Wildlife Program report: May 1-15, 2025

Managing Wildlife Populations

Pheasant Surveys: Private Lands Biologist Nizer, Natural Resource Technician Itrich, and a Pheasants Forever volunteer member helped conduct Saint John’s first pheasant ground survey in over 10 years. Nizer, Itrich, and the volunteer member saw 13 pheasant roosters and 29 hens for a total of 42 pheasants in the 6.63 miles walked. Surveys were done on Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) hunting access properties and Department of Natural Resources land. On average, over six pheasants per mile were either flushed or spotted throughout the survey with one nesting site spotted. 

Ferruginous Hawks: Biologist Brinkman completed an occupancy survey of a historic ferruginous hawk nesting territory in Lincoln County. All three historic nest sites were unoccupied and only one old nest structure was observed. However, red-tailed hawks were observed soaring nearby and a breeding pair of Swainson’s hawks was observed at an old homestead nearby. 

Tucannon Bighorn Sheep: Wildlife Area Manager Dingman located the bighorn sheep this week. To date, four new lambs have been observed.

Golden Eagle: The Merengo birds were observed feeding at least one chick in the nest. An adult was seen flying in the Hartsock territory, but Wildlife Area Manager Dingman still has not been able to locate where they are nesting this year.

Bats: Biologists Lowe and Brinkman attended a meeting in Spokane with the nonprofit organization Climbers for Bat Conservation. This organization received a grant from WDFW to connect recreational climbers with bat biologists as a way to improve citizen science reporting of local bat roosts within climbing areas (i.e., bats that are roosting in cliffs/rock faces that are observed while climbing). 

Ferruginous Hawk Camera Traps: Natural Resource Technician Moberg sorted through thousands of pictures taken remotely from ferruginous hawk platforms that were installed by WDFW biologists. 

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Turkey Season Questions: Private lands staff members answered numerous phone calls and emails from the public wondering where to hunt on private lands.

Voluntary Public Access Contracts: Private Lands Biologist Thorne Hadley continues to work on processing A-19’s for payment. This includes contacting and meeting landowners to get signatures, scanning and uploading the document on the shared drive for review and approval, and recording and documenting financial funds utilized. Private Lands Biologist Thorne Hadley worked with Contracts Specialist Cole in regard to contract amendments.

Recreation Access Site Maintenance and Management: Maintenance Mechanic Heimgartner and Natural Resource Technician Nielsen made the rounds and cleaned access sites across the district. Heimgartner worked with some contracted surveyors to conduct a bathometric survey of the river at Heller Bar boat ramp. 

West Medical Lake Wildfire Project: The access area at West Medical Lake received a partial redevelopment of the property due to the loss of infrastructure from the Gray Fire in 2023. Lacey Construction Shop has been working on the property to prep the area for two new CXT toilets to replace the burnt down fiberglass toilets previously at the property. Natural Resource Technician Brant was onsite with the access truck and provided not only labor, but also the use of water and the pump on his truck to help with gravel compaction to prep the areas for the new vault toilets. Contractors will be on site next week to finish the project, which includes installation of a new perimeter fence and gate to secure the property in the off-season. The property also received a brand new, agency standard entrance sign welcoming the public to the West Medical Lake Access Area. 

Silver Lake Access Area and Clear Lake: Natural Resource Specialist Daniel Dziekan and Natural Resource Technician Adam Brant met Tri-County Septic at Silver Lake for another round of vault pumping. Dziekan and Brant worked with the pumpers to remove litter from the vault during the pumping process. Allowing trash to build up, rather than removing it during each pumping event, results in additional work. A project which typically lasts an hour, took a full day, and resulted in an unbelievable amount of trash.

Dziekan and Brant removed 45 bags of litter from the two vaults at Silver Lake. Dziekan and Brant removed another 20 bags of litter from the single vault at Clear Lake. In total, the access area managers removed over 2,200 pounds of litter from the vault toilets. To offer a comparison, the double vault toilet at Newman Lake, which Dziekan has diligently been removing litter from each time it has been pumped, took Tri-County Septic and WDFW about an hour to pump, using under a dozen bags, and weighed approximately 400 pounds. Dziekan has never seen anywhere close to this amount of litter pulled from a vault in his ten-year career managing access areas. He estimated the vaults at Silver Lake were over halfway filled with trash. 

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Injured Owl: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Harris transported an injured great horned owl chick to a permitted wildlife rehabilitator. The owl was picked up by a Spokane resident after it was found on their property with injuries to its head. 

Black Bear: Natural Resource Technician Edmondson responded to several black bear calls and handed out informational pamphlets on how to secure attractants. Edmondson deployed an electric netting kit around a chicken coop that had been broken into.

Moose Relocation: WDFW staff members relocated a young cow moose that had been reported in Millwood earlier in the week. The moose crossed multiple busy roadways and was able to travel to the south hill before staff members were able to immobilize and relocate it outside of Spokane. 

