Managing Wildlife Populations
District 8 Bighorn Sheep Lamb Surveys: District 8 Wildlife Biologist Wampole, Assistant District 8 Wildlife Biologist Moore, Ungulate Specialist Moore, and Assistant Ungulate Specialist Kyle commenced surveys of the Yakima Canyon and Cleman Mountain bighorn sheep populations to investigate lamb production of collared study ewes.
Waterfowl Banding Wrap-up: District 4 Wildlife Biologist Fidorra, with help from staff members and volunteer members, completed the 2024 banding season with approximately 450 ducks banded over 15 trapping events. This year was challenging as only one site was used, but there was a good number of mallards coming in. A seven-year-old mallard was recaptured that was banded onsite in 2018. Over 60 pintail (second most in 12 years) but only 12 wood ducks (least since 2016) were captured. Overall, it was a great season with no mortalities and several volunteer members enjoyed handling and learning about waterfowl up close for the first time!
State Wildlife Action Plan 2025 Underway: District 4 Wildlife Biologist Fidorra provided feedback and information regarding waterbirds and passerines. Biologists used this for updates to the Washington State Wildlife Action Plan and species to include for consideration as Species of Greatest Conservation Need. This work will be ongoing until the draft update is completed.
Wenas Wildlife Area – Elk Fence Repair: All Wenas Wildlife Area staff members have been repairing downed elk fence within the Black Canyon Fire that burned approximately 10,000 acres last August. Wenas staff members have been using 10ft T-Posts to help prop up the fence until a new fence can be installed.
Oak Creek Wildlife Area Elk Fence Repair: Oak Creek Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Charlet has been repairing elk fence that was damaged during the suppression activities of the Retreat Fire. Some elk fence was cut to put in dozer line, and a gate post was damaged.
L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Elk Fence: The L.T. Murray Wildlife Area crew repaired elk fence that elk have been jumping. New wire will be added soon to raise the fence back up to around 8’ high.
Providing Recreation Opportunities
Pheasant Releases for Youth Season: District 4 Wildlife Biologist Fidorra, Natural Resource Technician Pizzini, and Private Lands Biologist Manderbach released pheasants for the youth opener in Franklin County at three sites: Hope Valley, Lost Island, and Big Flat. The youth hunt weekend is followed by the 65 and Over hunt. These sites are great places to give new hunters and dogs some practice. District 8 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Wetzel also released pheasants at the Green Gate site in Kittitas County.
Wenas Wildlife Area – Manastash Ridge Trails Interpretive Sign: Wenas Wildlife Area Lands and Recreation Specialist Frame installed an interpretive sign (inspired by the Manastash Ridge Trails Committee) along the Westberg Trail in the Manastash Ridge Trail System. The sign gives info on the local plants and wildlife a user may encounter on the trails. The sign also discusses the importance of microbiotic crusts that inhabit the area and how sensitive they can be to damage.
Wenas Wildlife Area – Bull Pasture Green Dot Road Proposed Seasonal Closure: Wenas Wildlife Area Manager Gray and Lands and Recreation Specialist Frame worked together on submitting the proposed Bull Pasture Green Dot Road Seasonal Closure to be posted for public comment through State Enhancement Policy Act (SEPA). The proposal includes closing motorized use on approximately five miles of the green dot road from December 15th through May 1st on an annual, reoccurring basis. The restriction would not impact walk-in access recreation use such as hunting, hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking. The seasonal annual closure is being proposed to protect the condition of the road and previous roadwork completed this past spring and to protect the habitat during a sensitive time of the year from off road vehicle use that is seen often throughout this area. The SEPA process is open for public comment through September 23rd. Public input will continue to be taking into consideration in the development of the proposal.
Region 3 Private Lands Parking Areas: Region 3 Private Lands Biologist Manderbach and Natural Resource Technician Pizzini cleaned up more parking areas throughout the region. At Plymouth North, a third parking area was reopened closer to the southern end of the property. The landowners had closed it off a few years ago due to new construction but decided to reopen it this season. This will reduce the amount of walking to the southern end of the property by about a mile. A new registration box was placed at the Mabton-Bickleton Road property, and that parking area was mowed down.
Providing Conflict Prevention and Education
District 4 Rattlesnake Hills Elk Hazing: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand conducted hazing operations at several orchards and vineyards near Benton City and Whitstran after reports of increased elk activity. Acoustic alarms, LP gas cannons, and active hunting on damage permits are methods being used to reduce elk presence and minimize crop loss.
