Wildlife Program report: Sept. 1-15, 2024

Managing Wildlife Populations

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Operations: Natural Resource Technician Moberg spoke with all the registered taxidermists in District 3 about sampling any deer or elk that may come through their business. She answered questions about the new regulations and updated Washington Administrative Code (WAC). 

Chronic Wasting Disease: Acting Private Lands Biologist Heitstuman collected several samples from road kills provided by the Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT).

Chronic Wasting Disease: Wildlife Area Manager Dingman and Natural Resource Technician Tritt sampled deer harvested by archery hunters. Dingman sampled a roadkill deer at the Delaney DOT pit. Dingman printed flyers and Tritt hung them in all the outhouses in the Tucannon Valley, as well as the outhouses on the Mountain Road and at the Rose Springs Parking Area. Another flyer was made to hang at the Last Resort and in each outhouse letting hunters know what is required with the Emergency Rules regarding full carcasses not leaving Region 1. 

Bighorn Sheep Monitoring: Biologist Boyle monitored bighorn sheep in the Asotin population. A total of four groups consisting of 27 ewes, 15 lambs, eight yearlings, and one adult ram was observed. The bighorn sheep appeared healthy. 

Boyle, with the assistance of Idaho Fish and Game (IDFG) officers, retrieved a bighorn sheep mortality in the Snake River in the Redbird sheep population of Idaho. The mortality was reported to IDFG by a fisherman. The mortality was likely a few weeks old and was of a marked bighorn sheep. The cause of death could not be determined. 

Bats: On Friday the 13th, biologist Brinkman responded to a report of a bat stuck in a fireplace in Spokane County. The bat had been roosting in the chimney and apparently slipped down and became entrapped in the gas fireplace. Brinkman was able to open the front glass panel and hand-capture the bat. It was then placed in a tree outside the home where it rested for a few seconds before flying away unharmed.

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Operations: Natural Resource Technician Moberg collected five CWD samples: four from DOT pits and one from a taxidermist. She taught the taxidermist how to collect samples for future customers. Moberg also provided the contact information of all the registered taxidermists in District 3 to Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) staff members that may interact with hunters and can refer out-of-region hunters to these taxidermists to easily comply with the WAC. 

District Biologist Vekasy and Natural Resource Technician Mober and Tritt, practiced removing the skull cap from a buck to prepare for the upcoming check stations. At hunter check stations, staff members will need to remove skull caps from deer or elk harvested in the region being transported elsewhere.

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD): Acting Private Lands Biologist Heitstuman responded to five CWD sampling opportunities in Asotin County for dead deer on private property and WSDOT reported calls for deer left at the local pits. A sample opportunity on an Archery Permit Elk was also collected. 

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Region 1 South Access Program: Heimgartner serviced access sites along the Grande Ronde and Snake Rivers this week as well as making a trip to the Wooten Wildlife Area. Heimgartner and Nielsen began setting concrete picnic tables at the Heller Bar and Faha access sites. They used one of the wildlife area’s large John Deere tractors to set the tables.

Rainbow Lake Algal Bloom: The algal bloom appears to have cleared up for the year with the cooler temperatures. Natural Resource Technician Jensen took down the warning signs that were hung at every access point to Rainbow Lake. 

Pheasant Release Program: The Region 1 private lands team conducted pheasant releases throughout the Region for the youth opening season that starts this weekend. 

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Elk Damage: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Harris met with a producer in Northern Whitman County to discuss crop damage. The producer estimated that they lost approximately 50% of total crop yield in their garbanzo beans this year due to elk damage. Harris provided the producer with information on WDFW’s Damage Prevention Cooperative Agreement program, crop damage compensation claims, and damage permits. 

Deploying Bear ID Signs: Biologist Johnson went to several locations the U.S. Forest Service suggested could use signage to help hunters identify the different bear species and deployed the signage on their signboards.

