Managing Wildlife Populations
Deer Management: Biologist Dougherty assisted Private Lands staff members with assessing and determining changes to local LHPs (Landowner Hunt Program) for the upcoming hunting seasons.
Spring Mule Deer Surveys: Biologists Fitkin and Heinlen completed spring mule deer ground surveys classifying almost 1,600 mule deer. The raw counts yielded a fawn to adult ratio of 32 to100, which is close to the long-term average.
Trapped, Sick and Injured Wildlife: Biologists Dougherty and Clements were notified of sick and dead snow geese at Potholes Reservior. After coordination with the reporting parties, the biologists went to the site and recovered serveral carcesses. Samples were collected and will be sent off for disease testing.
Ground Squirrels: Biologists Dougherty and Clements are continuing efforts to capture Washington ground squirrels in an effort to asses genetic diversity across the range. Dougherty and Clements took a break from baiting and trapping efforts to focus on other tasks, but pre-baiting and trapping will continue in the coming weeks.
Ferruginuous Hawks: Biologists Dougherty and Clements have been deeply invested in completing the first round of 2025 hawk surveys. After many phone calls and plenty of hiking and driving, the first round has been completed. Only two of the surveyed territories were found to be occupied by ferruginous hawks. However, Dougherty and Clements are planning return survey trips to some of the territories later in April.
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