Managing Wildlife Populations

Tucannon Bighorn Sheep: Wildlife Area Manager Dingman located the Tucannon bighorn sheep herd, and all six lambs are still alive. The herd has grouped back up down towards Merengo. 

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Surveillance: Biologists Lowe and Brinkman worked at CWD check stations to collect samples from deer harvested during the late modern firearm season. 

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Rainbow Lake Park Bench: Maintenance Mechanic Heimgartner and Natural Resource Technician Nielsen installed a park bench at Rainbow Lake last week. The bench was donated by the Asotin County Sportsmen’s Association.  

WT Wooten Wildlife Area Campgrounds, Parking Areas, and Shooting Range: Natural Resource Technicians Jensen and Tritt checked the campgrounds and parking areas and cleaned up trash. Jensen cleaned up trash at the shooting range. Jensen and Tritt made repairs to the benches at the shooting range. Wildlife Area Manager Dingman scheduled for six vault toilets to be pumped next week. Jensen made repairs to the buck and rail fence at Campground 2. 

Region 1 South Access Areas: Maintenance Mechanic Heimgartner and Natural Resource Technician Nielsen serviced access sites throughout the area this week. Nielsen used the access area tractor to smooth roads and parking areas at Couse Creek, Heller Bar, Faha, and Epson 3 on Tuesday. Nielsen also spent one day assisting wildlife area staff members with elk fence maintenance.

Chapman Lake Access: This week Wildlife Area Manager Finch, Region 1 Real Estate Specialist Stallinga, Access Manager Dziekan, Natural Resource Technician Brant, Capital and Asset Management (CAMP) Engineer Hansen and three other CAMP employees inspected the proposed route of the road to the lake, parking lot and boat launch site. The CAMP employees wanted to look at all aspect of the project to see if changes need to be made. 

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Bear-resistant Food Lockers: Sherman Creek Wildlife Area staff members, Natural Resource Technician Graves, Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Palmer, and Wildlife Area Manager Anderson were joined by north Region 1 Water Access staff members Brant and Dziekan to prepare cement pads and install five bear-resistant food lockers at popular campsites. They installed the second and third boxes at Sherman Creek Wildlife Area, and the fourth and fifth at LeClerc Creek Wildlife Area. This now makes five lockers on the Sherman Creek Wildlife Area complex, and the very first ones on any state wildlife area! 

Collection of Dead Elk: Biologist Johnson and Wildlife Conflict Technicians Keeling and Edmonson collected an elk carcass on private property. The elk was sampled for CWD and information about CWD was provided for the property owner, since they had never heard of it before. They encouraged the property owner to provide samples when they go hunting in the future.

Providing Education and Outreach

Presentation at Pioneer School: Biologist Brinkman visited Pioneer Elementary School in Spokane and gave a presentation on the differences between wildlife and domestic animals and what to do when the students encounter wild animals in their neighborhoods. The presentation was on Halloween, so the students arrived in costumes of their favorite animals.

Conducting Business Operations and Policy

Administrative Duties: WDFW archaeologists Celano and Armstrong inspected recent prescribed burn sites and sampled soil at planned post hole sites for two gates, at Sherman Creek on Thursday, November 14. The pair was assisted by WDFW Prescription Burn Coordinator Lionberger on their tour of burned locations. Celano reports that they found no archaeological items to report. 

Conserving Natural Landscapes

4-O Ranch Wildlife Area Forest Management Project: Wildlife area staff members were notified at the end of the week that the forest management project is under way at the 4-O. Logging machinery that was working on adjacent private property moved in and operations to salvage burned timber and thin other areas identified by WDFW foresters is under way.  

Worm Casting for Grassland Restoration: This week Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Range Specialist Shafer and Wildlife Area Manager Finch went to Otis Orchard to pick up the worm casting BLM purchased to include with the grass/forb mix when seeded. The new drill has three separate boxes. The front box will be used for the forbs, the middle box will be the grass mix, and the back box will be used for the worm casting. The worm will be applied as an experiment to see how it works with the soil and seeding. The worm castings will be applied at a full rate of 14lbs/ac on one third of the 70-acre field, one third of double the rate at 28lbs/ac and one third of the field with no worm castings. BLM Range Specialist Shafer had been doing research on this product and approached Finch about trying this product on the BLM grassland restoration project this fall. 

Forest Habitat Management: Sherman Creek Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Palmer and Natural Resource Technician Graves traveled to LeClerc Creek Wildlife Area a few times during the week and removed undesirable lodgepole pine from more than 14 acres on a previously thinned site at LeClerc Creek’s half section parcel. 

Lands and Facilities: Biologist Woodall went to the 4-O Ranch Wildlife Area to look at the post-burn thinning. He talked to the Bennett Forest Products representative and some of the logging crews. Bennett mentioned that one third of the projected harvest was already blue stained from bark beetles. The mills are not interested in this wood, as it is of no value. Woodall noticed very little regrowth, even after some significant rainfall. 

Swegle Unit Restoration Project: Wildlife Area Manager Dingman and Natural Resource Technician Jensen spent the week planting in the Stovall fields on the Swegle Unit of the WT Wooten Wildlife Area. Natural Resource Technician Tritt spent two days helping plant. Other Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) staff members who assisted in planting this week include Safety Officer Moynahan, Private Lands Biologist Thorne-Hadley, Communications Specialist Lehman, and Acquisition Specialist Stallinga. A master hunter and an Inland Northwest Wildlife Council volunteer member from Spokane both drove down, and each spent a day assisting with the planting efforts. The week started with 3,000 plants and 2,760 plants were put in the ground. The remaining 240 plants will be planted on Monday morning. 

Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Grassland Restoration: This weekend Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Wagner worked on the BLM Sandygrin grassland restoration project trying to get the seeding done before the weather changes. Natural Resource Technician Duclos spent all day Tuesday finishing seeding the 70-acre restoration project. After the completion of the seeding project, Wagner and Duclos moved all the equipment back to the Swanson Lakes headquarters. BLM Range Specialist Shafer and BLM Wildlife Biologist Lowe were out to see what extra work they could do with completing some of the grass seeding and worm casting. Both Shafer and Lowe will be out on Friday to pick up some extra grass seed and worm casting to distribute.

Managing Wildlife Populations

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Providing Education and Outreach

Other

Managing Wildlife Populations

Free Help: A red fox conducted courtesy gopher patrols at the Walla Walla Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) District Office.

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Operations: Natural Resource Technician Moberg collected seven CWD samples in District 3: four samples from deer and elk brought to taxidermists, one from a harvested deer at the Walla Walla District Office, and two from road killed deer at a Department of Transportation pit. Moberg also provided the contact information of all Washington State Department of Agriculture licensed food processors and WDFW licensed taxidermists in District 3 to staff members that may interact with hunters and can refer out-of-region hunters to these license holders to easily comply with the Washington Administrative Code (WAC). 

Moberg rounded up samples from the Walla Walla District Office and the Wooten Wildlife Area Office and brought them to the Clarkston District Office so that the samples can be transported to Spokane early next week. 

CWD: Regional Private Lands staff organized their CWD sampling supplies and assisted with setup of check stations for the modern firearm deer season opener next weekend. 

Chronic Waste Disease (CWD) Sampling: This week Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Wagner was told of a recent harvested doe in Game Managment Unit (GMU) 136. After taking the head, he showed Natural Resource Technician Duclos how to harvest the lymph nodes for CWD sampling.

