Managing Wildlife Populations

Maternity Roost Bat Emergence Counts: Biologists Lowe and Brinkman, along with help from Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife staff members DeVivo, Westerman, and Justice and Volunteer Deshazer, conducted evening emergence counts of two bat maternity colonies in Spokane and Lincoln counties this week.

Biologists Lowe and Brinkman, along with help from Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife staff members Lacivita, Harris, and Wagner and Volunteer Deshazer, conducted evening emergence counts of three bat maternity colonies this week. 

Chronic Wasting Disease Operations: Natural Resource Technician Moberg collected five Chronic Wasting Disease samples from roadkill deer at Department of Transportation pits, found along the roadway, and from a caller reporting a dead deer near their house.

Tucannon Bighorn Sheep: Wildlife Area Manager Dingman located the bighorn sheep this week. Six lambs have been observed this year, and there is still one ewe who may give birth.               

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Rock Lake Poison Hemlock: Access Manager Dziekan and Natural Resource Technician Brant revisited Rock Lake after an herbicide treatment last week. The herbicide took to the plants better than expected. Every plant that was sprayed was curling - won’t be long now before they are completely dead. Dziekan and Brant applied another round of herbicide this week. After the second round which should have about 90% of the plants treated, there are still going to be some that haven’t bolted yet and emerged from the brush, but Dziekan and Brant will continue to apply herbicide as they spot plants. Once the plants are dead, the areas where the public may reasonably interact with the plants will be cleared. Most of the plants are out of those areas, they are just waiting for the herbicide to kill the remainder. 

Routine Access Area Service: Natural Resource Technician Brant made a solo trip on the way back from the District 1 team meeting to check a few sites. Brant identified an issue with asphalt at Williams Lake. For some reason, the asphalt next to the toilet is caving in and creating a tripping hazard. This also creates an issue for ADA customers gaining access to the toilet. Brant piled larger stones in the gap, sourced from around the access area. Then he packed in the void with a mix of dirt and gravel that again was sourced from the access area. Brant then tamped it down and created a level surface that eliminated the tripping hazard improved access to the toilet facilities. A more permanent fix will be applied to the issue, but this was a great use of available resources to fix a problem in real-time. 

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Nuisance Marmots: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Harris coordinated with a wildlife control operator and other Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife District 2 staff members to remove nuisance yellow-bellied marmots from the Region 1 Headquarters office. The marmots were euthanized and saved to be donated as research specimens.

STEAM Presentation: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Harris and Officer Beauchene talked with kids at East Farms Elementary about careers in wildlife biology and wildlife enforcement. Kids also engaged in a hands-on activity to learn about wildlife in Newman Lake.

Injured Owl: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Harris responded to a report of an injured owl sitting in the median on I-90. Harris was able to locate the owl and transport it to a rehabilitation facility in Spokane for treatment. The facility determined that the owl would not be able to recover from its injuries and humanely euthanized it. 

“Abandoned” Fawns: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Kolb received a visit at the office by a concerned individual who was out spraying a large agricultural field when they came across a fawn. Assuming the fawn was abandoned because no adult deer were seen in the area, the individual picked the fawn up and put it in a box. Then they continued to spray the field, and the party came across another fawn. They picked that fawn up too. Kolb asked the individual where the box of deer was at and they said back at their shop, and they said they just needed to know where to take them. Kolb instructed the individual to immediately put the fawns back where they had been found. 

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Asotin Creek Wildlife Area Dozer Work: Natural Resource Scientist Whittaker finished leveling terraces with a District1 dozer and smoothed it out with 12 foot harrow on Meyers Ridge. After terraces were completed, they took the dozer down into George Creek to clean up trails. Rocks and overgrowth were pushed out of the way for recreational users. 

Aquatic Lands Enhancement Account (ALEA) Shrub Plot: Volunteers from the Spokane Audubon and Pheasant Forever put in a 780-shrub plot for wintering habitat for grouse. The plot is located just east of Z-Lake in the Lake Creek Drainage. A 7.5 foot deer fence was constructed around the shrubs to protect them from browsing. 

All the shrubs are in excellent condition, but maintenance is required to reduce weed competition. This week Wildlife Area Manager Finch took a backpack sprayer to spray between the rows. There was a lot of lamb’s quarter, hoary cress, and Canada thistle between the rows. There was also a lot of silky milkweed coming so Finch avoided spraying that beneficial plant for monarch butterflies. 

