Managing Wildlife Populations
White Pelican Counts: District Wildlife Biologist Fidorra analyzed colony photos from Badger Island taken this spring in peak breeding season. The raw count which was nearly 3000 will be compared to partner survey data and finalized prior to an official estimate being published.
Ferruginous Hawk Management: District Wildlife Biologist Fidorra provided feedback on internal draft document related to management recommendations for ferruginous hawks.
Sunnyside Bats: Sunnyside Snake River Wildlife Area Manager Kaelber assisted other WDFW staff members and partners to sample bats at the Sunnyside headquarters. Bats were collected using a harp trap as they exited their roost box. Once trapped, bats were sampled and banded.
Providing Recreation Opportunities
Manastash Ridge Trail Washington Trails Association Meeting: Wenas Wildlife Area Manger Hughes and Natural Resource Scientist Frame met with members of the Washington Trails Association (WTA) to discuss possible re-routes of certain trails in the Manastash Ridges Trails area. Possible reroutes would mean better/proper grading and erosion prevention. There are several spots specifically on the Westberg Trail that are extremely steep and are eroding. The WTA had previously partnered with WDFW by conducting an assessment of the Westerberg Trail. They rerouted one section of the trail a few years ago that is holding up very well. There is still a need for future routes to be assessed to make the trails more sustainable and user friendly.
Wenas Wildlife Area Gates: Wenas Wildlife Area Natural Resource Technicians Stoltenow and Janes completed the fabrication of three gates that will be hung around the wildlife area. One gate was installed at the entrance to Hessler Flats and one was installed near Newlands Road. The final gate will be installed at the entrance to the Mellotte office.
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. Late night-early morning hazing patrols will continue by landowners and Hand. Wheat harvest is in full swing, and with added human presence and disturbance from heavy harvesting equipment, elk have been less frequent in crops during daylight hours.
Corral Canyon Wheat Harvest: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand worked with wheat harvest operations to document crop damage impacts from Hanford elk. Many of the fields are yielding near or above average bushels per acre. Heavy elk damage was observed in fields adjacent to the Hanford National Monument or areas where access to hazing was difficult.
Silver Dollar Elk Damage: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand received a new complaint of elk damage at a alfalfa hay operation in north Benton County. Damage Prevention permits were issued and will be utilized after Landowner Permit holders have either had an opportunity or harvested an elk.
Franklin County Hawk: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand received and responded to a report of a hawk that was entangled in some twine on a pole near Ice Harbor Dam. Fortunately, before arriving on scene, the hawk was able to free itself and flew away uninjured.
Kittitas County Conflict: Conflict Specialist Wetzel worked with several hay growers who were having problems with elk in crops. Elk complaints were reported in Badger Pocket, Kittitas, Peoh Point, Parke Creek, and the Teanaway area. Two light plants were installed at one field to deter elk. Suncadia residents reported some bear issues. A dumpster in the area was not in compliance.
Yakima County Conflict: Conflict Specialist Wetzel worked with several hay and orchard growers who were having problems with elk in crops. Elk complaints have come from the Cowiche Road area, as well as the Naches River, and the Nile.
District 8 Depredations: Conflict Specialist Wetzel investigated several goats and sheep that had been killed by unknown predators. In another instance, two small dogs were killed by an unknown predator.
Conserving Natural Landscapes
L.T. Murray Grazing: LT Murray Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Winegeart and Wildlife Area Manager Morrison completed the first round of 2023 “landscape appearance” monitoring for the Martinez sheep crossing permit. A few hundred domestic sheep are expected to cross the L.T. Murray Unit on their way to a Forest Service grazing allotment the first week in August and come back through in late September. Very little browse or grazing activity was noted. In another grazing area, Winegeart had the Quilomene Unit cattle grazer remove cattle from the wildlife area because the available AUMs had been used for the 2023 grazing year.
Wenas Wildlife Area Lands 20/20 Application: Wenas Wildlife Area Manager Hughes and Lands and Habitat Specialist Miller worked together on completing an application for the Lands 20/20 Process within the agency. The application submitted was for 150 acres of a future acquisition within Wenas Valley. The owner of the property reached out to the Department about wanting to sell their property. The acquisition would be focused on conserving shrubsteppe habitat, support connectivity to the wildlife area, and provide recreational opportunities.
Oak Creek Wildlife Area Aspen Exclosure: Oak Creek Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Charlet assessed the current status of the Teepee Creek quaking aspen exclosure on the Oak Creek Wildlife Area. This exclosure helps quaking aspen to establish and grow to heights above the wildlife browse line before being subjected to elk and deer browsing. Current conditions show healthy aspen trees with a significant amount of regeneration within the exclosure.
Oak Creek Wildlife Area Grazing Monitoring: Oak Creek Wildlife Area Manager Mackey and Assistant Manager Charlet completed cattle grazing monitoring surveys for one lease in the Rock Creek Unit and two allotments in the Cowiche Unit of the Oak Creek Wildlife Area. All three survey locations showed cattle grazing was within the range of expectations and permit requirements.
Sunnyside/Snake River Wetland Management: Sunnyside Snake River Wildlife Area Manager Kaelber and Assistant Manager Jahns have begun the process of prepping the Windmill Ranch wetlands for fall reflooding. The Phase 1 wetland was mowed and sprayed to treat noxious weeds and reduce the cover of aquatic vegetation that was reducing open water. The wetland was then seeded with buckwheat to provide forage for migratory waterfowl.
Conducting Business Operations and Policy
Oak Creek PR Reports: Oak Creek Wildlife Area Manager Mackey and Assistant Manager Charlet completed the United States Fish and Wildlife Service annual performance (PR) report. This report includes all planned and completed activities on the wildlife area that were funded by PR contract funding from July 2022 to June 2023.
Other
Region 3 Awards Ceremony: The entire L.T. Murray team attended the 2023 Region 3 awards ceremony. The meeting was informative and just a good time with a wildlife area highlight of Amy Windrope and Wildlife Area Manager Morrison emerging victorious in the cornhole tournament.
Wenas Wildlife Area Temporary Cattle Crossing: Earlier this spring, Wildlife Area Manager Hughes worked with a neighboring landowner on issuing a temporary cattle crossing permit on the Wenas Wildlife Area. The crossing went from Bull Pasture out through Hessler Flats. The lessee was allowed to cross cattle in one day within a designated timeframe of late spring and early fall/summer. Each crossing allowed has occurred and there were no issues with the permit. The lessee worked with Hughes on keeping her up to date when he wanted to cross cattle and the two crossings went well. The permit was beneficial for building and supporting relationships throughout the community. Hughes is looking forward to working with the permittee in future years.
Wenas Wildlife Area Gates: Wenas Wildlife Area Natural Resource Technicians Stoltenow and Janes completed fabrication of three gates to be hung around the wildlife area. One gate was installed at the entrance to Hessler Flats and one was installed near Newlands Road. The final gate will be installed at the entrance to the Mellotte office.
Pasco Parking Lot Repair: District 4 staff members worked together to fill in a trench and potholes in the Pasco office parking lot with gravel. The tilt trailer worked great to haul and spread gravel!
Region 3 Graffiti Increase: Access Manager Garcia and Natural Resource Worker Wolff have been dealing with an increase in vandalism and graffiti through out the region.
Matoon Lake Graffiti: Access Manager Garcia and Natural Resource Worker Wolff used a sand blaster to remove graffiti from inside and outside outhouse walls.
Teanaway Tree Removal: Access Manager Garcia removed a fallen tree at Teanaway Junction.
