Managing Wildlife Populations
Kahlotus Deer Survey: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand, Region 3 Private Lands Biologist Manderbach, District 4 Wildlife Biologist Fidorra, and District 4 Habitat Biologist Maikis completed a roadside post-season deer survey in GMU 381. Weather conditions were optimal this year and an acceptable number of deer were classified.
L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Winter Elk Closure: The L.T. Murray Wildlife Area crew closed gates and posted signs around the winter elk feeding closure area. Natural Resource Technician Blore and Natural Resource Scientist Nass built rock jacks to hold the newly configured sign boards for the closure. The rock jacks are a non-ground disturbing method of replacing t-post that held the signs on heavy plywood backing in the past.
Oak Creek Wildlife Area Seasonal Closures: Oak Creek Wildlife Area winter feeding area closures went into effect on Dec. 15 at 5 p.m. and will remain in effect until May 1, 2024, at 6 a.m. Oak Creek Wildlife Area Manager Mackey and Natural Resource Technician Boggs closed and locked all of the seasonal closure gates at Oak Creek Road (FS 1400), Bethel Ridge Tie Road, and Mud Lake on Dec. 15.
Columbia Basin White Bird Surveys: Sunnyside Snake River Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Jahns and Region 3 Private Lands Biologist Manderbach assisted with the 2023 Columbia Basin White Bird Survey by conducting roost surveys at two locations in Franklin County. No swans were seen, but plenty of snow geese were around.
District 8 Jackrabbit Research: District 8 Biologists conducted white-tailed and black-tailed jackrabbit DNA sampling. Results are being processed through a collaborative project with the University of Idaho.
District 8 Bighorn Sheep Monitoring: District 8 biologists continue to monitor collared bighorn sheep activity, health, and status. A collared adult ewe was harvested during the 2023 hunt season and was confirmed positive for M. Ovi this week. Further laboratory tests determined the animal showed signs of chronic infection with the presence of nasal tumors.
Providing Recreation Opportunities
Wenas Wildlife Area – Buffalo Road Kiosk Installation: Wenas Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Taylor and Natural Resource Technicians Stoltenow and Janes installed a kiosk at the lower access to the Buffalo Road portion of the wildlife area. A compact loader was used to auger the holes for the legs and lift the kiosk into place. The road leads to the trailhead for the skyline trail and is a popular section of the wildlife area.
Private Lands Waterfowl Hunting Opportunities: Region 3 Private Lands Biologist Manderbach recently got the Meals Road and Snake River Department of Natural Resources waterfowl ‘Hunt By Reservation’ sites up and running. There are two fields open for reservation at Meals Road and three fields available on Snake River Department of Natural Resource land. Many calls have been fielded regarding these sites as they are very popular for goose hunting. Calls have slowed down now that reservations are active on the Private Land’s website.
Providing Conflict Prevention and Education
Rattlesnake Hills Elk: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand monitored elk activity on Rattlesnake Mountain and coordinated with landowners on winter wheat crop success, hazing strategies, and damage permit issuance.
Kahlotus Deer Damage: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand received a new deer damage complaint from a wheat producer in the Kahlotus area. The landowner’s 1400 acres of newly planted wheat is being browsed on by between 50 and 100 head of deer. Active non-lethal hazing is becoming less effective. A Damage Prevention Cooperative Agreement was developed and associated damage permits were issued. Additional hunting pressure by special permit youth hunters is currently being planned.
Damage Prevention Cooperative Agreement (DPCA): District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand completed two renewal contracts for landowners in Benton County. One DPCA addressed elk damage to hay and vineyard crops near Hanford and the other addresses deer damage to wine grapes along the Yakima River.
Pasco Deer Damage: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand prepared and delivered damage permits to a large tree fruit and wine grape operation north of Pasco along the Columbia River where increasing numbers of deer are browsing on new tree and vine growth.
Conserving Natural Landscapes
Wenas Wildlife Area - Bull Pasture Restoration: The Wenas Wildlife Area finished work restoring approximately 130 acres off Bull Pasture Road into native grass seed for 2023. Natural resource Technician Janes finished seeding and harrowing the area in the beginning of December.
Oak Creek Wildlife Area Bear Canyon Pile Burning: Oak Creek Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Charlet burned piles on the newly acquired Bear Canyon property. Piles consisted of nonnative vegetation removed earlier this year by volunteers.
Other
Weed Control Seminar: L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Winegeart attended a weed control seminar and has decided to use a mix of Method 240SL and Esplanade 200SC for bare ground control next year. This replaces Portfolio 4F in the mix and Method has better control of Russian thistle and knapweeds.
Mesa Lake Cultural Resource Survey: Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Jahns met with Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife archeologists to conduct the cultural resource fieldwork for the Mesa Lake Pac-man Wetland development project. The upcoming project, a Ducks Unlimited collaboration, will enhance and restore wetland habitat in the Mesa Lake Unit and provide connectivity between existing wetlands. In addition to surveying for the Mesa Lake project, fieldwork was also completed to install new kiosks at both the Mesa Lake and Bailie units.