Orphaned Moose Calf: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Harris spoke with a landowner in Spokane regarding a moose calf that had been on its own for several days. The calf’s mother had been euthanized several days prior after being found on private property with what appeared to be a broken back. The calf currently appears to be in good health and has been observed eating and drinking. Harris will continue to work with the landowner to monitor the calf’s health. 

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Swanson Lakes Wildlife Area nearby Wildfires: On Saturday, a wildfire approximately three miles north of the Swanson Lakes Wildlife Area was started by an ATV, with 12 mph winds blowing southwest. The fire burnt approximately 60 acres of range and timberland but was put out by Creston Fire Rescue before coming onto the wildlife area.

On Wednesday, the same operator's ATV started another fire just one mile north of the wildlife area’s north boundary. The fire burnt approximately 50 acres with winds blowing towards the south heading towards the wildlife area. Creston Fire Rescue was able to extinguish the fire before is reached the wildlife area. Conditions are still extremely dry with no moisture in the forecast, therefore extreme caution must be exercised.

Seeding Smoothing Iron: Natural Resource Specialist Whittaker started seeding food plots on Smoothing Iron in Asotin Creek Wildlife Area. This week, four food plots were seeded with a variety of winter wheat called Reaper Ax. In total, 55.2 acres were planted. Next week, seeding will continue on Smoothing Iron ridges, and then equipment will be transferred up to Joesph Creek for seeding. 

Water Rights: Sherman Creek Wildlife Area Manager Anderson contacted the regional Department of Ecology Water Master, Drury, about measuring water flow for the diversion from Sherman Creek that feeds two fields at Sherman Creek Wildlife Area and a neighboring orchard. The orchard’s water right is likely overused in the spring, but there are no monitoring devices for the creek or the diversion system. WDFW should also know how much water it’s using. Drury agreed that monitoring the flow of the diversion system is a great idea. The cost of a monitoring system was not discussed at this time. Drury and Anderson will follow up with more information exchange on this issue. 

Shrub Planting Weed Control: This week Wildlife Area Access Manager Wagner and Natural Resource Technician Kyle Duclos took the newly purchased weed trimmer and the older trimmer to the shrub plot in the Z-lake pasture that was planted in May for trimming. The plot took both employees approximately four hours to trim.

Providing Education and Outreach

Hunter Education Instruction: Acting Private Lands Biologist Heitstuman attended the first session of the Hunter Education Instructor class. 

Hunter Education Instructor Training: Private Lands Biologist Nizer met with Hunter Education Coordinator Dazey regarding being trained to become a hunter ed instructor. Nizer will be teaching a class on wildlife management next week to the hunter ed class.

Conducting Business Operations and Policy

4-O Ranch Wildlife Area Fire Tour: On Friday, district team staff members, along with regional and statewide staff members, toured the 4-O Ranch Wildlife Area to discuss post wildfire restoration activities including logging, weed control, and options for replanting severely burned areas with trees. It was a beautiful day and there were many beneficial discussions.  

Managing Wildlife Populations

Cascade Carnivore Monitoring Project (CCMP): Biologists Eilers and Jeffreys deployed baited camera stations for carnivore monitoring in forested areas throughout Chelan County. Images collected at these baited camera traps will be used to help evaluate the distribution of wolverines, Canada lynx, and other carnivores.

The idea of the baited camera station is to draw any carnivores inhabiting the vicinity into view of the game camera by placing a dispenser loaded with extremely potent skunk scent over a bone on a tree approximately 10’-15’ away and in full view of the camera. This scent lure dispenser will drip the pungent liquid onto the bone below every 48 hours throughout the winter, attracting any nearby carnivores. To further assess carnivore distribution, a hair snare belt is nailed to the tree right below the bone with the aim of snagging hairs from visiting animals climbing the tree, that can then be used for DNA analysis.

All data generated from these baited camera stations will be instrumental in learning more about the distribution of carnivore species throughout the Cascades. These camera stations will then be retrieved, and images analyzed in the summer of 2025. Biologists from 26 collaborating agencies and organizations such as U.S. Forest Service, Woodland Park Zoo, Conservation Northwest, and numerous tribes are participating in this monitoring project across Washington.

