Managing Wildlife Populations
Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD): Private Lands Biologist Nizer helped with taking out a CWD sample from a moose that was road killed in the Garfield area.
Columbia Basin Mule Deer: Biologists Lowe and Brinkman conducted four ground-based mule deer surveys in Lincoln and Whitman counties. Ground surveys are also conducted in Districts 4, 5, and 7, and are used to estimate post-season herd composition (i.e., fawn:doe and buck:doe ratios) for three subherds across the Columbia Basin. This year, aerial surveys are also being conducted for the Benge subherd in parts of Whitman, Franklin, and Adams counties. Aerial surveys were hindered by heavy fog the entire week, and Biologists Brinkman and Fidorra were able to fly only one half-day survey. Ground surveys will continue next week and attempts at aerial surveys for the next two weeks.
Great Horned Owl: Wildlife Area Manager Dingman and Officer Maletzke responded to a report of a possibly injured great horned owl in Turner. The landowner said the owl had been on the ground overnight and was not moving much. The owl was located and upon approach the owl stood up and soared down the hill into some poplar trees where it landed before flying across the field into a larger tree. The landowner will contact Dingman if the owl is found on the ground again and appears in distress.
Tucannon Bighorn Sheep: Dingman located the Tucannon bighorn sheep herd, and all 19 sheep are back together, with all six lambs from this year still alive.
Winter gate closures: Acting Sherman Creek Wildlife Area Manager Daro Palmer found the winter vehicle restriction gate on Trout Lake Road damaged on Monday, December 9. The gates, which close roads for ungulate protection from vehicular disturbance while on winter range, had only been closed for a week. Someone had obviously tried to pull the latch side of the gate out of the ground. Though unsuccessful, the gate had to be repaired. Palmer returned later that day with an excavator to reset the latch post and straighten the gate arm as much as possible to return the gate to operation. The winter sign was replaced later in the week.
Ferruginous Hawk: Natural Resource Technician Tritt assisted Assistant District Biologist Vekasy in removing a ferruginous hawk nesting platform on private land where a wind farm will be constructed in the future.
Providing Recreation Opportunities
Access Contracts: Private Lands Biologist Thorne Hadley contacted landowners in Columbia and Walla Walla counties to follow up with access contracts and to obtain signatures on new or renewing access contracts. Private Lands Biologist Thorne Hadley forwarded signed contracts to a contracts specialist in Olympia for review and approval.
Pheasant Mentored Clinic: Private Lands Biologist Nizer helped put on a mentored pheasant hunting clinic for the Saint John area for Saturday the 14th. Nizer worked with Pheasant Forever (PF) Spokane Chapter, R3 Coordinator Riordan, and Hunter Ed Specialist Garcia to accomplish the event. Nizer led 10 mentors and 18 mentees to hunt by reservation properties that were reserved for the event. Each property was well suited for the event and Nizer worked with PF and other volunteers to release 80 pheasants between the six properties. Overall, the event was a success, and multiple hunters limited out or harvested their first pheasants.
Hunter calls: Private Lands Biologist Heitstuman responded to requests from hunters across the state about access to private lands for hunting opportunities. Heitstuman requested a contract change for a landowner who had sold some property and wanted it removed from the Access Program. Heitstuman began a list of priorities and projects in anticipation of hiring a Natural Resource Technician in training. Heitstuman continued the review of access contracts needing updates or renewals.
Region South Access Program: Heimgartner and Nielsen used the wildlife area mini-excavator and a dump trailer to clean out fallen rocks at the recreational parking area near the mouth of Charley Creek. The rocks and gravel have been sliding down the hill and are accumulating against eco-blocks bordering the parking area. It was getting to the point where slide offs were going over the top of the blocks. Nielsen also serviced access sites at Heller Bar and the upper and lower Grande Ronde on Thursday.
Providing Conflict Prevention and Education
Spokane Moose: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Harris responded to a report of two moose in close proximity to a Spokane grade school. Harris, with assistance from local law enforcement, monitored the cow and calf moose to ensure that students could safely leave the school during pickup time. The moose eventually moved away from the school on their own, and hazing efforts were not needed.
Elk Damage: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Kolb conducted hazing and herding efforts on herds of elk in Walla Walla County causing commercial crop and haystack damage. Multiple groups of elk were present, ranging from 10-15 elk to groups of more than 300 elk. Kolb successfully moved the elk off commercial crop fields and onto the foothills of the Blue Mountains (non-agriculture ground). A special muzzleloader hunting season starts next week in the area the elk are currently concentrated in and will assist with limiting on-going damage. The lack of public lands and the Oregon border complicates where and how far hazed the elk can be herded.
Walla Walla Turkeys: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Kolb continues to work on a winter trapping plan for turkeys in and around the City of Walla Walla.
