Managing Wildlife Populations
Ungulate Management: Biologists Butler and Tirhi represented District 11 at the annual Region 6 ungulate management meeting hosted by HQ Ungulate Section Manager Garrison and Black-tailed Deer/Elk specialist Oates. This is a new annual meeting designed for staff to discuss all aspects of deer and elk management, surveys, season setting, and data collection/analysis.
Snakes and Snake Fungal Disease (SFD): District 11 biologists Butler, Cheney and Tirhi and volunteer Terry continued to conduct snake collection work at JBLM, South Puget Sound Wildlife Area, and Scatter Creek Wildlife Area. The objective is to collect and swab as many garter snakes as possible for testing for Snake Fungal Disease (see previous Highlights report on this important and emerging work). To date, District staff have taken samples from 11 (JBLM) and 3 (Scatter Creek) garter snakes. Staff also mowed clearings and deployed snake cover boards at South Puget Sound Wildlife Area (35 boards) and Scatter Creek Wildlife Area (35 boards).
Mazama pocket gopher: Biologists Buter and Tirhi represented District 11 at a Mazama pocket gopher survey design work group organized by HQ Prairie Species Lead Rolls. WDFWs Prairie Ecologist Henry gave an overview of the science/mathematics behind WDFWs newest gopher density survey protocol, Rolls presented the aspects of conducting the WDFW survey, and USFWS gopher co-lead biologist Flotlin presented the USFWS screening protocol. Great group discussions allowed the participants to ask and answer important questions about all facets of gopher surveys. WDFW gopher surveys are conducted September-October of each year.
Union River Summer Chum: Wildlife Area Manager Laushman and Assistant Regional Program Manager Blankenship visited volunteers with the Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement group monitoring the Union River Summer Chum Trap located at the Union River Wildlife Area Unit in Belfair. As of August 26, volunteers had already passed 1,961 Summer Chum through the trap.
Mourning Doves: Biologist Cent wrapped up her annual trapping efforts for mourning doves. As mentioned in the previous report, the doves were late to arrive to the area this year, and so total banded birds were much lower than normal, with just 42 banded birds this year.
Beller’s Ground Beetles: Beller’s ground beetles are designated as a “species of greatest conservation need” in the state of Washington with a small number of known isolated populations. These beetles only live in sphagnum bogs. WDFW is hoping to expand the known range of these beetles by identifying new populations in the state. Biologist Cent began visiting potential sites to verify the presence (or absence) of sphagnum bogs. Surveys for beetles will hopefully begin next summer.
Conserving Natural Landscapes
South Sound Prairie Habitat and Species Conservation: Biologist Tirhi continues to meet monthly with HQ Prairie Protection Lead Frediani and Prairie Species Lead Rolls to further land protection for South Sound Prairies and listed prairie species. The three are currently working on internal WDFW Lands 2020 applications, which are required by the agency for staff to seek funds to purchase targeted conservation lands. Other work of the group involves targeting/discussing priority protection sites, deciding strategies for protection, and assigning duties to further protection with Frediani assuming the majority of this work as designed by her position.
Mowing: For the past few years, District 17 has rented a skid steer with a mowing attachment to tackle invasive blackberry and scotch broom on the district’s wildlife areas. This year, Biologist Novack has rented the skid steer for a month, and he and Biologist Cent have been transporting it around to the various wildlife areas in the district as well as the regional office in Montesano to mow.
Conducting Business Operations and Policy
Personnel Development Plan: Biologists Tirhi completed her annual evaluation and expectations PDP with Regional Wildlife Program Manager Calkins.
Other
North Olympic Site Visits: Lieutenant Rosenberger, Officer Hillman, and Wildlife Area Manager Laushman showed Regional Director Hall and Regional Admin Assistant Allen some of the North Olympic Wildlife Area Units, including Rat Island, Chimacum, Protection Island, as well as a tufted puffin and rhinoceros auklet!