Forest Grouse: Forest grouse hunting season is upon us! Biologists Eilers and Jeffreys placed four grouse barrels around Chelan County for hunters to deposit one wing and tail of each harvested grouse. This allows 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. The specific locations of the grouse barrels can be found on our forest grouse hunting webpage.

Bighorn Sheep: Biologists Eilers processed two legally harvested bighorn sheep rams, one from the Chelan Butte herd and one from the Swakane herd. Processing included collecting data on horn measurements, age, and swabbing the nasal cavity to monitor for diseases of concern, such as Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae (Movi). Additionally, a uniquely numbered metal pin is drilled into the back of one horn on each ram to show documentation of a legal harvest. All harvested rams are required to be pinned within ten days of harvest.

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Hunter Access: Private Lands Biologist Braaten spent many hours posting signs and meeting with landowners in Douglas County. Braaten continues to maintain and update hunter access contracts, mapping and signs.

Biologist Morris spent over 30 hours checking and posting hunter access signs in his area. Morris made sure all hunter access properties had up-to date signs in good condition for the current and upcoming hunting seasons. Biologist Morris continued work on updating hunter access contracts. He renewed all the contracts that had expired and is working on some that will expire at the end of this hunting season. These hunter access contracts are developed with farmers/landowners to provide regulated public hunting access on private lands.

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Deer Damage to Orchards: Specialist Heilhecker visited three orchards with the owner to look at deer damage and discuss fencing options. The owner signed a damage prevention cooperative agreement and received a kill permit for each of the properties.

Report of Sick Deer: Specialist Heilhecker received a report of sick deer. The reporting party was concerned the deer are infected with Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). She sent the reporting party’s information along with the submitted photos to the district wildlife biologists. The biologist did not think, from the pictures provided, that the deer were infected with CWD.

Cougar Issues: Specialist Heilhecker received a report of a dead lamb. She confirmed the lamb was killed by a cougar. The night before the lamb was killed, the livestock owner had moved the sheep to a pasture further away from the house. After the lamb was killed, the livestock owner brought the sheep back to the pasture next to the house. Specialist Heilhecker loaned the livestock owner two Foxlights. The livestock owner also left a message with a hunter. 

Bear Visiting Neighborhood: Specialist Heilhecker received a call about a bear wandering a neighborhood eating birdseed, apples in trees, and getting into garbage. They discussed removing all attractants and nonlethal hazing options. If the bear does not leave the area after all the food sources are removed, Specialist Heilhecker reminded the reporting party that bear hunting season is open. 

Conserving Natural Landscapes

2024 Pheasants Forever Wildfire Grant: Private Lands Biologists’ Braaten and Morris secured over $18,000 from Pheasants Forever to enhance wildlife habitat by planting sagebrush and other shrubs in areas affected by wildfires as part of restoration efforts in Grant and Douglas counties this fall.

Managing Wildlife Populations

District 8 Bighorn Sheep Lamb Surveys: District 8 Wildlife Biologist Wampole, Assistant District 8 Wildlife Biologist Moore, Ungulate Specialist Moore, and Assistant Ungulate Specialist Kyle commenced surveys of the Yakima Canyon and Cleman Mountain bighorn sheep populations to investigate lamb production of collared study ewes. 

Waterfowl Banding Wrap-up: District 4 Wildlife Biologist Fidorra, with help from staff members and volunteer members, completed the 2024 banding season with approximately 450 ducks banded over 15 trapping events. This year was challenging as only one site was used, but there was a good number of mallards coming in. A seven-year-old mallard was recaptured that was banded onsite in 2018. Over 60 pintail (second most in 12 years) but only 12 wood ducks (least since 2016) were captured. Overall, it was a great season with no mortalities and several volunteer members enjoyed handling and learning about waterfowl up close for the first time! 