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) Volunteer Work-party Weekend: The annual Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation volunteer work party took place this past weekend with a smaller than average turnout. There was some great work completed! Washington State Fish and Wildlife staff members Dice, Woodall, and Hammons, and University of Idaho Interns Cheili and Alli worked with about 20 volunteers to remove approximately four miles of fence, put out salt blocks, and clean out water troughs. 

Conducting Business Operations and Policy

General Facilities and Equipment Maintenance and Repairs: Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Palmer replaced a leaky section of irrigation pipe leading from Sherman Creek, through a diversion box, to the private Sherman Creek Orchard, and Sherman Creek Wildlife Area’s agricultural fields. He found some extra pipe stored at the wildlife area and was able to patch it back in.

Chapman Lake Visit: This week Wildlife Area Manager Finch, Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Wagner, and Region 1 Real Estate Specialist Stallinga met at Chapman Lake to install two different signs. A couple signs stated “No Target Practice” and WAC 220-500-140. The other signs were Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife boundary signs that will identify the property line. Wagner drilled out the lock holes on the gate to install the larger size locks that the Department uses. 

General Facilities and Equipment Maintenance and Repairs: Access Area Manager Dziekan and Natural Resource Technician Brant completed All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) training at the Blue Mountains Wildlife Area. After formal training concluded, trainers and trainees went on a wildlife area trail ride, even spotting a sow bear and her cub from a safe distance. 

This training has freed up the pair to use their ATV for weed control, greatly increasing their efficiency in maintaining the grounds at their water access areas. Dziekan and Brant also found that the previous damage to an ATV they had borrowed was worse than expected. Dziekan ordered parts and he and Brant will repair the vehicle. When they are done, the ATV will have new brake pads all around, new rotors on the front, and a new caliper on the front right, all for hundreds of dollars cheaper than a service shop would charge.

Managing Wildlife Populations

Vulcan Bighorn Sheep Habitat Tour: Wildlife Biologist Prince toured a Department of Natural Resources (DNR) parcel within the core use area of the Vulcan Bighorn Sheep Herd. The tour was attended by DNR staff members, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife staff members, and Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation staff members. The group would all like to see some habitat improvements (timber harvest) occur on the parcel and will be working together to explore funding opportunities. Access to the site is limited and may require helicopter logging which is quite expensive. 

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Photo by WDFW

Sharp-tailed Grouse: Biologist Lowe investigated the last recorded location of a male sharp-tailed grouse in Lincoln County. The bird, wearing a GPS transmitter as part of the April translocation from British Columbia, had not reported a location in several days. A roost pile was found but there was no transmitter or sign of mortality. 

Biologist Brinkman investigated the last recorded location of a different sharp-tailed grouse that had not uploaded any new locations in over a week. This one was on private land in Lincoln County. No sign of grouse activity was discovered in the vicinity of the last location. 

Biologist Brinkman also conducted a sharp-tailed grouse lek search northeast of Creston. One of the male grouse translocated from British Columbia in April has remained in a relatively small area between two historic leks for over a week based on GPS locations from its transmitter. This behavior could indicate lek activity at this location and warranted an investigation. This area is primarily private land, so this initial survey was conducted from the road, but no birds were heard or observed during this visit.

Moose: Yearling twin moose visited the neighbors near the Last Resort Campground this week. 

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Recreational Access Area Maintenance and Management: Maintenance Mechanic Heimgartner and Natural Resource Technician Nielsen cleaned and maintained access sites on the Snake River, Grande Ronde River, Asotin Creek, Wooten Lakes, and campgrounds. They picked up litter, cleaned toilets, sprayed weeds, and trimmed branches. They also painted parking lines at Heller Bar in preparation for the busy summer boating and rafting season. There was some enhancement funding available for gravel delivery to Cougar Creek. Staff members evenly spread the gravel across the parking area.

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

Reardan Audubon Work: Access Manager Dziekan and Natural Resource Technician Brant have been working hard on grass and weed control at Reardan Audubon Lakes Wildlife Area. Dziekan and Brant applied a couple rounds of herbicide over the last month, and this week started the cutting process. The work has been on the southern parking area only. Dziekan and Brant mowed the entrance, string trimmed the interior perimeter of the parking area, and string trimmed along the fence line leading to the blind. The plan is to come back with some more herbicide to control the grass along the fence line that is growing in the rip-rap rock. 

