Managing Wildlife Populations
Oregon Spotted Frog Surveys: Biologists Wickhem and Bergh, with the help of Private Lands Biologist Gray, Regional Director Sallee, Species Lead Hallock, Customer Service Specialist Splitgerber, Volunteers Petrick and Roe, and staff members from the Washington Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, surveyed for Oregon spotted frog egg masses in both the Glenwood and Trout Lake valleys during the second half of March.
Oregon spotted frogs are listed as federally threatened and state endangered and have been on the decline in Glenwood and the Trout Lake Valleys in recent years due to drought and predation by bullfrogs. By counting egg masses laid and multiplying by two (to account for the one female and one male responsible for each egg mass), we are able to get a population estimate for each watershed. Though we are still tallying up the final numbers for the 2024 season, the team was grateful to find significantly more egg masses at both locations. Hopefully the trend continues in the coming years! To learn more about Oregon spotted frogs, visit our website.
Mt. St. Helens Elk Herd Survey: Biologists Holman, Stephens, Bergh, and Wickhem, Ungulate Specialist Oates, Wildlife Area Assistant Managers Risley and Breitenstein, along with Habitat Biologist Johnson worked together to complete an aerial survey of the Mt. St. Helens elk population. The primary effort took place over the “Core Mt. St. Helens Herd Area” which includes Game Management Units (GMU) 520 (Winston), 522 (Loo-Wit), 524 (Margaret), 550 (Coweeman), and 556 (Toutle). Additionally, areas within Game Management Units 554 (Yale), 560 (Lewis River), 568 (Washougal), and 572 (Siouxon) were surveyed on a more exploratory basis. The survey is conducted by helicopter, while three Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife observers, plus the pilot, search the landscape for elk. The animals are then counted as well as classified by sexes and ages. Additionally, variables including concealing vegetation and location are documented for each group of elk.
A total of 2,368 elk were observed by the team over the course of six days. Following data analysis, estimates of herd population size, core-herd population size, GMU population sizes as well as calf to cow and bull to cow ratios will be generated. These metrics will be used to evaluate the status of the Mt. St. Helens elk population per the guidelines outlined in the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Game Management Plan: Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife 2015-2021 Game Management Plan | Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife and the Mt. St Helens Elk Herd Plan: Washington State Elk Herd Plan: Mount St. Helens Elk Herd | Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife and will be reported in the annual Game Status and Trend Report: Publications | Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife
Thanks to the many staff members who participated in the survey. Thanks to Region 5 Customer Service Staff Members Rainwaters, Splitgerber, and Kean as well as Regional Wildlife Program Manager Jonker for their respective roles of weekday and weekend flight following. Thanks to Contract Specialist Luque, Contracts and Purchasing Manager Hugdahl, and Ungulate Section Manager Garrison for their respective roles in lining up the contractual and budgetary aspects of this work. Finally, thanks to Pilot Pete Emerson of JL Aviation for his unmatched skill in piloting during the effort as well as seamless logistics, efficient use of our funding, precise weather forecasting, and for spotting plenty of the elk.
Providing Recreation Opportunities
Art From Unknown Guest: Natural Resource Specialist Celaya found an interesting sight at the entrance of the Mineral Springs (Icehouse) Access Area in Klickitat County.
Providing Conflict Prevention and Education
Livestock Carcass Disposal: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen removed 2.5 tons of domestic cow carcasses from a livestock operation where a collared wolf in Klickitat County was known to frequent. The utilization of carcass piles and natural decomposition is a practice widely implemented across western states by ranchers to deal with livestock losses on their operations. It is one of only a few legal means of disposing of deceased animals. However, these carcass piles regularly attract scavenging carnivores to livestock operations and can inadvertently lead to livestock-wildlife conflict issues.
Tree Damage: A concerned landowner contacted Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen regarding damage to the Douglas fir trees on his property. Within the past year, a handful of trees began to die, all with their tops girdled by some animal. The landowner felled one of the damaged trees so that Jacobsen could inspect it. While the teeth marks on the bark appear to be very narrow, the jury is still out as to whether the tree was damaged by western gray squirrels or if porcupines were the primary culprit and western gray squirrel damage was secondary to the porcupine damage.
Cooperative Fencing Project Inspections: Wildlife Conflict Specialists Jacobsen and Janowski met with two different landowners who had completed Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife landowner cooperative deer and elk fencing projects. Under these agreements, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife provided the fencing materials while the landowners were responsible for installation labor and fence maintenance. Both fences looked excellent and both producers were elated at the difference the fences made to their operations, including to their financial savings from past damage, increased production due to damage prevention, and eliminated their staff members’ time hazing costs.
Sick Deer: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen responded to a report of a sick deer next to a residence that was no longer able to stand up. Upon inspecting the deer, Jacobsen determined that the deer was in very poor condition and euthanized the deer.
Cougar Near Residence: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen responded to a residence where a cougar had been observed the night before and had subsequently been lethally removed by the county. Jacobsen collected tooth and tissue samples from the female cougar. Jacobsen discussed cougar behavior and biology with the landowner and performed a walk-through of her property to review possible future sources of conflict as well as deterrent methods.
The landowner had lost three domestic cats over the past week, and a necropsy of the cougar revealed that the cougar had consumed a domestic house cat. The landowner reported that nine additional domestic house cats were roaming the property. Jacobsen discussed the problem of outdoor house cats and the frequency with which cougars are known to prey on outdoor house cats, as they resemble other natural cougar prey species such as raccoons and porcupines.
Conserving Natural Landscapes
Prescribed Burning at Shillapoo Wildlife Area: Recently, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife staff members at Shillapoo Wildlife Area have been utilizing prescribed fire for vegetation management. While fire can be destructive if uncontrolled, it can also be a useful tool for land managers. Prescribed burns reduce fuel levels, help control invasive weed species, and can increase soil health. While weather conditions were favorable, multiple small prescribed fires were used to control invasive blackberry and remove piled woody debris from the Rieger tree planting site.
Providing Education and Outreach
White Salmon Tree Fest: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen hosted a booth at Underwood Conservation District’s annual White Salmon Tree Fest. Several other agencies and organizations were present, including the Rowena/Mountain Top Wildlife Clinic, Columbia Land Trust, Humble Roots Nursery, Washington Department of Natural Resources, and the U.S. Forest Service. The event was well attended by over 200 citizens.
Conducting Business Operations and Policy
Wildlife Capture Scenario Practice: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen hosted a training with Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Detachment 53 to review strategies, techniques, and past and potential scenarios for carnivore and ungulate captures.
Other
New Staff Member: Region 5 is very excited to welcome their new team member, Tessa Ott. Tessa started today in a new position as an Assistant District Wildlife Biologist in District 9 stationed in White Salmon. Tessa has spent the last year as the Assistant District Wildlife Biologist for Oregon’s Department of Fish and Wildlife based out of Portland. Prior to this, she worked various seasonal positions focusing on non-game species for Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife while holding private contracts for American bullfrog mitigation throughout the Columbia River Gorge. Tessa is excited to return to Washington and she enjoys horseback riding, reading, backpacking, and the occasional unsuccessful turkey hunt.