Wildlife Program report: Oct. 1-15, 2024

Managing Wildlife Populations

Free Help: A red fox conducted courtesy gopher patrols at the Walla Walla Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) District Office.

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Operations: Natural Resource Technician Moberg collected seven CWD samples in District 3: four samples from deer and elk brought to taxidermists, one from a harvested deer at the Walla Walla District Office, and two from road killed deer at a Department of Transportation pit. Moberg also provided the contact information of all Washington State Department of Agriculture licensed food processors and WDFW licensed taxidermists in District 3 to staff members that may interact with hunters and can refer out-of-region hunters to these license holders to easily comply with the Washington Administrative Code (WAC). 

Moberg rounded up samples from the Walla Walla District Office and the Wooten Wildlife Area Office and brought them to the Clarkston District Office so that the samples can be transported to Spokane early next week. 

CWD: Regional Private Lands staff organized their CWD sampling supplies and assisted with setup of check stations for the modern firearm deer season opener next weekend. 

Chronic Waste Disease (CWD) Sampling: This week Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Wagner was told of a recent harvested doe in Game Managment Unit (GMU) 136. After taking the head, he showed Natural Resource Technician Duclos how to harvest the lymph nodes for CWD sampling.

Chronic Wasting Disease: Wildlife Area Manager Dingman collected a sample from a roadkill deer on Patit Road. Dingman and Natural Resource Technician Jensen sampled hunter harvested deer at the Last Resort, but lymph nodes were only found in one of the two deer. Natural Resource Technician Tritt sampled a hunter harvested deer at the Last Resort. Dingman and Tritt participated in the CWD Check Station meeting on Teams. Tritt hung CWD flyers in U.S. Forest Service campgrounds south of Pomeroy, the Pomeroy grocery store, and at Pioneer Park and Blue Mountain Base Camp outside of Dayton.

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Operations: Natural Resource Technician Moberg collected 14 CWD samples from deer in District. Twelve samples from deer brought to taxidermists and two from road killed deer. Moberg worked the Walla Walla Hunter Check Station opening weekend of modern firearm season with District Biologist Vekasy, where they collected 13 samples from harvested mule deer and white-tailed deer. Moberg coordinated with Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Coordinator Westacott to gather all the necessary check station supplies from Spokane and get them down to Walla Walla.

Wildlife Conflict Specialist Harris spent two days at a CWD Check Station in GMU 124. Staff and volunteer members collected a total of 25 samples from white-tailed deer, mule deer, and moose harvested in 100 series GMUs. 

While in the area, Supervisor Earl and Conflict Specialist Wade collected a sample from a hunter camped at Field Springs State Park. 

Stream Surveys: Natural Resource Technician Moberg and District Biologist Vekasy spent two consecutive days conducting rocky mountain tailed frog environmental DNA (eDNA) stream surveys in the Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness. Seven remote streams were sampled, and fun was had by all.

CWD: Regional private lands staff assisted with CWD sample collection by working at established check stations around the region and contacting hunters on private and public lands throughout the region. At least 67 samples were collected with the help of private lands staff members. 

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Hunter Access Program: Regional private lands staff members responded to dozens of inquiries from hunters seeking deer, moose, upland bird, and waterfowl hunting opportunity and information about chronic wasting disease. 

Access Contracts/Teamwork: Private Lands Biologist Thorne Hadley and Natural Resource Technician Moberg worked with Contracts Specialist Cole to submit obtained signatures for amended Voluntary Public Access Program contracts. Private Lands Biologist Thorne Hadley reached out to several landowners to explain the reasoning for the reduced monetary values of the contracts from the previous year.

Private Lands Biologist Thorne Hadley contacted a landowner to renew a Hunting by Written Permission access property for five years. A new contract was written and submitted for review. 

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Wolf: Natural Resource Technician Edmondson accompanied Wildlife Conflict Specialist Samsill and Natural Resource Technician Keeling on a wolf depredation investigation in the Onion Creek Pack territory. After the investigation was completed, Edmondson attended the after-action review for the investigation to finalize the determination. 

Moose Complaint: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Harris spoke with a landowner in Spokane County that reported problem moose on their property. Harris provided the landowner with advice for hazing the moose. Harris also coordinated with Private Lands Biologist Nizer and Officer Silver on a group of problem moose in northern Whitman County.

Bald eagle: Natural Resource Technician Edmondson and Keeling responded to a call regarding an injured “hawk” from the previous night. Upon arriving on scene, they realized that the bird was a juvenile bald eagle and had passed away overnight. The carcass was removed and brought back to the Colville office.

