Managing Wildlife Populations
L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Elk Feeding: L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Natural Resource Technician Blore and Natural Resource Specialist Nass have been busy plowing the Joe Watt and Robinson Canyon feedlots. Despite early season road clearing at Robinson, it has been too icy to get up the road and the snow too deep to access it. Many hours have also been spent clearing snow, ice, and tarps to get to the hay.
There have been several sightings of a (likely resident) golden eagle at the Robinson site where the elk have been bedding down along the lower road.
There was one cow mortality on Jan. 15 on the lower Robinson Rd in the path of the feed truck. A lethargic cow of poor health and body condition was sighted the previous day near that location. District Wildlife Biologist Wampole sampled the mortality for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD).
L.T. Murray Wildlife Area – Winter Closure Signs: L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Manager Morrison and Assistant Manager Winegeart used snowmobiles to check signs on the south side to the wildlife area’s winter elk closure area. There is currently not much snow at the feed site but up the hill there were 2.5 feet.
L.T. Murray Wildlife Area – Elk Fence Repair: Natural Resource Technician Blore found and repaired two holes in the elk fence. Blore baited a couple of the one-way elk gates with good hay to lure more than 100 elk that were on the wrong side of the elk fence back to other side. It’s suspected that a few elk came through the two holes but that most walked around the end of the elk fence in Manastash Canyon.
Region 3 Pronghorn Aerial Surveys: District 4 Biologist Fidorra and Assistant Biologist Hoffman conducted aerial counts for pronghorn across portions of Benton, Yakima, and Klickitat counties. These bi-annual surveys combine aerial and ground data collected by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), Yakama Nation, and Safari Club International volunteer members to better understand pronghorn population trends in southcentral Washington. Information is still being collected, however, counts near the Horse Heaven Hills in District 4 were on par with previous years.
Sunnyside/Snake River Wildlife Area Wetland Maintenance: Sunnyside/Snake River Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Ferguson and Natural Resource Technician Cardenas have been busy maintaining pumps, water control structures, and ditches to keep wetlands filled for wintering waterfowl.
Region 3 Bighorn Sheep Test and Remove Monitoring: District 8 Biologist Wampole and Scientific Technician Ogburn investigated four collared sheep mortalities in the Yakima Canyon test populations. Samples have been submitted to the wildlife disease and diagnostic lab and will investigate presence of Movi.
District 8 Wolf Monitoring: District 8 Biologist Wampole and Scientific Technician Ogburn continue to monitor wolf activity in the district deploying trail cameras.
Region 3 CWD Passive Monitoring: District 8 Biologist Wampole and Scientific Technician Ogburn began passive monitoring of elk and deer for CWD in the district with focus at designated feed site areas. Elk that are found dead or removed for conflict or fatal injuries/illness are being sampled as a new step towards proactive monitoring in the region.
Providing Recreation Opportunities
Sunnyside/Snake River Wildlife Area Access Site Maintenance: To allow for positive experiences for hunters, Sunnyside/Snake River Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Ferguson and Natural Resource Technician Cardenas have been maintaining the parking at wildlife area access sites by adding gravel, picking up trash, etc.
Providing Conflict Prevention and Education
Kittitas County Conflict - Elk: Elk have been seen on Hayward Hill and Swauk Creek after the recent snow. Elk also moved onto Springwood and Kittias Reclamtion District, Yakama Nation, and permit hunters have been engaged in moving elk out of the area.
Some elk were observed on the wrong side of the elk fence in and around Robinson Canyon. Technician Leuck and L. T. Murray Wildlife Area staff moved the elk back through return gates by herding and baiting. Wildlife area staff also repaired some fence breaks that elk had made and the area appears to be secure at this time.
Cle Elum Cougar Relocation: A cougar was relocated out of a barn in Cle Elum and released into suitable habitat on a wildlife area.
Yakima County Conflict - Deer: Several deer were struck by vehicles and euthanized. They were donated to the Union Gospel Mission.
