Managing Wildlife Populations
Klickitat Mule Deer Investigations: Biologist Wickhem took a detour during Townsend’s ground squirrel surveys to respond to a mortality notification for one of the Klickitat study deer. This doe appears to have died a few days prior but had been aggressively scavenged. This kept the collar moving enough to prevent a mortality signal which is based on movement. By the time Wickhem arrived, all she could find was a portion of the spine, the lower jaw, and a crushed skull, making it impossible to determine the cause of death. Biologist Bergh investigated two deer mortalities. There was one on the Klickitat Wildlife Area and one on the Yakima Nation Reservation where Yakima Nation biologists joined her. The one on the Klickitat Wildlife Area was just a picked-clean skeleton in a bed of poison oak so no cause of death could be determined. The one on the Yakima Nation Reservation was killed by a cougar as determined by tracks and a cache of organs. Assistant Wildlife Area Manager Hunt and Officer Bolton investigated a fourth dead study deer that was poached on the Klickitat Wildlife Area. These deer are part of a 4-year study being conducted throughout Game Management Units (GMUs) 388 and 382, to track the annual movements of female mule deer and locate important migration corridors. Staff members are also attempting to determine cause of death when an animal dies, which has proven to be difficult. In winter 2021, 81 collars were deployed throughout GMUs for this effort. Twenty-two collars were deployed in the winter of 2022 and 2023. In winter 2023, most were redeployments replacing study deer that died over the first two years of the study. This is the last year of the study, so this and any other collars collected will not be redeployed.
Sooty Grouse Surveys: Western Washington WDFW wildlife biologists are testing a survey method for sooty grouse (formerly called blue grouse). The effort involves establishing driving routes in the Cascade Range and Olympic Mountains as well as the Willapa Hills. The routes include 15 to 30 listening stops where biologists spend time listening for male sooty grouse calls during the early morning hours. The survey method is borrowed from Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and Oregon State University. We thank them for their development of the method and sharing. When fully developed and implemented, the survey will generate sooty grouse population trend estimates that are independent of grouse harvest. To date, Biologists Stephens and Holman along with Conflict Specialist Aubrey have set five of the survey routes and conducted four surveys.
Deceased Bald Eagle: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen responded to a report of a deceased bald eagle in Skamania County. The bald eagle was reported several times that morning by passers-by in a residential area. Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen retrieved the eagle carcass and determined that the eagle died after coming into contact with the power lines immediately above it. The eagle had burn marks on its underwing and face. Jacobsen notified the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) about the deceased eagle. The carcass will be transferred to the USFWS for their eagle repository.
Glenwood Valley Annual Sandhill Crane Survey: Biologists Wickhem and Bergh, Technician Motiff, Volunteer Castagnoli and staff members from the USFWS joined forces for the annual sandhill crane survey on and around Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge. The Glenwood Valley is one of only a few areas in the state where sandhill cranes nest. Sandhill cranes mate for life and return to the same “territory” each year to mate and raise their colts before migrating south in the fall. For this survey, the groups split up into teams to drive and hike around different crane territories. They record all cranes observed and look for crane nests. Wickhem and her survey partners confirmed two nests, observed a nest exchange (males and females take turns sitting on the nest), and witnessed two cranes mating, which made for an exciting survey!
Providing Conflict Prevention and Education
Elk Hazing Materials: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen delivered elk hazing explosives to a landowner in Trout Lake after nearly 200 elk were observed in one of the landowner’s crop fields.
Residential Deer Damage: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen provided advice to a landowner who was concerned about the growing deer population in her area and damage to the ornamental plants around here residence.
Livestock Carcass Disposal Program: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen continues to work with local livestock producers in Klickitat County within the Big Muddy Wolf Pack territory to help dispose of livestock carcasses. Jacobsen has transported multiple carcasses to local landfills to prevent wolf scavenging over the past several weeks.