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Z-Lake Aeration Maintenance: This week, Wildlife Area Manager Finch mailed two air compressors that were not functioning from the aeration system to see if they could be repaired. If they cannot be repaired, they will be replaced with a new one. Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Wager and Natural Resource Technician Duclos modified the air compressor box to make sure it stays dust free and is ventilated properly when it is running. Duclos also vacuumed out the storage container. Wagner and Duclos raised the vent pipes on each end from 12” to 6’ tall just to make sure no dust or dirt is blown in the air vents. Also, this week Finch received word back from an expert after their inspection on the two compressors that Finch sent to them. The newest compressor can and will be rebuilt. The older compressor is not repairable; therefore, Finch ordered a new compressor for a backup. Finch is expected to receive both compressors within two weeks and the final repairs will be completed then.

Prescribed Burning: WDFW’s Prescribed Burn Unit prepared fire lines and burned three small fields near the Sherman Creek Wildlife Area headquarters, about 25 acres in total. They had more acreage planned, but dry conditions did not allow any further burning in treed areas. A prescribed burn was also planned at Rustlers Gulch Wildlife Area, but it too had to be postponed due to dry conditions. The burning plans for both wildlife areas were made earlier, and it’s now just a matter of getting the humidity and amount of moisture in the soil and vegetation, plus wind conditions, just right. 

Pheasants Forever: Natural Resource Technician Nance cleared brush around planted trees on a Feel Free to Hunt property. The trees were planted earlier this spring in partnership with Pheasants Forever to promote ring-necked pheasant habitat.

Conducting Business Operations and Policy

New Swanson Lakes Sign Installation: This week staff from the Capital and Asset Management Program from the Yakima shop were out to install the newly replaced Swanson Lakes Wildlife Area entry sign at the end of the lane. This sign replaces the wooden sign you see at most wildlife areas and regional offices. Swanson Lakes staff members decided to put gravel at the base of the sign to better prevent fire damage to the sign when the next wildfire occurs

Managing Wildlife Populations

Northern Bog Lemming: Biologists Jeffreys and Turnock backpacked to a wetland above Rainy Lake near Maple Pass as part of an effort to assess current occupancy of northern bog lemming (NBL) throughout their historic range in Washington. To determine if NBLs are present in this area, biologists scoured the area for little rodent runways and burrows, searching for scat similar in shape to a grain of rice and between 4-7mm in length. In total, biologists collected 30 samples and will be sending them to a lab for DNA testing to confirm they belong to NBLs, as this species’ scat strongly resembles that of several vole species present in the area and can't be identified based on appearance alone. A second survey site was planned near Dagger Lake couple miles south of Washington Pass; however, bad weather during two different scheduled trips prevented biologists from completing the survey at this second location.

The northern bog lemming is a small mammal species restricted to subarctic climates and found primarily in sphagnum bogs and wet meadows. The bulk of this species’ range is in Canada, and northern Washington represents its southwestern range limit. Due to its dependency on cold, wet environments, the northern bog lemming is particularly vulnerable to climate change. The NBL occurs in low numbers in Washington in small, isolated populations, and is designated as a Species of Greatest Conservation Need by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). Little is known about this species throughout the USA, but it is thought to be declining in many areas, so WDFW has joined with other northern states to collect more information on NBL occupancy. 

In 2022, District 7 biologists successfully confirmed NBL occupancy via DNA from scat samples at the bogs and wetland complex near Washington Pass Observation Site. In 2023, biologists surveyed McAlester Pass and unfortunately did not get any positive NBL detections. 

Mule Deer: Biologists Jeffreys and Eilers teamed up with Ungulate Specialist Bundick to place 18 remote cameras on game trails around Blewett Pass. These cameras will be used to capture images of mule deer from the Wenatchee Mountains herd undertaking their annual eastward migration to lower elevation winter range. Biologists will analyze all images collected to determine age and sex of photographed deer and use this information to generate fawn to doe and buck to doe ratios for the herd. Biologists will then compare these ratios with those obtained from aerial surveys set to take place in early December to determine whether remote camera placement could be a viable method to assess mule deer herd composition moving forward. 

To identify the best locations for camera placement, WDFW staff members analyzed GPS data collected from does collared on winter range in the Wenatchee Foothills in 2020 and 2022. With three years of fall migration data now available, biologists were able to determine the areas along Highway 97 used most consistently by the collared does for crossing each fall. The biologists then went out into the field, parking along stretches of Highway 97 and searching for deer trails crossing the highway in these general areas. Well-established, intersecting pathways through the trees and underbrush were sought as the locations where cameras were likely to capture images of the greatest number of deer groups. Once a promising site was identified, biologists secured a game camera in a nearby tree facing the trail. These cameras will be retrieved, and photos analyzed in the winter after fall migration has ended. 

