Managing Wildlife Populations
Oak Creek Wildlife Area Cowiche Unit: Winter feeding operations commence on the Cowiche Unit of the Oak Creek Wildlife Area. There is no public access or close proximity viewing opportunities at this feeding location. Winter feeding at the Oak Creek feeding station has not begun yet due to a lack of winter weather to push elk out of higher elevations.
Oak Creek Wildlife Area Elk Fence Maintenance: Oak Creek Wildlife Area Natural Resource Technicians Boggs and Stoltenow fabricated new vehicle and walk through elk fence gates. New gates will be used for the new elk fence that will be constructed in the spring of 2024 and for repair of existing damaged gates.
L.T. Murray Elk Feeding: The L.T. Murray Wildlife Area began feeding elk as they made their way out of the high country. There were around 100 elk hanging around the Robinson and Joe Watt feed sites a week ago, but the numbers have shot up to around 800 head.
L.T. Murray Taneum Canyon Elk Fence: L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Winegeart worked on fortifying a brace-point on an elk fence in Taneum Canyon. The L.T. Murray crew will add wire to some sections of this fence that elk have been jumping over the last few months.
Providing Recreation Opportunities
Sunnyside Haystack Wetland: The North Haystack Wetland in the Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area is now completely reflooded, providing additional habitat for migratory waterfowl as well as increased opportunity for waterfowl hunters. The existing hunting blind on the Haystack Wetland is ADA accessible.
Wenas Wildlife Area Trail Counter Data Collection: Lands and Recreation Specialist Frame collected multiple trail counters from different trails spread throughout the Wenas Wildlife Area. These pieces of equipment are used to see how many users are on the landscape and how often. These counters were deployed for an 8-month time period and were redeployed after the data was collected.
Providing Conflict Prevention and Education
Rattlesnake Hills Elk: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand monitored elk activity on Rattlesnake Mountain including the Hanford Monument and surrounding private lands. No elk have been observed off the National Monument, but a few small groups of mostly bull elk were located within half a mile from the border. Three large groups of 200-300 elk were observed on lower elevations in the Snively Basin area.
Kahlotus Deer Damage: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand continued working with a new deer damage complaint from a wheat producer in the Kahlotus area. He gave the producer information about hazing strategies, damage permit hunting, and possible youth hunting opportunities. Two youth from the Region 3 special permit pool were deployed to another wheat farm near Lower Monumental Dam for hazing and lethal removal.
Kahlotus Injured Deer: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand and Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area Manager Kaelber responded to an injured deer call in the town of Kahlotus. The deer involved in a vehicle collision and was euthanized and removed from the area.
Conserving Natural Landscapes
Wenas Miracle Mile Acquisition: Wenas Wildlife Area Manager Hughes and Regional Lands Agent Carbary met with a landowner in the Wenas Valley who is interested in conserving their property. The landowner is currently deciding how they are going to conserve the property with possibilities of a conservation easement and a life estate.
The total area being considered for conservation is 440 acres. The habitat consists of shrubsteppe and includes a riparian section of Wenas Creek. Hughes and Carbary answered questions for the landowner regarding a life estate, conservation easement, funding sources, and more. Hughes will be working with the two other colleagues to apply for a Recreation and Conservation Office Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program Grant this year as a potential funding source.
L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Seeding: L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Winegeart broadcast seeded the Taneum Canyon six and half acre Ragland field with a native grass mix. Winegeart had borrowed a midsized Truax seed drill from Department of Transportation to do the job but a recent cultural survey restricted ground disturbance making using a seed drill not an option.
Providing Education and Outreach
Oak Creek Wildlife Area – Tim's Pond Interpretive Trail: Oak Creek Wildlife Area Technician Boggs continues to work on mounting signage for the new Tim’s Pond Interpretive Trail. Metal signs were fabricated by Naches Valley High School students and identify native vegetation.
Oak Creek Wildlife Area Winter Feeding Brochures: Oak Creek Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Charlet worked with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Communications and Public Engagement (CAPE) Division to update and produce an informational brochure. This brochure outlines basic information about the elk and bighorn sheep winter feeding program, public viewing opportunities, and elk and bighorn sheep facts.
Other
Sunnyside-Snake River Wetland Maintenance: Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area staff members continue to maintain access sites, monitor wildlife area waterways and wetlands, and clear debris when necessary.
Private Lands Website: Region 3 Private Lands Biologist Manderbach has been working with Private Lands biologists from other regions to improve the verbiage on the Private Lands website for Region 3. The website will soon be updated with new wording that should help clear up rules and access questions based on the calls and emails they receive, as well as common enforcement issues at private lands sites.
Horse Heaven Hills Pronghorn: Region 3 Private Lands Biologist Manderbach recently came across a herd of 39 pronghorn in the Horse Heaven Hills. The information was entered into the incidental wildlife observations page in Survey123.
