Anglers are reeling in sturgeon on the lower Columbia River, halibut from the Strait of Juan de Fuca and trout from lakes throughout the state. And, starting June 1, the ocean salmon fishery will open off the south coast of Washington, with the rest of the coast opening two days later.

Sound like fun? Washingtonians who are interested in fishing but haven't tried it have a perfect chance to do so during Free Fishing Weekend, scheduled June 7-8.

During those two days, no license will be required to fish or gather shellfish in any waters open to fishing in Washington state. Also, no vehicle use permit will be required during Free Fishing Weekend to park at any of the 500 water-access sites maintained by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).

"Free Fishing Weekend is a great time to revive an old hobby or to introduce friends and family to fishing," said Joe Hymer, a WDFW fish biologist. "Adults can introduce kids to fishing on a wide variety of waters around the state."

While no licenses are required on Free Fishing Weekend, other rules such as size limits, bag limits and season closures will still be in effect. (For example, no crab fishing will be allowed in Puget Sound during Free Fishing Weekend, because the fishery will still be closed as of June 7-8.) Anglers will also be required to complete a catch record card for any salmon, steelhead, sturgeon or halibut they catch that weekend.

Catch record cards and WDFW's Fishing in Washington rules pamphlet are available free at hundreds of sporting goods stores and other license dealers throughout the state. The rules pamphlet is also posted at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/fishregs.htm.

Of course, fishing opportunities don't begin or end with Free Fishing Weekend. Those with a fishing license might want to consider heading to the north coast for halibut openings May 29 and 31, plus June 17 and June 19. Others can look forward to the first round of crab openings, set for June 18 in marine areas 4 (Neah Bay), 5 (Sekiu) and 13 (south Puget Sound).

Anyone spending time outdoors should be aware that adult birds and animals - often with everything from ducklings to bear cubs in tow - are out and about now. Enjoy them from a respectable distance, and to avoid problems, take the following precautions:

• Leave wild babies alone to avoid conflicts with protective parent animals.

• Store picnic and camp food out of reach of hungry bears or other animals.

• Camp and hike only in designated areas and preferably in groups that discourage close encounters.

For more information about living with wildlife and minimizing chances for problems, see http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/living/index.htm. For more information about wildlife viewing, fishing and hunting opportunities in the coming weeks, see the regional reports below.

North Puget Sound

• Fishing: Spring fishing seasons are winding down in the region, but saltwater anglers still have their pick of halibut, lingcod or shrimp fisheries during the next few weeks. In the freshwater, anglers can cast for trout, and soon will have an opportunity to turn their attention to chinook salmon.

  Portions of the Skagit, Cascade and Skykomish rivers open for chinook salmon fishing June 1, said Brett Barkdull, WDFW fish biologist. The Skagit will open to hatchery chinook retention from the Highway 530 bridge at Rockport to the Cascade River. On the Cascade, anglers will be allowed to fish from the mouth of the river to the Rockport-Cascade Road Bridge. Both stretches are open through July 15.

  The daily limit on the Skagit and Cascade rivers will be four hatchery chinook, two of which may be adults (chinook salmon at least 24 inches in length). Barkdull reminds anglers that statewide rules require anglers to stop fishing for salmon once they have kept two adults.

  On the Skykomish, hatchery chinook fishing is open from the Lewis Street Bridge in Monroe to the Wallace River through July 31. Anglers fishing the Skykomish will have a daily limit of two hatchery chinook salmon.

  Trout fishing also will open at several of the region's rivers and streams beginning June 1. Under the statewide rule for trout, there is a two-fish daily limit and a minimum size of eight inches in rivers and streams. However, some of the region's rivers and streams have a rule requiring trout to be at least 14 inches in length to keep. For more rules and details, anglers can check WDFW's Fishing in Washington pamphlet (http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/fishregs.htm).

  Out on the saltwater, the northern portion of Marine Area 10 (Seattle/Bremerton) opens June 1 to catch-and-release fishing for salmon. Fishing will be allowed north of a line from Point Monroe to Meadow Point. Handling rules are in effect for this fishery.