Mountain Goats: Biologists Jeffreys and Eilers completed two days of aerial surveys for mountain goats in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. A total of 25 mountain goats were observed, all between 6,000 to 6,800 feet elevation. Both days were extremely windy, with surveys having to be abandoned the first day due to 70 mph gusts. It’s possible that these strong winds reduced the detectability of goats by making the survey itself more challenging as the helicopter was buffeted around by the wind, and by potentially causing goats to seek shelter beneath timber where they would be impossible to see from the air. With this in mind, biologists will seek to fly this area again in late summer/early fall of 2025, if funding permits, to gain a greater understanding of herd numbers and age composition. 

Pygmy Rabbit Breeding Enclosures. Biologists Crowell, Gallie and Turner led the efforts to trap two breeding enclosures at Beezley Hills on September 26 and 27. In total, 22 pygmy rabbits were captured - five adults and 17 juveniles. Veterinarian Haman collected blood from each rabbit for an ongoing RHDV2 vaccination trial, and several were given vaccinations. All other rabbits not vaccinated during this effort had been fully vaccinated during trapping efforts earlier this year.

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Forest Grouse: Forest grouse hunting season is in full swing! Biologists Eilers and Jeffreys are monitoring the four grouse barrels around Chelan County and periodically collecting the wing and tails of grouse that were deposited from hunters. These wing and tail samples allow biologists to identify the age and species of harvested grouse and provides a means of monitoring harvest and population trends. The barrel locations in Chelan County are at the Wenatchee District Office, Colockum Wildlife Area, French Corral, and Shady Pass. Unlike previous years, there is not a barrel at Cooper Mountain, as most roads and hunting areas in Manson GMU 243 are still closed to access due to the Pioneer Fire.

Setting Up Hunter Registration Booths: To prepare for fall hunting, wildlife area staff members have been updating and preparing the hunter registration booths and parking lots. These tasks included brushing off hunter registration booths, weed whacking parking lots, replacing any old signage, clearing out yellow jackets, removing trash, and restocking hunter registration cards.  

Pheasant Release: Biologist Cook released pheasants at Chiliwist Unit and carried additional birds for release at other Okanagan County locations prior to the Youth Hunting season.

Swakane Shooting Range: The Swakane shooting range was cleaned up so that it is ready to be used once fire restrictions are no longer in place. 

Fire Restrictions for Public Notice: To better inform the public about fire restrictions, and hopefully prevent any incidents, new and larger signage is starting to go up around high traffic locations of the wildlife area.

Waterfowl Habitat and Access Program: Biologist Morris followed up on some expiring hunter access contracts, finished checking and posting signs in his area, and updated the private lands hunting opportunities on the website so that all his properties are ready for hunting season.

Biologists Cook and Morris, and Habitat Technician Blanchard prepared and sent letters to landowners growing corn to recruit additional sites for the Waterfowl Habitat and Access Program this fall. The program specifically provides field hunting opportunities for waterfowl and, in Region 2, also generally provides for upland bird hunting as well. These types of sites have been frequently requested by hunters looking for a continuation of the former Corn Stubble program. This is not a continuation, but another program that provides for the same or similar sites.

Private Lands Reservation System Demonstrations: Biologist Cook, along with other WDFW Private Lands and IT staff members, attended presentations from potential vendors that could provide a new Private Lands Hunter Access and Reservation system. Three vendors presented their software solutions and how they function and could be adapted to the needs of WDFW, hunters, and landowners. Cook and others provided feedback for the presented software for the next step in replacing the current Private Lands hunting Reservation system.

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Weed Management: Chelan Wildlife Area staff members have been conducting further herbicide sprays of rush skeleton weed on the Chelan Butte, where significant improvements over the last year have been made and doing controls of bull thistle where forest thinning has occurred. 

Irrigating Agricultural Fields: Wildlife area staff members have continued to focus on irrigating crop fields, which involves moving hand lines, setting up wheel lines, and monitoring and repairing pivots.  

Water Birch Enclosure Fence Work: Technicians Balderston and Garcia have been working to repair fences protecting water birch enclosures across the Sagebrush Flat Wildlife Area. Several fences were so severely damaged during the Pearl Hill fire that the remaining fence is being removed so a new more durable one can be put in its place. Managers and staff members are considering the options for a longer-term solution that would require less consistent repair.  

Spraying Invasives: Wildlife area staff members have focused spraying efforts this month on hound’s tongue near headquarters and rush skeleton weed in the Sagebrush Flat Wildlife Area. Staff members noticed less hound’s tongue and rush skeleton weed as a result of last year’s spray effort. 