Chronic Wasting Disease: Wildlife Area Manager Dingman collected a sample from a roadkill deer on Patit Road. Dingman and Natural Resource Technician Jensen sampled hunter harvested deer at the Last Resort, but lymph nodes were only found in one of the two deer. Natural Resource Technician Tritt sampled a hunter harvested deer at the Last Resort. Dingman and Tritt participated in the CWD Check Station meeting on Teams. Tritt hung CWD flyers in U.S. Forest Service campgrounds south of Pomeroy, the Pomeroy grocery store, and at Pioneer Park and Blue Mountain Base Camp outside of Dayton.

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Operations: Natural Resource Technician Moberg collected 14 CWD samples from deer in District. Twelve samples from deer brought to taxidermists and two from road killed deer. Moberg worked the Walla Walla Hunter Check Station opening weekend of modern firearm season with District Biologist Vekasy, where they collected 13 samples from harvested mule deer and white-tailed deer. Moberg coordinated with Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Coordinator Westacott to gather all the necessary check station supplies from Spokane and get them down to Walla Walla.

Wildlife Conflict Specialist Harris spent two days at a CWD Check Station in GMU 124. Staff and volunteer members collected a total of 25 samples from white-tailed deer, mule deer, and moose harvested in 100 series GMUs. 

While in the area, Supervisor Earl and Conflict Specialist Wade collected a sample from a hunter camped at Field Springs State Park. 

Stream Surveys: Natural Resource Technician Moberg and District Biologist Vekasy spent two consecutive days conducting rocky mountain tailed frog environmental DNA (eDNA) stream surveys in the Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness. Seven remote streams were sampled, and fun was had by all.

CWD: Regional private lands staff assisted with CWD sample collection by working at established check stations around the region and contacting hunters on private and public lands throughout the region. At least 67 samples were collected with the help of private lands staff members. 

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Hunter Access Program: Regional private lands staff members responded to dozens of inquiries from hunters seeking deer, moose, upland bird, and waterfowl hunting opportunity and information about chronic wasting disease. 

Access Contracts/Teamwork: Private Lands Biologist Thorne Hadley and Natural Resource Technician Moberg worked with Contracts Specialist Cole to submit obtained signatures for amended Voluntary Public Access Program contracts. Private Lands Biologist Thorne Hadley reached out to several landowners to explain the reasoning for the reduced monetary values of the contracts from the previous year.

Private Lands Biologist Thorne Hadley contacted a landowner to renew a Hunting by Written Permission access property for five years. A new contract was written and submitted for review. 

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Wolf: Natural Resource Technician Edmondson accompanied Wildlife Conflict Specialist Samsill and Natural Resource Technician Keeling on a wolf depredation investigation in the Onion Creek Pack territory. After the investigation was completed, Edmondson attended the after-action review for the investigation to finalize the determination. 

Moose Complaint: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Harris spoke with a landowner in Spokane County that reported problem moose on their property. Harris provided the landowner with advice for hazing the moose. Harris also coordinated with Private Lands Biologist Nizer and Officer Silver on a group of problem moose in northern Whitman County.

Bald eagle: Natural Resource Technician Edmondson and Keeling responded to a call regarding an injured “hawk” from the previous night. Upon arriving on scene, they realized that the bird was a juvenile bald eagle and had passed away overnight. The carcass was removed and brought back to the Colville office.

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Z-Lake Aeration Maintenance: This week, Wildlife Area Manager Finch mailed two air compressors that were not functioning from the aeration system to see if they could be repaired. If they cannot be repaired, they will be replaced with a new one. Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Wager and Natural Resource Technician Duclos modified the air compressor box to make sure it stays dust free and is ventilated properly when it is running. Duclos also vacuumed out the storage container. Wagner and Duclos raised the vent pipes on each end from 12” to 6’ tall just to make sure no dust or dirt is blown in the air vents. Also, this week Finch received word back from an expert after their inspection on the two compressors that Finch sent to them. The newest compressor can and will be rebuilt. The older compressor is not repairable; therefore, Finch ordered a new compressor for a backup. Finch is expected to receive both compressors within two weeks and the final repairs will be completed then.

Prescribed Burning: WDFW’s Prescribed Burn Unit prepared fire lines and burned three small fields near the Sherman Creek Wildlife Area headquarters, about 25 acres in total. They had more acreage planned, but dry conditions did not allow any further burning in treed areas. A prescribed burn was also planned at Rustlers Gulch Wildlife Area, but it too had to be postponed due to dry conditions. The burning plans for both wildlife areas were made earlier, and it’s now just a matter of getting the humidity and amount of moisture in the soil and vegetation, plus wind conditions, just right. 

Pheasants Forever: Natural Resource Technician Nance cleared brush around planted trees on a Feel Free to Hunt property. The trees were planted earlier this spring in partnership with Pheasants Forever to promote ring-necked pheasant habitat.

Conducting Business Operations and Policy

New Swanson Lakes Sign Installation: This week staff from the Capital and Asset Management Program from the Yakima shop were out to install the newly replaced Swanson Lakes Wildlife Area entry sign at the end of the lane. This sign replaces the wooden sign you see at most wildlife areas and regional offices. Swanson Lakes staff members decided to put gravel at the base of the sign to better prevent fire damage to the sign when the next wildfire occurs

Managing Wildlife Populations

Deer Surveys: Private Lands Biologist Nizer, along with Technicians Nance and Rumiser, completed the second round of deer surveys in Whitman County on Sept 17th and 19th. These surveys help wildlife managers by gaining a better understanding of the composition of the deer herd in Whitman County including buck-to-doe and doe-to-fawn ratios, along with understanding the buck quality on the landscape.  

Sharp-tailed Grouse GPS Collar Recovery: Wildlife Area Manager Finch and Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Wagner went to private property north of Creston to recover a Sharp-tailed Grouse GPS collar that quit moving. Finch and Wagner did locate the collar within 5 feet of the last reported location. It appeared to have been predated on by a coyote. The next morning Finch and Wagner took a UTV to a different private property owner north of Creston just above the breaks of the Columbia River. This Sharp-tailed Grouse appeared to be moving, so staff members were looking for that grouse in company with other grouse. Finch and Wager walked for almost two hours looking for signs of grouse activity with no luck. It is possible for them to go back next week to check again.

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD): Wildlife Area Manager Dingman took the leftover flyers from the fair booths to the Last Resort. She organized for the CWD trailer to be returned to Spokane next week by Region 1 Safety Officer Moynahan. Dingman organized for an 11-yard dumpster to be placed at the Last Resort Campground during the general deer season for the public to dispose of the bones, hides, and animal parts that cannot leave Region 1. 

Bog Lemming Surveys: Wildlife Biologists Prince and Johnson conducted surveys this week for bog lemmings at two locations in District 1. Surveys include kneeling down, parting grass, and looking for tiny green rodent scat. The scat is then analyzed to species for DNA confirmation. 

Chronic Wasting Disease: Acting Private Lands Biologist Heitstuman relayed calls from the Washington Department of Transportation regarding roadkill to employees closet to the collection sites. Heitstuman met with local Washington State Department of Transportation Supervisors to secure the Clemans Site to use this fall on a short-term basis at no charge. 

Final Deer Survey: This week Finch and Wagner went on their last deer survey of the season running the same route but this time in reverse to check out the same areas at different times. This week the count was over 180 deer over a 78-mile route. There were a handful of white-tailed deer, but primarily mule deer. 

