Managing Wildlife Populations
Washington Ground Squirrels: Biologists Dougherty and Clements visited a couple of sites earlier this month in regards to potential ground squirrel translocations. Biologist Dougherty confirmed that ground squirrels are present, and they are expecting to begin the translocation process in early March.
Northern Leopard Frogs: Biologists Clements, Dougherty, and Grabowsky all participated in interviews to hire a technician to assist with leopard frog field work this spring. There were nine candidates interviewed for the position, and the hope is that the successful candidate will be able to begin working in mid-March or early-April.
Waterfowl: Biologist Clements worked with the Moses Lake Washington Conservation Corps (WCC) crew to construct a new floating duck trap to use in the 2023 waterfowl banding efforts. Their efforts were very successful, and the trap will be deployed later this year.
Greater Sage-Grouse and Sharp-Tailed Grouse: Biologist Eilers mailed out letters to 101 private landowners in Douglas County asking for land access permission to survey grouse on private property. Starting in late March 2023, biologists will be searching for new greater sage-grouse and sharp-tailed grouse leks and monitoring known leks across Douglas County to get population estimates of these species. Douglas County currently has the greatest abundance of greater sage-grouse in the state of Washington. However, populations are declining.
Forest Grouse: Biologist Eilers traveled to Spokane to join other WDFW biologists from the eastern half of the state in identifying wings and tails collected in wing barrels throughout the forest grouse season. Grouse hunters are asked to collect wing and tail samples from each bird they harvest, place these samples in a special paper bag, and then deposit them at one of the wing barrels located across the state.
At the end of the season, biologists meet up to examine the wings and tails and identify species, sex, and age of the harvested birds. This data helps scientists track species’ ranges and monitor the health of the grouse population statewide. Biologists can then use this information to adjust management actions such as our harvest regulations to ensure the perpetuation of sustainable forest grouse populations.
Pygmy Rabbit Wild Trapping: Wild captures continued in the Sagebrush Flats Wildlife Area. In total, 12 pygmy rabbits were captured and 11 were vaccinated against Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus Serotype 2 (RHDV2). These trapping efforts are a cooperation of many different agencies and partners. In the past two weeks, representatives from the Bureau of Reclamation, Bureau of Land Management, Pheasants Forever, WDFW staff, and WDFW volunteers have arrived from around the state to help protect the Columbian Basin pygmy rabbit. The most exciting capture was Pygmy Rabbit BHE014. This rabbit was born in the Beezley Hills enclosure and then released in the Palisades area. Much to everyone’s surprise, this female rabbit travelled to the Sagebrush Flats Wildlife Area—approximately six miles. For a small 444-gram rabbit that is quite the distance. This information has completely shattered our concept of how far these rabbits can move on the landscape.
Whenever we intervene with wildlife, a great risk is assumed. Every time a trap effort occurs the team does everything to mitigate these risks. Personnel receive proper training and rabbits are handled as little as possible. Despite these precautions, one of our pygmy rabbits suffered from capture myopathy. Capture myopathy is a stress-induced condition that results in fatality. The carcass was sent to the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostics Laboratory for a necropsy. It was determined that the pygmy rabbit was already in poor health and the stress of trapping likely caused its demise. Each loss is heart-breaking, but we recognize that our overall vaccination efforts will benefit the species as a whole.
Coccidia Monitoring: Coccidia monitoring season has begun. Biologists Soltysiak and Technician Meacham collected fecal samples from each breeding enclosure. These samples will then be inspected under a microscope for the presence of coccidia eggs. Coccidia is a parasite that lives within a rabbit’s intestines. The eggs of this parasite are shed through its fecal matter. Young rabbits are particularly susceptible to coccidiosis. Coccidia is often only a problem in areas where rabbits are in close contact with each other. If we find that coccidia levels are high in an area, the rabbits are then treated with an oral medication.
Search Efforts: With the new knowledge of how far pygmy rabbits can travel, search efforts have been re-vamped. Biologist Soltysiak and Technician Meacham have been looking through thick sagebrush stands in the Rimrock and Palisades areas. Thus far no new populations have been found but the team remains optimistic for this possibility.