Preparation for BDA Installation and Maintenance: To prepare for bi-directional amplifier (BDA) installation, staff members have carefully mowed the area for easy access and weed whacked around piles of BDA posts and weaving material. The team began BDA work in September.  

Xerces Pollinator Plots Preparation: The office secured two habitat garden kits from the Xerces Society earlier this year, and in October staff members will pick up the kits and plant them on the Bridgeport Bar. To prepare for the planting, Technician Haney-Williamson and Balderston have flagged the site and are thinking through how irrigation will need to be set up and other necessary site prep.  

Habitat Plots: Biologist Morris continued planning for his habitat project that will plant sagebrush and other shrubs in a shrubsteppe area affected by fire in 2017 to improve the habitat for mule deer, upland birds, and pygmy rabbits.

Conducting Business Operations and Policy

Coordination with USFWS: Specialist Heilhecker spoke with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff members regarding depredation investigations and meeting with producers in Okanogan County.

Grizzly Bear: Specialist Heilhecker attended an internal grizzly bear management and conservation meeting. 

Grizzly Bear Public Meetings: Specialist Bridges attended three public meetings hosted by Chelan County Commissioners on grizzly bear reintroduction efforts to take place in the North Cascades over the next 10 years.

Other

Vehicle Checklist: Staff members have been inventorying all motor pool and agency vehicles to ensure that each one has safety equipment. 

Interviews for Natural Resource Technician in Training: We are in the process of recruiting new employees in the coming months.  

ATV/UTV Training: Staff members attended ATV and UTV training at the Methow Wildlife Area in July. All who attended successfully completed the course and received Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association (ROHVA) certifications of completion. 

Found Bees in Big Bend: Wildlife Area Manager Peterson and Assistant Manager Blake came across a species of ground nesting bees while working in the Big Bend Wildlife Area. They reached out to Biologist Julie Combs who informed them that these bees are solitary bees in the Anthophora species, commonly known as Miner or Digger bees. Combs informed an expert who will attempt to ID at the species level. 

New Employee: Assistant Wildlife Area Manager M. Meierotto has started this month and is learning the ropes.

Managing Wildlife Populations

District 8 Mountain Goat Surveys: District 8 Wildlife Biologist Wampole conducted aerial surveys for mountain goats in the Kachess Ridge historic hunt unit in Kittitas County. Eight mountain goats were detected and indicate continued declines since the last survey in 2005 of 36 goats. 

District 4 Rattlesnake Elk Ecological Damage Visit: District 4 Wildlife Biologist Fidorra met with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and Yakama Nation staff members to discuss elk damage and hunt logistics related to the Rattlesnake Unit of the Hanford Reach National Monument. The elk population is estimated at over 2,500 animals causing increased damage to private crops, fragile vegetation, and cultural sites, and vehicle collisions. Partners continue to seek workable solutions for population control.

Burrowing Owl Mitigation Project: District 4 Wildlife Biologist Fidorra completed an initial review of a project that installed artificial burrows as mitigation for impacts to burrowing owl habitat near Pasco, WA in 2024. The artificial burrows were used by four breeding pairs, of which three were successful nests. The project indicated the importance of pre-construction surveys and species-specific mitigation actions. The project has the potential to result in a net increase in breeding habitat for burrowing owls on-site, but a final review will require time to determine longer-term occupancy and survival of owls following land conversion.

MOTUS Tower Partnerships: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) was a recipient of competitive State Wildlife Grant to install MOTUS towers and monitor movements of species including bats, monarch butterflies, purple martins, and other species. District 4 Wildlife Biologist Fidorra reached out to partners to identify multiple sites in the region that are willing to be considered to MOTUS tower placement and has received a lot of positive interest in the project. 

Wenas Wildlife Area – Elk Fence Repair: Wenas Wildlife Area staff members repaired elk fence in multiple places across the wildlife area. A portion of fence was fixed near the main wildlife area office where a tree had fallen across the fence; and near Huntzinger Road a breakaway that had fallen away from the posts was put back up.

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Sunnyside/Snake River Wildlife Area - Hunting Preparation: Sunnyside/Snake River Wildlife Area staff members have been busy as they continue preparing wetlands in the Sunnyside, Bailie, Windmill Ranch, and Mesa Lake units for the upcoming hunting season. Assistant Manager Ferguson and Natural Resource Technician Cardenas have mowed most of the paths for hunters to enjoy upland bird hunting on the west and east sides of the huntable lands on the Sunnyside Unit. Additionally, the pair have begun filling the Rice Paddies and Johnson Wetland Area of the unit for waterfowl hunting. The wetlands are nearly filled now, and waterfowl are showing up in small numbers. Manager Kaelber, Assistant Manager Jahns, and Natural Resource Technician Pizzini have been using the Marsh Master to clear in front of hunting blinds in the east side units, as well as create more open water habitat for waterfowl. Staff members are enjoying the beautiful fall weather and opportunities to view migrating wildlife!