Deer: Biologists Lowe and Brinkman continued to conduct preseason road-based surveys in GMUs 124, 130, and 139 to collect deer herd composition data. The areas surveyed in September are similar to those in August but focused on collection of fawn-to-doe ratios to estimate fawn production. 

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Hunter Access: Private Lands Supervisor Baarstad replaced signs on two Feel Free to Hunt properties totaling approximately 4,000 acres of hunting access in the Wilbur and Creston areas of Lincoln County. Baarstad met with Private Lands Biologist Braaten to pick up supplies needed for hunting access. Baarstad took five calls this week from landowners needing enforcement assistance and hunters with questions about a variety of hunting opportunity around the region. Baarstad and regional private lands staff members completed the hunter access information for the status and trend report and sent it to Private Lands Section Manger McCanna. 

Mentored Pheasant Hunt Clinic: Private Lands Biologist Nizer worked with Hunter Ed Coordinator Garcia to setup a mentored first pheasant hunting clinic on December 14th. Nizer was able to secure 60 to 80 pheasants for the clinic and kept certain properties off the reservation calendar so they will be available to the clinic. Nizer will coordinate where hunters can stay overnight for the clinic. 

Americans with Disabilities (ADA) Duck Blind: Private Lands Biologist Nizer met with the Inland Northwest Wildlife Council ADA Committee to install an ADA duck blind. The installation took about three hours and was installed on a hunt by reservation property.

Pelt seals/harvest inspections: Biologist Brinkman met with a hunter to inspect and seal a cougar taken in GMU 117 this week. Brinkman also inspected a mountain goat harvested by a youth hunter in Goat Rocks West. Biologist Lowe assisted a hunter with removing a tooth from a harvested bear. 

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Bull Elk Stuck in Elk Fence: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Wade responded to an afterhours report of a bull elk that had become entangled in an elk fence in the Bakers Pond area of Garfield County. Wade coordinated with the property owner to identify where the elk was located and to determine the best way to access the area. Wade and Sargent Mossman responded to the location and determined that the bull would need to be chemically immobilized to free it from the fence wire. Officer Mosman and Wildlife Conflict Specialist Wade, with the assistance with the property owner, were able to free the bull from its predicament. 

Deer Removal: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Harris and Sergeant Leonetti responded to a report of a deer covered in papillomas (warts) in Spokane. Although they do not typically impact the animal's health, this deer had several papillomas covering its eyes, causing it to be partially blind. Staff members determined that humane euthanasia was necessary. The carcass was removed for proper disposal after a CWD sample was collected. 

Injured Moose: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) staff members responded to a report of an injured cow moose on Eastern Washington University’s campus. After a wildlife veterinarian assessed the animal’s injuries, staff members determined that euthanasia was necessary due to the severity of the injuries.

“Injured” Crow: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Harris and Wildlife Biologist Brinkman responded to a report of an injured crow at a Spokane elementary school. Staff members reported that they observed the crow hoping around the playground and coming up to some of the students. After observing the crow fly, Brinkman and Harris determined that the crow was not actually injured, but instead habituated to people.

Wildlife Conflict: Private Lands Biologist Nizer and Natural Resource Technician Nance responded to a moose conflict after calls from members of the public that were concerned about their safety. Nizer and Nance located three moose, (a cow, calf, and bull) that showed no fear of humans in a creek directly behind a row of homes. Nizer and Nance were able to haze the three moose from behind the homes and down the creek. 

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Habitat Improvement: Natural Resource Technicians Nance and Rumiser disced a field on private land which will be seeded to improve wildlife habitat. 

Aeration Repair: This week Wildlife Area Manager Finch and Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Wagner worked on the aeration system, calling private contractor and aeration designer Wiley from the site to help troubleshoot the computer error that is preventing it from turning on. After testing and checking voltage it was determined by Private Contractor Wiley that more than likely the air compressor is froze up. Wagner pulled the compressor out of the box so it can be taken for repairs. Also, Private Contractor Wiley gave a contact number for the company that makes the compressor. Finch has been in contact with this company and will be working with their service department to come up repair or replacement for the compressor motor. Wildlife Area staff members also found out other maintenance tips that will help the compressor extend its life with regular service and maintenance. 

Providing Education and Outreach

Hunter Education: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Kolb assisted with a traditional hunter education class in Waitsburg. Sixteen students passed and were certified as hunter education graduates. 

Water Festival: This annual event, coordinated by the Lake Roosevelt Forum, brings several area elementary school classes to the Sherman Creek Hatchery, adjacent to Sherman Creek Wildlife Area, and the National Park Service marina at Kettle Falls. This year on September 17th and 18th, Sherman Creek Wildlife Area Natural Resource Technician Graves and Wildlife Area Manager Anderson hosted their customary station, titled “Who’s For Dinner,” at the hatchery. Visiting classes learned about upland predators and prey in northeast Washington, and how you can tell one from another by their physical features. The kids got to handle skulls, antlers, and pelts. 

Washington State University Wildlife Techniques Lab: Conflict and Private Lands staff members from Region 1 assisted with the teaching of various techniques used to trap wildlife. Two different days were spent demonstrating some of the equipment utilized to deal with nuisance wildlife. Students assisted with setting up and deploying a 40- foot by 60-foot rocket net as well as shooting a net gun at a decoy. 

Camp Wooten Group: Wildlife Area Manager Dingman and Natural Resource Technician Moberg spent Thursday teaching 6th graders at Camp Wooten ELC. Dingman and Moberg took hides, skulls, and antlers to the camp and talked about predators and prey. The talk went well and most of the students were very engaged. 

Conducting Business Operations and Policy

Drone Modification: The last few weeks Wildlife Area Manager Finch has been doing some research on what can be done to prevent bird attacks on drones. After doing plenty of research, Finch found that with the use of high red reflective tape, red propellers, and strobe lights, the chances of bird attacking went down considerably. The bird of prey now sees the drone as something outside of nature and will mostly likely stay away. Finch has lost one drone by a Red-tailed hawk and has had several episodes where birds of prey go after the drone in flight. Reflective tape, colored propellers and strobe lights are cheap insurance for the cost of the drone. The strobes lights are just another added safety feature as well.

Managing Wildlife Populations

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Operations: Natural Resource Technician Moberg spoke with all the registered taxidermists in District 3 about sampling any deer or elk that may come through their business. She answered questions about the new regulations and updated Washington Administrative Code (WAC). 

Chronic Wasting Disease: Acting Private Lands Biologist Heitstuman collected several samples from road kills provided by the Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT).

Chronic Wasting Disease: Wildlife Area Manager Dingman and Natural Resource Technician Tritt sampled deer harvested by archery hunters. Dingman sampled a roadkill deer at the Delaney DOT pit. Dingman printed flyers and Tritt hung them in all the outhouses in the Tucannon Valley, as well as the outhouses on the Mountain Road and at the Rose Springs Parking Area. Another flyer was made to hang at the Last Resort and in each outhouse letting hunters know what is required with the Emergency Rules regarding full carcasses not leaving Region 1. 

Bighorn Sheep Monitoring: Biologist Boyle monitored bighorn sheep in the Asotin population. A total of four groups consisting of 27 ewes, 15 lambs, eight yearlings, and one adult ram was observed. The bighorn sheep appeared healthy. 

