Managing Wildlife Populations
Bighorn Sheep: Biologists Wik and Vekasy spent the last two weeks capturing six-month-old bighorn lambs along the Grande Ronde River as part of a new monitoring effort. This effort has been assisted by the new Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife District Biologist Wolf, the new Idaho Fish and Game Technician Scott, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation Wildlife Manager Wildbill, and Nez Perce Tribe Wildlife Manager Kash Kash. This collaborative effort has resulted in 20 bighorn lambs being captured and fitted with GPS collars. They hope to better understand how young animals are using the landscape. With healthy bighorns along the Grande Ronde exhibiting rapid population growth, the risk of dispersing animals is poorly understood.
Grouse: Biologists Lowe and Brinkman attended the annual Sage and Sharp-tailed Grouse Workshop in Ellensburg. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife staff members, partners from other agencies, universities, tribes, and non-government agencies participated in the meeting to discuss grouse populations statewide. There were presentations regarding the status of the birds on different properties, discussions about translocation efforts, and updates on solar and wind development projects that could impact habitat for grouse.
Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD): Wildlife Conflict Specialist Harris collected a CWD sample from a buck harvested in GMU 117.
Natural Resource Technician Heitstuman collected CWD samples from area Department of Transportation collection pits and relayed calls to other team members for pits in their areas. Roadkill opportunities are remaining constant.
Private Lands Biologist Nizer went to a hunter’s camp to take CWD samples from two deer, one white-tail buck and one mule deer doe.
Bighorn Sheep: Biologists Lowe and Brinkman completed an aerial survey of the Lincoln Cliffs bighorn sheep herd. Low fog delayed the start of the flight, but the weather eventually cleared enough to complete the survey. GPS locations of each observed group were recorded, and the biologists subsequently counted the total number of individuals in each group as well as the group composition (including the number of ewes, lambs, and different age classes of rams).
Columbia Basin Mule Deer: Biologists Lowe and Brinkman conducted six ground-based mule deer surveys in Lincoln and Whitman counties. Ground surveys were also conducted in Districts 4, 5, and 7. The surveys are used to estimate post-season herd composition including fawn to doe and buck to doe ratios for three subherds across the Columbia Basin. This year, aerial surveys are also being conducted for the Odessa subherd in parts of Lincoln and eastern Grant counties for population estimation. Biologist Brinkman and biologists from Districts 4 and 5 were able to fly three and a half days of surveys in between periods of heavy fog this week. Ground and aerial surveys will continue next week.
Providing Recreation Opportunities
Columbia Plateau Wildlife Management Association: Private Lands Biologist Nizer met with Columbia Plateau Wildlife Management Association President Lubey, past President Hinkle, and a new landowner to sign a contract for 1,000 acres in the Hunt by Written Permission Program. Nizer worked with District Wildlife Biologist Lowe to discuss additional tags that could be issued for the upcoming season because of the added acreage. Nizer also added the new property into the private lands hunting opportunities so that it will be available to the public on the agency hunt planner app.
Columbia Plateau Wildlife Management Association Incentive Tag: Private Lands Biologist Nizer spoke with the Columbia Plateau Wildlife Management Association about an additional incentive cow tag for landowners specifically joining the Hunt by Written Permission Program or to retain landowners in the program. Nizer worked with District Biologist Lowe to see if this would be feasible for the upcoming season setting.
Turnbull Meeting Preparation: Private Lands Biologist Nizer gathered statistics on the first turkey reservation season on the Turnbull Wildlife Refuge. Nizer also reached out to hunters that hunted the Long Lake reservation to determine their success rate. While not many harvested, a good number of them heard or saw turkeys in the area. Nizer will bring these statistics to his meeting with Turnbull Wildlife Manager Moroney next week. Nizer will be meeting to discuss additional hunt areas for the 2024 fall turkey season.
Providing Conflict Prevention and Education
Asotin Creek Wildlife Area – Weatherly Unit Elk Fence Repair: All Asotin Creek Wildlife Area staff members spent the majority of the week making repairs to the elk fence at Weatherly. Wind-fall trees, rotten posts, loose staples are a chronic problem. So far, staff members have spent two full work weeks on the fence beginning at Mountain Road. They have not finished repairs and anticipate it will take all the short week next week and the week after Thanksgiving to finish.
Depredation Investigation: Staff members investigated an injured steer calf which had grazed in Columbia County over the summer and fall. The determination of the investigation was unconfirmed because there was no clear evidence as to what caused the injury.
Staff members investigated four dead sheep and ten injured sheep in Columbia County. The determination of the investigation was a confirmed non-wild wolf depredation event by a domestic dog.
Asotin Creek Wildlife Area Weatherly Elk Fence Repairs: Wildlife area staff members continued making repairs to the elk fence on the Weatherly Unit. Most of the work this week involved repairing broken rock jacks and hammering in loose staples. Staff members have two miles of fence to go over and hope to complete repairs by the end of the month.
Producer Contacts: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Wade was in contact with a Grouse Flats producer this week to discuss the producers lower than normal return rate. The producer also reported that he believed that many of his cows were not breed when they shouldn’t have been. Wade recommended that the producer explore filing an indirect loss claim and put the producer in touch with Statewide Wildlife Conflict Analyst Todd.