Stateline Elk: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Kolb conducted near-daily patrols of historical elk calving grounds near the WA-OR state line. No evidence of cow elk beds has been noted thus far. Hazing efforts will continue for the next month to discourage elk calving in valuable commercial crops. 

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Habitat Planting: Private lands staff members installed 17,000 trees and shrubs across Region 1 through the spring season. 

Habitat Maintenance: Private Lands Biologist Nizer and Natural Resource Technician Itrich sprayed trees and shrubs with deer repellent in areas that showed past deer damage on plants. Over 400 plants were sprayed with the repellent between two different sites. 

Drone Spray Application: Private Lands Biologist Nizer hired out a company to spray a Ducks Unlimited project site which was a wetland crowded with bullrush and cattails. In total, 24 acres were sprayed and will be followed up with seeding in the fall. 

Rustlers Gulch Wildlife Area (RGWA) Prescribed Burning: Prescribed burning efforts transitioned this week from Sherman Creek Wildlife Area (SCWA) near Kettle Falls to the Rustlers Gulch Wildlife Area (RGWA) near Deer Park. WDFW Burn Team, SCWA staff members, and contract fire crews mobilized to RGWA on Tuesday to freshen up control lines and install hose lays around burn unit perimeters. In total, 3.5 miles of hose was installed to provide water around burn unit perimeters. With controls in place and enough drying time following Tuesday’s rain on the units, firing was initiated on Thursday with approximately 50 acres treated. Prescribed burning continued on Friday with another 100 acres treated. Additional resources onsite during firing operations included a Department of Natural Resources fire engine and a 3,000-gallon water tender from the South Pend Oreille Fire District. The unit received rain on Saturday, so crews performed additional mop-up that day. The remaining 60 acres is expected to be treated on Sunday, weather and conditions permitting. 

Revere Wildlife Area Maintenance: This week Wildlife Area Manager Mike Finch, Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Cody Wagner and Natural Resource Technician Kyle Duclos made a trip down to the Revere Wildlife Area. The trip was to check out the replacement of the top wire from barbed to smooth on the north and west side of the wildlife area in order to change that fence line to meet wildlife friendly standards. The Washington Conservation Corp and Biologist Tyler Jennings worked on that fence line last week and installed two steel posts in concrete for new walk-through gates that will be installed soon. The walk-through gates will allow hunters to pass within the boundaries of the Revere Wildlife Area safely.

Also, while down at Revere, Duclos sprayed several patches of Scotch thistle that is outside the agriculture field boundaries. Everything within the agriculture field boundaries will be the responsibility of the new tenant. Finch, Wagner, and Duclos met up with three members of the Spokane Chapter of Pheasant Forever to inspect the shrub plots planted a couple weeks ago. Finch, Wagner, and Duclos went out to Z-Lake on the Swanson Lakes Wildlife Area to check out the shrub plot that was planted almost one year ago by WDFW, Pheasant Forever, Spokane Audubon and many dedicated volunteer members. This shrub plot won 1st place in a onX National competition last year, with a $7,500 grand prize awarded to the Spokane Chapter of Pheasant Forever to use toward their next conservation project. 

Boot Brush Stations: This week Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Wagner and Natural Resource Technician Duclos installed two new boot brush stations donated from Washington Invasive Species Council to the Swanson Lakes Wildlife Area. One of the boot brush stations was installed at the kiosk and bathroom area at Swanson Lakes and the other one was installed for access into Z-Lake along Telford Road. Concrete bags were laid over the top of the concrete until the concrete cures, after which the bags will be removed and the dirt will cover the concrete. 

Providing Education and Outreach

Chief Joseph ATV Club Outreach: David Woodall and the LC Valley ATV Club did a ride out to Shovel Creek. They saw some elk, spring wildflowers, raptors, and some beautiful scenery. 

Sheriff Department Training: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Kolb assisted Wildlife Conflict Specialist Wade, Wolf Biologist Spence, and Conflict Supervisor Earl with the presentation of depredation investigation topics with the Garfield County Sheriff Department.

Odyssey Outdoor Camp: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Harris attended Odyssey’s outdoor camp to teach students about safe recreation and how to handle wildlife encounters. Students also learned how to identify tracks, scat, and skulls of large carnivore species and the importance of carrying bear spray. 

Other

Equipment Prep.: Natural Resource Technician Edmondson assisted Biologist Baarstad with preparing and loading a tractor and seeder for transport to a site where planting will be done.

Conflict Equipment: Natural Resource Technician Edmondson picked up a paintball gun that had been loaned out to a member of the public who had been sustaining turkey damage to their yard. After picking up the paintball gun, Edmondson had all three of the CO2 canisters refilled. 

