ECOMESSAGES

by the Columbia Gorge Ecology Institute and "Don't Run From Bears"

LOOK DOWN FOR POISON OAK! Remember to look around while you enjoy the gorge, because poison oak sap is in stems, roots and leaves. Dangerous AND a master of disguise, because in full sun, it grows vertical stems and creeping horizontal roots but in shade, it looks like a vine on other shrubs. You can recognize it by those compound leaves, think: "Leaves of three, let' em be" if you see three little red leaves turning to green leaves.

LOOK UP FOR EAGLES!
After scavenging Gorge shorelines through the ski season, since November, visiting Bald Eagles and skiers are moving on to make way for Osprey and windsurfers! The Gorge also hosts resident Bald eagles and at last count there were 15 communal nests – that count is up from 1979 when there were zero. Enjoy being outside and look up for eagles – notice their soaring flat wings – Turkey vultures and Osprey both have curvy or bent wing shapes when soaring.

WILDFLOWERS!
The Columbia River Gorge is famous for its abundance and diversity of wildflowers. Over 800 flowering plants can be found in the Gorge; that's nearly 25% of the number found in Oregon! Flowers like Grass Widow and Balsam Root are already blooming in the East Gorge. If you are in the West Gorge keep your eyes open for a beautiful white flower called Trillium. This flower is also known as Wake Robin, because as the Trillium starts to bloom the Robins become active and "wake up". There are also stories of Trillium having a special use for some Native Americans. A women might cook up a trillium bulb and put it in a stew or soup, then, whoever she feed that soup to would fall in love with her. Trillium was a love charm. The elders would also warn the children that if they picked the Trillium that the rain would come. Now there may be no evidence that Trillium will bring you love or rain, but it is a very delicate flower so please when you're hunting for Trillium enjoy them where you find them. If you pick one it may not come back.