Beaver Damage to Orchard: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen worked with a commercial apple and pear orchard regarding ongoing beaver damage issues to the orchard. Over the past year, beavers have cut down hundreds of apple trees in one block of the orchard. Jacobsen discussed beaver trapping and relocation options, lethal removal options, and nonlethal deterrents with the orchard manager. Wildlife Conflict Technician Kolenberg prepared strips of bear hide for the orchard to help deter the beavers from crawling under the fences around the orchard.
Deer Damage to Hay: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen was contacted by a landowner in western Clark County regarding deer damage to his hay crop. The producer had been documenting over a dozen deer feeding on and compacting his hay crop daily. Jacobsen enrolled the producer on a Damage Prevention Cooperative Agreement. The landowner had been attempting to haze the deer out of his fields for several months but had been unsuccessful so far. Jacobsen and Technician Kolenberg provided cracker shell explosives to the landowner as well as permits for lethal removal of the deer. After a couple of the deer had been removed by hunters, the number of deer visiting the fields drastically declined.
Injured Bald Eagle Report: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen received a report of an injured bald eagle in Skamania County along the Columbia River. Jacobsen looked for the eagle but was unable to locate it. It is likely that this is the same eagle that Biologist Wickhem tried to capture a few weeks prior. It was a cold, rainy, and windy day along the edge of the Columbia River.
Deer with Feed Sack: Over the course of two weeks, multiple landowners in a several-block radius of Washougal contacted WDFW to report a deer with what appears to be a feed sack wrapped around her neck. Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen and Technician Kolenberg spoke with the landowners and determined that the sack did not pose much of a safety risk to the deer at this point and believed that the sack would likely rip off or fall off soon. Jacobsen will continue to monitor reports of the deer and her health condition.
Trapped Canada Goose: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen was contacted by an employee of one of the dams along the Columbia River regarding a Canada goose that was stuck and possibly injured in part of the dam lock system. The goose likely landed in the visible water within a small, concrete chamber, but was not able to fly out given the limited size of the chamber. As Jacobsen arrived, a barge was about to pass through the locks. Jacobsen picked up a triangle-shaped net attached to a rope just as the locks opened and the barge (and the goose within the chamber) began to descend with the water column from the top of the dam to the bottom of the dam. Knowing that it would only take a minute or two for the goose to descend with the water column roughly 200 feet to the bottom of the dam, Jacobsen quickly threw the net and a rope into the concrete chamber in an attempt to scoop the goose up. Multiple attempts were made to get the goose near the net as the water column and goose descended rapidly, but to no avail. With only about two feet of extra rope line left before the goose descended beyond reach (it was already roughly 50-75’ below Jacobsen at this point), the goose managed to swim over the submerged net, at which point Jacobsen quickly hauled the goose up and out of the chamber. The goose made it out safely with only a second or two left to spare before it would have been lost to the depths of the dam!
Injured Elk: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen and Officer Nelson responded to a report of a sick bull elk that had been living along a narrow stretch of highway in Klickitat County. After assessing the condition of the elk and the traffic safety risk due to the amount of attention the elk was receiving from passing motorists, Jacobsen and Nelson decided to euthanize the elk. Klickitat County sheriff deputies provided traffic assistance while the elk was euthanized.
Wolf Meetings: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen and Wolf Biologist Spence met with livestock producers in Klickitat County to discuss wolf concerns and range riding activities to prevent livestock-wolf conflict this grazing season.
Aggressive Nutria: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen fielded a report regarding an aggressive nutria in Clark County. The nutria had apparently taken up residence in a housing community and had already gotten into a tussle with a domestic dog and was reported to have bitten a child at some point. Jacobsen provided advice to the property manager and advised her to contact WDFW if it is seen again. Technician Kolenberg will help monitor the situation and capture the animal if the opportunity presents itself.
Bear Issues Begin: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen received his first official bear complaints of the year from a community in Skamania County. Over the past two and a half weeks, a bear has been breaking into structures and ripping apart sheds in search of food. The bear ripped apart a chicken coop and killed and consumed eight chickens on one property. Jacobsen and Technician Kolenberg set a live trap for the bear at the residence. Jacobsen will be working with the small community on being “bear wise” over the coming days and weeks.