Managing Wildlife Populations

Safe Harbor Agreements: Biologist Morris and several other Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) staff members met with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to update Safe Harbor Agreements (SHAs) to a new format called a Conservation Benefit Agreement (CBA). SHAs and CBAs are tools to work with private landowners to improve conservation and reintroduction success for endangered species as part of Section 10 of the Endangered Species Act.

Annual Grouse Surveys: Private Lands Biologist Braaten continued surveying Sage and Sharp-tailed grouse in Douglas County.

Biological Control: Private Lands Biologist Braaten delivered 33 releases (approximately 3,500) stem boring weevils to ten Douglas County landowners who have Dalmatian Toadflax infestations.

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Hunter Access: Biologist Morris updated and renewed three hunter access contracts. These contracts will allow for public hunting access on private lands totaling over 2,300 acres. Morris worked with another landowner to try and maintain fishing access for the public on a small lake in Douglas County. Morris checked and posted hunter access signs on several hunter access properties.

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Bear Trouble: Specialist Heilhecker responded to several calls about bears getting into garbage and/or killing chickens. In all the situations, the garbage was neither secured in a bear-proof garbage can nor were the chickens protected by electric fencing. Specialist Heilhecker referred the reporting parties to the Methow Bear Coalition (MBC). MBC has funding available to assist with electric fencing projects. She also encouraged people to contact WasteWise to get a bear-resistant garbage can. In one situation, the homeowner had already called WasteWise and stated the can would be delivered the next day. Specialist Heilhecker worked with regional staff members to create a social media ad to remind people to safeguard their chickens and beehives from bears.

Cost-Share Fencing: Specialist Heilhecker received a call from a producer interested in fencing materials to keep deer from newly planted trees. The producer inquired about fencing for individual trees instead of fencing the entire orchard. Heilhecker explained the cost-share fencing program would require the producer to fence the entire orchard. She informed the producer the fiscal year is coming to an end, and it is unknown as to whether there will be any funding for the next fiscal year. The producer said he would follow up at a later date if he reconsidered fencing the entire orchard.

Coordination with Grazing Permitters: Specialist Heilhecker notified producers who graze within wolf territories of den sites.

Cougar Report in Town: Specialist Heilhecker and Sargent McCormick responded to a cougar sighting report in Okanogan. The reporting party’s son heard “rustling” in a tree the previous night. They walked the area but could not find any cougar sign.

Responding to Producers Request: Specialist Heilhecker visited with a sheep producer to discuss nonlethal deterrence measures. Despite having two livestock guardian dogs, bringing the sheep to the barn every night, and having no other attractants in the area, the producer has lost several sheep to cougars over the years. Specialist Heilhecker sat with the producer as they filled out their damage claim paperwork. However, the value of the lamb will likely be under $500.

Wolf Outreach Efforts: Specialist Heilhecker worked with regional and headquarters staff members to create a social media ad and blog update on wolf dispersal. The ad references a radio collared wolf from Chelan County who has been seen travelling around the Methow Valley.

Providing Education and Outreach

Snake Day 2025: Biologist Fitkin and retired U.S. Fish and Wildlife Biologist Rohrer conducted our annual snake survey in the Rendezvous Unit of the Methow Wildlife Area. This served as an adult (and some kids) education class for the North Cascades Institute (NCI). Perfect conditions (cool but sunny) meant snakes were active and 27 individual snakes from four different species were located during the class. A couple of rubber boas were on hand to share with participants. The data is an indicator of abundance and species diversity over time and gives us an opportunity to monitor for snake fungal disease (no suspect legions found). The proceeds from the course support NCI’s Mountain School program for kids.

Lands and Diversity Program Assistance: Private Lands Biologist Braaten aided the Diversity Program surveys (grouse, ground squirrel, hawk, and more) and researched project access needs on private lands. Braaten also worked with staff members to provide context regarding landowner reactions to situations, involvement, etc. in order to provide adequate communication to landowners and others. Maintaining private landowner relationships is key to having healthy partnerships.

Other

Young Owls: Private Lands Supervisor Rickel responded to a report of two young owls out of the nest at a residence. It appeared as thought they were still too young to fly and might have fallen out of the nest. The young owls were kept safe from predators by the homeowner, and they were picked up by the adult owls the next day.

Managing Wildlife Populations

District 8 Avian Influenza Sampling for Pelican Populations: District 8 Biologist Wampole and Scientific Technician Ogburn processed pelican blood samples provided by Yakama Nation Biologist De Boer. These samples will be used to determine the pathological history of avian influenza in local populations, as well as potential resulting immunity.

District 8 Parke Creek Elk Pilot Project: District 8 Scientific Technician Ogburn began collecting data on the number of elk that cross the canal into agricultural land using video camera traps. This will assist landowners in crop damage claims, as well as provide data regarding elk movement.

District 4 Sunnyside-Snake River Amphibian Inventory: District 4 Scientific Technicians Reed and Hart conducted dip-netting for tadpoles across Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) wildlife units. Detected amphibians included a mix of frogs, toads, and salamanders, including Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) like Woodhouse’s toads.