District 4 Kahlotus Deer Damage: Hand monitored winter wheat fields along the Snake River in Franklin County for deer damage and wheat planting success. Most fields have been seeded and are showing good “green-up”. No significant damage was observed.
District 4 Plymouth Deer Damage: Hand continued to haze problem deer and monitor deer activity and damage to a large wine grape operation along the Columbia River.
Kittitas County Conflict: District 8 Conflict Technician Leuck night hazed elk this month in the Park Creek, Poison Springs, and Badger Pocket areas. Water is turned off and crops are mostly harvested, however, elk will continue to enter attractive crop areas until better forage appears in upland areas.
Elk have been testing fences in parts of Kittitas County and some problems at a private ranch were reported.
Yakima County Conflict: Conflict Specialist Wetzel received calls from crop producers in Wiley City, Tampico, Cowiche, and along the Naches River about elk going into crop fields at night. Permits and seasons are underway in those areas to deter elk from using crop areas. Elk issues have markedly increased in Moxee, with elk mostly getting into standing corn.
District 8 Conflict - Deer Botfly: Several road strike deer have been recovered this month. All the deer struck on the road had severe infestations of botfly.
District 8 Pheasant release: Eighty-seven pheasants were released by Conflict Specialist Wetzel at the Green Gate for the youth pheasant opener.
District 8 Grouse Barrels: Grouse barrels were placed at Taneum and Coleman kiosks for the upcoming grouse season.
Oak Creek Wildlife Area Fire Restoration: Oak Creek Wildlife Area Manager Mackey has been working with Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) cultural resource staff members to organize cultural resource surveys before restoration work can begin. Mackey has also continued to help plan a field trip with the science community to assess impacts and forest treatment effectiveness post-fire.
Oak Creek Wildlife Area Retreat Fire Continued Efforts: Mackey continues efforts to coordinate permitting and support to the Yakima-Tieton Irrigation District to replace wildlife protection features on the canal that were damaged during the Retreat Fire.
Conserving Natural Landscapes
Solar and Wind Guidelines Internal Review: District 4 Wildlife Biologist Fidorra reviewed and provided comments on the draft WDFW Solar and Wind Guidelines. The guidelines provide information for developers and contractors regarding siting, wildlife surveys, and mitigation, and will be open to public comment in the future.
Windmill Ranch Milkweed Harvest: Sunnyside/Snake River Wildlife Area staff members, along with other WDFW District 4 staff members and volunteer members from the Benton and Franklin Conservation Districts, harvested showy milkweed seed from the Windmill Ranch Unit. The seeds were harvested to make seed balls that will be broadcast in areas where milkweed is less abundant, with the goal of expanding suitable habitat for the monarch butterfly across the Columbia Basin. Staff members also observed monarch caterpillars on the showy milkweed in the harvest area.
Sunnyside/Snake River Wetlands: Sunnyside/Snake River Wildlife Area staff members continue to mow wetlands in preparation for reflooding this fall.
Franklin County Habitat Project: Region 3 Private Lands Biologist Manderbach and Natural Resource Technician Pizzini met with a landowner in Connell and a resource conservationist from the Franklin Conservation District. The landowner is filling a pond with Columbia River project water as part of the Odessa Aquifer Transfer Project. There are existing habitat projects on the property and space for many more. Using Voluntary Stewardship Program (VSP) funding from the conservation district, a significant number of native shrubs, grasses, and forbs will be planted this fall. The Region 3 private lands team will provide equipment and boots on the ground to help install this project.
L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Cole Creek Bridge: The L.T. Murray Wildlife Area crew members continue to monitor the Yakima River Unit’s collapsed Cole Creek bridge for vehicles driving around the bridge through the creek. Vehicles are again using the bridge in spite of the obvious hazard.
Providing Education and Outreach
Colockum Elk Conflict Presentation: District 8 Wildlife Biologist Wampole presented to the Kittitas County Field and Stream Club in Ellensburg on current human-elk conflict in Kittitas County.
Conducting Business Operations and Policy
SB 5782 Meeting: District 8 Wildlife staff members and Region 3 regional management staff members met with local landowners and political representatives to discuss planned actions of SB 5782. The senate bill was established to provide resources to better understand impacts of elk on agricultural lands in Kittitas County and help inform management actions.
Other
L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Whiskey Dick Unit: Cayuse Creek experienced a heavy water event which washed trenches in the Cayuse and Jacknife Ridge roads. With Washington State Parks closing the south end of the Jacknife Ridge Rd, this should be a low impact on hunter access to the area. However, it will definitely add to the current hazards of utilizing the area's unimproved green dot roads.