Cougar Depredation: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Harris investigated a dead goat that was reported to have been killed over the weekend. Based on evidence found on scene and sightings reported by the landowner, Harris determined that the goat had been killed by a cougar. Harris coordinated with Stevens County Sheriff's Office and a Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife contracted hound hunter to deploy a cell camera. The cougar did not return the next night and the landowner removed the goat carcass for disposal.
Forest Management: Sherman Creek Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Palmer, Natural Resource Specialist Zueger, and Access Manager Dziekan removed undesirable lodgepole pines at the West Branch parcel of LeClerc Creek Wildlife Area on Thursday. This work followed a test run the previous week. The trio used Sherman Creek Wildlife Area’s new Echo brand pole-style tools with brush-cutter blades. Lodgepole pine seedlings and saplings were cut, leaving tree species that should be on the site. Leave trees included primarily ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, and western larch, along with some Engelmann spruce and western white pine. With the three staff members working one day plus Palmer putting in a couple hours earlier in the week, they cleaned up about 20 acres of land.
Conserving Natural Landscapes
Swegle Unit – Noxious Weed Control: Natural Resource Technicians Tritt and Jensen met Maintenance Mechanic Heimgartner and Access Technician Nielsen at the Swegle Unit of the W.T. Wooten Wildlife Area. They worked on mowing kochia and Russian thistle skeletons, piling them, and hauling them to the landfill in the dump trailer. A total of four loads were hauled this week, making a grand total of 13 loads of kochia and Russian thistle skeletons hauled to the landfill so far this fall. Jensen sprayed the cheatgrass in Stovall Field while they were on the site.
Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program Seeding: Private Lands Biologist Nizer reached out to a local producer who is enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) and seeded about two acres of native grass seed mix. The stand should stay dormant for the winter, and with good moisture they should sprout up in the spring. Nizer used the Tye no-till drill. The drill was the perfect size for the smaller project.
Spring Plantings: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Harris met with the Stevens County Conservation District to discuss plans for a riparian restoration project at the Vetter Farm. Harris put in an order for trees and shrubs to be planted next spring.
Habitat Plantings: Private Lands Biologist Hadley planted shrubs on two Feel Free to Hunt properties located in Walla Walla County. Hadley contacted the local Pheasants Forever chapter habitat chairman to discuss volunteer opportunities to assist. Hadley also coordinated with the Pheasants Forever biologist in Ephrata to meet and work with her.
Revere Wildlife Area Wetland Enhancement Project: Wildlife Area Manager Finch was able to meet Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Archeologist Davis at the Revere Wildlife Area wetland project site. Phase 3 of the project was funded through a North America Wetlands Conservation Act and Ducks Unlimited grant. The purpose of the grant is to scrape off the heavy infestation of bulrush and to get more open water. Finch was able to explain the project to Archeologist Davis and fly the drone over the area to get some aerial photos.
Asotin Creek/Chief Joseph Winter Gate Closures: Wildlife area staff members began closing winter closure gates just before midnight on Thursday. Wildlife Area Manager Dice closed the Asotin Creek Wildlife Area gates on Lick Fork and South Fork roads. He also closed U.S. Forest Service gates at the top of Smoothing Iron and Pinkham Butte. The gate at the top of Lick Creek was already shut by Forest Service staff members. Woodall closed the ATV access gate at Green Gulch on Thursday and attempted to close the winter gate on Cougar Creek Road. He did not close Cougar Creek due to someone having a camp in the Autry Campground and another vehicle parked near one of our gates. There is a late muzzleloader deer season in progress in Unit 172.
Providing Education and Outreach
Appreciation: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Kolb and Region 1 Hunter Education and Volunteer Coordinator Dazey presented a plaque of appreciation to the Waitsburg Gun Club board members during their monthly meeting. The Waitsburg Gun Club goes above and beyond sponsoring and supporting youth activities, including Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife hunter education field day evolutions.
Access Area Kiosks: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has been working on a project to install more kiosks and entrance signs on WDFW lands throughout the state. Region 1 installations will begin the next year or two, and detailed planning has started. Access Area Manager Dziekan reviewed the sites, identifying which access areas would benefit from having a single pane vs. a triple pane kiosk. Dziekan will begin submitting requests in the next several weeks for cultural review, well ahead of the planned installation work to prevent delays.
Volunteer Coordination: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Kolb finalized the volunteer schedule for a Washington State University student to participate over their winter holiday break.
Turkey Damage Outreach: Private Lands Biologist Nizer worked with Communication Consultant Lehman to create an article about turkey damage in Spokane County. The article will discuss how hunters can help farmers reduce the damage done to private lands. The article will let hunters know about the access program for turkey hunting and inform landowners that might be interested in joining the program.
University of Idaho Student Mentoring: Wildlife Area Manager Dice spent Tuesday afternoon with two sophomore University of Idaho students majoring in Wildlife Resources. The students accompanied Dice on several tasks at the wildlife area which gave them an opportunity to observe and ask questions. Dice and Woodall each agreed to serve as mentors for two students earlier this fall as part of an outreach class taught by University of Idaho. Many other natural resource professionals are serving in the same role for this class. Most are employees from Idaho Fish & Game.
Conducting Business Operations and Policy
Private Lands Statewide Budget: Wildlife Conflict Supervisor, Private Lands Access Manager McClellan, Landowner Services Division Manager Yarborough, and Wildlife Program Budget Analyst Quinton met and went through the Private Lands statewide budget.