Sunnyside-Snake River Bird Banding: Region 3 Natural Resource Technician Pizzini and Private Lands Biologist Manderbach assisted Richland Rod & Gun Club volunteer members with banding of nesting wood ducks and Northern saw-whet owlets in the Windmill Ranch and Bailie Units of the Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area. Observations indicated several boxes had been recently used by nesting wood ducks.

Region 3 Kahlotus Tricolored Blackbirds: Region 3 Private Lands Biologist Manderbach checked on the Register to View property outside Kahlotus to monitor tricolored blackbird usage. There are currently dozens (if not hundreds) of tricolored blackbirds in the area that the birds use as a breeding site. Mixed in with the tricolored blackbirds were some red-winged blackbirds, yellow-headed blackbirds, and a goose pair with goslings, among other species.

Providing Recreation Opportunities

L.T. Murray Wildlife Area and Whiskey Dick Unit Openers: L.T. Murray Wildlife Area crew members opened gates at the Joe Watt Canyon and Robinson Canyon sites to allow public access into the winter elk closure area. 120 vehicles lined up at the Joe Watt site in hopes of finding elk antlers. The crew also opened gates on the Whiskey Dick Unit to allow vehicle access to the winter elk habitat protection area.

L.T. Murray Wildlife Area – Whiskey Dick Unit Roads: L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Manager Morrison and Assistant Manager Winegeart evaluated roads on the Whiskey Dick Unit. The Pump House and Cayuse roads being worked on by a Capital and Asset Management Program construction crew look great but other sites have washed out apparently due to greater than normal ground water seeping out through the road surfaces. Areas along Whiskey Dick Creek and Skookumchuck Creek have washouts that are forcing the public to either turn around or drive around. 

Wenas Wildlife Area – Target Shooting Restrictions: Sunrise to 10:00 a.m. shooting restrictions are in place as of May 15. All shooting, both dispersed and designated target range shooting, are allowed from sunrise to 10:00am. All shooting is prohibited outside of the time frame. These restrictions will persist through September 15 or until a full target shooting closure is in effect due to fire danger.

Wenas Wildlife Area – Road and Trail Assessment / Inventory: Wenas Wildlife Area is working with a third-party contractor specializing in trail assessments and inventories, and the WDFW Statewide Recreation Team, to inventory and assess trails and roads in the Wenas Wildlife Area. This assessment will provide data on where and when road or trail maintenance is needed.

Region 3 Ice Harbor DNR Orchards Visit: Region 3 Private Lands Biologist Manderbach and District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Kaelber have been in talks with the Department of Natural Resources and one of their orchard operator lessees about ways to maintain orchard worker safety while also keeping the public land open for hunting. Issues with deer hunters in and around the orchard while staff members are working have become more prevalent over the last few years. The orchard manager took Manderbach and Kaelber on a tour of the orchard and areas where hunting would still remain safe. The plan is to setup Hunt by Reservation for disabled hunters with easy access blinds facing in safe directions, utilize later season, post-harvest hunt dates for special permit holders, and make a Damage Prevention Cooperative Agreement contract for the crop damage occurring outside of hunting seasons. 

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

District 4 Rattlesnake Hills/Corral Canyon: District 4 Conflict Specialist Kaelber has been hazing elk out of agricultural crops on the south side of Rattlesnake Mountain. Elk have started moving off of Hanford in search of forage as the native grasses start to dry out. Conflict Specialist Kaelber has renewed 14 Damage Prevention Contracts with private landowners and has issued damage permits prior to the Summer Bull Elk damage season.

Oak Creek Wildlife Area - Elk Fence Reconstruction and Maintenance: A contractor began and continues to replace elk fence south of US Highway 12 on the Oak Creek Unit. This section has been planned for replacement for five or more years, but other priorities throughout the state due to wildfires delayed implementation. Additionally, funding was not available to complete all of the planned reconstruction. As a result, Oak Creek Wildlife Area staff members have been fortifying fence outside of the contractor’s existing project area.

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Sunnyside-Snake River Floating Wetlands: Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Jahns, Natural Resource Tehcnician Pizzini, and Region 3 Private Lands Biologist Manderbach assisted the Franklin and Benton Conservation Districts with the implementation of their Floating Wetland Pilot Project. Artificial floating wetlands constructed of both synthetic and natural materials were installed on Powerline Lake and Mesa Lake. The floating wetlands are designed to provide a variety of ecological benefits including the enhancement of biodiversity by providing habitat, as well as improving water quality in areas where conventional riparian restoration is limited by precipitation and other climate constraints. 

Wenas Wildlife Area – Aerial Herbicide Application: Central Valley helicopters treated 518 acres for broadleaf control and invasive noxious weeds in various sites on the Wenas. The sites treated are a mix of wildfire scars, elk feeding sites, and habitat restoration sites.

