Biweekly report Nov16-30 2024 - Region 2 (North Central)

Managing Wildlife Populations

Bighorn Sheep Surveys: Biologists Jeffreys and Eilers completed ground surveys for both the Swakane and Chelan Butte bighorn sheep herds. Ground surveys consist of biologists driving to pre-determined observation points on either side of the Columbia River and glassing for sheep using scopes and binoculars. Once a sheep or group of sheep is located, the biologist records a waypoint as well as the number of sheep in the group. Whenever possible, the biologist identifies sex and approximate age for each sheep in the group. These ground surveys can be used to obtain a minimum count for the herd but are more reliably used to assess herd composition as limited visibility from the road can mean that a significant number of sheep are missed during driving surveys. The most important metrics derived from ground surveys are ram to ewe and lamb to ewe ratios, but biologists also look at age structure of males within the population. These surveys are also useful for gaining a broad overview of each herd’s fall distribution across its home range, at least in so far as these areas are observable from the ground. 

The driving route ground surveys Biologists Eilers and Jeffreys performed in late November follow ground surveys performed by Chelan Wildlife Area Manager Amy Pavelchek and her team in the first half of November. This means that both the Swakane and Chelan Butte sheep herds were surveyed via driving route twice in the 2024 post-hunt season. Biologists reviewed minimum counts and sex and age data from each survey and estimated the following values for each herd, based exclusively on 2024 ground surveys.

The minimum count of 128 sheep for the Chelan Butte herd is encouraging as this represents the highest count for this herd obtained via either ground or aerial survey in five years. Biologists believe this number is very close to the true herd size for Chelan Butte. The very high ram to ewe ratio is typical for this herd, and the lamb to ewe ratio looks great. In contrast, the Swakane herd is likely closer to 180 to 200 individuals based on the last several years of survey data, and it is likely surveyors missed mostly ram groups as the low ram to ewe ratio presented here is not at all typical for this herd, which in recent years has averaged about 1 to 1 rams to ewes. Biologists will be performing aerial surveys for both the Swakane and Chelan Butte bighorn sheep herds in December (as well as the Manson herd on the north shore of Lake Chelan), so it will be very interesting to see how minimum counts and ratios derived from flights compare to the numbers obtained via ground surveys. 

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Waterfowl Habitat and Access Program: Biologists Cook and Morris, and Technician Blanchard completed contracts and posted 11 new properties specifically for upland and waterfowl field hunting opportunities. They all opened Thanksgiving week and are Hunt by Reservation but allow Register to Hunt after 8:30 a.m. to allow for greater hunting opportunities. The properties are grouped but spread out through southern Grant County, three near Mattawa, four near Stratford, and four near Quincy and Ephrata. Most of these fields are corn stubble.

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Depredation Permits Issued: Specialist Heilhecker re-issued antlerless elk kill and damage permits for several landowners. Landowners did not use their original permits that were issued prior to the elk general hunting season. With the close of the hunting season, landowners requested new landowner kill and damage permits. All the permits were issued for GMU 204.

Specialist Heilhecker renewed a damage prevention cooperative agreement for a landowner experiencing elk damage in GMU 204. She issued a kill permit. 

Responding to Racoon Report: Specialist Heilhecker received a call regarding a raccoon in a tree. The reporting party was calling on behalf of another individual. The individual believed the raccoon was stuck in the tree because she had not seen it come down in four days. Specialist Heilhecker provided some options to encourage the raccoon to move. It is likely the raccoon had been coming down after dark. 

Wildlife Conflict Mitigation: Specialist Heilhecker received a call from a legislative staff member who wanted contact information for a wildlife conflict specialist in the Yakima area. The caller was reaching out on behalf of a constituent experiencing a problem with geese. Specialist Heilhecker gave the caller the number of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Wildlife Services in Mose Lake since geese are a migratory bird and handled by USDA Wildlife Services. She also gave the caller the contact information for the wildlife conflict specialist in case WDFW staff members were familiar with the situation.

Wolf Pack Information Request: Specialist Heilhecker replied to an information request from the Methow Ranger District regarding the Chewuch and Loup Loup packs. United States Forest Service (USFS) staff members are working on biological assessments and need updated information regarding the two packs.

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Sagebrush Restoration Project: Private Lands Biologists Cook and Braaten, and Private Lands Habitat Technician Blanchard helped Private Lands Biologist Morris plant 2,000 sagebrush plugs using the Region 2 south Private Lands tractor and tree/shrub planter. Shrubs were planted on a previously burned area to aid in recovering shrubsteppe. A previous Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit enclosure is on site and currently used enclosures are on neighboring properties. An additional 240 shrubs of varying species were planted in a low-lying draw to help additional species establish.

Upland Bird Habitat Restoration: Private Lands Biologist Cook, Private Lands Habitat Technician Blanchard, and Water Access Technician Wilson planted 140 potted shrubs in four rows on a three-and-a-half-acre circle corner east of Moses Lake. Three rows were planted about three years ago on the opposite edge with Great Plains native warm season grasses throughout the plot. The newly planted shrubs will give another row of cover and food for upland birds, beneficial insects, and other native wildlife. This plot is supplementally irrigated to aid the grasses and shrubs. However, the species used are drought tolerant and can survive for some time without irrigation. Shrubs were planted using Private Lands hand-held augers and Water Access mini track loader with a mounted auger attachment for the larger pots.

Other

Range Rider Coordination: Specialist Heilhecker coordinated livestock monitoring activities with a contracted range rider. The contracted range rider helped producers round-up and look for livestock as they are moved to private land.

Interview Panel Participation: Specialist Heilhecker participated in an interview panel to select a candidate for the Methow Wildlife Area assistant manager position. 

Training: Specialist Heilhecker attended Personal Safety Training II in Ellensburg and completed Washington State Small Purchasing online training. 

Damage Prevention Cooperative Agreement: Specialist Heilhecker completed cost-share payment paperwork for a livestock producer with a damage prevention cooperative agreement. She submitted the paperwork to the wildlife conflict program. 

Range Rider Support: Specialist Heilhecker completed and submitted payment paperwork for a contracted range rider.

Public Disclosure Request: Specialist Heilhecker, Bridges and Supervisor Rickel all completed a public disclosure request.