  Meanwhile, time is running out to hook a lingcod. The fishery runs through June 15 in the region, where fishing has been decent for lings recently. Catch counts at the Armeni ramp indicate 31 anglers hauled in nine lingcod May 24, and 13 anglers checked three lings the following day. Elsewhere, 42 anglers at the Everett ramp brought home seven lingcod May 25, while 69 anglers checked at the Coronet Bay public ramp caught nine. During the hook-and-line season (May 1-June 15), there's a one-fish daily limit for lings, with a minimum size of 26 inches and a maximum size of 40 inches.

  The halibut fishery is winding down as well. The season for the big flatfish is open through June 13. Until the fishery closes, anglers can fish five days a week, Thursday through Monday, with a daily limit of one halibut and no minimum size limit.

  Rather drop a pot? The region's spot shrimp fishery is limited to the southern portion of Marine Area 7 (San Juan Islands) and is scheduled to close May 31. However, shrimpers can soon fish for coonstripe and pink shrimp in some marine areas, beginning June 1. For details on shrimp fisheries check WDFW's website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/shelfish/shrimpreg/shrimpindex.shtml.

  Before heading out, anglers should check the rules and regulations for all saltwater and freshwater fisheries in WDFW's Fishing in Washington pamphlet (http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/fishregs.htm).

• Hunting: Only a few days remain in the spring wild turkey season. The season runs through May 31, and hunters have a three-gobbler limit - two birds in eastern Washington and one bird in western Washington. For more information, a Wild Turkey Spring Season brochure is available at WDFW regional offices and on the department's website (http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/water/turkey/index.htm).

• Wildlife viewing: Sightings in the region continue of what a number of whalewatchers have reported as a juvenile humpback. Some people have said they believe it's a minke whale, but numerous others have ruled that out. "I'm voting humpback; dorsal was too small/blunt to be a minke, and the shape of the back didn't strike me as a gray whale," according to one observer reporting to the Orca Network (http://www.orcanetwork.org/sightings/map.html). The "mystery whale" has slowly moved south the past few weeks, and was last spotted feeding in the waters along the south end of Vashon Island.

  Meanwhile, birders are flocking to the Edmonds Marsh and the Montlake Fill to catch a glimpse of Wilson's phalaropes. The birds, rare visitors to Puget Sound, have been spotted about halfway out in the Edmond's Marsh, while at the Fill they have been seen on Shovelor Pond, according to reports on Tweeters birding website (http://www.scn.org/earth/tweeters/).

  Meanwhile, the Montlake birders that reported the three phalaropes at the Fill also reported several other interesting species including a mourning dove, two blue-winged teals, a black-headed grosbeak, several yellow warblers, a few Wilson's warblers and an osprey.

South Sound/Olympic Peninsula

UPDATE: (06/03/08) The Hood Canal shrimp season will open for one final day June 11 between the hours of 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.

• Fishing: The ocean salmon season begins June 1 off the south coast, where fishing off Westport and Ilwaco will get under way a full month earlier than usual. Also that day, salmon fishing opens in Marine Area 11 (Tacoma-Vashon Island) in southern Puget Sound. Then, on June 3, the north coast opens to salmon fishing off LaPush and Neah Bay.

  At the same time, fishers will have an array of other options to consider, including halibut fishing off the north coast, shrimping in Hood Canal and - starting June 18 - crabbing in the western Strait of Juan de Fuca.

  "People definitely have plenty of options in terms of how they spend their free time over the next few weeks," said Steve Thiesfeld, WDFW biologist. "Regardless of where they live in the region, they shouldn't have to go far to catch fish or shellfish."

  The early start for this year's ocean salmon season is designed to give anglers an opportunity to catch hatchery chinook salmon off the coast before the bulk of the coho run arrives, said Doug Milward, WDFW ocean salmon manager. With conservation measures in place for coho throughout the West Coast, the June opening will give anglers a chance to catch up to 20,000 chinook while minimizing impacts on coho, he said.

  "We could actually have a pretty good chinook fishery in June," Milward said. "There will also be a season in July, but there's a good chance we'll have to close the fishery earlier than in previous years to meet conservation goals for coho salmon."