Boyle, with the assistance of Idaho Fish and Game (IDFG) officers, retrieved a bighorn sheep mortality in the Snake River in the Redbird sheep population of Idaho. The mortality was reported to IDFG by a fisherman. The mortality was likely a few weeks old and was of a marked bighorn sheep. The cause of death could not be determined. 

Bats: On Friday the 13th, biologist Brinkman responded to a report of a bat stuck in a fireplace in Spokane County. The bat had been roosting in the chimney and apparently slipped down and became entrapped in the gas fireplace. Brinkman was able to open the front glass panel and hand-capture the bat. It was then placed in a tree outside the home where it rested for a few seconds before flying away unharmed.

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Operations: Natural Resource Technician Moberg collected five CWD samples: four from DOT pits and one from a taxidermist. She taught the taxidermist how to collect samples for future customers. Moberg also provided the contact information of all the registered taxidermists in District 3 to Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) staff members that may interact with hunters and can refer out-of-region hunters to these taxidermists to easily comply with the WAC. 

District Biologist Vekasy and Natural Resource Technician Mober and Tritt, practiced removing the skull cap from a buck to prepare for the upcoming check stations. At hunter check stations, staff members will need to remove skull caps from deer or elk harvested in the region being transported elsewhere.

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD): Acting Private Lands Biologist Heitstuman responded to five CWD sampling opportunities in Asotin County for dead deer on private property and WSDOT reported calls for deer left at the local pits. A sample opportunity on an Archery Permit Elk was also collected. 

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Region 1 South Access Program: Heimgartner serviced access sites along the Grande Ronde and Snake Rivers this week as well as making a trip to the Wooten Wildlife Area. Heimgartner and Nielsen began setting concrete picnic tables at the Heller Bar and Faha access sites. They used one of the wildlife area’s large John Deere tractors to set the tables.

Rainbow Lake Algal Bloom: The algal bloom appears to have cleared up for the year with the cooler temperatures. Natural Resource Technician Jensen took down the warning signs that were hung at every access point to Rainbow Lake. 

Pheasant Release Program: The Region 1 private lands team conducted pheasant releases throughout the Region for the youth opening season that starts this weekend. 

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Elk Damage: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Harris met with a producer in Northern Whitman County to discuss crop damage. The producer estimated that they lost approximately 50% of total crop yield in their garbanzo beans this year due to elk damage. Harris provided the producer with information on WDFW’s Damage Prevention Cooperative Agreement program, crop damage compensation claims, and damage permits. 

Deploying Bear ID Signs: Biologist Johnson went to several locations the U.S. Forest Service suggested could use signage to help hunters identify the different bear species and deployed the signage on their signboards.

Orphaned Moose Calf: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Harris spoke with a landowner in Spokane regarding a moose calf that had been on its own for several days. The calf’s mother had been euthanized several days prior after being found on private property with what appeared to be a broken back. The calf currently appears to be in good health and has been observed eating and drinking. Harris will continue to work with the landowner to monitor the calf’s health. 

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Swanson Lakes Wildlife Area nearby Wildfires: On Saturday, a wildfire approximately three miles north of the Swanson Lakes Wildlife Area was started by an ATV, with 12 mph winds blowing southwest. The fire burnt approximately 60 acres of range and timberland but was put out by Creston Fire Rescue before coming onto the wildlife area.

On Wednesday, the same operator's ATV started another fire just one mile north of the wildlife area’s north boundary. The fire burnt approximately 50 acres with winds blowing towards the south heading towards the wildlife area. Creston Fire Rescue was able to extinguish the fire before is reached the wildlife area. Conditions are still extremely dry with no moisture in the forecast, therefore extreme caution must be exercised.

Seeding Smoothing Iron: Natural Resource Specialist Whittaker started seeding food plots on Smoothing Iron in Asotin Creek Wildlife Area. This week, four food plots were seeded with a variety of winter wheat called Reaper Ax. In total, 55.2 acres were planted. Next week, seeding will continue on Smoothing Iron ridges, and then equipment will be transferred up to Joesph Creek for seeding. 

Water Rights: Sherman Creek Wildlife Area Manager Anderson contacted the regional Department of Ecology Water Master, Drury, about measuring water flow for the diversion from Sherman Creek that feeds two fields at Sherman Creek Wildlife Area and a neighboring orchard. The orchard’s water right is likely overused in the spring, but there are no monitoring devices for the creek or the diversion system. WDFW should also know how much water it’s using. Drury agreed that monitoring the flow of the diversion system is a great idea. The cost of a monitoring system was not discussed at this time. Drury and Anderson will follow up with more information exchange on this issue. 

Shrub Planting Weed Control: This week Wildlife Area Access Manager Wagner and Natural Resource Technician Kyle Duclos took the newly purchased weed trimmer and the older trimmer to the shrub plot in the Z-lake pasture that was planted in May for trimming. The plot took both employees approximately four hours to trim.

Providing Education and Outreach

Hunter Education Instruction: Acting Private Lands Biologist Heitstuman attended the first session of the Hunter Education Instructor class. 

Hunter Education Instructor Training: Private Lands Biologist Nizer met with Hunter Education Coordinator Dazey regarding being trained to become a hunter ed instructor. Nizer will be teaching a class on wildlife management next week to the hunter ed class.

Conducting Business Operations and Policy

4-O Ranch Wildlife Area Fire Tour: On Friday, district team staff members, along with regional and statewide staff members, toured the 4-O Ranch Wildlife Area to discuss post wildfire restoration activities including logging, weed control, and options for replanting severely burned areas with trees. It was a beautiful day and there were many beneficial discussions.  

Managing Wildlife Populations

Deer Surveys: Wildlife Area Manager (WAM) Finch, Wildlife Area Assistant Manager (WAAM) Wagner, and Natural Resource Technician (NRT) Duclos did their first deer survey in August. In total, 85 deer were observed over 81 miles.  

Deer Surveys: Biologists Lowe and Brinkman conducted pre-hunt roadside deer surveys in Spokane and Whitman counties this week. These surveys are conducted for around 2-3 hours in the morning or evening when deer are most active, and the surveys consist of driving routes through different parts of the district and recording the number of individuals and composition of each group of deer observed (i.e., ratios of buck to does and fawns to does). 

Bighorn Sheep: BHS Biologist Boyle monitored bighorn sheep in the Black Butte population. In total Biologist Boyle observed 3 groups consisting of five ewes, four lambs, and six rams. Bighorn sheep still appear lethargic with runny noses from the ongoing M.Ovi outbreak.  

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Rainbow Lake Algal Bloom: Rainbow Lake continues to have an algal bloom. WAM Dingman received a cost estimate from a contractor to do a characterization of Rainbow Lake, which would include water and sediment sampling and analysis. She forwarded it to the internal team and is awaiting response.  

4-O Ranch Wildlife Area Gates: This week Wildlife Area staff members Hammons, Nielsen, Peters, and Whittaker continued repairing damage gates from the Cougar Creek Fire on the 4-O Ranch Wildlife Area. Staff members took turns using the mini excavator to rip out burnt up wood posts and to clean up excess debris in the hole for steel posts to be set in concrete. Gates were then mounted and installed for levelness and swing accessibility for both up and downhill directions. Teamwork was shown in both preparedness of materials and tools and synchronizing together to get jobs done. A total of 2.5 pallets of concrete were hand mixed between the crew. The “couple more repetitions and then your turn” were used to rotate and mix the concrete! May need a concrete mixer for all the concrete mixing we do. All in all the gates turned out great. Staff members next week will continue assessing damage from the Cougar Creek fire to repair other structures, fence lines and dozer lines. 