Mule deer: Biologists Jeffreys and Eilers responded to two mortalities from GPS-collared mule deer in the Wenatchee mountains. Biologists performed mortality investigations at each site and determined that the first mortality was predation via cougar and the second mortality was predation via coyotes.
Both of these does were originally collared as adults back in January 2020 as part of an ungulate movement and migration study being conducted in several Washington herds as well as across the western United States. Biologists have used location data gleaned from these GPS collars to learn valuable information about timing and duration of migration, migratory corridors and stopover points, and winter and summer range used for mule deer wintering in the Wenatchee Foothills and the Burch Mountain and Swakane areas.
Between 2020 and 2022, approximately 68 does were collared in Chelan County. In addition to mortalities taking place over the past few years, a few collars have failed (stopped transmitting due to battery failure or other unknown reason). Currently, slightly over half of the original sample are still known to be alive and transmitting GPS signals (around 36).
Safe Harbor Agreements: Biologist Morris met with several landowners to sign and finalize Safe Harbor Agreements and discuss any final questions. These two Safe Harbor Agreements will now be sent to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for approval and permitting, which will provide regulatory assurances to the landowners so they can continue their regular farming operations on over 8,000 acres while ensuring that pygmy rabbits and their habitat are preserved at the same time.
Lynx Research: Biologist Fitkin partnered with the Home Range Wildlife Research Crew on the immobilization and radio-collaring of the project’s first study animal, Riker, a 22.5-pound adult male estimated to be about three years old. Early data collection suggests the cat’s territory is centered within a portion of the 2006 Tripod Burn area. The primary objective of this multi-year project is to see how lynx are using the fire-impacted landscape across a gradient of fire scars of different ages. Results will inform forest and fire management strategies to help maintain adequate lynx habitat in the face of growing wildlife risk. More information on this project and the locally grown Home Range Organization can be found on the Home Range website. Also of note, the crew recently captured a fisher in one of the lynx traps less than three miles from where one was picked up on a wolverine survey camera last summer. This suggests there may be a resident fisher in the study area.
Providing Recreation Opportunities
Regulated Access Area Harvest Data: Specialist Walker finished inputting data collected from regulated access area hunter registration cards. Hunter registration cards provide beneficial information for wildlife area staff members to aid in the knowledge of public usage and productivity of each regulated access area.
Water Access: Steele has now completed the construction of a new foot bridge for the Fish Trap access site at Lake Lenore. Water access staff members will soon install the bridge making it accessible to the public. The bridge was prefabricated in the shop.
Hunter Access Program: Biologist Morris updated hunter access maps and replaced damaged and vandalized signs on hunter access properties. Morris contacted all the landowners enrolled in Hunt by Written Permission to request they return their written permission slip stubs. These stubs allow the department to track how much public access is being provided through this program.
Quincy Lakes Trails: Lands Operations Manager Finger, Wildlife Area Manager Eidson, Recreation Planners Anderson and Browning, and TREAD Executive Director Lyons checked 18 miles of trail to discuss a sustainability assessment contract between WDFW and TREAD to help us maintain and improve our trails system.
Providing Conflict Prevention and Education
Depredation Hunts: Specialist Bridges continues to respond to numerous landowner concerns of deer and elk depredating on agricultural crops. This year has been exceptionally busier than the previous 10 years. Depredation response has included: Information and education, on site visits, distributing non-lethal materials, Damage Prevention Cooperative Agreements and Permits.
Interagency Relationship Building: Specialist Bridges went on a ride-a-long with Chelan County Commissioner Tiffany Gering to discuss bear issues along the south shore of Lake Chelan. This was a great opportunity to meet, explain the issue, and develop a relationship with the commissioner. Most of the discussions centered around wildlife biology and how wildlife utilizes human environments, and how that contributes to human and wildlife conflicts. We also discussed the realities of what can be done once a bear conflict starts, and the reasons behind the saying “a fed bear, is a dead bear.”
No Shooting Signage: Biologist McPherson coordinated with Signs by Terri to make an order of agency approved, no shooting signs. Signage will explain new target shooting regulations and will be available in English and Spanish.
