Managing Wildlife Populations
Remote Fisher Cameras: The L.T. Murray Wildlife Area crew retrieved four remote trail cameras and scent dispensers from the Wenatchee National Forest west of Naches. The cameras were deployed by District 8 Wildlife Biologist Wampole last fall, to gather more information on Cascade Mountain Range fisher populations. No fisher presence has been detected yet, but there have been a few interesting pics.
Providing Recreation Opportunities
Wenas Recreational Use Monitoring: Wenas Wildlife Area Natural Resource Specialist Frame deployed serval pieces of road monitoring equipment throughout the wildlife area. This data will show how much use our roads receive during specific times of the year.
Providing Conflict Prevention and Education
Rattlesnake Hills Elk: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand continued to monitor elk activity and haze elk out of winter wheat crops near the Hanford National Monument. New Damage Prevention Permits were issued to landowners in Elk Area 3721 and minimal harvest has occurred likely due to nocturnal elk movements and hot weather conditions. Late night/early morning hazing patrols will continue by landowners and Hand. Fox lights have been employed along heavily used trails used by elk leaving Hanford to enter crop fields.
Cold Creek Elk Damage: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand received and responded to a complaint that a small herd of elk knocked over a section of elk fence and entered a large tree fruit and wine grape operation near Cold Creek. Most of the animals were hazed back out of the area and the fence has been repaired. A couple of Damage Prevention Permits have been issued to remove any remaining culprits.
Horn Rapids Deer Complaint: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand responded to a complaint from a wine grape vineyard near Horn Rapids concerning deer damage in a newer block of young grape plants. Several non-lethal hazing techniques are currently being employed with diminishing results. Damage permits were issued as well as planning for youth hunting opportunities.
Kittitas County Conflict: District 8 Conflict Specialist Wetzel worked with several hay growers who were having problems with elk in crops. Elk were reported in Badger Pocket, Kittitas, Peoh Point, and the Teanaway areas.
Yakima County Conflict: District 8 Conflict Specialist Wetzel worked with several hay and orchard growers who were having problems with elk in crops. Elk have been observed in the Cowiche Road area as well as the Naches River area.
District 8 Goat Depredation: District 8 Conflict Specialist Wetzel investigated several goats that had been killed by unknown predators. In two instances, a cougar trap was set after two goats were killed on separate nights.
District 8 Bear Issues: Upper Kittitas County campgrounds are experiencing many bear issues. All US Forest Services (USFS) campgrounds have reported bears in camps, in dumpsters, and wandering around campsites during daylight and nighttime hours. Bears were hazed and materials were provided to camp hosts to help reduce food attractants.
Conserving Natural Landscapes
L.T. Murray Weed Control: LT Murray Wildlife Area Natural Resource Technician Blore and Natural Resource Specialist Nass continued weed control efforts, but hot dry weather is slowing weed growth, so the crew is able to focus on other tasks.
Emergency Fire Restrictions: The L.T. Murray crew posted emergency fire restriction signs at wildlife area access points.
Mesa Lake Beaver Deceiver: Sunnyside Snake River Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Jahns and Natural Resource Technician Manderbach cleared a water control structure in the Mesa Lake Unit that was completely blocked by beaver debris. The blockage had resulted in flooding within the unit. Once the water flow was restored, Wildlife Area Manager Kaelber, Jahns, and Manderbach installed a beaver deceiver structure at the outflow of the 7-acre pond. Similar structures have proven to be successful in preventing unwanted blockage and flooding from beaver activity within the wildlife area.
Mesa Lake Russian Olive Removal: Sunnyside Snake River Wildlife Area staff members used an excavator to remove Russian olive trees along the 7-acre pond of the Mesa Lake Unit.
Conducting Business Operations and Policy
New Oak Flats Gate: Oak Creek Wildlife Area Natural Resource Technician Boggs installed a new gate at Oak Flats with the assistance of Natural Resource Worker Close.
Oak Creek Wildlife Area Gates: Close worked on painting and updating signage on gates throughout the Oak Creek Wildlife Area.
Other
L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Grazing: LT Murray Wildlife Area Natural Resource Worker Schneider and Assistant Manager Winegeart completed vegetation monitoring and pasture evaluation for the Quilomene Unit Lower Parke pasture.
Donald Wapato Fire: A July 2023 wildfire burned approximately 78 acres of the I-82 Ponds Unit of the Sunnyside/Snake River Wildlife Area along the Yakima River. Wildlife Area Manager Kaelber and Assistant Manager Jahns walked the perimeter of the fire to assess the habitat damage and calculate approximate acreage impacted.