ADA Duck Blind: Private Lands Biologist (PLB) Nizer met with the Inland Northwest Wildlife Council (INWC) and a private landowner to secure funding for them to install an ADA duck blind with a value of $3,000 onto hunt by reservation (HBR) ground in Spokane County. INWC will install and maintain the duck blind while Nizer will coordinate the HBR through the WDFW private lands webpage. This opportunity will provide hunting to a demographic that doesn’t always have the opportunity to hunt.

Region 1 South Access Area program: Access Manager Heimgartner serviced access sites at Heller Bar and along the upper and lower Grand Ronde River this week.  Heimgartner reports that the underwater gravel bar at the Heller Bar ramp is beginning to be exposed due to lower summertime river flows.  Heimgartner also serviced access sites on the Wooten Wildlife Area, sprayed Russian thistle at Stringtown parking area, and cleaned up the Asotin Creek Shooting Range.   

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

CWD Outreach: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Harris worked with customer service staff to send out information regarding emergency CWD rule changes to all producers in Spokane County that have received elk and deer damage prevention permits and landowner kill permits. 

Pelican Report: Supervisor Earl assisted Conflict Specialist Wade in attempting to locate a pelican that was reported to be stuck in the mud flats new Swallows Nest State Park. One pelican was seen in the area swimming freely amongst other waterfowl. 

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Native Grassland Restoration: WAAM Wagner and NRT Duclos spent several hours this week discing up the 70-acre BLM restoration field in the Telford Road area. WAAM Wagner also completed the order form for uniform clothing as well. Duclos spent the rest of day discing the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) 70-acre native restoration field. 

NOAA Instream Flow Workshop: WAM Dingman attended a very informative 2-day workshop put on by NOAA. The workshop topics covered water rights and water law in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho, as well as restoration projects being done in areas where water rights are being purchased from private landowners to keep water flows in creeks and rivers during the dry summer months.  

Cougar Creek Fire Restoration and Repairs: All wildlife area staff members spent considerable time this week working at the 4-O Ranch Wildlife Area repairing damaged gates, rolling up loose fence wire, assessing boundary fence damage, assessing impacts from firefighting dozers, and cleaning up dozer lines around buildings and corrals.  Bob Dice has been communicating with Department foresters in regard to setting up timber sales ASAP.  Neighboring landowners are logging their land and report that insects and rot are already beginning to take hold on burned trees.  NRS2 Nathan Whittaker hauled our D1 dozer back to the Wildlife Area and worked on repairing fire lines the rest of the day. 

Department of Natural Resource (DNR) Silene Survey: A Botanist from DNR Sienna Wessel was at Swanson Lakes Wildlife to survey silene (spalding catchfly) populations that are currently federally threatened. Botanist Wessel checked the locations from the 2010 data base at Swanson Lakes and then a location on the Bureau of Land Management) BLM. Botanist Wessel only found a few plants of a different subspecies within the polygons.  

Providing Education and Outreach

Living with Wildlife Presentation: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Harris gave a presentation on Living with Wildlife to a senior community in Spokane. The presentation focused on ways that the community residents could coexist with the various wildlife species that are present in the area, including coyotes, moose, deer, and marmots. WCS Harris was asked to give the presentation following multiple coyote attacks on dogs. 

County Fair Circuit: NRT2 Moberg hosted the WDFW booth at the Walla Walla County Fair this past Wednesday through Sunday. She spoke with hundreds of people about chronic wasting disease and answered other wildlife questions the public had. 

Managing Wildlife Populations

Prairie Grouse: Biologists Lowe and Brinkman attended the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies 34th biennial Sage and Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse Workshop in Wenatchee. Lowe and Brinkman assisted with setup and staffing the registration desk during the first two days of the meeting. Both biologists joined during the field trip day to tour the area around Wenatchee where the group visited various habitat restoration sites. Attendees learned about different programs available to landowners for maintaining sage grouse habitat, viewed known lek sites for both sage and sharp-tailed grouse, and checked out a riparian restoration project on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) property near Jameson Lake.

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Efforts: Acting Private Lands Biologist Heitstuman responded to the CWD Hotline and recovered a sample reported by the Washington Department of Transportation. Heitstuman relayed information to other employees for CWD sampling opportunities in their areas of responsibility. Heitstuman reviewed the current plan for management of CWD with the recent positive case in the Spokane area. 

Chronic Wasting Disease: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Harris attended the Chronic Wasting Disease tactics meeting to discuss CWD operations in District 2. Harris also spoke on the phone with a Spokane landowner regarding a sick deer on their property. Harris directed the landowner to fill out and submit a CWD report on the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) website. Harris submitted a CWD sample that was collected by a hunter that harvested a cow elk with a damage tag in GMU 124. 

County Fair Circuit: Natural Resource Technician Moberg registered WDFW booths at the Walla Walla, Columbia, and Garfield County fairs to provide outreach on the Chronic Wasting Disease program. The Walla Walla County fair will be August 28 - September 1, the Columbia County fair will be September 6 - September 8, and the Garfield County fair will be September 13 - September 15. 

Deer Surveys: Biologist Brinkman conducted a pre-hunt roadside deer survey in Spokane County. This was the first of many roadside deer surveys that will be conducted over the next two months by WDFW staff and volunteer members. These surveys are conducted for around two to three hours in the morning or evening when deer are most active. The surveys consist of driving routes through different parts of the district, recording the number of individuals and composition of each group of deer observed (i.e., ratios of buck to does and fawns to does). When compared with previous years’ surveys and combined with harvest data, these surveys can help indicate population stability or upward/downward trends. 

Malnourished Deer: Private Lands Biologist Nizer and Natural Resource Technician Rumiser received information from a local that he had a sick looking deer on his property. Nizer and Rumiser went to the property to look for deer but there was no sign. The reporting party sent a photo of the deer and Nizer showed Wildlife Conflict Specialist Harris to see what could be done. Unfortunately, there was nothing that could be done for the deer and nature will have to take its course. 

Chronic Wasting Disease Sampling: Natural Resource Technician Edmondson and Keeling went to collect a whitetail doe head from a landowner who had harvested the deer via a damage tag near the Daisy Boat Launch and brought the head back to the Colville office to collect a CWD sample. 

Natural Resource Technician Edmondson accompanied Wildlife Conflict Specialist Samsill to meet with a landowner just outside of Colville to collect two cow elk heads that had been harvested earlier in the week via landowner kill permits. Those heads were brought back to the Colville office and CWD samples were collected. 

Grizzly Bear: Due to concerns related to grizzly 1068 milling around the same stand of timber (per GPS) and in relative proximity to human structures, Natural Resource Technician Keeling and Edmondson assisted Wildlife Conflict Specialist Bennett with locating the bear. Keeling and Edmondson learned the basics of tracking via telemetry and were able to locate two scat piles while assessing the habitat on foot. In addition to thimbleberries and Oregon grape being plentiful, the scat showed no presence of human foods or garbage and appeared to almost completely consist of berries. While examining the scat, the bear’s signal was heard on the telemetry equipment, prompting the team to return to the truck and leave the area. 

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Rainbow Lake Algae Bloom: Rainbow Lake continues to have an algal bloom. Bluish plaques appeared again this week and photos were sent to the Columbia County Health Department. Wildlife Area Manager Dingman continued researching treatment options and worked to get an internal meeting set up to discuss how to move forward.