Cost-share Fencing Agreements: Specialist Heilhecker wrote three draft cost-share fencing agreements. Two agreements will protect orchards from deer in Game Management Unit (GMU) 209. The third agreement will protect haystacks from elk in GMU 204. She sent the drafts to each landowner for their consensus on the boundary map for the fence and list of fencing materials. She also called the fencing supply company to get a cost estimate for the fencing materials.
Elk in Haystacks: Specialist Heilhecker received a complaint of elk damaging haystacks in GMU 204. Previous efforts to reduce conflict has proven to not be effective. Specifically, non-lethal deterrence measures, including hazing and temporary fencing, were employed to reduce and eliminate the elk in the haystacks. After all other efforts failed, Heilhecker issued the landowner a kill permit to remove one antlerless elk at the haystack.
Responding to Wolf Reports: Specialist Heilhecker entered an unconfirmed wolf sightings report to Spillman. The reporting party stated the animal was multi-colored brown and about the same size as a German Shepherd only skinnier and “leggy”. The sighting was located within the Beaver Creek territory. The reporting party likely saw a wolf, but it is hard to confirm sightings reports without photos of the animal or tracks.
Conserving Natural Landscapes
State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement – Conservation Reserve Program: This week Private Lands Biologist Braaten informed Douglas County Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) that NRCS funding for WDFW to assist with SAFE-CRP has been spent and work is now on hold. Private Lands Biologist Braaten has been working with private lands and regional staff to work through issues that have come up regarding Farm Planner Certifications.
Braaten confirmed that last year’s State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement 14 contracts were never signed and have been deemed invalid. This was very disappointing to hear because of all the field and office work that went into developing the plans, over the span of two months, took time away from other WDFW tasks. Braaten requested that WDFW ensure that NRCS provides assurances going forward that this will not happen again.
TD-4 Russian Olive Removal: TD-4 project has wetlands that are ringed by Russian olives and phragmites. Biologist McPherson coordinated with WCC to remove Russian olives around wetlands so wildlife area staff members can gain access to treat tall emergent vegetation. The crew completed the southern portion of the wetlands and has a few areas yet to complete. Then materials can be burned and tall emergents can be treated.
Winchester Russian Olive Removal Area: Wildlife area staff members have been working on burning piles of Russian olive around the Winchester wasteway. Piles have been aging for two years to help consumption of materials. Focus has been primarily on the east side due to conditions and the westside will need some preparation work before burning can commence.
Bonneville Power Administration Transmission Line Maintenance: Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) anticipates doing maintenance on structures, easement roads, and under lines at Quincy Lakes, Winchester Wasteway, and Rocky Ford. Biologist McPherson met BPA Natural Resource Specialist Rieman at all three locations to go over potential work and any concerns the wildlife area would have. All scheduled work will not have any major impact on habitat or public recreation.
Providing Education and Outreach
Methow Conservancy Presentation: Local high school Science Teacher Fitkin and her dad, Biologist Fitkin, presented a talk for the Methow Conservancy’s First Tuesday Lecture Series on the recovery of and coexistence with biodiversity in the North Cascades. The presentation touched on the recovery of many taxa with an emphasis on rare carnivores. It also highlighted the important wildlife habitat values of the Methow Conservancy’s current project to permanently protect the 1200-acre Sunny M Ranch near the town of Winthrop.
Grant Elementary School Science Fair: Biologist Cook with help from Biologist Soltysiak, Technician Meacham and Administrative Assistant Jones participated at the Grant Elementary School Science Fair in Ephrata and helped children and families learn about wildlife. Soltysiak and Meacham assisted attendees in exploring details of skulls, foot and footprint molds, and pelts of several mammal species. They explained reasons for specialized teeth, skull, and foot features that help species be adapted for survival. Jones supplied coloring pages and books and paper masks featuring beneficial insects and aided children with supplies. Cook helped with the skulls, pelts, and molds when needed and helped children “make their own creature” with adaptations for survival.
Conducting Business Operations and Policy
Road Maintenance at the Frenchman Regulated Access Area: Specialist Walker used the rock rake to complete road maintenance at the Frenchman Regulated Access Area. This road is used by wildlife area staff members to access the project and is used by ADA hunters who register to hunt at one of the two designated ADA duck blinds.
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