Managing Wildlife Populations
Sage and Sharp-tailed Grouse Lek Searches: Biologist Turnock and Technician Hara continued searching for new sage and sharp-tailed grouse leks in northern Douglas County. High winds have made surveying difficult, but they were able to cover four grids, which will help inform our understanding of these species’ distributions in Region 2.
Sharp-tailed Grouse Translocations: Technician Force assisted staff members in translocating
60 sharp-tailed grouse from British Columbia to Dyer Hill and Swanson Lakes Wildlife Area.
Sharp-tailed Grouse Management: Biologist Heinlen documented a live signal from a female Columbian sharp-tailed grouse released into the Tunk Valley area of Okanogan County during an augmentation effort in April 2023. This will be the second nesting season for this grouse in Tunk Valley since release, which exemplifies the goal of getting new genetics into our local grouse population.
A mortality signal from a male sharp-tailed grouse from the 2023 release in Tunk was also investigated. The radio collar, leg band, and feathers were found near an unmarked fence. It is likely the bird struck the wire fence causing the mortality. Marking wire fences has been documented to reduce grouse mortalities.
Lewis’s Woodpeckers: Biologists Eilers and Jeffreys, along with other Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and Chelan Public Utility District biologists, started conducting Lewis’s woodpecker surveys at five project areas in Rocky Reach Wildlife Area. The goal of this year’s cavity nest surveys are to:
- Learn more about Lewis’s woodpecker nesting phenology and ecology of the population within the Rocky Reach Wildlife Area including clutch size, number of eggs hatched, number of hatchlings to reach fledging or late nestling phase, etc.
- Examine these data alongside habitat and microhabitat characteristics for the purpose of drawing inferences regarding nest success of Lewis’s woodpecker at both the local scale and microsite scale (breeding territory).
These inferences may in turn be useful for informing habitat management considerations at the regional scale (North Central Washington). Collecting this data will require staff members to survey assigned grids for the purpose of locating nesting Lewis’s woodpecker pairs within the Rocky Reach Wildlife Area. Staff members will conduct multiple visits to each nest cavity over the course of the nesting cycle. Additionally, they will perform a nest cavity habitat assessment at each nest following the nesting cycle.
So far this year, a variety of Lewis’s woodpecker pairs have been found and are showing signs of courtship (copulation, territorial calling and drumming, wing and flight displays, etc). Lewis’s woodpeckers are migratory to our region and typically arrive on the breeding grounds between the very end of April to early May. It is still at the beginning of the breeding season. As such, it appears that egg laying and incubation haven't started at our survey sites. Biologists will continue to monitor sites throughout the season. Stay tuned for some cute bird photos!
Northern Leopard Frog Surveys: Biologist Turnock and Technician Hara conducted northern leopard frog breeding surveys in District 5, including at the Potholes off road vehicle park. They did not detect any leopard frogs, but these surveys resulted in some exciting incidental observations such as a badger with three young and breeding Great Basin spadefoot toads.
Pygmy Rabbit Trapping: Biologist Turnock and Technician Hara assisted Biologist Crowell with pygmy rabbit trapping at the B3 enclosure near Beezley Hills. They were able to capture the enclosure’s lone resident, an adult male rabbit, to confirm his survival.
Mule Deer Management: Radio-collars are deployed to help monitor mule deer herd demographics. When mortalities occur, investigations are conducted when possible to determine cause of death. Biologist Heinlen investigated a mortality in GMU 242 and confirmed cause of death as predation. The radio collar was recovered so it can be refurbished and redeployed.
Providing Conflict Prevention and Education
Cougar Information: Specialist Heilhecker received a call from an employee of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. The caller stated friends living in Snohomish County had a cougar on their ranch. Specialist Heilhecker discussed cougar safety information with the caller and provided contact information for the wildlife conflict specialist in Snohomish County.
Responding to Cougar Reports: Specialist Heilhecker received a call about a cougar killing chickens. They discussed keeping the chickens contained and inaccessible to the cougar. The reporting party was concerned for their family’s safety. Heilhecker advised the reporting party of their rights to put the cougar down if they felt in danger.
Responding to Cougar Reports: Specialist Heilhecker responded to a cougar sighting report. The reporting party submitted security camera videos of an adult and juvenile “cougars” near their porch. After reviewing the video, Specialist Heilhecker spoke with the reporting party. The juvenile “cougar” was a domestic cat, and the adult cougar was likely a dog, but she encouraged the reporting party to submit any future videos for more complete verification.
Conserving Natural Landscapes
State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement-Conservation Reserve Program: Biologist Cook visited with a landowner to give advice for rolling a current general Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) contract over into State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE). The field failed for the current contract and the landowner and operator were looking for confirmation with a Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) field visit to determine what they could do to prepare to move into SAFE. This landowner has other fields enrolled in SAFE contracts where plans were written by the Department of Fish and Wildlife, and a strong relationship currently exists.
Habitat Plots: Biologist Cook and Technician Blanchard tilled and applied herbicide to prepare supplemental food plots for planting later this month. Planting has been postponed due to delays with irrigation installation and to improve weed control, however they will be irrigated so they should still grow well.
Private Lands Biologist Braaten assisted Swanson Lake Wildlife Area staff members and volunteers in laying fibrous mulch for a Pheasant Forever habitat project. Installation of ten 300-foot rolls of mulch were laid with specialized equipment. This will benefit sharp-tailed grouse and upland birds in the future.
