Managing Wildlife Populations
District 8 Wolf Monitoring- District 8 Wildlife Biologist Wampole and Scientific Technician Ogburn deployed remote trail cameras to monitor for over winter wolf activity in the district.
Wenas Wildlife Area – Ellensburg Pass Road Stock Fence Completion: Wenas Wildlife Area Natural Resource Technicians Stoltenow and Janes completed the installation of a stock fence along the Ellensburg Pass Road, including a new drive through and walk through gate.
Wenas Wildlife Area – Elk Fence Checks: Wenas Wildlife Area staff members have begun checking for and fixing any problems with the elk fence in preparation for the winter season. A large portion of the fence has been checked, with the remaining to be done soon.
Wenas Wildlife Area – Shrub Planting: Wenas Wildlife Area staff members planted native shrubs in a portion of the wildlife area impacted by the Black Canyon Fire. Sagebrush and Bitterbrush were the majority of what was planted, but there were various other species planted as well.
Oak Creek Wildlife Area Elk Fence Repairs: Oak Creek Wildlife Area Natural Resource Worker Floyd continues to replace and repair elk fencing along the Hwy 12 corridor that was impacted by the Retreat Fire. During the November 7 Naches High School Day of Service, 28 students helped wildlife area staff members move new fence posts to hard to access areas along the damaged fence. Students also aided in removing burnt or damaged posts and placement of new fence posts on the fence line.
Oak Creek Wildlife Area Elk Fence Check: Oak Creek Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Charlet has begun checking for and fixing problems with existing elk fence. Multiple holes and down fences have been fixed and checks will continue through the next couple weeks in anticipation of the coming winter season.
District 4 White Pelican Population Update: District 4 Biologists Fidorra and Hoffman completed photo counts of American white pelicans breeding at the Badger Island Colony. Photos were taken in May at peak of breeding season. The number of adults at the colony was 3,558. Some researchers apply a 1.5x multiplier to pelican colonies to account for birds away from the colony during photos, which would bring the 2024 Badger Island Colony, the only colony in Washington, to 5,337 adults.
Providing Recreation Opportunities
District 4 Pheasant Release: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand released pheasants at Hope Valley.
District 8 Pheasant Releases: District 8 Wildlife Biologist, volunteer members, and L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Manager Morrison released pheasants at the Green Gate entrance to the Whiskey Dick Wildlife Area.
Providing Conflict Prevention and Education
District 4 Rattlesnake Hills Elk: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand continued to monitor elk activity on private lands and the Hanford Reach National Monument. Hunting pressure during the last couple days of elk season continued to be above average with several elk harvested.
District 4 Colockum Elk near Boylston: District 8 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Wetzel continues to monitor elk activity near I-90 and Boylston. Elk can be seen at times near the highway and are actively being monitored to prevent crossing.
District 4 Kahlotus Deer Damage: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand patrolled multiple winter wheat fields in eastern Franklin County for deer activity. Hunting activity with general season late hunts and special permit opportunities were discussed with landowners to pressure deer away from crop areas.
District 4 Possible Cougar Depredation in Benton City: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Officer Tusing responded to a call of a possible cougar depredation in the Benton City area near the Yakima River. Two three-month-old calves were reported killed two to three days earlier. One calf had been heavily scavenged on by coyotes and birds, but a necropsy was conducted on the second. No evidence of cougar attack was observed. The rancher was appreciative and receptive to our response and findings.
Conserving Natural Landscapes
L.T Murray Wildlife Area - PCT Forestry Projects: State foresters and their contractor have wrapped up a successful two-phase thinning project along Hutchins Road on the L.T. Murray Wildlife Area to increase forest resiliency and improve wildlife habitat.
L.T Murray Wildlife Area Shrubsteppe restoration: L.T. Murray Wildlife Area staff members, cultural resource contractors, and enthusiastic volunteer members have been diligently continuing the shrubsteppe restoration post-fire in the Pumphouse Road entrance area of the Whiskey Dick Unit of the L.T. Murray Wildlife Area. Planting this season will end with one more volunteer event on November 23, 2024, resulting in 3,750 shrubsteppe shrub species planted.