  Salmon fishing in Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco) opens June 1, seven days per week. Marine Area 2 (Westport) also opens June 1, but fishing is restricted to Sundays through Thursdays. On the north coast, fishing opens June 3 in marine areas 3 and 4 (LaPush and Neah Bay) five days per week, Tuesdays through Saturdays.

  In Puget Sound, Marine Area 11 (Tacoma-Vashon Island) also will open June 1 seven days a week, joining Marine Area 13 (South Puget Sound), which opened May 1.

  Additional fishing regulations, including minimum size limits and area catch guidelines are described in WDFW's Fishing in Washington rules pamphlet, available online at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regs_seasons.html.

  Meanwhile, north coast halibut anglers will get two more days of fishing May 29 and 31 at La Push and Neah Bay (marine areas 3 and 4). These areas will reopen June 17 and 19 with fishing restricted to waters no more than 30 fathoms deep, as specified in the 2008-09 Fishing in Washington pamphlet. Marine Area 5 (Sekiu) will remain open through July 21, Thursdays through Mondays only.

  Farther east along the Strait of Juan de Fuca, sunny weather brought out hundreds of halibut fishers during the May 24 weekend where fishing was good until the seas got choppy. Nearly 800 participants in the 8th annual Port Angeles Halibut Derby caught more than 100 fish, with the first-prize winner earning $5,000 for landing a 180-pounder. This area (Marina Area 6), as well as the rest of Puget Sound, will close to halibut fishing June 13. These fisheries are also open Thursdays through Mondays only.

  For shrimp anglers, fishing will reopen in Hood Canal for two more days May 29 and 31. In the Tacoma area, Marine Area 11 will reopen for non-spot shrimp June 1, with a 150-foot maximum fishing depth restriction. For more information, anglers can check online at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/shelfish/shrimpreg/shrimpindex.shtml, or call the Shellfish Hotline at 1-866-880-5431.

  Looking forward to crab fishing? The popular recreational fishery opens June 18 seven days a week in the western Strait of Juan de Fuca (marine areas 4 and 5) and southern Puget Sound (Marine Area 13). Most other marine areas will open July 2 on a Wednesday-through-Saturday schedule, although some waters north of Anacortes will not open until later in summer.

  Additional information is available on the WDFW website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/shelfish/crabreg/crabindex or http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/fishregs.htm.

  Poor visibility from snowmelt continues to limit the sport fishing opportunity for spring chinook in the Sol Duc River, said Mike Gross, WDFW fish biologist. Returns to the hatchery are trailing the numbers seen in recent years by this time, though it is still early. "Hopefully the fishing will pick up as we get into June." Gross said. He reminds anglers that all unmarked, wild fish must be released.

• Hunting: Hunters should note that the spring wild turkey season ends May 31 throughout the state. For more information, a Wild Turkey Spring Season brochure is available at WDFW regional offices and on the department's website http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/water/turkey/.

• Wildlife viewing: During the past week, several boaters near Vashon Island in Puget Sound have reported seeing and hearing a humpback whale as it swam through area waters. Their reports appear on the Orca Network website, which encourages people to send in their whale sightings http://www.orcanetwork.org/sightings/map.html.

  Those who are camping or sight seeing on the northern Olympic Peninsula this summer won't be disappointed if they add bird watching to their activities. More than 200 species of birds can be found on the northern Olympic Peninsula, including bald eagles, marbled murrelets, gulls, falcons, Steller's jays, dippers, thrushes, owls and many shorebirds. This time of year even more species can be sighted as birds pass through on migration or stay for the summer.

  Before heading out, travelers should check out the Olympic Peninsula Birding Loop, which is offered through Washington Audubon. This detailed, colorful map takes travelers on a loop of the peninsula while providing details on birds that can be seen along the way. The loop map, along with three others covering Washington state, are located at http://wa.audubon.org/BirdingTrailMaps/TM_index.html.