Cougar Sighting: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Samsill spoke to a Stevens County resident that saw two cougars next to her home over the weekend. Samsill advised the resident on how to avoid cougar conflicts. The resident believed the cougar(s) killed one of her barn cats recently. Officer King also spoke to the resident and completed a report.
Turkey Hazing: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Harris hazed a solitary turkey hen away from a business complex twice. The hen appears to be drawn to the area because of multiple large windows on the building that it can see its reflection in. It has also been causing damage to the vehicles in the parking lot by jumping onto them. Harris provided staff members with suggestions for minimizing future turkey interactions.
Elk Fence: Natural Resource Technician Tritt walked the last section of elk fence that needed checked this fall. No holes were found, and 60 elk were observed on the correct side of the elk fence.
Conserving Natural Landscapes
Habitat Planning: Private Lands Biologist Nizer started planning for Spring 2025 habitat planting season. Nizer has funding aligned for one project and plans to secure other sources of funding.
Forest Habitat Management: Acting Sherman Creek Wildlife Area Manager Palmer spent time at LeClerc Creek Wildlife Area cutting more undesirable lodgepole pines, focusing on a previously thinned area on the half section unit. Ultimately, he cleared 10 acres this week. Removing this species is annual, on-going work.
Noxious Weed Control: Wildlife Area Manager Dingman submitted the Project Completion Reports for 2023 and 2024 to Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation for the grant funds WDFW had been awarded. She renewed all the staff members pesticide applicator licenses for 2025. Dingman worked with Dave Heimer to try to figure out why the Chemical Control app in Survey123 is not letting her submit spray records. Dingman attended the North American Invasive Species Management Association’s virtual Annual Biocontrol Summit.
Tree removal: Natural Resource Technician Edmondson, Natural Resource Technician Keeling, and Wildlife Conflict Specialist Samsill assisted with the removal of lodgepole pine saplings from the West Branch Le Clerc Creek Wildlife Area. This was done to encourage regeneration of Douglas-fir, ponderosa pine, and white pine.
4-O Ranch Wildlife Area Event Updates: Wildlife Area Manager Dice looked at ongoing logging operations taking place on the 4-O Ranch Wildlife Area. Colder temperatures would help operations with firming up soils and reducing mud. Active logging is taking place near the old Reynolds place. Also, Dice is having discussions with agency foresters regarding restoration plans on the other side of the wildlife area at Mountain View. Clearwater Power crews were at the wildlife area on Thursday trying to figure out how they are going to replace burned power poles leading from Grande Ronde River Road to the McNeil buildings. Replacing and repairing the lines is going to be very expensive for Clearwater Power. Lastly, Dice had a conversation with Department of Natural Resources Fire Investigator Long on status of the investigation on how the Cougar Creek fire started. Long anticipates issuing his report sometime in the middle of January 2025.
Revere Wildlife Area Pheasant Forever Meeting: This week Pheasant Forever Manager Lewis met with Spokane Chapter Pheasant Forever Gruenke, Wildlife Area Manager Finch, Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Wagner, and Natural Resource Technician Duclos to look over the entire project for restoration needs so possible grants can be looked at for funding in the future. The hay fields were looked at and Finch explained some of the challenges with keeping those fields in hay production with the condition of the fields and the conditions of the irrigation equipment. The group then traveled the interior to look at the work that was completed on the ongoing wetland restoration project and then to the back side of the project to look at future shrub planting project and field restoration. All the ideas that were discussed will need funding to complete.
Revere Shrub Plot Project: This week Finch and Swanson Lakes staff members met with Pheasant Forever members to look at the proposed sites for the three shrub plots that will be planted in early April of 2025. There will be three different shrub plantings in areas of the Revere Wildlife Area that had shrubs damaged from the 2020 Wagner Road Fire. The Swanson Lakes staff members and Pheasant Forever prioritized the locations of the proposed shrub plots based on key locations for wildlife. All the shrubs that will be planted will be fire resilient shrubs. Finch has already worked with WDFW Cultural staff members to clear the areas where the shrub planting will be located. Wagner has created a volunteer signup for this upcoming project. The shrubs had to be ordered a few months ago and several of the materials have already been purchased and delivered.
Providing Education and Outreach
Hunt by Written Permission (HBWP): Natural Resource Technician Edmondson spoke with a landowner about the HBWP program and answering questions regarding Damage Prevention Cooperative Agreement (DPCA).
Safety Bulletin Board: This week Finch received the cork bulletin board that was ordered to hang in the Swanson Lakes Wildlife Area Office to post emergency contacts, worker’s rights, excavation routes and recent safety meeting minutes. The board is placed in a location that is accessible to visitors coming into the office for information. The board will continually be updated over time.
Other
Equipment Maintenance: This week Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Wagner and Natural Resource Technician Duclos pulled the bottom pan off the UTV to clean out all weed seeds.