Providing Education and Outreach
Snake Day 2024: Biologist Fitkin and retired U.S. Forest Service Biologist Rohrer conducted the annual snake survey on a portion of the Methow Wildlife Area. This survey was a part of an adult (and some kids) education class for the North Cascades Institute (NCI). Warmer than normal temperatures had snakes often hiding in the shadows, but we located 15 individual snakes from three different species during the class and had two other species on hand to share with participants.
The data is an indicator of abundance and species diversity over time and gives us an opportunity to monitor for snake fungal disease (no suspect legions found). The proceeds from the course support NCI’s Mountain School program for kids. Thanks to Regional Diversity Biologist Gallie and his daughter for joining this year’s event.
Wildlife Coexistence: Biologist Fitkin gave a presentation on wildlife coexistence to a 7th grade Environmental Studies class at Liberty Bell High School in Winthrop. The talk emphasized living with bears and snakes and the students got hands on experience with the engaging reptiles as well as the opportunity to practice deploying bear spray (with inert ingredient cans).
Abandoned Horse: Specialist Heilhecker received a call about a horse dumped on Public Utility District land. The reporting party asked if Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife wanted to investigate. She told the reporting party that investigations occur at the request of the owner. If the reporting party wanted the horse removed, to contact the landowner.
Oden Road Fire Study with Okanogan High School: Regional Wildlife Program Manager Haug, Assistant Wildlife Program Manager Troyer, and Regional Communications and Outreach Specialist Jordan attended the annual Oden Road Fire Study put on by the Okanogan Land Trust and Okanogan High School’s Advanced Biology class.
This was the 12th year of the study (the last year for Haug) that looks at the effects of wildfire on a landscape level. Representatives from Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Washington Department of Natural Resources, Okanogan Conservation District, Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, and Okanogan Land Trust were in attendance and providing their expertise. The students gathered data on soils, vegetation, bird diversity, and insect activity and will present their findings to a large audience later next month.
Scotch Creek STEAM Event with Tonasket and Oroville Elementary: Regional Wildlife Program Manager Haug, Scotch Creek Wildlife Area Manager Dupont, Scotch Creek staff members, Sinlahekin Wildlife Area staff members, Department of Natural Resources Specialist Medina and volunteers worked with staff members from the North Central Educational Service District (NCESD) and Tonasket and Oroville elementary schools and held a Science Technology Engineering Arts and Math (STEAM) field trip to the Scotch Creek Wildlife Area, Beaver Dam Analog Project. Over two days, Tonasket and Oroville elementary schools brought nearly 100 students to the Scotch Creek Wildlife Area.
The purpose of these visits was to take their classroom science learning into the field for an authentic science experience. Students worked alongside scientists to collect data, engineer water retention devices, plant and identify important plant species and paint their observations all in their efforts to learn more about how science is helping conserve the state-endangered sharp-tailed grouse in Okanogan County.
As part of the field trip Scotch Creek Wildlife Area staff members installed Beaver Dam Analogs (BDA) as part of a Recreation and Conservation (RCO) funded state lands restoration project along a stretch of Scotch Creek over the past four years. Students learned that the purpose of the BDAs is to slow the water flow of the creek and increase water retention to support the growth of water birch. Water birch is an important plant species for winter survival of the endangered sharp-tailed grouse.
Haug gave a short presentation on sharp-tailed grouse and Wildlife Area Manager Dupont discussed the construction and use of BDAs (Scotch Creek staff built a mock BDA and river system simulation where students observed hydrologic affects).
Students spent their day rotating through different stations. At the planting station, students learned to use a dichotomous key to identify native plants commonly found in the shrubsteppe. Students also explored stream transects with Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation Fish and Wildlife Department. Students used scientific tools to calculate the volume of water in the stream and looked at ground water levels before and after a BDA installation.
Half the group rotated out to do insect collection and identification. They also built their own water retention devices using recycled bottles and natural materials to see if they could slow the flow of stream water. And finally, students had an opportunity to put their observations to paper in a station led by a Tonasket art student. Students used watercolor to capture the scenery around the project site.
Wild Washington Outdoor Classroom at Beebe Springs: The Wild Washington Outdoor Classrooms (WWOC) is a pilot program expanding our current offerings by bringing students to a wildlife area near them for experiential learning to hone skills taught in lessons in outdoor and real-world applicable settings. Given Beebe Spring’s unique landscape diversity and rich cultural history, the program weaves together scientific inquiry with cultural knowledge of the area.
The program was a “choose your own adventure” where students decide which investigation path most interests them. Students moved through their chosen investigations that were led by local experts from Cascade Columbia Fisheries, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Northcentral Washington Educational Services District, and the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. Because of the diversity of Beebe Springs, activities included: designing beaver analogue dams, measuring biodiversity, wildlife viewing, predicting landform erosion, sound mapping, storytelling, watercolor painting, wild food preparation and more. The Wild Washington Outdoor Classroom Program will give students a chance to meet local natural resource practitioners, elders, and artists and experience career connected learning.
Conducting Business Operations and Policy
Cost Share Fencing Contract: Specialist Heilhecker completed a payment form for cost-share fencing materials to prevent deer damage. She submitted the paperwork to Wildlife Conflict Program staff members.
Cooperative Agreement: Specialist Heilhecker completed cost-share payment paperwork for a livestock producer with a Damage Prevention Cooperative agreement. She submitted the paperwork to the Wildlife Conflict Program.
Other
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