Managing Wildlife Populations
Deer Surveys: Private Lands Biologist Nizer, along with Technicians Nance and Rumiser, completed the second round of deer surveys in Whitman County on Sept 17th and 19th. These surveys help wildlife managers by gaining a better understanding of the composition of the deer herd in Whitman County including buck-to-doe and doe-to-fawn ratios, along with understanding the buck quality on the landscape.
Sharp-tailed Grouse GPS Collar Recovery: Wildlife Area Manager Finch and Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Wagner went to private property north of Creston to recover a Sharp-tailed Grouse GPS collar that quit moving. Finch and Wagner did locate the collar within 5 feet of the last reported location. It appeared to have been predated on by a coyote. The next morning Finch and Wagner took a UTV to a different private property owner north of Creston just above the breaks of the Columbia River. This Sharp-tailed Grouse appeared to be moving, so staff members were looking for that grouse in company with other grouse. Finch and Wager walked for almost two hours looking for signs of grouse activity with no luck. It is possible for them to go back next week to check again.
Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD): Wildlife Area Manager Dingman took the leftover flyers from the fair booths to the Last Resort. She organized for the CWD trailer to be returned to Spokane next week by Region 1 Safety Officer Moynahan. Dingman organized for an 11-yard dumpster to be placed at the Last Resort Campground during the general deer season for the public to dispose of the bones, hides, and animal parts that cannot leave Region 1.
Bog Lemming Surveys: Wildlife Biologists Prince and Johnson conducted surveys this week for bog lemmings at two locations in District 1. Surveys include kneeling down, parting grass, and looking for tiny green rodent scat. The scat is then analyzed to species for DNA confirmation.
Chronic Wasting Disease: Acting Private Lands Biologist Heitstuman relayed calls from the Washington Department of Transportation regarding roadkill to employees closet to the collection sites. Heitstuman met with local Washington State Department of Transportation Supervisors to secure the Clemans Site to use this fall on a short-term basis at no charge.
Final Deer Survey: This week Finch and Wagner went on their last deer survey of the season running the same route but this time in reverse to check out the same areas at different times. This week the count was over 180 deer over a 78-mile route. There were a handful of white-tailed deer, but primarily mule deer.
Deer: Biologists Lowe and Brinkman continued to conduct preseason road-based surveys in GMUs 124, 130, and 139 to collect deer herd composition data. The areas surveyed in September are similar to those in August but focused on collection of fawn-to-doe ratios to estimate fawn production.
Providing Recreation Opportunities
Hunter Access: Private Lands Supervisor Baarstad replaced signs on two Feel Free to Hunt properties totaling approximately 4,000 acres of hunting access in the Wilbur and Creston areas of Lincoln County. Baarstad met with Private Lands Biologist Braaten to pick up supplies needed for hunting access. Baarstad took five calls this week from landowners needing enforcement assistance and hunters with questions about a variety of hunting opportunity around the region. Baarstad and regional private lands staff members completed the hunter access information for the status and trend report and sent it to Private Lands Section Manger McCanna.
Mentored Pheasant Hunt Clinic: Private Lands Biologist Nizer worked with Hunter Ed Coordinator Garcia to setup a mentored first pheasant hunting clinic on December 14th. Nizer was able to secure 60 to 80 pheasants for the clinic and kept certain properties off the reservation calendar so they will be available to the clinic. Nizer will coordinate where hunters can stay overnight for the clinic.
Americans with Disabilities (ADA) Duck Blind: Private Lands Biologist Nizer met with the Inland Northwest Wildlife Council ADA Committee to install an ADA duck blind. The installation took about three hours and was installed on a hunt by reservation property.
Pelt seals/harvest inspections: Biologist Brinkman met with a hunter to inspect and seal a cougar taken in GMU 117 this week. Brinkman also inspected a mountain goat harvested by a youth hunter in Goat Rocks West. Biologist Lowe assisted a hunter with removing a tooth from a harvested bear.
Providing Conflict Prevention and Education
Bull Elk Stuck in Elk Fence: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Wade responded to an afterhours report of a bull elk that had become entangled in an elk fence in the Bakers Pond area of Garfield County. Wade coordinated with the property owner to identify where the elk was located and to determine the best way to access the area. Wade and Sargent Mossman responded to the location and determined that the bull would need to be chemically immobilized to free it from the fence wire. Officer Mosman and Wildlife Conflict Specialist Wade, with the assistance with the property owner, were able to free the bull from its predicament.