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

District 4 Rattlesnake Hills Elk: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand continued to monitor winter wheat crop seeding success and elk activity. Damage permit and Master Hunter hunts were coordinated with permit holders and landowners. 

District 4 Blackrock LHP: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand met with the manager of Blackrock Ranches to discuss additional hunting opportunities for elk. All the state drawn permits have been filled and a request was made to include additional damage permits to address continued elk activity in unharvested corn crops. Damage prevention permits were issued and delivered.

District 4 Deer Damage: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand prepared and delivered damage permits to a producer along the Columbia River dealing with deer damage in a variety of row crop, tree fruit, and winegrape areas. Additionally, several youth deer permit holders were deployed to the farm to provide a hunting opportunity.

District 4 Kennewick Alpaca Injury: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand responded to a call in Kennewick of an injured alpaca who the owner thought could have been attacked by a wolf or coyote. The alpaca had a small (softball size) wound on its abdomen that could not be confirmed as an attempted depredation. No evidence of wolf or coyote presence was found. The animal was treated for its injury. The alpaca, along with other goats, sheep, pigs, chickens, and rabbits, will be brought into shelters at night. Camera surveillance will be initiated as well.

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Wenas Wildlife Area – Pass Road Stock Fence Install: Wenas Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Taylor and Natural Resource Technicians Janes and Stoltenow installed new fence posts along the Ellensburg Pass Road where a stock fence is damaged and down from the Cow Canyon fire. Janes and Stoltenow will complete the installation of the fence and remove the old fence when weather permits.

Wenas Wildlife Area – Knapweed Control: Wenas Wildlife Area Natural Resource Technicians Janes and Stoltenow continued to spray for knapweed in the wildlife area, focusing on the newly acquired property east of Hardy Canyon Road.

South Ridge Road Habitat Maintenance: Region 3 Private Lands Biologist Manderbach and Natural Resource Technician Pizzini checked on a shrub planting on the South Ridge Road in south Yakima County. The bulk of the planting was a Mule Deer Foundation project from years ago, but it was added to in spring of 2023. The older golden currants and wax currants have been browsed on and rubbed on by deer and pronghorn, and the sagebrush, bitterbrush, and Wood’s rose that were planted more recently are still growing and thriving. The tarp was cleared off from debris and invasives weeds were pulled from the shrub holes. All plants were given water, and plans on extending the habitat project were talked about for this fall and upcoming spring.

Sunnyside/Snake River Wildlife Area Cleanup: Sunnyside/Snake River Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Ferguson and Natural Resource Technician Cardenas have been doing fall cleanup around the wildlife area including picking up garbage and dumped tires in parking lots and along roadsides. 

Providing Education and Outreach

Wenas Wildlife Area – Signs: Wenas Wildlife Area staff members replaced safety zone signs around the main wildlife area office and purchased materials for and installed signs at the new Durr Rd shooting range.

L.T. Murray Wildlife Area - Frost Meadows: L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Manager Morrison met with Yakama Fisheries crew members at the upper L.T. Murray unit, Frost Meadows. The crew was removing a fallen bridge that was being used by some to access no vehicle area with ORVs. 

L.T. Murray Wildlife Area - Whiskey Dick Planting: L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Natural Resource Technician Blore accepted delivery of shrub plugs that will be planted through late October and November. The L.T. Murray crew is waiting on two permits that will allow for planting several thousand plugs and seven acres of grass at three sites this fall. Two sites are in the 2022 Vantage Fire footprint and the 3rd site is the Ragland field that has been fallow for three summers.

L.T. Murray Wildlife Area - Shoestring Trail: L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Natural Resource Specialist Nass took Habitat Biologist Schaffer to the upper L.T. Murray unit, Shoestring trail, to evaluate areas in need of maintenance, rehabilitation, or abandonment. 

Other

Wenas Wildlife Area – Hay Tarping: Wenas Wildlife Area staff members finished covering hay, delivered over the last two weeks, that will be stored at the Mellotte office for elk feeding this winter.

L.T. Murray Wildlife Area - Springwood: L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Manager Morrison and Assistant Manager Winegeart met with a TLP representative and toured access points for areas of the Springwood property that WDFW will share management of once the land transfer is finalized.