Managing Wildlife Populations
L. T. Murray Wildlife Area, Whiskey Dick Unit: Manager Morrison joined members of the Ecostudies Institute in the field while they were conducting horned lark (Eremophila alpestris) nest searching and monitoring, and bird captures in the Whiskey Dick and Quilomene areas. The search and captures are part of a pilot study to gather further information about lark introduction to new locations. The pilot study supports a greater study to facilitate work in supporting population of threatened listed streaked horned larks (Eremophila alpestris strigata).
Sunnyside and Snake River: Manager Kaelber assisted volunteers from the Richland Rod and Gun Club with servicing wood duck nesting boxes in the Sunnyside Headquarters and Byron Units. Several boxes were being occupied with nesting wood ducks, as well as screech owls and kestrels.
Bighorn Sheep Monitoring: Collared individuals from the ‘Test and Remove’ study sites continue to be monitored. District personnel responded to two mortalities occurring the past two weeks within the Cleman Mountain population due to vehicle strike and a likely predation event. Nasal swabs and heads were collected and sent for additional testing. Nasal swabs test for active infection, while heads are inspected for nasal tumors. The presence of tumors would indicate chronic Mycoplasma ovipneumoniea (M. Ovi).
Mule Deer Coordination: District biologists gathered with ungulate specialist personnel to discuss current and future mule deer monitoring and management.
Ground Squirrels: District 8 staff members continued to conduct surveys for Townsend ground squirrels on private and public lands. Ground squirrel colonies have seen drastic declines. Staff members have been revisiting historic colony sites and investigate new areas on private lands. District 8 personnel have registered several new colonies in the area hosting large family groups.
Providing Recreation Opportunities
End of Winter Closure: On May 1, Natural Resource Technician Stoltenow and Assistant Manager Taylor opened gates in the Wenas Wildlife Area allowing public access to the winter closure area. At the time of opening, there were around 26 vehicles at the Hardy Canyon gate and one vehicle at the gate at the top of Woodcamp Road looking to access the winter closure area for shed hunting.
Providing Conflict Prevention and Education
Rattlesnake Hills Elk: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand processed and issued damage prevention permits to several landowners in elk area 3721. These permits, for antlered bull elk only, are an extremely effective tool used for hazing elk away from valuable crops during the growing season.
Richland Deer: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand and Sergeant Fulton responded to an injured deer call in Richland. They observed a young buck mule deer that could not move its rear legs and appeared extremely emaciated. The deer was lethally removed, and the carcass was taken to a Department of Transportation disposal site.
Pasco Fox: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand responded to call from a Pasco homeowner who has lost chickens, ducks, and rabbits to a fox. The reporting party has witnessed the fox in the act of depredations in the past and assumed the recent attacks are from the same animal. Multiple protective measures were discussed as well as potential use of a Wildlife Control Operator for possible trapping.
Prosser Bald Eagle: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand responded to an injured wildlife call concerning a bald eagle hanging from a powerline in the Prosser area. Local power company staff were alerted to the situation and were available to assist, but unfortunately the adult eagle died prior to any rescue attempt. The bird was tagged and labeled for shipment to the National Repository.
Kittitas County Conflict: Conflict Specialist Wetzel worked with several hay growers who were having problems with elk in crops. Elk have been hazed from irrigated hay, row crops, and at haystacks. Greenup is helping to keep elk higher and on public land.
Yakima County Conflict: Conflict Specialist Wetzel worked with several hay growers who were having problems with elk in crops. Elk have been hazed from irrigated hay, row crops, and orchard areas.
Wetzel Other: Conflict Specialist Wetzel assisted enforcement with trapping a cougar that killed a housecat. The cougar did not return to the trap.
A deer mortality was recovered in the Teanaway. A second also occurred in a very remote area that will be recovered when snow recedes.
Wolf Activity: Individual wolves have been reported but not verified in any one location. No packs are present at this time.
Wenas Elk Fence Check: Natural Resource Worker Frame and Biologist Miller finished the spring elk fence checks. They ensured the fence was intact in places of the wildlife area bordering areas that will be holding livestock.
Wenas Breakaway Installation: Natural Resource Specialist Frame and Natural Resource Technician Stoltenow installed breakaway fencing in a drainage along Newlands Road, between two sections of elk fence installed last summer. The purpose of this fence is to breakaway in the event of a major flooding or debris flow event, so that the rest of the fencing is not damaged.
Conserving Natural Landscapes
Colockum Litter Cleanup: Manager Lopushinsky coordinated with WDFW Enforcement and the Wenatchee Sportsman’s Association in cleaning up a very nasty garbage site near Lily Lake in the Stemilt Basin. After being alerted to the problem the Sportsman’s Association responded immediately to rally volunteers and pick up and haul this garbage pile to the local landfill.
Mowing at Mattoon and Fio Rito: Access Manager Garcia mowed Mattoon and Fio Rito to reduce non-native fire risk and to improve weed management.
Boundary Fence Repair: Access Natural Resource Technician Barbosa and Natural Resource Worker Wolff repaired fences at Pond1, Pond 2, and Pond 3.
Graffiti: Access Natural Resource Tech Barbosa and Natural Resource Worker Wolff painted out graffiti at Pond 6.
L. T. Murray Wildlife Area, Quilomene Unit Grazing: Assistant Manager Winegeart and Natural Resource Workers Schneider and Hamlin completed pre-grazing vegetation utilization monitoring on the Quilomene Unit’s Whiskey Jim pasture. The pasture showed very little to no grazing from wildlife.
Beacon Ridge Road Gate: Natural Resource Technician Blore built a gate across the Quilomene Unit’s Beacon Ridge Road to be used while cows are in the Upper Parke pasture during the first half of July.
Sunnyside and Snake River: Manager Kaelber, Assistant Manager Jahns, and Natural Resource Technician Manderbach visited the Thornton Unit to evaluate a wildlife food plot that was recently seeded. There was new growth of the seeded species, as well as regrowth of grasses.
Colockum Wildlife Area, Post Burn Activities: WDFW staff members conducted a 270-acre prescribed burn on the Colockum Wildlife Area last fall. This spring things are greening up nicely, and this month staff are seeding the containment lines with native grasses.
Other
L. T. Murray Wildlife Area, Quilomene Unit: Assistant Manager Winegeart presented information to the Region 3 management team regarding a new private firing range being developed a few miles east of Ellensburg on the Vantage Highway. The property sites between the Green Gate subunit or the L. T. Murray Wildlife Area, Quilomene Unit and the Wild Horse wind farm and was almost purchased by DFW for a public firing range around five years ago. The range is owned by Vantage Valley Properties LLC and is currently being used by local law enforcement for target practice.
Sunnyside and Snake River: Assistant Manager Jahns and Natural Resource Technician Manderbach continue to implement integrated pest management strategies to control noxious weeds throughout the wildlife area.