Water Access Areas Management: North Region 1 Water Access Area Manager Dziekan met with Mr. Prettyman of Prettyman’s Septic Service at Fan Lake and Loon Lake Water Access Areas, to empty the vault toilets. It took about an hour at each site. The process started with removing garbage with litter pickers, shovels, and rakes. Bob then pumped the vault liquid level down a bit, which freed up more trash that was trapped at the top of the vault and the pair then pulled that garbage out. During the process, about a dozen bags of garbage totaling 300 pounds came out of the two vaults. This trash was promptly taken to the dump, then Dziekan bleached and washed the dump trailer. It’s sad and frustrating that the public sees Water Access Area toilets as a convenient place to dump all sorts of garbage. 

Rainbow Lake Stump Removal: The Yakima Construction Shop was on-site this week to complete the stump removal from the dam on the north end of Rainbow Lake. 

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

KXLY Interview: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Harris met with a reporter from KXLY to interview for a story on being bear aware and safe recreation practices while huckleberry picking. 

Asotin Aggressive Hawk: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Wade received a report of five redtail hawks attacking a city of Asotin homeowner’s dog. The reporting party (RP) explained that the five hawks attacked their small dachshund every time the dog is let out. Wade discussed some possible deterrents that may help address the issue and the RP’s constitutional right to protect their property. Wade will follow up with the RP next week and see if any of the deterrents were effective. 

Conserving Natural Landscapes

New UTV Sprayer: Wildlife Area Manager Finch and Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Wagner picked up a new custom-built sprayer from Ag Enterprise in Cheney, Washington for the other UTV at the wildlife area. Finch and Wagner also went to the Reardan Audubon Wildlife Area to hoe some larger weeds in the parking lot, replace the toilet paper in both bathrooms, and pick litter. Wagner also took the sprayer up to spray weeds along the trail and parking lot. 

Forest Habitat Regeneration: Sherman Creek Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Palmer checked on the half-section parcel of LeClerc Creek Wildlife Area this week. He noted that it’s nice to see the fruits of all the forest restoration work done at West Branch LeClerc Creek Wildlife Area in the last several years. Various portions of the parcel were commercially thinned to remove lodgepole pine and grand fir, treated with prescribed fire, and subjected to mechanical removal of lodgepole pine. The portions were then replanted to western larch and western white pine. Natural regeneration of ponderosa pine and Douglas fir has occurred, and evergreen ceanothus has really taken off this year. Much of this improvement is a great response to the prescribed burning from a few years ago. 

Duck Stamp: Private Lands Biologist Nizer Natural Resource Technician Rumiser mowed a marsh with the marshmaster to accomplish goals for the Duck Stamp funded project. 

Fishtrap Toilet Damage: This week Area Manager Dziekan and Natural Resource Technician Brant made the rounds in District 2. A stop was made at Fishtrap Access Site to find someone had backed into the toilet enclosure so hard that it moved one of the toilets up off the base. Dziekan reached out to the locals to see if anyone saw anybody that could have caused this damage. 

Chief Joseph Wildlife Area Foodplots: Elk continue to heavily use irrigated food plots at the Chief Joseph Wildlife Area. The alfalfa has been grazed right back to the ground. The sorghum/sunflowers are also being heavily used by elk. Numerous small birds are using the sorghum where there are heads forming that have not been eaten by elk. 

4-O Ranch Wildlife Area Gates: Wildlife Area staff members began gathering materials and tools to repair burned and damaged gates on the 4-O Ranch Wildlife Area. Though still officially closed, it won’t be long before the public will be allowed to travel Couger Creek and Grouse Flats roads where our damaged gates are at. On Thursday, Natural Resource Technician Nielsen, Wildlife Area Manager Dice, and Natural Resource Technician Hammons spent all day installing a new 10” x 10” steel post to re-hang the McNeill gate on. The post was set in concrete. The rental mixer that was brought down failed to operate and concrete had to be mixed by hand in five-gallon buckets and an old salt tub found in one of the nearby barns. It took nearly a full pallet of concrete to finish the job. The next step is to weld the gate to the post and set the other post where the lock and pin will be installed. Several other gates need the same type of repair. All repairs and replacements will be done with all steel materials.  

Conducting Business Operations and Policy

General Facilities and Equipment Maintenance and Repairs: Sherman Creek Wildlife Area staff members kept sprinklers running and lawns mowed at headquarters. Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Palmer swept out dirt and cobwebs at the Wildlife Area headquarters, for a fresh, clean facility with which to greet new employee Graves later this month. 

Other

Fire at Swanson Lakes Wildlife Area: This week a fire was reported by the fence crew at the Swanson Lakes Wildlife Area. Both Wildlife Area Manager Finch and Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Wagner were in Cheney, Washington when the page went out from the sheriff’s office. Finch stayed in contact with local fire fighters and was advised that the fire would soon be under control due to the road location and the direction of the wind. The fire started along a WDFW fence-line and moved to the south towards the road which burnt, mostly on the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Only a few square feet of property were burnt on WDFW land. 

Newman Lake Issue with Floating Docks: Access Manager Dziekan received a report this week of a person who fell between a large gap in between the docks. Dziekan and Natural Resource Technician Brant went out to Newman Lake to identify the issue with the wide gap in between the docks. As was suspected by Dziekan, there were bolts missing that held the docks together therefore widening the gap between the docks. Dziekan and Brant brought a magnet with them on a rope and were successful at retrieving one of the bolts and nuts but had to make a trip into Spokane to a company called “Fasteners” to get the additional hardware to bolt the docks back into place. 

Managing Wildlife Populations

Grizzly Bear Trapping: Natural Resource Technician Edmondson accompanied Wildlife Conflict Specialist Bennett to a meeting with the United States Fish and Wildlife Services (USFWS) grizzly team. The USFWS is currently running a trapline in Pend Oreille County to document and take samples from grizzlies in the area. One bear was captured on camera that had triggered the trap but was not captured. 

Black Bear: Natural Resource Technician Edmondson and Keeling transported an adult black bear carcass to Spokane Valley for lab testing due to observed odd behavior and physical abnormalities. The bear was dispatched near Northport after being reported as circling nonstop but showed no physical injuries or a limp. Upon inspection, it was noted that the bears eyes were recessed deep into the skull and the hindquarters were severely atrophied despite the rest of the bear having good musculature. This is the second case of a bear being dispatched with similar abnormalities and behavior. The first case was in Newport earlier this month. 

Lynx Monitoring Project: Wildlife Biologists Prince and Johnson checked lynx cameras. Cameras are deployed across the Kettles Range in a cooperative monitoring project. Partners include Washington State University, Conservation Northwest, Colville National Forest, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), and the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. 

CWD Sampling: North Region 1 Water Access Area Manager Dziekan and Natural Resource Technician Brant were notified of a recently deceased deer found in a Spokane neighborhood near where the recently determined Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD)-positive deer carcass was sampled. Brant, who also works as a CWD sampling technician each fall, collected lymph node samples from the deer for testing. 

Monarchs: Biologists Lowe and Brinkman surveyed numerous patches of showy milkweed at the Swanson Lakes Wildlife Area in Lincoln County for monarch larvae and butterflies. Lots of bumble bees, but no monarchs were observed. Monarchs only lay their eggs on milkweed and larvae feed exclusively on this plant. The butterfly has experienced extreme declines and is being considered for federal listing. 

