Providing Recreation Opportunities
Waterfowl Hunting and Access Properties Sites: Biologist Cook started contract paperwork on two sites to provide field hunting opportunities for waterfowl and one that provides walk-in access to the west side of Winchester Lake to reduce walking distance for waterfowl and upland bird hunting.
Pheasant Release: Biologist Cook and Technician Blanchard helped with pheasant releases to supplement birds for hunters.
Hunter Communication: Biologist Cook responded to calls and emails from hunters looking for more information about the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife hunter access program and looking for private lands to hunt.
Cougar Pelt Sealing: Private Lands Biologist Braaten sealed a cougar pelt for a hunter this week. Additionally, he collected DNA, a tooth, provided data to Cougar Mortality App, and mailed in the collection data.
Providing Conflict Prevention and Education
Responding to Elk Damage to Haystacks: Specialist Heilhecker met with a landowner regarding elk damaging haystacks. The landowner provided photographs of last year’s damage. The landowner signed a damage prevention cooperative agreement after Specialist Heilhecker explained it. Heilhecker issued a kill permit to remove one antlerless elk to the landowner.
Necropsy Investigation: Specialist Heilhecker along with Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Enforcement investigated two dead horses. The horses had been missing for four to five days, possibly a week. The horses were found together underneath a large tree. The carcasses had been scavenged yet most of their skeletons were intact with no broken bones. The rib bones had been chewed on the ends. Coyote scat was found at the scene. There was not enough evidence to determine cause of death. Given the condition of the skeletons and lack of evidence at the scene, the death of the two horses was not likely carnivores.
Responding to Cougar Report: Specialist Heilhecker received a cougar sighting report. The reporting party did not see the cougar but based on security camera footage, a cougar was on the property at 5:50 a.m. One of the neighbors has ten domestic cats that are allowed to roam. The reporting party believes the cougar may be interested in the cats. There is a garden and compost pile attracting a lot of mice that brings in the domestic cats. There are also a couple of neighbors with chickens. The reporting party notified neighbors about the cougar. Specialist Heilhecker advised that they secure all attractants, keep chickens locked up in their coop, keep dogs and cats inside.
Conserving Natural Landscapes
Science Division Assistance: Private Lands Biologist Braaten completed a fall lek survey for sharp-tailed grouse lek presence on the Big Bend Wildlife Area. They are hoping to for a possible trapping effort to collar a grouse and monitor them through winter months and beyond. The intention of the trapping and collaring effort is to identify additional winter habitat use. Private Lands Braaten found 25 grouse on the lek. Crews will be arriving this week to set up traps.
Providing Education and Outreach
High School Career Showcase: Biologist Cook attended a career showcase in Ritzville to answer questions and interest students in careers offered at the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Biologists Cook and Morris attended another career showcase in Othello. Cook and Morris had mounts, skulls, and track molds for students to interact with.
Kittitas Audubon Society: Biologist Soltysiak traveled to Ellensburg to present “The Pygmy Odyssey” to the Kittitas Audubon Society. The presentation explored the variety of creative techniques researchers and biologists have used to restore the Columbian Basin pygmy rabbit to Douglas and Grant counties. Students and professors from Central Washington University, Ellensburg community members, and members of the Audubon Society were in attendance.
Conducting Business Operations and Policy
Database User Group Participation: Specialist Heilhecker attended a demonstration of the new database for issuing landowner damage and kill permits. The new database will replace the current system that can no longer receive security updates.
Wolf Advisory Meeting: Specialist Heilhecker participated in a wolf advisory group planning meeting.
The Nature Conservancy Land Parcels: Just outside Quincy, a few The Nature Conservancy (TNC) land parcels are up for sale. Before the sale can be completed, Biologists Gallie and Soltysiak surveyed the land to ensure the presence or absence of pygmy rabbits. After four days of survey efforts, the team found no evidence of pygmy rabbits- no burrows, no pellets, and no rabbit visuals.
