Managing Wildlife Populations
Carnivore Monitoring Program: District 14 biologists have been assisting the National Park Service (NPS) in deploying wolverine monitoring stations under the Woodland Park Zoo Carnivore Monitoring Program. In 2013, the North Cascades wolverine population was estimated to be less than 40 individuals. While they are making a comeback in our region, these elusive creatures have slow reproduction rates and are facing climate change challenges. Their preference for high mountain terrain makes them difficult to study. These stations will aid in defining the current distribution of wolverines and, if detected, to collect genetic samples to better understand their relationships to other populations in the region.
Loon Surveys: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Biologist Soltysiak and NPS Biologist Christophersen backpacked into the Ross Lake area to monitor common loon activity. While two adult pairs were observed, neither were displaying any signs of nesting. Breeding pairs of loons within District 14 are becoming increasingly rare. At this site, the last known nest was three years ago. Common loons are listed as a Species of Greatest Conservation Need due to their shrinking range, small populations, and vulnerability to development and recreational pressure at sensitive nesting lakes. Fisherman are encouraged to reach out to district staff members for non-lead tackle in efforts to protect this unique bird.
Fisher Monitoring Continues: District wildlife staff members continue to retrieve cameras and bait stations from many different locations in the North Cascades. Although fishers have been absent from several of the recently collected stations, there have been noteworthy detections of other important forest carnivores including a wolverine and numerous American marten. This effort is an essential part of evaluating fisher reintroduction success that simultaneously provides valuable information on a variety of species of conservation interest.
Bats – North American Bat (NABat) and other Surveys: District 13 continued Region 4’s effort towards the annual acoustic bat surveys for the international NABat Program. Detectors were deployed in four quadrants of a randomly selected grid cell in Arlington that have been consistently monitored during approximately the same time over many years. Learn more at our Pacific Northwest coordination site from Oregon State University.
Additionally, Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tag reading devices at two white-nose syndrome (WNS) research sites in District 13 were visited for maintenance, and an emergence count was conducted at a WNS research site in Darrington. At the Darrington site 170 bats were counted, which was a modest increase from previous years.
Bat Maternity Colony Monitoring: Biologists Anderson and Smith initiated annual maternity colony monitoring at the first of multiple sites that are monitored each season.
Deception Crag Peregrine Falcon Climbing Conflict: The active eyrie at Deception Crags in the I-90 corridor is now open. The falcons successfully reared at least two eyasses (had three, one not seen after fledging). Thanks to our partners at Urban Raptor Conservancy, U.S. Forest Service, Mount Baker Snoqualmie – North Bend Ranger District, Washington State Parks, and the broader support of the climbing community in closure of the crag to provide for safety of climbers and successful nesting of the falcons.
Providing Conflict Prevention and Education
UW Drumheller Fountain Urban Duck Conflict: Biologists Anderson and Smith met with University of Washington (UW) Environmental Health and Safety specialists and campus maintenance to remove a flighted hen and her unflighted chicks from Drumheller Fountain. The fountain has an urban mallard brood annually, enough that the facilities crew has constructed a number of “fountain ramps” for them.
Unfortunately, the ducks would not leave the entirely dry fountain, which is drained biennially for removal of refuse (wheelchairs, scooters, bikes, cell phones, laptops – you name it) and maintained, then filled again. This can’t be done with mama mallard and her babies! Anderson and Smith quickly removed the ducks and translocated them elsewhere on Lake Washington. Fountain is clean and ready for ducks next season.
Lower Snoqualmie Valley Elk Conflict: Biologist Smith, Anderson, and Wildlife Conflict Specialist O’Connor have been working with a producer at Carnation Farms to fit elk with collars or solar ear tags to examine spatial movements both regarding crops and conflict. The general movements in the area are also examined and how that may change as the former game reserve (Carnation Farms) deploys techniques to deter the elk from their property and crops. A company that makes the solar ear tags has graciously donated a couple to test in the thick and dark western Washington. Luck would have it that a recent quick evening attempt led to successfully darting a bull. He is now bejeweled with an ear tag and is moving about the area – including WDFW Stillwater Wildlife Management Unit.
Conducting Business Operations and Policy
South Fork Tolt Relicensing: Biologist Anderson met with Federal Energy Regulatory Commission representatives, City of Seattle, and partners (non-government organizations, tribal, municipal, and other resource entities such as U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) in ongoing efforts to guide the relicensing needs of the South Fork Tolt Reservoir. Anderson also provided WDFW wildlife representation in a meeting regarding terrestrial wildlife. Anderson discussed local state listed (sensitive) common loon management needs. Anderson also discussed the possibility for data to be captured on the loon prey resource potential of the reservoir, as part of a larger fish population study of the reservoir. The South Fork Tolt Reservoir supplies drinking water to north King County and generates power. These planning meetings and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission process are related to the power generation management and use of the reservoir.