Bats: Biologists Lowe and Brinkman conducted the biennial roost survey of a Townsend’s big-eared bat colony that uses an old cabin on private property near Eloika Lake. The colony has been monitored by WDFW for over a decade. This year the colony was estimated at around 200 bats, which is a decline from previous years, although visibility inside the cabin makes counting fairly difficult. Townsend’s big-eared bats are a candidate species for listing in Washington. 

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Science Camp: Biologist Brinkman provided a weekly program for the City of Spokane’s Natural Science Camp at the Finch Arboretum. After a short walk to find a nice shade tree, 23 students, ages 6-11, learned about identifying tracks of different wildlife species and examined skulls of mammals and birds. 

W.T. Wooten Wildlife Area Campgrounds, Parking Areas, and Shooting Range: Natural Resource Technicians Jensen and Tritt checked the campgrounds, parking areas, shooting range, and cleaned up trash. Tritt and Jensen removed a rock dam from the Tucannon River near Campground 5. They took the ATVs up Cummings Creek and dispersed the rest of the rocks and logs left at the campsite that was constructed by a member of the public. While in Walla Walla County, staff members cleaned up trash at the McDonald Road and Swegle Road parking areas. Wooten staff members used the dump truck and trailer to haul the tractor to Panjab. They placed ecology blocks in the driveway of the old Campground 9 where the public has reopened the road and have been illegally camping. Jensen and Tritt limbed up trees in Campground 1. 

Region 1 South Access Staff Activity: Maintenance Mechanic Heimgartner and Natural Resource Technician Nielsen serviced access sites at the Wooten Wildlife Area, Heller Bar, Shumaker, and Boggans. Heimgartner and Nielsen were unable to service Bezona and Cougar Creek access areas due to the active fire. Heimgartner and Nielsen assisted the Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) program by mowing and chopping down black berry vines at the AIS check station located near Chief Timothy Park. Nielsen installed new fire rings at the Joseph Creek school house and at Christmas camp. Nielsen also installed a litter bag dispenser at Shumaker.  

Rainbow Lake Algal Bloom: Rainbow Lake continues to have an algal bloom. The bluish plaques were absent this week after the cooler temperatures and high winds stirred the lake up. 

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Palouse City Council Meeting: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Harris, Wildlife Conflict Supervisor Earl, and Officer Silver attended the Palouse City council meeting to discuss recent cougar depredations, activity, and sightings within the town of Palouse. Harris discussed ways to coexist with cougars, how to prevent livestock depredations, and the WDFW response protocol to cougar reports. 

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Rustlers Gulch Inholding: Sherman Creek Wildlife Area Manager Anderson drew up and presented a brief slide show to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Trust Land Transfer (TLT) review board. DNR owns a 40-acre parcel located entirely within the boundaries of Rustlers Gulch Wildlife Area. This property is one of ten that are up for review to move from DNR to other agencies. Anderson gave an “elevator pitch” to the volunteer board, showing why the property has little to no timber sale or lease value to DNR. It does have value to WDFW, which actively manages the surrounding lands for forest health, wildlife, and recreation. Final parcel rankings are expected out in August and any actual transfers will require legislative funding. 

Spalding’s Catchfly Silene Surveys: Biologist Woodall and Natural Resource Technician Hammon finished the Silene surveys this year. With the hot temps and seasonal drought, they found fewer plants in a few of the monitoring plots. David has seen this before under similar drought conditions when individual plants may not be present and are just remaining dormant for the year. Wade also had to repair the yard sprinklers.

Amber Lake: Natural Resources Specialist Dziekan and Natural Resources Technician Brant got the new ATV sprayer calibrated and decided to use it on Amber Lake. While they were there, Dziekan sprayed the area for rush skeletonweed. 

Reardan Audubon Noxious Weed Control: This week, Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Wagner made a trip to the Reardan Audubon early in the morning to spray some Canada thistle and St. John’s wort. 

Chief Joseph Wildlife Area 4-O Ranch Fire: The Cougar Creek Fire began July 15th on the 4-O Ranch Wildlife Area. The fire is still burning, with most of the fire activity having moved off the wildlife area and onto higher elevation lands on the national forest. Currently the wildlife area is closed, and evacuation levels remain unchanged. Some areas burned significantly hotter than others. Many trees are dead. The historic Mountain View Cemetery was burned. Some old wood granaries and wood debris left from the Mountain View School were burned and destroyed. At least three gates on the wildlife area were burned and will need new post structures installed to make them useable again. Several interior fences used for grazing cows and some boundary stock fences were burned.  

Aerial Survey of Shrub Plot: This week Wildlife Area Manager Finch flew the drone over the shrub plot that was planted in early May 2024 under an Aquatic Lands Enhancement Account (ALEA) grant to check for trespassing cattle. Recently, a fence contractor working in the Telford Recreation Area took down the fence between the DNR pasture and WDFW, causing approximately 50 head of cattle to trespass within the wildlife area. Most of those cows went right to the shrub plot, but the deer fence was holding them out. The Spokane Chapter of Pheasant Forever participated in this project and entered it into an onX contest, winning the grand prize of $7,500 towards future restoration project. Until the fence-line between the two pastures is secure and solid, periodical checks will be done to protect the shrubs from trespass cattle. 

Revere Wetland Restoration Project: This week Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Wagner went to the Revere Wildlife Area to pull the boards out of the wetland control structure. This drains the wetland for the next phase of the wetland project scheduled to start this fall. 

Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Native Grassland Restoration Work: This week Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Wagner started to plow the BLM field along North Telford Road called the Sandygren parcel. This field work started last year with two full years of chemical fallow before plowing. After plowing, the field will be disced, and the coil packed. This field will be seeded to a native grass/forb mix in mid-October. The BLM Assistant Agreement ends on October 14, 2024.

Providing Education and Outreach

Cougar Creek Fire: The Cougar Creek fire has now consumed over six thousand acres and the east half of the 4-O Ranch, east of Wenatchee Creek. The fire is moving west toward the Grouse Flats Unit. Fire staff members requested use of a wildlife area ATV for scouting and planning purposes. This was delivered and picked up once completed. Biologist Dice and Natural Resource Specialist Whittaker used the dozer to create fire lines around the corral and barn at the 4-O Ranch. The excavator was used to clean out a pond. Whittaker checked on the Humvee and 5-ton to make sure they were ready and filled with water in the event of wildfires on Smoothing Iron.  

Conducting Business Operations and Policy

Administrative Duties - Hiring: Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Palmer and Sherman Creek Wildlife Area Manager Anderson reviewed application documents from fifteen candidates referred by human resources for the open Sherman Creek Natural Resource Technician position. They narrowed the list down to four candidates, all of whom agreed to interview for the job online. Palmer, Anderson, and Dziekan will conduct the interviews. Dr. Melia DeVivo was invited to join the panel but has a scheduling conflict. Wildlife area staff members ensured that the Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) sampling part of the job and working for Dr. DeVivo in the fall was adequately reflected in the interview questions, which DeVivo approved. 

Palmer, Dziekan, and Anderson interviewed four candidates for the open Sherman Creek Natural Resource Technician position, on Wednesday and Thursday. Palmer, the supervisor for the position, conducted reference checks on Thursday, August 1, and started the approval process for the most qualified of the four. He hopes to soon be able to extend a job offer to the top candidate. 

Other

Waikiki Spring Access Trail: This week Natural Resource Technician Brant mowed an access trail to make a more defined access to the pond instead of the public having to cross private property. 