State Wildlife Action Plan 2025 Underway: District 4 Wildlife Biologist Fidorra provided feedback and information regarding waterbirds and passerines. Biologists used this for updates to the Washington State Wildlife Action Plan and species to include for consideration as Species of Greatest Conservation Need. This work will be ongoing until the draft update is completed.

Wenas Wildlife Area – Elk Fence Repair: All Wenas Wildlife Area staff members have been repairing downed elk fence within the Black Canyon Fire that burned approximately 10,000 acres last August. Wenas staff members have been using 10ft T-Posts to help prop up the fence until a new fence can be installed.

Oak Creek Wildlife Area Elk Fence Repair: Oak Creek Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Charlet has been repairing elk fence that was damaged during the suppression activities of the Retreat Fire. Some elk fence was cut to put in dozer line, and a gate post was damaged.

L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Elk Fence: The L.T. Murray Wildlife Area crew repaired elk fence that elk have been jumping. New wire will be added soon to raise the fence back up to around 8’ high. 

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Pheasant Releases for Youth Season: District 4 Wildlife Biologist Fidorra, Natural Resource Technician Pizzini, and Private Lands Biologist Manderbach released pheasants for the youth opener in Franklin County at three sites: Hope Valley, Lost Island, and Big Flat. The youth hunt weekend is followed by the 65 and Over hunt. These sites are great places to give new hunters and dogs some practice. District 8 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Wetzel also released pheasants at the Green Gate site in Kittitas County. 

Wenas Wildlife Area – Manastash Ridge Trails Interpretive Sign: Wenas Wildlife Area Lands and Recreation Specialist Frame installed an interpretive sign (inspired by the Manastash Ridge Trails Committee) along the Westberg Trail in the Manastash Ridge Trail System. The sign gives info on the local plants and wildlife a user may encounter on the trails. The sign also discusses the importance of microbiotic crusts that inhabit the area and how sensitive they can be to damage.

Wenas Wildlife Area – Bull Pasture Green Dot Road Proposed Seasonal Closure: Wenas Wildlife Area Manager Gray and Lands and Recreation Specialist Frame worked together on submitting the proposed Bull Pasture Green Dot Road Seasonal Closure to be posted for public comment through State Enhancement Policy Act (SEPA). The proposal includes closing motorized use on approximately five miles of the green dot road from December 15th through May 1st on an annual, reoccurring basis. The restriction would not impact walk-in access recreation use such as hunting, hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking. The seasonal annual closure is being proposed to protect the condition of the road and previous roadwork completed this past spring and to protect the habitat during a sensitive time of the year from off road vehicle use that is seen often throughout this area. The SEPA process is open for public comment through September 23rd. Public input will continue to be taking into consideration in the development of the proposal.

Region 3 Private Lands Parking Areas: Region 3 Private Lands Biologist Manderbach and Natural Resource Technician Pizzini cleaned up more parking areas throughout the region. At Plymouth North, a third parking area was reopened closer to the southern end of the property. The landowners had closed it off a few years ago due to new construction but decided to reopen it this season. This will reduce the amount of walking to the southern end of the property by about a mile. A new registration box was placed at the Mabton-Bickleton Road property, and that parking area was mowed down.

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

District 4 Rattlesnake Hills Elk Hazing: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand conducted hazing operations at several orchards and vineyards near Benton City and Whitstran after reports of increased elk activity. Acoustic alarms, LP gas cannons, and active hunting on damage permits are methods being used to reduce elk presence and minimize crop loss.

District 4 Kahlotus Deer Damage: Hand monitored winter wheat fields along the Snake River in Franklin County for deer damage and wheat planting success. Most fields have been seeded and are showing good “green-up”. No significant damage was observed.

District 4 Plymouth Deer Damage: Hand continued to haze problem deer and monitor deer activity and damage to a large wine grape operation along the Columbia River. 

