Managing Wildlife Populations
District 8 Mountain Goat Surveys: District 8 Wildlife Biologist Wampole conducted aerial surveys for mountain goats in the Kachess Ridge historic hunt unit in Kittitas County. Eight mountain goats were detected and indicate continued declines since the last survey in 2005 of 36 goats.
District 4 Rattlesnake Elk Ecological Damage Visit: District 4 Wildlife Biologist Fidorra met with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and Yakama Nation staff members to discuss elk damage and hunt logistics related to the Rattlesnake Unit of the Hanford Reach National Monument. The elk population is estimated at over 2,500 animals causing increased damage to private crops, fragile vegetation, and cultural sites, and vehicle collisions. Partners continue to seek workable solutions for population control.
Burrowing Owl Mitigation Project: District 4 Wildlife Biologist Fidorra completed an initial review of a project that installed artificial burrows as mitigation for impacts to burrowing owl habitat near Pasco, WA in 2024. The artificial burrows were used by four breeding pairs, of which three were successful nests. The project indicated the importance of pre-construction surveys and species-specific mitigation actions. The project has the potential to result in a net increase in breeding habitat for burrowing owls on-site, but a final review will require time to determine longer-term occupancy and survival of owls following land conversion.
MOTUS Tower Partnerships: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) was a recipient of competitive State Wildlife Grant to install MOTUS towers and monitor movements of species including bats, monarch butterflies, purple martins, and other species. District 4 Wildlife Biologist Fidorra reached out to partners to identify multiple sites in the region that are willing to be considered to MOTUS tower placement and has received a lot of positive interest in the project.
Wenas Wildlife Area – Elk Fence Repair: Wenas Wildlife Area staff members repaired elk fence in multiple places across the wildlife area. A portion of fence was fixed near the main wildlife area office where a tree had fallen across the fence; and near Huntzinger Road a breakaway that had fallen away from the posts was put back up.
Providing Recreation Opportunities
Sunnyside/Snake River Wildlife Area - Hunting Preparation: Sunnyside/Snake River Wildlife Area staff members have been busy as they continue preparing wetlands in the Sunnyside, Bailie, Windmill Ranch, and Mesa Lake units for the upcoming hunting season. Assistant Manager Ferguson and Natural Resource Technician Cardenas have mowed most of the paths for hunters to enjoy upland bird hunting on the west and east sides of the huntable lands on the Sunnyside Unit. Additionally, the pair have begun filling the Rice Paddies and Johnson Wetland Area of the unit for waterfowl hunting. The wetlands are nearly filled now, and waterfowl are showing up in small numbers. Manager Kaelber, Assistant Manager Jahns, and Natural Resource Technician Pizzini have been using the Marsh Master to clear in front of hunting blinds in the east side units, as well as create more open water habitat for waterfowl. Staff members are enjoying the beautiful fall weather and opportunities to view migrating wildlife!
Providing Conflict Prevention and Education
District 4 Rattlesnake Hills Elk: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand continued to monitor winter wheat crop seeding success and elk activity. Damage permit and Master Hunter hunts were coordinated with permit holders and landowners.
District 4 Blackrock LHP: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand met with the manager of Blackrock Ranches to discuss additional hunting opportunities for elk. All the state drawn permits have been filled and a request was made to include additional damage permits to address continued elk activity in unharvested corn crops. Damage prevention permits were issued and delivered.
District 4 Deer Damage: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand prepared and delivered damage permits to a producer along the Columbia River dealing with deer damage in a variety of row crop, tree fruit, and winegrape areas. Additionally, several youth deer permit holders were deployed to the farm to provide a hunting opportunity.
District 4 Kennewick Alpaca Injury: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand responded to a call in Kennewick of an injured alpaca who the owner thought could have been attacked by a wolf or coyote. The alpaca had a small (softball size) wound on its abdomen that could not be confirmed as an attempted depredation. No evidence of wolf or coyote presence was found. The animal was treated for its injury. The alpaca, along with other goats, sheep, pigs, chickens, and rabbits, will be brought into shelters at night. Camera surveillance will be initiated as well.
Conserving Natural Landscapes
Wenas Wildlife Area – Pass Road Stock Fence Install: Wenas Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Taylor and Natural Resource Technicians Janes and Stoltenow installed new fence posts along the Ellensburg Pass Road where a stock fence is damaged and down from the Cow Canyon fire. Janes and Stoltenow will complete the installation of the fence and remove the old fence when weather permits.
Wenas Wildlife Area – Knapweed Control: Wenas Wildlife Area Natural Resource Technicians Janes and Stoltenow continued to spray for knapweed in the wildlife area, focusing on the newly acquired property east of Hardy Canyon Road.
South Ridge Road Habitat Maintenance: Region 3 Private Lands Biologist Manderbach and Natural Resource Technician Pizzini checked on a shrub planting on the South Ridge Road in south Yakima County. The bulk of the planting was a Mule Deer Foundation project from years ago, but it was added to in spring of 2023. The older golden currants and wax currants have been browsed on and rubbed on by deer and pronghorn, and the sagebrush, bitterbrush, and Wood’s rose that were planted more recently are still growing and thriving. The tarp was cleared off from debris and invasives weeds were pulled from the shrub holes. All plants were given water, and plans on extending the habitat project were talked about for this fall and upcoming spring.
Sunnyside/Snake River Wildlife Area Cleanup: Sunnyside/Snake River Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Ferguson and Natural Resource Technician Cardenas have been doing fall cleanup around the wildlife area including picking up garbage and dumped tires in parking lots and along roadsides.
Providing Education and Outreach
Wenas Wildlife Area – Signs: Wenas Wildlife Area staff members replaced safety zone signs around the main wildlife area office and purchased materials for and installed signs at the new Durr Rd shooting range.
L.T. Murray Wildlife Area - Frost Meadows: L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Manager Morrison met with Yakama Fisheries crew members at the upper L.T. Murray unit, Frost Meadows. The crew was removing a fallen bridge that was being used by some to access no vehicle area with ORVs.
L.T. Murray Wildlife Area - Whiskey Dick Planting: L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Natural Resource Technician Blore accepted delivery of shrub plugs that will be planted through late October and November. The L.T. Murray crew is waiting on two permits that will allow for planting several thousand plugs and seven acres of grass at three sites this fall. Two sites are in the 2022 Vantage Fire footprint and the 3rd site is the Ragland field that has been fallow for three summers.
L.T. Murray Wildlife Area - Shoestring Trail: L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Natural Resource Specialist Nass took Habitat Biologist Schaffer to the upper L.T. Murray unit, Shoestring trail, to evaluate areas in need of maintenance, rehabilitation, or abandonment.
Other
Wenas Wildlife Area – Hay Tarping: Wenas Wildlife Area staff members finished covering hay, delivered over the last two weeks, that will be stored at the Mellotte office for elk feeding this winter.
L.T. Murray Wildlife Area - Springwood: L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Manager Morrison and Assistant Manager Winegeart met with a TLP representative and toured access points for areas of the Springwood property that WDFW will share management of once the land transfer is finalized.