Wenas Wildlife Area – Whitetop and Thistle Herbicide Application: Wenas Wildlife Area staff members applied herbicide via backpack spraying to invasive and noxious weeds such as Whitetop, Canada thistle and Scotch thistle. Spraying will continue through the summer as proper application environments are available.

Oak Creek Wildlife Area – Herbicide Application: Oak Creek Wildlife Area staff members continue to do spot backpack herbicide applications to control noxious weeds and conduct weed assessments on portions of the 2024 Retreat Fire.

USFWS Paterson Unit Sagebrush Cache Update: Private Lands Biologist Manderbach, Natural Resource Technician Pizzini, and Habitat Biologist Maikis checked on the sagebrush island cache project from December of 2024 at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Paterson Unit between Plymouth and Paterson. Sagebrush seedlings were discovered in abundance underneath and around the sagebrush caches as well as areas where seedballs were placed. The seedlings had just started to come up and were still less than an inch tall, but these initial results are promising for the project’s success. The second site at Rattlesnake Slope will be checked soon as well.

Franklin County Shrub Planting Maintenance: Region 3 Private Lands Biologist Manderbach treated a recent shrub planting in a draw off Neff Jones Road with an herbicide targeting invasive annual grasses such as cheatgrass. A spring and fall treatment for a couple years should reduce the pressure from invasives and allow the shrubs to thrive. Future projects in the area will be sprayed out and mowed prior to planting to help ease the initial competition.

Providing Education and Outreach

Oak Creek Wildlife Area – Friends of Oak Creek Volunteer Awards Banquet: Oak Creek Wildlife Area staff members attended the annual awards banquet for the Friends of Oak Creek volunteers. The event was held at the Yakima Eagles on May 14. Dinner was provided at attendees’ expense. There were over 70 people in attendance including volunteers, WDFW staff members, and significant others. Several service awards were handed out to the following for years of service recognition:

20 years: Joe Buckley, Joyce Daugherty, and Jim Noel

15 years: Stuart McPherson, Stan Yeigh, and Andy Zeigler

10 years: Craig Baird, Steve Hargreaves, Roger Johnson, Larry Kastler, and Lynette Miller

5 Years: Jerrid Barber

Other

Colockum Stemilt Partnership Meeting: Colockum Wildlife Area Manager Gray and Assistant Manager Hagan attended a recent Stemilt Partnership meeting. The meeting involved general updates from partners throughout Stemilt. Chelan County provided an update on previous thinning projects throughout the Stemilt area. In early summer, Colockum Wildlife Area staff members along with Statewide Forester Pfeifle will look at future thinning projects areas that WDFW and the county could partner on together. The Stemilt Partnership Meeting was a great opportunity for Gray to meet several partners and local neighbors at the meeting.

Colockum Wildlife Area Tour: Colockum Wildlife Area Manager Gray and Assistant Manager Hagan showed Assistant Lands Division Manager Lowery two separate areas of the Colockum Wildlife Area. The Tarpiscan Fields were shown as an example of previous restoration projects that have been successful in the area. There are three fields on this site that staff members will begin fallowing spring 2025. Additional fields throughout the site were done over six years ago and have developed extremely well. The Stemilt area was shown as well. Discussion items included previous thinning projects, local partners of the area, how to improve managing recreational use throughout the area, green dot road management, and showing challenges tied to off road vehicle use around the Lilly Lake Access Site.

Springwood Celebration Event: L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Manager Morrison and Assistant Manager Winegeart assisted with the setup for the May 2 Springwood dedication ceremony. 

Managing Wildlife Populations

Black-tailed Deer Study Update: Regional wildlife biologists, Ungulate Section staff members, Science Division staff members, Conflict Specialists, wildlife area staff members, Habitat Program staff members, as well as biologists from Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Region 6 continued work on the black-tailed deer project. Thirty-six black-tailed deer were captured by helicopter net gun earlier this winter. The deer are located within GMUs 556 (Toutle) and 550 (Coweeman), on a combination of state and private industrial forestlands. The captured deer were fitted with GPS collars and evaluated for body condition. Researchers took various biological samples before releasing the animals on-site.

Following a period to allow the deer to settle after the capture event, cameras have been placed within the home-range of each deer. Two or three cameras are currently deployed within the range of all study deer that remain alive, depending on the size of the deer’s range. The cameras focus attention on both forested and unforested habitats. Each camera station is also equipped with a device known as a proximity sensor which can detect when the deer’s collar is close to the camera, even if no photos were taken.

In aggregate, the collars, cameras, and sensors monitor the population of both the known deer within the study areas as well as unmarked deer that are also encountered. It is anticipated that these methods will produce sex and age ratios, and they may eventually be able to generate population abundance as well. This pilot effort is being explored within the forestlands of WDFW Region 5 / District 10 with the hope that it will prove to be a suitable tool for monitoring the secretive black-tailed deer in their forested habitats throughout western Washington.