Kittitas County Conflict: District 8 Conflict Technician Leuck night hazed elk this month in the Park Creek, Poison Springs, and Badger Pocket areas. Water is turned off and crops are mostly harvested, however, elk will continue to enter attractive crop areas until better forage appears in upland areas.

Elk have been testing fences in parts of Kittitas County and some problems at a private ranch were reported.

Yakima County Conflict: Conflict Specialist Wetzel received calls from crop producers in Wiley City, Tampico, Cowiche, and along the Naches River about elk going into crop fields at night. Permits and seasons are underway in those areas to deter elk from using crop areas. Elk issues have markedly increased in Moxee, with elk mostly getting into standing corn. 

District 8 Conflict - Deer Botfly: Several road strike deer have been recovered this month. All the deer struck on the road had severe infestations of botfly.

District 8 Pheasant release: Eighty-seven pheasants were released by Conflict Specialist Wetzel at the Green Gate for the youth pheasant opener.

District 8 Grouse Barrels: Grouse barrels were placed at Taneum and Coleman kiosks for the upcoming grouse season.

Oak Creek Wildlife Area Fire Restoration: Oak Creek Wildlife Area Manager Mackey has been working with Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) cultural resource staff members to organize cultural resource surveys before restoration work can begin. Mackey has also continued to help plan a field trip with the science community to assess impacts and forest treatment effectiveness post-fire. 

Oak Creek Wildlife Area Retreat Fire Continued Efforts: Mackey continues efforts to coordinate permitting and support to the Yakima-Tieton Irrigation District to replace wildlife protection features on the canal that were damaged during the Retreat Fire.

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Solar and Wind Guidelines Internal Review: District 4 Wildlife Biologist Fidorra reviewed and provided comments on the draft WDFW Solar and Wind Guidelines. The guidelines provide information for developers and contractors regarding siting, wildlife surveys, and mitigation, and will be open to public comment in the future.

Windmill Ranch Milkweed Harvest: Sunnyside/Snake River Wildlife Area staff members, along with other WDFW District 4 staff members and volunteer members from the Benton and Franklin Conservation Districts, harvested showy milkweed seed from the Windmill Ranch Unit. The seeds were harvested to make seed balls that will be broadcast in areas where milkweed is less abundant, with the goal of expanding suitable habitat for the monarch butterfly across the Columbia Basin. Staff members also observed monarch caterpillars on the showy milkweed in the harvest area.

Sunnyside/Snake River Wetlands: Sunnyside/Snake River Wildlife Area staff members continue to mow wetlands in preparation for reflooding this fall. 

Franklin County Habitat Project: Region 3 Private Lands Biologist Manderbach and Natural Resource Technician Pizzini met with a landowner in Connell and a resource conservationist from the Franklin Conservation District. The landowner is filling a pond with Columbia River project water as part of the Odessa Aquifer Transfer Project. There are existing habitat projects on the property and space for many more. Using Voluntary Stewardship Program (VSP) funding from the conservation district, a significant number of native shrubs, grasses, and forbs will be planted this fall. The Region 3 private lands team will provide equipment and boots on the ground to help install this project.

L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Cole Creek Bridge: The L.T. Murray Wildlife Area crew members continue to monitor the Yakima River Unit’s collapsed Cole Creek bridge for vehicles driving around the bridge through the creek. Vehicles are again using the bridge in spite of the obvious hazard.

Providing Education and Outreach

Colockum Elk Conflict Presentation: District 8 Wildlife Biologist Wampole presented to the Kittitas County Field and Stream Club in Ellensburg on current human-elk conflict in Kittitas County.

Conducting Business Operations and Policy

SB 5782 Meeting: District 8 Wildlife staff members and Region 3 regional management staff members met with local landowners and political representatives to discuss planned actions of SB 5782. The senate bill was established to provide resources to better understand impacts of elk on agricultural lands in Kittitas County and help inform management actions. 

Other

L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Whiskey Dick Unit: Cayuse Creek experienced a heavy water event which washed trenches in the Cayuse and Jacknife Ridge roads. With Washington State Parks closing the south end of the Jacknife Ridge Rd, this should be a low impact on hunter access to the area. However, it will definitely add to the current hazards of utilizing the area's unimproved green dot roads. 

