Managing Wildlife Populations
Western Bumble bee Monitoring: Biologist Tirhi spent several hours following up a report of the rare western bumble bee sent in from the public at a nursery in Graham, Pierce County as requested by Headquarter Invertebrate Lead Combs. Although several other species were captured and photographed that day, no western bumble bees were located. The public is encouraged to report any suspected western bumble bees at WDFW wildlife reporting form. Please include good photos or video from several angles.
Wolf Monitoring: Biologist Tirhi and Volunteer Extraordinaire Terry spent a day deploying the last functional camera for monitoring wolves in District 11 in the White River drainage near Corral Pass.
Providing Recreation Opportunities
Access Maintenance: The access team continues to paint restrooms, ADA parking stalls, and curbs, as well as addressing graffiti, and replacing signage as needed at access sites across Region 6.
Access Cleanup: The access team worked with Enforcement for removal of abandoned vehicles and RV’s in Grays Harbor, Jefferson and Pacific counties.
Providing Conflict Prevention and Education
Landowner Meetings: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Janowski and Assistant Wildlife Program Manager Blankenship met farmers across Pierce, Thurston and Clallam counties to address crop damage.
Elk Conflict: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Janowski worked on permit issuance and hand-delivered both Landowner Kill Permits and Damage Prevention Permits to landowners in Thurston County. Wildlife Conflict Specialist Janowski also dropped off a paintball gun to a producer in Orting who is sustaining significant elk damage on their vegetable crops. The producer will use the paintball gun to haze elk out of their field. The producer farms within a no-shooting ordinance area, and other noise producing non-lethal deterrents are limited.
Wildlife Conflict Specialist Janowski also responded to a call of an elk calf which had become trapped in a landowner’s pasture in Graham. The calf jumped into the fence line and had been trapped and unable to find its way out for over five days. Janowski arrived on scene and walked up to the calf, which then jumped the fence out of the landowner’s property. Reporting party was appreciative of the response and further advice was provided.
Cougar Depredation: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Janowski coordinated with Fish and Wildlife Officer Izatt and Fish and Wildlife Sargent Jewett on a cougar depredation report in Sequim. The cougar killed five goats over the course of two weeks and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife staff members determined a lethal removal action was required. Both a cougar trap and a local hounds man were deployed, the animal was successfully removed, biological samples were taken, and the carcass was donated to a local tribe.
Wildlife Conflict Specialist Janowski also received a call from Fish and Wildlife Officer Schrader regarding a possible cougar depredation on a horse in Mason County. Photos of injuries were shared with Janowski, and Officers Schrader and Janowski determined the animal likely was not attacked by a cougar.
Conserving Natural Landscapes
Rat Island Avian Influenza Management: Wildlife Program staff members continued clean-up efforts at Rat Island which is part of the Marrowstone Unit of the North Olympic Wildlife Area. This work has helped reduce the viral loads on the unit from an outbreak of Avian Influenza in the nesting Caspian terns. More recently, it spread to harbor seals.
Western Pond Turtle Habitat: Assistant District Biologist Butler and Wildlife Area Manager Laushman met with Capital Asset Management Program staff members to start work on a habitat improvement project which will create new nesting mounds for western pond turtles.
Oregon Spotted Frog Habitat Management: Biologists Tirhi and Butler oversaw contracted Washington Conservation Corps teams mowing invasive reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea) at three listed spotted frog breeding sites (Mima, Salmon, Allen Creeks, Thurston County). The funding for this annual mowing is paid for by the Chehalis Basin Strategy, Amphibian Species Restoration Plan. Reed canary grass invasion in spotted frog breeding sites is one of the most threatening aspects impacting frog recovery. Mowing canary grass using hired Washington Conservation Corps (WCC) crews is a cost-effective means of control. The grass is mowed heavily in late summer/early fall to maintain the low structure/open water spotted frogs depend on for successful egg laying in late winter. The WCC crews cut previously for one day per site in August and returned for additional mowing this September. Tirhi and Butler were both onsite various days to assist mowing using a Billy goat brush cutter.