Thanks to the many WDFW staff members who have participated in the project and thanks to the newly formed Blacktail Deer Foundation for their support and encouragement.

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Martins Bar: With the busy summer season quickly approaching, water access area staff members have been busy getting prepared. One site in particular, Martins Bar Access Area in Woodland, gets quite a lot of traffic almost year-round, and even more so in the spring and summer months. Since the early spring, access area staff members made improvements to the site’s parking lot by putting down fresh gravel and placing jersey barriers in the center of the parking lot to deter the public from peeling out. Additionally, staff members have painted the ends of the barriers white to make them more conspicuous for low light conditions. 

Access area staff members have observed several garbage dumps and issues with graffiti. Silverlake restrooms and parking lot got hit pretty hard with multiple tags, which required pressure washing and painting over the graffiti. Also, there was a large garbage dump at Martin’s Bar access site where the access area team found ten large bags of garbage from a local coffee shop.

Kress Lake had a large cottonwood tree come down on the walking trail last week. It took two days to clean up and remove the tree and debris from the trail and ADA access fishing spot. Access area staff members have also been working on weed eating several sites including Kress Lake, Vancouver Lake, and Shilapoo access areas. 

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Injured Eagle: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen received a report of an injured bald eagle in Klickitat County. A passing motorist had picked up the eagle that night before WDFW staff members arrived. Officer Bolton took possession of the eagle the following day. After meeting up with Officer Bolton and assessing the eagle, Jacobsen determined that the eagle had suffered a severe wing break and was not a candidate for rehabilitation. Jacobsen euthanized the injured adult bald eagle.

Deceased Deer in Yard 1: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen responded to a report of a deceased deer in a resident’s yard. When Jacobsen arrived, the homeowners had their kitchen butcher knife out and were attempting to salvage the deer meat for consumption. After inspecting the deer, Jacobsen strongly advised the homeowner NOT to consume the meat from this deer. The deer died of an unknown cause (likely disease), was in poor body condition, and, having been dead for several hours, had developed a strong odor. The homeowners eventually agreed that salvaging the deer was probably not the best option. Jacobsen disposed of the carcass.

Deceased Deer in Yard 2: An elderly homeowner contacted Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen to report that she had recently come home from vacation and found a deceased deer right next to her door. The odor was extremely strong, and the homeowner had no way of removing the deer. Jacobsen held his breath and loaded up the decomposing carcass that was crawling with fly larvae. The carcass began falling apart as soon as Jacobsen picked it up, but most of the pieces made it into the back of his truck. Jacobsen disposed of the carcass for the very appreciative homeowner.

Deceased Deer in Yard 3: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen and Biologist Bergh spoke with homeowners in a neighborhood with chronic deer feeding issues. There had been multiple reports of deceased deer in this neighborhood, and supplemental feeding was a likely cause. Jacobsen provided information regarding the risks to deer associated with supplemental feeding and also advised homeowners of the new law prohibiting the feeding of deer in Washington.

“Bobcat-Domestic Cat Hybrid”: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen and Officer Way fielded a phone call from an extremely concerned homeowner regarding what she reported as a “huge bobcat-domestic cat hybrid” that was living in her house. The homeowner reported that she let the animal into the house several months prior but that it had started acting aggressively. The homeowner reported that the mother and daughter were now afraid to live in the same house as the animal. Jacobsen passed their contact information along to a local cat rescue who may or may not be able to help. The following picture was provided by the reporting party:

Badger Stuck in Fence: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen was driving along a highway in east Klickitat County when he observed a small animal run across the road in front of him. Suspecting it was a badger, Jacobsen slowed down and looked out his window as the animal scurried across the road and through a fence. However, as Jacobsen watched the badger squeeze through a square in the woven-wire field fence, the badger managed to get its tremendously long claws hung up on the fence and flip upside down on the opposite site. After a few moments where the badger didn’t move, Jacobsen realized the badger was stuck and pulled his truck over to assist. The attached photo shows how two of the badger’s claws from its front left leg got stuck on a wire strand and incapacitated the animal. As Jacobsen approached, he also saw a white fluffball near the badger’s mouth - a young badger kit! Jacobsen gently popped the badger’s claws loose from the fence, and it righted itself on the other side. Grabbing its kit in its mouth, the badger hissed at Jacobsen and quickly backed away with the kit in tow. The badger then reached its den and backed itself and the kit down the hole to safety.

Deer Stuck in Fence: A passing motorist observed a deer stuck in a fence and contacted Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen. Jacobsen responded to the area, but after several back-and-forth passes along the road, was unable to locate the deer. Officer Bolton also responded to the area to assist. Jacobsen stopped to talk to a nearby landowner, who reported seeing an injured deer walking on his property a few minutes prior. Jacobsen searched for the deer and while searching, the landowner received a real-time cellular trail camera photo of the deer walking through his property. Jacobsen assessed the deer from the photo and determined that the deer needed to be euthanized. Unfortunately, the deer was mobile enough that Jacobsen and Officer Bolton were not able to locate it again.