Managing Wildlife Populations

Grouse wing barrel and elk hoof bin deployment: Biologists Holman, Stephens, Ott, and Bergh, along with Cowlitz Wildlife Area Manager Vanderlip and Assistant Manager Steveson, deployed grouse wing barrels and elk hoof collection bins across the region in advance of archery elk and grouse opening days. With the collected grouse wings and tails, the species, age, and sex of each harvested grouse can be identified. These data will allow us to assess population trends for each grouse species and manage harvest accordingly. Please see our forest grouse wing collection webpage for details on collection and the locations of the barrels.

The collection of elk hooves is for the hoof disease incentive program designed to encourage the harvest of elk with hoof disease. All western Washington general season and most special permit hunters have a chance to enter an exclusive draw opportunity by submitting hooves that display signs of elk hoof disease. Please see our elk hoof disease webpage for details on the incentive program and the locations of the collection bins.

Northwestern Pond Turtle Unknown Shell Disease (USD) Treatment Trapping: With the help of volunteer members and several U.S. Fish and Wildlife (USFS) Columbia Gorge Scenic Area staff members, Biologists Bergh, Wickhem, and Ott trapped 24 northwestern pond turtles (NWPT). This was the first step in a biannual effort to treat USD, which is a major concern for Washington’s populations of northwestern pond turtles. While the disease is known to be fungal associated (Emydomyces testavorans), the cause of this disease is still unknown. In response, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) monitoring efforts have been ongoing since 2012, which has included the treatment of mild to severe cases of USD in NWPT. Turtles captured for treatment receive CT scans to determine presence and severity of shell disease before being admitted to the Oregon Zoo and PAWS Wildlife Health Center. The turtles then head to Cedar Creek Corrections Center in Washington, part of the Sustainability in Prisons Project, to be cared for until healing is complete and the turtles are ready for release back into the wild.

During this trapping effort, WDFW biologists also assisted Dr. Hernandez-Gomez, Assistant Professor of Wildlife Disease Ecology from New Mexico State University, in sampling both NWPT and painted turtles for use in an immunogenetics study. This study evaluates the role of pathogen prevalence, environmental quality, and host genetics on the prevalence of USD in NWPT throughout Washington. The study is partially funded by WDFW’s new Wildlife Diversity Grant Program and will inform future management and recovery of the species.

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Kiosk Maintenance: Access staff members have seen an uptick of vandalism and abuse of sign kiosks at the Langsdorf Access Area in Vancouver. Most of the signage had been taken down. To help ensure that the signs stay where they belong, staff members placed several self-tapping screws along the border of each sign. In addition to the screws, bolts were strategically placed on each sign making it very difficult to remove without two people on either side to loosen the bolts. It may seem like overkill, but unfortunately it is necessary. 

Abandoned Boat: With the increased traffic at the Langsdorf Access Area, there has been an uptick in litter and abandoned equipment. Access staff members found an abandoned boat beached on the bank opposite of the boat ramp. Wildlife Area and Access Area staff members are working together to coordinate with the tides to get the vessel out of the area and to the local dump. 

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Bear Concerns 1: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen fielded multiple reports over the course of a couple weeks of a small black bear wandering around the streets of White Salmon. Fortunately, the bear was not getting into any human attractants or causing problems other than eating from the occasional fruit tree. Jacobsen will continue to work with the Bingen-White Salmon Police Department to monitor the bear’s activity in the area.

Bear Concerns 2: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen fielded a report from a landowner regarding a bear that had repeatedly attempted to enter his residence. The landowner would wash his front door daily and come home to find fresh muddy bear prints on the door near the door handle. Jacobsen and Officer Hughes had previously attempted to trap the bear last month after the bear entered the residence, raided the pantry, and killed the landowner’s cat. The bear did not show up while the trap had been set. Officer Hughes set the trap again at the residence.