Deer Removal: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Harris and Sergeant Leonetti responded to a report of a deer covered in papillomas (warts) in Spokane. Although they do not typically impact the animal's health, this deer had several papillomas covering its eyes, causing it to be partially blind. Staff members determined that humane euthanasia was necessary. The carcass was removed for proper disposal after a CWD sample was collected.
Injured Moose: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) staff members responded to a report of an injured cow moose on Eastern Washington University’s campus. After a wildlife veterinarian assessed the animal’s injuries, staff members determined that euthanasia was necessary due to the severity of the injuries.
“Injured” Crow: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Harris and Wildlife Biologist Brinkman responded to a report of an injured crow at a Spokane elementary school. Staff members reported that they observed the crow hoping around the playground and coming up to some of the students. After observing the crow fly, Brinkman and Harris determined that the crow was not actually injured, but instead habituated to people.
Wildlife Conflict: Private Lands Biologist Nizer and Natural Resource Technician Nance responded to a moose conflict after calls from members of the public that were concerned about their safety. Nizer and Nance located three moose, (a cow, calf, and bull) that showed no fear of humans in a creek directly behind a row of homes. Nizer and Nance were able to haze the three moose from behind the homes and down the creek.
Conserving Natural Landscapes
Habitat Improvement: Natural Resource Technicians Nance and Rumiser disced a field on private land which will be seeded to improve wildlife habitat.
Aeration Repair: This week Wildlife Area Manager Finch and Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Wagner worked on the aeration system, calling private contractor and aeration designer Wiley from the site to help troubleshoot the computer error that is preventing it from turning on. After testing and checking voltage it was determined by Private Contractor Wiley that more than likely the air compressor is froze up. Wagner pulled the compressor out of the box so it can be taken for repairs. Also, Private Contractor Wiley gave a contact number for the company that makes the compressor. Finch has been in contact with this company and will be working with their service department to come up repair or replacement for the compressor motor. Wildlife Area staff members also found out other maintenance tips that will help the compressor extend its life with regular service and maintenance.
Providing Education and Outreach
Hunter Education: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Kolb assisted with a traditional hunter education class in Waitsburg. Sixteen students passed and were certified as hunter education graduates.
Water Festival: This annual event, coordinated by the Lake Roosevelt Forum, brings several area elementary school classes to the Sherman Creek Hatchery, adjacent to Sherman Creek Wildlife Area, and the National Park Service marina at Kettle Falls. This year on September 17th and 18th, Sherman Creek Wildlife Area Natural Resource Technician Graves and Wildlife Area Manager Anderson hosted their customary station, titled “Who’s For Dinner,” at the hatchery. Visiting classes learned about upland predators and prey in northeast Washington, and how you can tell one from another by their physical features. The kids got to handle skulls, antlers, and pelts.
Washington State University Wildlife Techniques Lab: Conflict and Private Lands staff members from Region 1 assisted with the teaching of various techniques used to trap wildlife. Two different days were spent demonstrating some of the equipment utilized to deal with nuisance wildlife. Students assisted with setting up and deploying a 40- foot by 60-foot rocket net as well as shooting a net gun at a decoy.
Camp Wooten Group: Wildlife Area Manager Dingman and Natural Resource Technician Moberg spent Thursday teaching 6th graders at Camp Wooten ELC. Dingman and Moberg took hides, skulls, and antlers to the camp and talked about predators and prey. The talk went well and most of the students were very engaged.
Conducting Business Operations and Policy
Drone Modification: The last few weeks Wildlife Area Manager Finch has been doing some research on what can be done to prevent bird attacks on drones. After doing plenty of research, Finch found that with the use of high red reflective tape, red propellers, and strobe lights, the chances of bird attacking went down considerably. The bird of prey now sees the drone as something outside of nature and will mostly likely stay away. Finch has lost one drone by a Red-tailed hawk and has had several episodes where birds of prey go after the drone in flight. Reflective tape, colored propellers and strobe lights are cheap insurance for the cost of the drone. The strobes lights are just another added safety feature as well.