Southwest Washington:

• Fishing: Anglers are still picking up spring chinook in a number of area rivers, but interest in fisheries for sturgeon, shad, hatchery steelhead, trout, and bass is increasing. On May 24, an aerial survey team counted 411 boats fishing the Columbia River below Bonneville Dam for sturgeon and 275 bank anglers fishing for shad.

  Boat anglers surveyed at the Deep River and Knappton ramps averaged one legal-size sturgeon for every six rods that week - up slightly from last year. According to those surveyed, half of the fish they hooked were keepers. Bank anglers also caught some legal-size sturgeon between Knappton and Chinook, as did boat and bank anglers fishing upriver to Marker 85 and in the Bonneville Pool.

  "The water is warming up and the bite is improving," said Joe Hymer, a WDFW fish biologist. "There's a good reason why more boats and anglers are fishing for sturgeon."

  Hymer reminds anglers that a legal-size sturgeon caught between Buoy 10 and the Wauna powerlines must measure 45 to 60 inches from the tip of the fish's nose to the tip of its tail. From the Wauna powerlines upriver to Marker #85, sturgeon may be retained if they measure 42 to 60 inches - but only if they are caught Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

  That size limit also applies from Bonneville Dam to The Dalles Dam, where sturgeon may be retained seven days per week.

  Anglers fishing for shad, on the other hand, don't have to worry about either size limits or daily catch limits. Although this year's shad run has been slow to arrive, more than 10,000 passed Bonneville Dam on May 25, which Hymer sees as a sign of better fishing in the days ahead.

  "Shad fishing should pick up in a couple of weeks," he said. "These fish weigh three to four pounds apiece and put up a good fight, so it's not surprising that more anglers are fishing for them." Tips on catching and preparing shad are posted on the WDFW website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/outreach/fishing/shad/shad.htm.

  Meanwhile, anglers continue to reel in spring chinook salmon and hatchery steelhead from tributaries to the Columbia River above and below Bonneville Dam. On the mainstem Columbia, however, steelhead retention below the I-5 Bridge remains closed - as do all mainstem salmonid fisheries - to conserve upriver spring chinook.

  The best bet for spring chinook in recent weeks has been Drano Lake, where boat anglers have been averaging a springer - including jacks - for every three rods. Also good is the Wind River, where boat anglers have been averaging a spring chinook salmon for every four rods. Bank anglers have also been catching some fish at the mouth of the Wind and in the gorge. Fishing in the upper river should continue to improve as more fish return to Carson National Fish Hatchery, Hymer said.

  On the North Fork Lewis River, anglers fishing under a three-steelhead daily limit have been catching equal numbers of hatchery steelhead and spring chinook. Some are also finding steelhead on the Cowlitz River, where the limit switches June 1 from three hatchery steelhead per day to five trout - including three hatchery steelhead over 20 inches - from the Highway 4 Bridge at Kelso upstream to Mayfield Dam. All chinook salmon must be released on the Cowlitz River from the mouth upstream to the boundary markers below Mayfield Dam due to a shortfall in hatchery returns. The same is true from the mouth of the Kalama River upstream to the upper salmon hatchery.

  Portions of several other rivers will open to fishing for hatchery steelhead June 1, including the Elochoman, Toutle and Green (in Cowlitz County) rivers, and bait may be used in the East Fork Lewis and Washougal rivers. In addition, Lake Scanewa (Cowlitz Falls Reservoir) will open for hatchery spring chinook and hatchery rainbow trout starting June 1. Anglers are advised to check the Fishing in Washington rule pamphlet (http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/fishregs.htm) for more information about those fisheries.

  Boat anglers fishing the Bonneville Pool averaged over 12 bass per rod, including fish released during the week ending May 25. Trout anglers should be aware that several lakes in the region were stocked that week. They include:

  • Merrill Lake in Cowlitz County (May 21) - 224 triploid rainbows, averaging 1.4 pounds each.

  • Swift Reservoir (May 24) - 60,418 half-pound rainbows May 21.

  • Battleground Lake (May 20) - 4,000 three-quarter pound rainbows.

• Hunting: Hunters should note that the spring wild turkey season ends May 31 throughout the state. For more information, a Wild Turkey Spring Season brochure is available at WDFW regional offices and on the department's website http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/water/turkey/.