Bear Concerns 3: A landowner contacted Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen to report a large black bear consuming fruit from his fruit trees and damaging the branches. Jacobsen explained that this was natural behavior for a bear but suggested that the landowner could erect electric fencing around his small orchard if he was insistent on keeping the bear out of the area. The landowner plans to construct an electric fence for next season.

Bear Concerns 4: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen handled a complaint regarding a black bear that repeatedly approached a landowner while she was working in her vineyard. On one occasion, the bear pursued the landowner’s dogs that were harassing the bear. Jacobsen provided advice as well as options for handling the conflict. The landowner decided to attempt to hunt the bear using their valid bear tag during the current, open bear season.

Wolf Sightings: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen received multiple reports of a collared wolf wandering through pastures in central Klickitat County. Jacobsen was aware of the wolf and the reports of the wolf’s activity align with the data received from the wolf’s satellite GPS collar. The lone male wolf dispersed from the Lake Chelan area in the spring of 2024 and made its way down the Cascades, arriving in Klickitat County around early April. Jacobsen has been working closely with livestock producers in the area to prevent wolf-livestock conflicts.

Cougar Depredation on Goat: A property manager contacted Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen after one of their goats went missing from the property. The goats are locked in a barn each night, but this goat disappeared in the middle of the day from a small, chain-link paddock while facility employees were nearby. Jacobsen responded to the scene but was unable to locate the goat. Jacobsen found muddy paw prints on the top of the fence and later, goat hair stuck to a log near a culvert. Based on this information, Jacobsen contacted a houndsman to help search the area for a cougar. An adult male cougar was located approximately 150 yards away. Jacobsen euthanized the cougar and necropsy of the cougar’s stomach revealed that the cougar had eaten a goat.

Cougar Depredation on Unsecured Alpaca: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen and Biologist Ott responded to a residence where a cougar had reportedly killed an alpaca. Although the landowner reported the incident two days after it happened, Jacobsen and Biologist Ott were still able to confirm that a cougar was responsible for the depredation. According to the landowner, the cougar was observed chasing another alpaca the night after the first alpaca was killed. As is the case in most livestock depredations, the landowner’s alpacas had been left out at night to graze unsecured in the partially wooded pasture. The landowner agreed to begin locking their remaining alpacas up at night to help prevent future depredations.

Mistaken Identity: A landowner contacted Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen regarding what he believed to be a bobcat or a juvenile cougar that he captured on his doorbell camera. Upon reviewing the footage, Jacobsen was able to reassure the landowner that the feline in question was a domestic housecat. It is common for landowners with doorbell cameras to report domestic cats as cougars given the wide-angle nature of most of these camera lenses and the subsequent distortion of the animal’s size. However, closer inspection of body morphology and size relative to other objects in the camera’s frame can help clear up these cases of mistaken identity.

Coyote Depredation on Domestic Dog: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen was contacted by an urban Clark County resident regarding a depredation on one of his domestic dogs. Based on the location and description of the attack, Jacobsen believed that coyotes were responsible for the depredation. Jacobsen provided advice to the reporting party.

Rattlesnake Capture: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen was again contacted by the same landowner along the Klickitat River who reported a rattlesnake in her garage a couple of weeks prior. This time, the landowner had another juvenile rattlesnake along her garage. Jacobsen stopped by the residence on his way out of town and moved the young snake to the other side of the landowner’s large property. The landowner was thankful for the assistance.

Injured Deer 1: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen responded to a report of an injured deer in an urban neighborhood. Jacobsen located the deer and determined that the deer had a severely broken back leg as well as a likely infection with severe diarrhea. The deer was in poor overall body condition and needed to be euthanized. The deer had taken shelter under a large porch where the conditions were not conducive for Jacobsen to safely euthanize the animal. Jacobsen chemically immobilized the young deer using a dart gun and removed the deer from under the porch where he could then safely euthanize it.