Depredation on Goat: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen and Technician Kolenberg responded to a report of a missing goat in Skamania County. The goat owner had observed drag marks through the fresh dew on the grass and found some blood left on fern fronds in the adjacent woods but did not continue following the trail until WDFW staff members arrived. Jacobsen and Technician Kolenberg trailed the goat carcass through the woods and eventually located the cached goat carcass in the underbrush, roughly 125 yards away from the paddock where the goat was taken. Closer inspection of the carcass revealed that it was killed and cached by a cougar. A trail camera was installed over the carcass and captured some stunning videos of a cougar returning to the carcass the following day. The goat owner rehomed his remaining goat on the afternoon of the depredation, so no more attractants were present at the site.
Goat Depredation #2: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen was contacted about another goat that was found dead in Clark County. The landowner observed coyotes feeding on the carcass but wasn’t sure if they were responsible for the depredation or not. Unfortunately, the landowner waited a day to report the incident and the carcass was already gone by the time he reported it. Jacobsen advised the landowner to install a trail camera in the area to monitor wildlife activity and to keep all his remaining goats locked up at night.
Bobcat Sighting: A concerned landowner contacted Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen regarding a bobcat sighting in Klickitat County. Jacobsen advised the landowner that he had nothing to be concerned about, especially since he did not own any chickens.
Injured Deer: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen followed up on a report of an injured deer in Klickitat County.
Conserving Natural Landscapes
And So, It Begins: Despite persistent cool temperatures and rain fall that seemingly never ceases, spring is upon us. For wildlife area staff members, this means it is weed control season. During an 18-hour dry spell, Assistant Manager Risley treated three acres of Washougal River frontage for garlic mustard, a Class A noxious weed, lesser celandine, a Class B noxious weed, and shiny geranium, also a Class B noxious weed. These invasive weeds are some of the earliest to emerge in spring and require prompt treatment if control efforts are to be successful. If left untreated, these weeds can easily outcompete native plants, reducing overall habitat quality and productivity for the species that use these wildlife areas.
That’s a Wrap: Stretching barbed wire and installing new gates marked the completion of the 5,000 ft fencing replacement project at Shillapoo Wildlife Area. Farmers that lease pastured areas on the wildlife area are eager to release their cattle for grazing and wildlife area staff members can now rest assured that croplands and tree plantings are secure from the hungry grazers.
Providing Education and Outreach
White Salmon Tree Fest: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen staffed an outreach table at the annual weekend White Salmon Tree Fest in White Salmon, hosted by the Underwood Conservation District. In addition to the Underwood Conservation District and WDFW, other conservation-based organizations and businesses such as Department of Natural Resources, U.S Forest Service, U.S Fish and Wildlife Service, Columbia Land Trust, and Humble Roots Nursery were also present. The event was well-attended by the public and the weather was perfect for the event.
Washington Future Farmers of America (FFA) Environmental and Natural Resources State Contest: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen helped facilitate the annual Washington FFA Environmental and Natural Resources statewide contest in Cashmere. This year, 13 high school teams from around the state gathered to test their knowledge on natural resources topics including soils, water quality, GPS usage, waste management, fisheries, and wildlife. Jacobsen participated in this activity as a high school student and later went on to teach high school and coach his own FFA Natural Resources teams before coming to WDFW. Participation in this contest as a high school student helped Jacobsen determine that he wanted to pursue a career in wildlife, and he has been active with the contest ever since. This year, Jacobsen compiled specimens for the wildlife and fisheries specimen identification portion of the contest and wrote the waste management practicum for the students. This year’s waste management scenario focused on livestock carcass waste management, which is a real-life ongoing issue that Jacobsen has been working on in District 9. The Cashmere and Reardan teams took the top honors at this year’s contest. The Cashmere team will go on to compete in this contest at the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis in November.