• Wildlife viewing: News that this year's shad run is late to arrive (see above) may come as a surprise to anyone who has looked through the fish-viewing windows at Bonneville Dam lately. On May 25, nearly 11,000 of them - most weighing 3 to 5 pounds - were counted at the dam, far exceeding the number of all other species passing up the fish ladder combined. If the past is any indication, the parade of shad past the fish window will grow to 70,000 or 80,000 per day.

  While sometimes considered the Rodney Dangerfield of fish ("they don't get no respect"), shad actually have a very colorful history. Averaging three to five pounds, shad are credited with sustaining General George Washington's troops at Valley Forge during the War of Independence. In 1871, an entrepreneur named Seth Green loaded 12,000 young shad from the Atlantic coast into milk cans and transported them to Sacramento to start a new fishery. The fish thrived and began showing up in the Columbia River a decade later.

  Shad are the largest members of the herring family, which also includes Pacific sardines. Their backs are metallic blue to green in color, their bellies white with a saw-like serrated edge along the midline. Like salmon, shad are anadromous, entering freshwater rivers to spawn. Unlike salmon, they do not necessarily die after spawn and many return to spawn annually. Females bear more than 50,000 eggs, sometimes as many as several hundred thousand.

  Shad will be on display through June at the Bonneville fish-viewing window at the Washington Shore Visitor Complex. To get there, take Washington State Highway 14 east to Milepost 40 (about 5 miles from Stevenson) and turn into the Bonneville Dam visitor center. The visitor center is the glass building at the end of the powerhouse.

  Rather watch birds? One visitor to the River S Unit of the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge recently reported sighting two adult Virginia Rails with "six black fluff-ball chicks" on the Kiwa Trail. Another visitor to the River "S" Unit reported seeing four American bitterns, one displaying his brilliant white "angel wings" to a female. "This male must have a lot of extra oomph, because his angel wings were larger, fluffed more and held out in display longer than any I've ever seen," he wrote in a posting to the Tweeters birding website (http://www.scn.org/earth/tweeters/).

Eastern Washington:

• Fishing: Rivers and streams will open to fishing June 1 throughout the region, but Chris Donley, WDFW central district fish biologist, warns anglers that high water and flooding from recent snow pack melt makes it not only dangerous, but tough to fish.

  "Some of the smaller streams and tributaries of larger rivers are probably okay to reach and be productive," Donley said. "But the best stream fishing is yet to come, when flows settle and slow a little more. It basically means there will be good fishing longer through the summer this year."

  Donley noted that Spokane area trout lakes are "really rolling" now. "Badger has some nice west slope cutthroat," he said. "Amber and West Medical are producing nice rainbows. Fish Lake has tiger trout. Rock Lake has nice browns and rainbows. All of our trout-stocked waters in this district are producing."

  WDFW enforcement officer Lenny Hahn's recent patrols revealed the same. "Most fishermen had three or four trout on their stringers at Badger, West Medical, and Fish lakes," Hahn reported. "Fishermen trolling leaded line with a fly are catching browns at Clear Lake. Fishtrap is good, too, but seemed a little slower."

  Donley also noted Bonnie Lake's panfish coming on, as are Downs Lake's perch and bass. "Once Long Lake (Spokane River reservoir) stabilizes it will have good crappie fishing," he said.

  "It's really just that time of year when you can't help but catch fish," Donley said.

• Hunting: General Spring wild turkey and special permit black bear hunting seasons end May 31. All turkey and bear hunters, whether successful in bagging an animal or not, must report hunting activity either by phone (toll free at 1-877-945-3492) or on the Internet at https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov/. Turkey hunters who bag a bird must report within ten days of harvest. Turkey hunters who do not harvest a bird during the spring season, but who intend to apply for a fall turkey permit or hunt in the general fall season, should wait to report until after the fall season. Turkey and bear hunters not reporting by Jan. 31, 2009 are subject to a $10 penalty upon purchase of a new license. Successful black bear permit hunters also need to submit a premolar tooth from the bear; see details on page 58 of the 2008 big game hunting rules pamphlet.