Injured Raccoon: Wildlife Conflict Specialists Jacobsen and O’Connor responded to a report of an injured raccoon behaving oddly in the city of White Salmon. Jacobsen and O’Connor met up with Bingen/White Salmon Police Officer Randall to assess the situation. Due to the raccoon’s proximity to houses and the school grounds, the decision was made to chemically immobilize the raccoon and euthanize it off-site. O’Connor was able to successfully immobilize the raccoon using her jab pole syringe. Jacobsen later euthanized the raccoon at a safe location and disposed of the carcass. The raccoon’s legs and feet were severely mangled, and it would have been unable to survive for much longer.

Mountain Top Wildlife Visitation: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen met with Mountain Top Wildlife rehabilitation director Harris to see the progress on the wildlife rehabilitation structures under construction. The center’s avian flight building was well on its way to completion and looked wonderful. Director Harris showed Jacobsen several of the smaller raptor and small mammal enclosures as well as the fawn facility, which is ready for the flood of “orphaned” and injured fawn calls for the 2025 season. A special thanks goes out to Mountain Top Wildlife for all their assistance in taking in injured wildlife this year!

Injured Kestrel: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen received a report of an injured “sparrow hawk,” or American kestrel, from a landowner in Klickitat County. The landowner found the bird flailing on the ground in one of his barns and was able to capture and contain it in a small carrier. Jacobsen met with the landowner and transported the kestrel to Mountain Top Wildlife in White Salmon. Director Harris at the rehabilitation facility reported that the kestrel had a broken wing, but that surgery on the wing appeared successful. Mountain Top Wildlife recently posted an update about the progress of the kestrel trying out flight on their Facebook page!

Bear vs. Dumpster 1: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen responded to a report of a bear repeatedly getting into dumpsters at an RV park adjacent to the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. The issue had apparently started the prior fall, but after emerging from hibernation this spring, the bear resumed visiting his favorite food repository to fill up on discarded human food scraps. The RV park manager made several attempts to deter the bear, including strapping the dumpster down with plywood. However, this was not a long-term solution, and Jacobsen encouraged the park manager to invest in bear-resistant dumpsters. The manager did so promptly, and for a couple weeks, the issue seemed to be resolved. However, after dark one evening, the bear returned and made short work of the “bear-resistant” dumpster. The bear managed to peel back the metal lid and again ransack the dumpster, spreading refuse across the RV park. The bear also climbed on top of several vehicles and raided a campsite. At this point, Jacobsen determined that this level of human habituation and strong, repeated association with human food meant that the bear was conditioned to the food source and needed to be lethally removed. This unfortunate story serves as a grim and sad reminder of the consequences of human food habituation for bears. WDFW and the BearWise organization both offer a plethora of bear-related conflict avoidance information on their sites. Please check these resources out BEFORE you experience a bear issue!

Bear vs. Dumpster2: Wildlife Conflict Specialists Jacobsen and O’Connor responded to a report of a bear accessing a one-and-a-half-yard dumpster in the Carson area. After meeting with the homeowner and assessing the situation, Jacobsen decided that loaning the landowner an electric fence setup should alleviate the bear-dumpster issue. Unfortunately, the dumpster was positioned along the edge of a driveway and right on top of a high-voltage underground transmission line, so sinking t-posts into the ground was not feasible at this location. Jacobsen improvised and anchored the fence t-posts in five-gallon buckets with rocks until the landowner can create some cement-filled buckets in the near future.

Nuthatch Nesting: A concerned landowner contacted Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen and requested assistance with a “woodpecker” that was excavating holes in his house. Jacobsen inspected the house and found several holes along one end of the house. Many of the holes already existed from previous construction modifications, but a critter had definitely been using them. While inspecting the holes, Jacobsen observed a white-breasted nuthatch carrying nesting materials into one of the holes. Unfortunately, the layout of the house and the height of the holes made it nearly impossible for anyone to access the holes, even with a long ladder. Jacobsen advised the landowner to allow the nuthatches to finish out the nesting season, since they were already there and not causing any additional damage, and then to hire a contractor to access and close off the holes. Jacobsen also provided advice on deterrent measures.

Calf Depredations: A livestock producer that Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen had worked with for several years contacted him over the weekend regarding three dead/injured calves in his new calving pasture in east Klickitat County. Jacobsen responded early Sunday morning to conduct depredation investigations. One small calf was dead and completely consumed. A second calf was alive and with its mother but had a substantial wound on top of its head that was still bleeding. A third calf had been taken back to the ranch due to its poor condition. At the request of the producer, Jacobsen euthanized this severely injured calf. A necropsy of the calves revealed that a cougar had bitten down on the tops of the skulls of all three calves, crushing the skulls of two. The local sheriff’s office ran hounds in the open sagebrush country to look for the cougar but was unable to locate it. Jacobsen will be working with the producer on filing a livestock loss damage claim in the coming weeks.

