Extensive Die-Off at Fort Worden State Park

We received photos and video of a large die-off at Fort Worden State Park.   A representative photo and site map will be found below.

The die-off apparently covers several acres, and is quite dramatic.  This is the most northwesterly die-off report received thus far.  It is about eighteen miles north of Port Ludlow, which was previously the most northerly site.  Fort Warden overlooks both Puget Sound and the Straits of Juan de Fuca.

Our Kitsap citizen scientist, Heidi, reports:

I just spent the afternoon traipsing around Fort Worden State Park in Port Townsend and found extensive fern die-off.  It was in the classic pattern of crispy fern, next to mostly dead, next to sparse flat and failing ferns.  It was everywhere.  We went all around Artillery Hill and found that most of the place is affected.  There’s still “healthy” stands of fern, mostly on the North side, which helped to give a stark contrast to the sad desolation of the remaining hill.

It looks to me like it probably started 2-3 years ago.   It is a very large site and I’ve only explored a small part of the park (2+ miles). 

Interestingly, the first patch of die off I found was near an otter den.   I’m making note of wildlife corridors in case that is a part of the spread. We have a lot of otters that traverse my property to nest across the street. The fern die off seems to follow along their path.