Yakima County Conflict – Domestic Dogs Conflict: Elk in the Cowiche area have been breaking elk fences and getting into areas east of the fence. A pack of domestic dogs have been killing elk at the feed site and it is suspected that fence breaks may also be attributed to dog packs chasing elk.
Picture of “Wetzel_1” photo here
Elk killed by domestic dogs.
Picture of “Wetzel_2” photo here
Domestic dogs loose near WDFW elk feeding site.
Yakima County Conflict - Elk: Elk have been persistent in the Tampico area coming from the west and south. In addition to the Tampico resident elk, migratory elk have been coming north from the Yakama Reservation into Evans’ orchard further east.
Several large groups of elk broke out of the Wenas fence on eastern Cleman Mountain. Wenas Wildlife Area staff members and the landowner herded elk back to the correct side of the fence and repaired the escape holes. A few elk remain on the wrong side, but the majority were herded back onto the Wenas Wildlife Area.
Rattlesnake Mt Elk: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand continued to monitor elk activity on Rattlesnake Mountain and coordinated with landowners on possible damage permit opportunities. Almost all elk activity is occurring on the Hanford National Monument.
Kahlotus Deer Damage Hazing and Hunts: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand conducted deer hazing patrols in several winter wheat fields in the Kahlotus area near Lower Monumental Dam on the Snake River. In addition, several youth hunters from the Region 3 damage roster hunts were deployed to landowners to assist them with hazing and removing problem deer.
Silver Dollar Coyote Control: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand met with cattle producers in the Silver Dollar area to discuss coyote control measures being implemented to reduce possible depredations during calving operations. Several coyotes have been harvested by hunters utilizing calling techniques and night hunts utilizing thermal imaging equipment.
Illegal Meat Transport: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand assisted Enforcement’s Detachment 19 with disposing of elk parts illegally transported into District 4 under CWD rules. The parts were buried at the approved Richland Landfill.
Conserving Natural Landscapes
Neff Jones Road Shrub Planting and Maintenance: Natural Resource Technician Pizzini and Region 3 Private Lands Biologist Manderbach planted sagebrush, rabbitbrush, and bitterbrush at the Neff Jones Hunt by Reservation property. Previous plantings were monitored while out on the landscape, with some of the sagebrush doing well and going to seed this year. Plans are in place to continue planting and increasing monitoring and maintenance. Pizzini went out later to clean up around existing shrubs, weed eating a swath around each one.
Region 3 Ringold Hatchery Habitat Project: Ringold staff members, along with Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area staff members, and Private Lands Biologist Manderbach began work on a habitat project at the Ringold Springs hatchery. A new fabric mulch layer implement was used to lay fabric strips in preparation of shrubs being planted soon. The project will provide habitat for deer, upland birds, and other wildlife while also providing a windbreak and helping prevent wind erosion of the soil.
Wenas Wildlife Area Acquisition Meetings: Wenas Wildlife Area Manager Gray, Property Acquisition Supervisor Woodruff, Water Rights Specialist Malon, and Region 3 Lands Agent Carbary met with three separate landowners regarding the status of acquisitions that WDFW is currently working on. Each project is at different stages. The Cleman Mountain (Hoover) acquisition has been acquired by WDFW. Final agreements regarding the split of water rights are currently being worked on. The Black Canyon Acquisition and Exchange is set to be finalized by late spring/early summer 2025. The last project is the Miracle Mile Conservation Easement and Life Estate. Gray and Wenas Wildlife Area Habitat Specialist Miller applied for a Washington Recreation and Conservation Office grant to fund this project and will hear back before the end of June as to whether the grant will be awarded or not. All of these on-going projects were created to protect critical habitat throughout the Wenas Valley.
Providing Education and Outreach
L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Outreach: The Kittitas County Field and Stream Club held Hunter Education Course field firearms training at the Green Gate site on the Quilomene Unit for a second year. The site’s location and ease of access has helped with getting new hunters trained and ready for the field.
Other
L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Safety: The L.T. Murray Wildlife Area purchased an OSHA approved safety basket for assisting with removing tarps from outside haystacks at the Joe Watt barn.