• Wildlife viewing: Bob Dice, WDFW Blue Mountains wildlife areas complex manager, reports that elk are highly visible along Joseph Creek on the Chief Joseph Wildlife Area in Asotin County. "Cow elk are calving and elk calves are visible," Dice said. "Wild turkeys are numerous, as always, and also very visible in the same area."

  Warbling Vireo - photo by Doug Kuehn

  Dice also noted most of the slopes on the Asotin Creek Wildlife Area are green now and wildflowers are beginning to show. Elk, deer, and occasionally black bears are visible on those greening slopes.

  "Bighorn sheep with lambs, deer, and black bears are also visible from the trail on the North Fork of Asotin Creek, which we and Forest Service staff just cleared of fallen trees and debris," Dice said.

  Blue Grouse - photo by Doug Kuehn

  Sandy Dotts, WDFW habitat biologist, reports lots of wildlife viewing opportunities from her recent horseback ride along the Lake Roosevelt "beach," or exposed shoreline from low water levels, near Haag Cove and on the Sherman Creek Wildlife Area in Ferry County. "There are Canada geese on the beaches where the new grasses are emerging, a bald eagle near the Sherman Creek fish hatchery, lots of white-tailed deer in the alfalfa fields, and wildflowers everywhere," she said.

  Sharp-shinned Hawk - photo by Doug Kuehn

  Doug Kuehn, WDFW forester, also recently visited the Sherman Creek Wildlife Area near Kettle Falls and photographed brightly blooming skunk cabbage in the wetlands, and several birds in the woodlands, including a warbling vireo, lazuli bunting, blue grouse, and a sharp-shinned hawk feeding on a thrush.

  Many new wildlife families, from broods of ducklings to pairs of twin bear cubs, are out and about now. Enjoy them from a respectable distance, and to avoid problems, take the following precautions:

  • Leave wild babies alone to avoid conflicts with protective parent animals.

  • Store picnic and camp food, and garbage and pet food at home, out of reach of hungry bears or other animals.

  • Camp and hike only in designated areas and preferably in groups to discourage close encounters.

  For more information about living with wildlife and minimizing chances for problems, see http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/living/index.htm.

North Central Washington:

• Fishing: WDFW District Fish Biologist Bob Jateff says fishing in Okanogan County has picked up in recent weeks due to warming water temperatures and increased fish productivity.

  "Anglers can do well on Leader Lake for bluegills and crappies and on Patterson Lake for perch," Jateff said. "The Okanogan River and Palmer Lake are good bets for smallmouth bass and Whitestone Lake is a good producer of largemouth bass."

  Jateff reminds anglers that new regulations for smallmouth bass went into effect May 1 - no minimum size, daily limit of 10, but only one over 14 inches may be retained.

  Jateff also noted that trout waters such as Conconully Reservoir, Conconully Lake, Pearrygin, Spectacle, Wannacut, and Alta lakes should continue to provide good fishing for rainbows in the 10- to 12-inch range with carryover fish up to 15 inches.

  Selective gear waters, such as Blue Lake on the Sinlahekin Wildlife Area, Rat Lake near Brewster, and Davis Lake near Winthrop, are all providing good fishing for rainbow. Blue and Rat lakes are also producing catches of brown trout.

  Kokanee fishing has also improved. Palmer and Bonaparte lakes are the best bets for anglers looking to hook fish in the 10- to 13-inch range.

• Hunting: General Spring wild turkey and special permit black bear hunting seasons end May 31. All turkey and bear hunters, whether successful in bagging an animal or not, must report hunting activity either by phone (toll free at 1-877-945-3492) or on the Internet at https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov/. Turkey hunters who bag a bird must report within ten days of harvest. Turkey hunters who do not harvest a bird during the spring season, but who intend to apply for a fall turkey permit or hunt in the general fall season, should wait to report until after the fall season. Turkey and bear hunters not reporting by Jan. 31, 2009 are subject to a $10 penalty upon purchase of a new license. Successful black bear permit hunters also need to submit a premolar tooth from the bear; see details on page 58 of the 2008 big game hunting rules pamphlet.

