Managing Wildlife Populations
Bighorn Sheep Population Aerial Survey: District 8 Biologist Wampole, Assistant District 8 Biologist Wilson, and Scientific Technician Ogburn completed aerial population census surveys for the Quilomene, Yakima Canyon and Cleman Mountain districts' three bighorn sheep populations.
L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Crew Assisting Conflict: As part of ongoing bighorn sheep research for disease management, L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Natural Resource Technician Blore and Assistant Manager Winegeart assisted District 8 Conflict Specialist Wetzel with the removal of three sheep from the Yakima Canyon population. Nasal swab sample results collected during captures in February revealed that these individuals were carriers of Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae (Movi), a pathogen responsible for persistent bronchial pneumonia. These individuals were removed from the population because they transmit the pathogen to lambs, leading to annual lamb die-offs and poor survival.
Sunnyside/Snake River Wood Duck Boxes: Sunnyside/Snake River Wildlife Area Manager Kaelber, Assistant Manager Jahns, and Natural Resource Technician Pizzini assisted Richland Rod and Gun Club volunteer members with spring wood duck nest box cleanup and maintenance in the Bailie and Windmill Ranch Units of the Sunnyside/Snake River Wildlife Area. Two of the nest boxes in the Windmill Ranch Unit were occupied by nesting Northern saw-whet owls. Bands were placed on both owls. Sunnyside/Snake River Wildlife Area staff members will assist Richland Rod and Gun Club members later this spring to band nesting wood ducks.
Franklin County Burrowing Owls: Sunnyside/Snake River Wildlife Area staff members and Region 3 Private Lands Biologist Manderbach assisted District 4 Biologist Fidorra, Assistant District 4 Biologist Hoffman, and other WDFW staff members with the installation of new artificial burrows for burrowing owls in Franklin County. It was a windy, labor-intensive day but many hands made light work!
Providing Recreation Opportunities
L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Road Maintenance: A total of 23 volunteer members from the Back Country Horsemen of Washington and Master Hunters conducted some firewise work, fence, and trash removal along the Robinson Canyon Road. They trimmed and removed several tons of overgrown brush, fallen trees, and limbs which also greatly improved motorized access. In addition, one half mile of relic barbed wire and livestock fencing that was impeding wildlife passage was also removed.
Oak Creek Wildlife Area Visitor’s Center and Elk Viewing: Friends of Oak Creek volunteer members continued seven days per week staffing of the Oak Creek Visitor’s Center and elk viewing area while providing truck tours on the feed site. The last day of feeding was March 27th, but volunteer staffing continued until March 31st to educate visitors. See table below for most recent visitor statistics along with the previous two seasons for comparison.
Providing Conflict Prevention and Education
Kittitas County Conflict: Elk are migrating in significant numbers from eastern winter range to westward following significant green up in the past two weeks. Elk have been easy to move and are not causing many problems for crop areas at this time.
Yakima County Conflict: Elk in the Cowiche area have been outside the elk fence in several areas but have begun to stay west of the elk fence and have followed significant new green up in the last two weeks.
Bighorn sheep management actions occurred during the last half of March in the lower Yakima Canyon area.
Conserving Natural Landscapes
Guzzler Repair with Richland Rod and Gun Club: Region 3 Private Lands Biologist Manderbach assisted a group of volunteer members from the Richland Rod and Gun Club with a complete guzzler replacement near the Benton and Yakima County line. The guzzler tank and frame were both beyond repair following a fire a few years ago. A new frame constructed completely out of steel was built and installed along with a new fiberglass catch tank. Along the way, two other guzzlers were cleaned of debris.
Private Lands Work Party: Region 3 Private Lands Biologist Manderbach and Natural Resource Technician Pizzini attended the 2025 Private Lands Work Party in Whitman County. Private Lands staff members from across the state, as well as Pheasants Forever Farm Bill Biologists, Pheasants Forever volunteer members, and other partners from the National Wild Turkey Federation and Bureau of Land Management got together to meet, install habitat projects, get trained on equipment and implements, and discuss potential future collaborations. 21 rows of fabric mulch were installed on the Revere Wildlife Area in preparation for a large Pheasants Forever planting project coming up April 12th. Fabric mulch and shrubs/trees were installed on another property in the Private Lands access program.
Franklin County Shrubs: Region 3 Private Lands Biologist Manderbach continued work on a Hunt by Reservation property in Franklin County. There have been over 200 new trees and shrubs planted this spring, with work to continue further. In addition to planting, more ground was cleared to make way for future shrub plantings and catch basins were formed around shrubs to help with water collection.
Oak Creek Wildlife Area Tieton River Stream Restoration: Under a memorandum of understanding, the Yakama Nation Fisheries group completed its stream restoration project to re-water a side channel of the Tieton River located within the Oak Creek Wildlife Area. Although this project occurs in the area affected by the 2024 Retreat Fire, the project has been in the planning stages for years prior. A temporary bridge was installed across the Tieton River in the area of Nissan Flats along U.S. Highway 12 to access the site with heavy equipment and materials. Water is currently flowing through this historic side channel, but the project was designed to not divert water during periods of low flow. This project should lend itself to providing more spawning habitat with addition of aggregates of appropriate size for the spawning anadromous fish species. Additionally, it is intended to re-water not only the side channel but its associated wetland. The Tieton River Nature Trail was re-routed, armored, and compacted gravel placed in strategic areas. Additionally, hardwood and softwood tree species were planted in disturbed areas.
Conducting Business Operations and Policy
Wenas Wildlife Area- BPA Contract Renewal: Wenas Wildlife Area Lands and Habitat Specialist Miller finished submitting all necessary materials for the annual renewal of the Wenas Wildlife Area O&M contract for Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) funding. BPA funding makes up a majority of Wenas Wildlife Area funding and is crucial for maintenance of buildings and equipment as well as staff time for project implementation.