Four canoes along with Personal Flotation Devices and paddles that were stolen from Siletz Bay National Wildlife Refuge in December 2005 have been returned. Refuge Biologist David Pitkin received a late night phone call in early March from the Lincoln County Sheriff's Department stating that a kayaker had noticed the canoes and associated gear were stashed under the Drift Creek Bridge. When Pitkin investigated he discovered that everything, excepting one PFD, was returned and in great condition. In the time between the theft and the recovery Otis residents Mark and Betty Nicholson read about the theft in the Lincoln City News-Guard and having been former environmental educators generously donated a 16' fiberglass canoe, two PFD's and two wooden paddles. They were concerned that the Refuge's environmental education program whose students depend on the use of canoes to conduct on-the-ground research in Siletz Bay and Nestucca Bay Refuge had been halted. Their donation kept the education program afloat and possibly encouraged the thief to return the stolen canoes. In the end all refuge staff, volunteers, and participating students are happy to have the canoes back for the use of refuge biology programs and environmental education.