  Big game hunters planning to apply for special deer, elk, moose, mountain goat, and bighorn sheep permits for fall seasons have until June 18 to submit applications. See details in the 2008-09 big game hunting rules pamphlet, available at license vendors, WDFW offices, or online at http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/hunter/hunter.htm.

• Wildlife viewing: WDFW enforcement officers in the Okanogan district have been busy responding to problems with black bears and a few cougars. WDFW Sgt. Jim Brown of Okanogan reminds rural and suburban homeowners to keep pets and pet and livestock food indoors; store garbage in secure, wildlife-resistant containers; remove bird feeders; clean barbecue grills immediately after use; enclose beehives and fruit trees with chain-link or electric fencing where possible; and consider installing more outdoor lighting.

  To avoid encounters with black bears or cougars while camping or hiking, Brown recommends keeping a clean camp and using wildlife-resistant trash containers; storing food in the trunk of a motor vehicle, in wildlife-resistant food lockers, or in a pack suspended from a tree branch at least 10 feet above the ground and four feet out from the tree trunk; staying in groups and making your presence known by singing or talking, and keeping small children close and on trails.

  Many new wildlife families, from broods of ducklings to pairs of twin bear cubs, are out and about. Enjoy them from a respectable distance, and leave wild babies alone to avoid conflicts with protective parents. For more information about living with wildlife visit http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/living/index.htm.

South Central Washington:

• Fishing: River and stream flows remain high throughout the region, making some fishing slow and access potentially dangerous. Yakima River flow data is available from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation at http://www.usbr.gov/pn/hydromet/yakima/.

  Yakima River salmon anglers can check Prosser and Roza Dam chinook counts at http://www.cbr.washington.edu/dart/adult.html, although posted counts are often a few days behind. Yakima River salmon fishing is scheduled to close May 31; if the season is extended, based on returning fish numbers and harvest to date, it will be posted at WDFW's Fishing Emergency Rule Updates and News webpage at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/fishregs.htm.

  Information on water access sites for the lower Yakima River, including new or recently improved boat launches, are available at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/salmon/when_where_best_area-yakima.htm.

  Lost, McDaniels, and Bear lakes in Yakima County were just stocked with trout. Dog and Leech lakes remain inaccessible for stocking. Clear Lake continues to produce trout catches. Lower elevation fishing waters also remain productive, with continued stocking of eight to 12-inch hatchery rainbows. For all trout stocking details, see http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/plants/regions/reg3/index.htm.

• Hunting: General Spring wild turkey and special permit black bear hunting seasons end May 31. All turkey and bear hunters, whether successful in bagging an animal or not, must report hunting activity either by phone (toll free at 1-877-945-3492) or on the Internet at https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov/. Turkey hunters who bag a bird must report within ten days of harvest. Turkey hunters who do not harvest a bird during the spring season, but who intend to apply for a fall turkey permit or hunt in the general fall season, should wait to report until after the fall season. Turkey and bear hunters not reporting by Jan. 31, 2009 are subject to a $10 penalty upon purchase of a new license. Successful black bear permit hunters also need to submit a premolar tooth from the bear; see details on page 58 of the 2008 big game hunting rules pamphlet.

• Wildlife viewing: Reports of rattlesnakes here and there throughout the region are not to be discounted, since rattlers are active and reproducing now. But WDFW staff have found many to be harmless - albeit intimidating - bull snakes. For more information about snakes, check out WDFW's "Living With Wildlife" series at http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/living/snakes.htm.

  WDFW regional wildlife program manager Ted Clausing advises that those spending time outdoors be alert about wildlife babies everywhere - flightless Canada goose broods, newborn mallard ducklings, just-hatched pheasant chicks, spotted deer fawns and elk calves, and others.

  "Enjoy them from a distance and leave wild babies alone to avoid conflicts with protective parent animals," Clausing said. "Like us, black bears are more active now, so take precautions, like keeping picnic and camp food securely stored, to avoid problems." For more information about living with wildlife and minimizing chances for problems, see http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/living/index.htm.