Injured Deer 2: On the same day that Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen responded to the injured deer under the porch, Jacobsen received another report of an injured deer in the ditch at a busy Clark County intersection. Jacobsen contacted the Clark County Sheriff’s Department with traffic control assistance. Jacobsen was able to safely euthanize the deer on the side of the road. According to the Sheriff’s Department, that was the third deer that day that had been hit by a car and needed to be euthanized at that same intersection. The Sheriff’s Department had handled the previous two injured deer calls there earlier that day.

Injured Deer 3: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen was contacted by a landowner regarding what she believed to be an injured deer laying up against her house. After assessing the footage of the deer and its overall body condition, Jacobsen believed that the deer was healthy and just resting. Jacobsen couldn’t resist including a picture of this beautiful, mature, healthy black-tailed buck in his report.

Elk in Orchard: A landowner contacted Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen to complain about a group of elk in her non-commercial apple and pear orchard that were damaging her trees. Jacobsen loaned the landowner some Fox Lights as well as an inflatable waving tube deterrent to help keep the elk at bay for the next few weeks.

Elk in Hay: A landowner contacted Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen to discuss elk damage to his hay pasture. Jacobsen will meet with the landowner soon to renew his Damage Prevention Cooperative Agreement.

Deer Damage to Vineyard: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen met with a vineyard manager to discuss deer damage to the grape vines in the vineyard. While there, Jacobsen observed a female deer and her fawn browsing on the vines. The manager had made a concerted effort to enclose the vineyard in temporary, plastic deer fencing but the deer still regularly manage to find a way into the vineyard. Jacobsen will work with the landowner on cooperative cost-share fencing project options for the vineyard.

Providing Education and Outreach

Wahkiakum Outdoors Blacktailed Deer Presentation: Biologist Holman gave a presentation titled “WDFW Black-tailed Deer Management in Southwest Washington” to approximately 25 members of the public in Cathlamet. The presentation featured a discussion of WDFW management strategies for black-tailed deer, population status, basics of black-tailed deer biology and ecology, such as breeding, birth, feeding and death; common deer diseases, as well as WDFW research past and present. Wahkiakum Outdoors regularly brings speakers on various outdoor and natural resource topics to the community.

Managing Wildlife Populations

Prescribed Burn at the Oregon Silverspot Butterfly Unit: Biologist Bechtold, with assistance from EcoStudies Institute, Washington State Parks, Department of Natural Resources (DNR), U.S. Fish and Wildlife (USFWS), Joint Base Lewis McChord (JBLM), and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) staff members recently conducted a prescribed fire at the Oregon Silverspot Butterfly Unit. The intent of the burn was to improve habitat conditions for the endangered Oregon Silverspot and is part of a three-year project funded by the USFWS’ Coastal Program. In addition to the fire, the project also funds the monitoring of habitat conditions, the purchase and installation of native plant material, vegetation control, and outreach. These efforts, in collaboration with the USFWS, are in support of the ultimate goal of reestablishing a self-sustaining population of the Oregon Silverspot in the state.

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Lake Limerick, Mason County: Access staff members repainted the interior and exterior of the outhouse and removed graffiti from signage at Lake Limerick access area. Maintenance and painting in other access areas is planned for early fall.

Naselle River, Pacific County: The water access crew with the assistance of Washington Conservation Corp (WCC) monofilament program staff members performed annual trail maintenance at Highway 4 access. Trail work consisted of cutting brush, blackberries, and Japanese Knotweed to improve accessibility for fishing along an easement trail of the Naselle River. Other work included posting informational and property boundaries signs and the installation of a monofilament recycling collection bin at the parking area of the Highway 4 access.

Nisqually River, Thurston County: Access staff members, with guidance from WDFW’s Habitat Program and assistance from WDFW’s Capital and Asset Management Program personnel, participated in a successful joint effort to remove a vehicle that was decaying underwater in the Nisqually River. The make or model was not known but estimated to be over 40 years old and likely has been in the river for 20 years or more.