremely rare in new world deer species, seems more prevalent in the Prince William Sound area. This could be a result of the limited genetic pool used to establish our introduced population, or it could be a normal trait of blacktail deer, for which there is not yet any data on this topic. Information gathered form this survey will be the first of its kind for blacktail deer, and the first hard data for this phenomena in any new world deer.

Be a part of this groundbreaking study by checking to see if your deer have upper canines too! Upper canines will appear as stubby, white, nubbins when they are exposed above the gum line. However, these teeth may not always be large enough to break through the gums. If so, a careful cut to the bone will expose this trait, if it is there. So if you bag a deer with upper canines, be sure to add this rarity to your trophy case! And remember to call or email it in and tell us about it! (Pictures are encouraged!)

To report a deer with upper canines, or for more information, Ask for Megan, at 503-840-2335, or email it in to pwsdeersurvey@gmail.com

Erik Ronnegard - The Recycled Paper Retail Campaign

I am a born-and-raised Cordovan, graduated from Cordova High School, now attending Alaska Bible Institute in Homer this Fall. This project has been started to raise awareness about the benefits of using recycled paper over the use of virgin-tree paper and ultimately to try to get the local stores that do distribute paper products to sell recycled paper or paper with a greater post consumer waste percentage. I first sparked an interest in recycled paper when I was talking with my supervisor, Autumn Bryson. She had mentioned to me her attempts to start a paper recycling program and the difficulty of the project. Then the question arose, post-consumer recycling is such a formidable task, what about recycled paper retail? While we don't have a paper recycling campaign in action as of yet, if the stores in town sold recycled-paper products, we would still be able to do our part.

Agnes Nichols - Harbor Clean-Up Day

I'm Agnes, I was born in Anchorage raised here in Cordova. I am currently going to be a junior at Mt. Edgecumbe High School, a boarding school in Sitka. My project is the Cordova Harbor Clean-Up. I was inspired to do this certain project because I have attended meetings at the Sitka Sound Science Center just for fun, I realized that animals are being majorly effected by the water quality and the marine debris. So I chose this project for the marine environment and for better water quality. The main goal is to get most of the trash out of the harbor for this one day, I also am looking into more long term possibilities such as an annual Harbor Day Clean Up. This project is going to be like the Cordova Clean up, just mainly focused on the harbor.

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