Missing Goats: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen responded to a report of a fainting goat that was missing from its small pasture. The pasture was only surrounded with knee-high electric fence and was situated in the middle of a vast expanse of dense woods. The electric fence was knocked down on a portion of the pasture perimeter and it appeared that some struggle did ensue. However, Jacobsen searched the woods over in head-high poison oak but was unable to locate the missing goat. The following week, the landowner called Jacobsen to report another one of her fainting goats was missing. Jacobsen responded to the residence again and, crawling on his hands and knees, tracked faint blood spots and bent-over vegetation for 75 yards until he came across the cached (buried) goat in a large leaf litter pile. The goat had been killed, partially consumed, and then cached by a cougar. The landowner soon rehomed her two fainting goats to another goat farm a couple of miles away. Three days later, the landowner who accepted the goats also experienced a cougar depredation on two of their fainting goats. The local sheriff’s office ran hounds and lethally removed a subadult male that was responsible for that depredation.

Nestling Owl Saga: A concerned landowner contacted Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen regarding a nestling great horned owl that had fallen from its nest in a large Douglas fir tree. The owl was on the ground in the resident’s yard and was discovered by his dogs. The young owl was still covered in down feathers and its flight feathers had not grown in yet. Jacobsen coordinated with Mountain Top Wildlife Director Harris regarding the owl, and they determined that the best course of action would be to try to re-nest the young bird. Unfortunately, the lowest branches of the tree were still at least 20’ off the ground and the landowner didn’t own a ladder, which presented a challenge for re-nesting the bird. Jacobsen decided to use his tree climbing gear and a moving-rope system to ascend the tree and build a nest platform for the owl. With the help of the landowner and some scrap materials he had laying around, the two of them were able to construct a decent artificial nest for the owl. Jacobsen ascended the tree and mounted the platform and box to a set of branches, then descended the tree, loaded the owl in a bucket, and hauled the owl back up the tree, placing the owl in the makeshift nest box. Thankfully, the owl remained in the nest box as Jacobsen retreated down the tree and packed up his gear. During the entire saga, a very concerned set of owl parents were nearby, hooting and clicking at the young chick and occasionally swooping down to check out the operation. The grateful landowner provided regular updates concerning the owl’s status and was able to confirm that the parents were feeding and attending to the nestling. After a couple weeks, the owlet started to fledge and was seen hopping around from building to building in the landowner’s yard. But the saga doesn’t end there (see “Fledgling Owl Saga” below…)

Fledgling Owl Saga: Not to be outdone by its sibling, another young great horned owl from the same nest decided to embark on another adventure roughly two weeks later. Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen received a report from a homeowner a few houses down the street from the owl nest that a fledgling owl was in his yard and had been in a scuffle with his small dog. Jacobsen responded to the residence. When Jacobsen arrived, the owl was contained in a small dog carrier and the landowner had attempted to feed the owl some ground hamburger. Jacobsen carefully removed the owl from the carrier and placed it in the crook of a nearby tree so it could safely continue to test its new flight feathers and learn to fly. However, after setting the owl in the tree, Jacobsen noticed a brown, oily residue all over his hands. Jacobsen sniffed the residue and determined that the owl had been covered in motor oil! At some point between its nest and this landowner’s property, the fledgling owl must have managed to hop/land into a tub of used motor oil. This was of substantial concern, as the owl would not be able to clean the oil off its feathers and there was a great chance that the oil could impact its feather growth. After coordinating with Mountain Top Wildlife rehabilitation center, it was determined that the owl needed to be assessed by a wildlife veterinarian. PAWS wildlife rehabilitation center in Snohomish County is the only rehabber in the state licensed to handle/wash oiled wildlife. Mountain Top Wildlife Director Harris successfully located a volunteer willing to transport the owl to Lynwood and the young owl was transported to PAWS for care. During the owl’s intake x-ray exam, PAWS staff found that the owl had been shot twice and two BBs were lodged in the owl. Jacobsen passed this information on to WDFW Enforcement staff, who will be investigating the matter.

Providing Education and Outreach

Washington FFA Environmental and Natural Resources State Contest: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen assisted with the planning and execution of the annual Washington FFA Environmental and Natural Resources state contest in Cashmere. Jacobsen has been involved with this competition since 2004, when he himself was a young FFA student. In fact, this contest was the main contributing factor to Jacobsen pursuing a career in wildlife. The contest entails several practicums such as Wildlife ID, Soils, Water Quality, Waste Management, Data Analysis, and a Team Activity, in teams of five students each from around the state. This year, Cashmere FFA won the competition and will be competing at Nationals this fall.