Managing Wildlife Populations

Elk Calf Study: Wildlife Area Manager Dingman responded to a collar mortality from the elk calf study and found a dropped collar in a brush pile. 

They placed the bear-resistant food locker at a popular campground on Sherman Creek Wildlife Area. The box is identical to those used by the adjacent Colville National Forest. Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Palmer’s professional construction skills came in especially handy for construction of the concrete pad. A portable electric concrete mixer was essential to getting the pad poured in a reasonable amount of time. There are four lockers left to install. Two lockers will be placed in campgrounds at LeClerc Creek Wildlife Area, where grizzly bears could conceivably be passing through, and two more for busy campgrounds at Sherman Creek. A WDFW logo sticker marks the first box. Hopefully this is the first of many bear-resistant food lockers placed at WDFW camping areas throughout the state!  

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Providing Education and Outreach

Conducting Business Operations and Policy

Managing Wildlife Populations

Waterfowl: Biologists Lowe and Brinkman conducted waterfowl brood counts on two routes that are surveyed annually. Biologist Brinkman drove the Ewan-Revere route, but most of the potholes along the route were dry or nearly empty so very few waterfowl were observed. Biologist Lowe surveyed the Lincoln Potholes route and observed a wide variety of waterfowl, but fewer broods were observed than expected. 

USGS Breeding Bird Survey: Biologist Brinkman completed a United States Geological Survey (USGS) Breeding Bird Survey on a route near Twin Lakes outside of Inchelium. This route had been surveyed for years by a member of the public, but a request to have someone new pick up the route was passed through Spokane Audubon late last year. This survey consisted of 50 point-counts conducted at approximately one-half mile intervals along a designated route. Each point count lasts for three minutes and follows a specific survey protocol to maintain consistent and comparable results.  

Tucannon Bighorn Sheep: Wildlife Area Manager Dingman located the Tucannon Herd bighorn sheep this week. There are still six lambs alive.

Elk at Smoothing Iron Ridge:  A large group of elk has been hanging out at Smoothing Iron Ridge. They have been highly visible and have been using crops planted in fields and water troughs.   

Providing Recreation Opportunities

WT Wooten Wildlife Area Lakes: Natural Resource Technicians Jensen and Tritt checked the fish screens and adjusted water levels as needed. Jensen cleaned up trash around the lakes and replaced the roll of litter bags at Rainbow Lake. Some individuals decided to drive their UTVs out to the Spring Lake Dam and park near the overflow culvert. Officer Delp responded and ended up writing several citations to them for various things. 

Wildlife Area Manager Dingman and Jensen put the spotting scope back at Rainbow Lake. The scope still does not focus very well and Dingman passed that information along to the Wildlife Watching folks in Olympia. 

Natural Resource Technician Tritt cut trees off the Rainbow Lake inlet pipeline.

Recreational Access Area Maintenance and Management:  Maintenance Mechanic Heimgartner and Natural Resource Technician Nielsen cleaned access sites on the wildlife area from Heller Bar to the Wooten campgrounds and lakes, sprayed weeds, and cleaned up graffiti.  They report Heller Bar is busy with rafting season in full swing.  

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Cooperative Fencing: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Harris ordered fencing materials for a cooperative fencing project in Lincoln County to protect a blueberry field from elk and deer damage. Wildlife Conflict Specialist Harris also met with a producer in Spokane County to discuss details of a cooperative fencing project proposal for next fiscal year. 

Bear Concern: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Kolb responded to a report of a yearling black bear hanging around a popular rural intersection.  It is possible it is the same bear that was previously hanging around the same area in early December. Kolb responded to the area but was unable to locate the bear.  Advice was provided to some local residents and producers. 

Depredation Investigations: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) staff members conducted two depredation investigations this week.  The first was a cow that was found dead on a United States Forest Service (USFS) allotment.  The cow was discovered by loggers and the carcass had been moved from its original location, so they could continue logging.  Staff members conducted a full site investigation and field necropsy, but no signs of predator involvement could be found, and it was determined that the cow died of unknown causes.  

The second investigation was an injured calf that had been pulled off a USFS allotment. Staff members conducted a full injury investigation. After an after action review the determination of the investigation was confirmed wolf. WDFW staff members coordinated with the Asotin County Sheriff on both investigations. 

Juvenile Hawk: Supervisor Earl received an after-hours call regarding a hawk out of its nest. The reporting party stated that the hawk had fallen out of the nest and she was worried that it was vulnerable to neighborhood dogs and cats. The reporting party managed to get it into a cage before calling. The reporting party was instructed to return the hawk to a safe place in hopes that its mother may find it. They called again later and stated that the mother was observed with the juvenile. 

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Bureau of Land Management Field Work: This week Wildlife Area Manager Finch and Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Wagner finished spraying herbicide on the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) field. After Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Wagner finished spraying, Finch and Wagner rinsed out the sprayer with water and moved the sprayer and tractor back the Swanson Lake shop location. 

Habitat Maintenance: Private Lands Biologist Nizer and Private Lands Technician Rumiser weed whacked weeds around trees planted this spring and watered trees as a weekly duty.  

Noxious Weed Control (West Lake of Swanson): The previous week, while moving equipment Private Lands Biologist Baarstad and Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Wagner had noticed some St. John's wort patches and Canada thistle along the west lake of Swanson. Wagner took the UTV sprayer out and proceeded to spray those troublesome areas. He went out to assess the location Tuesday, and the Canada thistle looked as though they have been hit hard.

Providing Education and Outreach

Lincoln County Wolf Meeting: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Region 1 Conflict and Enforcement staff members and a wolf biologist participated in an informational meeting on wolves in Davenport, in coordination with the Lincoln County Cattleman’s Association. Staff members discussed current wolf populations, recovery goals and objectives, the rights of community members when it comes to wolves, husbandry practices to discourage wolf depredations on livestock, and answered many questions from meeting attendees. 

Turkey Article: Private Lands Biologist Nizer started reaching out to a turkey hunting property landowner in Whitman County, as well as hunters and conservation districts. They discussed the creation of an article to show how partnerships work and how they can help accomplish habitat development goals for turkeys. Nizer created a rough draft and will send it to Communication Consultant Foster and his colleagues once it is finalized. 

Science Camp: Biologist Lowe provided the first of several weekly programs for the City of Spokane’s Natural Science Camp at the Finch Arboretum. The group of 16 six- and seven-year-olds learned about the importance of pollinators and bats, as well as ecology of local wildlife including turkeys and moose. The highlight of the afternoon was catching and identifying a queen western bumble bee, which is a species currently being considered for federal listing under the Endangered Species Act.  

Conducting Business Operations and Policy

4-O Ranch Wildlife Aree Hay Pile Monitoring and Cleanup:  At the recommendation of Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Wildlife Area Manager Dice made arrangements to rent an excavator from Lewiston and bring it to the 4-O for the purpose of dismantling and scattering a pile of rotten hay.  There is concern the pile will spontaneously combust due to residual moisture and rot in the hay.  There are approximately 1,600 round bails in the pile.  DNR is monitoring the pile for heat signatures using IR equipment.  The rental excavator will be on site July 9.   

Other

Fire Protection: This week, staff members will be preparing for fire restriction posting.  Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Wagner weed trimmed around the 3000-gallon storage water tank at the Swanson Lakes Wildlife Area.  The vegetation was cleared around the water tank to protect the tank from any wildfire.