Biweekly report Jun16-30 2023 - Region 1 (Eastern) | Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife

Managing Wildlife Populations

Bumble Bees: Biologist Brinkman, with cross-program assistance from Habitat Biologists Westerman and Kinnick, conducted follow-up bumble bee surveys in Lincoln County as part of the PNW Bumble Bee Atlas Project. These surveys were conducted in the same two locations as the surveys conducted earlier in June to provide information about changes to the flowering resources available and any changes to the diversity of bumble bee species captured. Several different species of bumble bees were captured at both survey locations.

Habitat biologists Westerman and Kinnick take photographs of a bumblebee captured during a survey. — Habitat Biologists Westerman and Kinnick take photographs of a bumble bee captured during a survey effort near Keller Ferry.

Golden Eagles: Biologists Lowe and Brinkman assisted District 3 Biologist Vekasy, Research Scientist Watson, and two technicians with capture and marking of two golden eagle nestlings at a nest site near Central Ferry along the Snake River. One of these nestlings was fitted with a backpack GPS transmitter to monitor movements after fledging and track survival of this individual.

Photo by WDFW

Rocky cliff face that was used by golden eagles for nesting. Look closely at the photo and you can see the sticks that were used to build the nest on the cliff. Biologist Vekasy is hanging near the nest after rappelling down to capture the nestlings. Two nestlings were safely delivered to a team of biologists on the terrace below to collect measurements and attach leg bands before raising them back into the nest.

Cliffs along the Snake River. — Cliffs along the Snake River provide excellent nesting habitat for golden eagles. Biologists located a nest in these cliffs (near the center of the photo) and monitored the behavior of the adult birds during the nesting process.

View from the base of the cliff. — View from the base of the cliff where golden eagles built their nest.

Biologist Brinkman with the male golden eagle nestling. — Biologist Brinkman with the male golden eagle nestling, who glided out of the nest and was captured on the ground. The bird was put back in the nest after being tagged.

Ferruginous Hawk: Private Lands Biologist Hadley assisted Wildlife Research Scientist Watson and Assistant District 3 Wildlife Biologist Vekasy with tagging a ferruginous hawk fledgling, banding it for identification and then fitting one of the fledglings with a transmitter.

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Campsite Maintenance: Sherman Creek Wildlife Area Natural Resources Technician Zueger and Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Palmer felled a dead Douglas fir that was a hazard to a campsite at Sherman Creek, off Trout Lake Road. Palmer cut the tree down, and Zueger limbed it, gaining chainsaw experience.

Tree Removal at Clear Lake. — Tree removal at Clear Lake.

Photo by WDFW

Tree Removal at Clear Lake: Brant used his new chainsaw training to take down a dead Ponderosa pine at the upper Clear Lake parking lot. A perfect cut dropped the tree where they wanted it! The pair bucked up the trunk and removed limbs, and will remove remaining debris later, after the trunk rounds have a chance to “walk away.”

NRT A. Brant falling a dead tree at Clear Lake. — Brant felling a dead tree at Clear Lake.

Vetter Farm Work Party: Natural Resource Technicians Harris and Janowski attended the Stevens County Conservation District (SCCD) Vetter Farm work party. Natural Resource Technicians Harris and Janowski assisted SCCD with building fence and planting a pollinator garden.

Habitat Work: Natural Resource Technician Nizer and Natural Resource Technician Rumiser mowed noxious weeds at a feel free to hunt property. Weeds will be evaluated and sprayed in the following weeks.

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Asotin County Elk: Natural Resource Technician Heitstuman conducted an early morning patrol in the Cloverland area. Several small groups of elk were in summer fallow fields. A large group was hazed out of a growing field. This field is due to be renewed for hunter access, contact was made with the listed owner.

Wolf Activity: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Kolb was visiting with a producer about elk damage when the producer mentioned that he observed seven wolves in a cattle pasture recently. Kolb contacted the producer and additional non-lethal deterrents were deployed across the pasture site.

One of multiple fox lights deployed on a Touchette pack territory private cattle pasture.

Livestock Depredation: WDFW Enforcement and Wildlife Conflict staff members investigated a domestic livestock mortality in Columbia County resulting in a confirmed cougar depredation. A male cougar was removed because of the confirmed depredation in close proximity to an occupied dwelling with children present.

Reported Possible Depredation in 139 Pack Territory: WDFW staff members responded to a report of a dead 2-year-old heifer being found by a producer who believed that it was likely a predator depredation. WDFW staff members investigated the depredation site and conducted a field necropsy. Staff members confirmed that it was a wolf depredation.

Turkey Feeding, Spokane Valley: Wildlife Conflict Specialist McCarty discussed concerns about neighbors feeding turkeys in a residential neighborhood and the potential for increased aggression toward humans if the birds were continually fed.

Outreach and Teamwork: Biologist Baarstad met with small forest landowners in Stevens and Pend Oreille counties to tour their properties and provide land management advice for forest stewardship and wildlife benefits. Baarstad worked with the Inland NW Wildlife Council, WDFW volunteers, and Technician Wagner to clear disabled hunter access routes on U.S Forest Service lands in Stevens and Pend Oreille counties.

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Habitat Coordination: Private Lands Biologist Hadley met with a Walla Walla Conservation District Voluntary Stewardship Program Coordinator to discuss areas of project coordination and focus areas.

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Grant: Natural Resource Technician Janowski completed a final project completion report and submitted the document to the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF). RMEF provided funding for a conifer tree planting in Stevens County and the organization requires a project report for their records.

Habitat Coordination: Private Lands Biologist Hadley met with a Walla Walla Conservation District and members of Blue Mountain Pheasants Forever Chapter to discuss coordination of future projects.

Providing Education and Outreach

Conservation District Partnership: Natural Resource Technician Nizer met with Whitman Conservation District to partner with a mowing project on a restoration site of theirs.

Conducting Business Operations and Policy

Budget: Wildlife Conflict Supervisor McCanna put together budget allotments for all Region 1 wildlife conflict and private lands staff members. McCanna sent to Budget Analyst Quinton to plan for the 23-24 fiscal year.

Hunt by Reservation Renewal: Natural Resource Technician Nizer and Natural Resource Technician Rumiser met with Spokane, Park, Recreation, and Golf Executive Director Chase to discuss renewing the reservation for Mica Peak for an additional five years. Chase was pleased with the last contract period and is interested in joining for another five years.

Wolf Advisory Group Meeting: Wildlife Conflict Supervisor McCanna attended the Wolf Advisory Group (WAG) field trip on Monday, in Clarkston looking at several different grazing allotments and their challenges. They then met with several producers in the 139-wolf pack territory in the Anatone area to hear their challenges with the recent confirmed and probable wolf depredations. Tuesday and Wednesday, McCanna attended the in-person WAG meeting in Clarkston.