Spading’s Catchfly Working Group Annual Meeting: Assistant Wildlife Area Manager Woodall spent two days with the Spalding’s Catchfly Working Group at their annual meeting in Moscow, Idaho. There was a field trip to some silene restoration sites in remnant Palouse Prairie. 

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Garfield County Bear Issue: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Wade received a report of a bear in the Bakers Pond area getting into trash cans at multiple cabins. Wade spoke with the reporting party who said that he had been putting out corn for deer and the bear had been observed feeding on it as well. Wade discussed the issues with putting out attractants for wildlife and that in most cases it is more of a harm for wildlife than help. The reporting party agreed to clean up the corn. Wade also directed the reporting party to haze the bear if it returned. 

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Photo by WDFW

Wolf Non-Lethal Deterrents: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Kolb assisted a producer who is actively calving in Columbia Pack territory with the deployment of non-lethal deterrents on the landscape. The producer is interested in entering into a Damage Prevention Cooperative Agreement for livestock which will provide cost-sharing measures for the use of additional non-lethal tools. 

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Photo by WDFW

Bear Issues: Conflict staff members in Districts 1 and 3 have been responding to a lot of bear issues.

Black Bear Damage: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Kolb was contacted by a Walla Walla County strawberry producer who experiences significant black bear damage on their mountain strawberry fields every year. Kolb lent the producer some electric fencing supplies to help get through another season.

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Prescribed Burn Completion: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) fire staff members carried out the long-planned prescription burn at part of Rustlers Gulch Wildlife Area on May 14 and 15. They burned over 250 acres! Rainfall during the previous weeks kept the underlying soil damp, while allowing surface duff to dry out. This minimized the loss of large living trees, while meeting the objective of removing duff and smaller-sized vegetation. Of the few large trees that did burn down, most were Douglas firs, not Ponderosa pines. Sherman Creek Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Palmer, who holds a current firefighter’s Red Card, helped with several tasks, including igniting vegetation. Approximately 20 staff members, consisting of WDFW firefighters and local fire district members, did the work. A handful of neighbors told Palmer that they were happy that the work was being done. One small girl said she wanted to fight fires someday, so Palmer pointed out Fire Planner Edwards as a role model.

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Photo by WDFW

Shrub Plot Work: Wildlife Area Manager Finch and Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Wagner finished placing fabric around the smaller plants where the volunteers were short on staples last week. Finch had to order additional staples to finish this project. 

Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Restoration Project- This week Wildlife Area Manager Wagner took the tractor and mower over to the BLM Assistant Agreement Restoration Project to start mowing. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife staff members wanted to start spraying the field but since cattle were present on the field until June 8, a new plan was developed to mow to reduce the vegetation so it could be sprayed after June 8.

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Photo by WDFW

Wildlife Area Lands Weed Project Evaluations: Assistant Wildlife Area Manager Woodall met with local weed Contractor Hagenah to look at last fall’s vegetation control and their results. Himalayan blackberry has been steadily increasing over the years and they wanted to try some control efforts in George Creek. Their efforts were very impressive, and it looks like 90% of the blackberry vines are currently dead. There was some regrowth and missed vines that will need to be followed up with treatment in the fall. 

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Photo by WDFW

Habitat Plot: Private Lands Biologist Nizer worked with Columbia Plateau Wildlife Management Association (CPWMA) to seed a one-acre plot with clover and alfalfa for elk and deer habitat. Seed was broadcasted with an ATV seeder. 

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Photo by WDFW

Providing Education and Outreach

Bear Education: Biologist Brinkman participated in a bear safety event with local hiking groups at the Spokane Valley Library. This event reached approximately 40 people and focused on techniques for staying safe in bear country. It included a demonstration on the proper use of bear spray using inert canisters. 

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

Kids in the Hills: Biologists Lowe and Brinkman, with help from Biologists LaCivita and Yamaura from the Habitat Program, provided instruction for the first three days of the annual Kids in the Hills event at Dishman Hills Natural Area, leading classes of 3rd and 4th graders on hikes in the natural area while teaching them about local wildlife. The event is organized by volunteers from the Dishman Hills Conservancy and reaches nearly 500 Spokane area students over five days.

Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM) Night: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Harris and Biologist Brinkman attended STEAM night at South Pines Elementary. Harris and Brinkman taught students about native wildlife around Spokane, including moose, black bears, and coyotes. 

Camp Wooten: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Kolb taught classes at Camp Wooten for 6th grade campers from Dayton, Waitsburg, and Touchet. The topics covered included wildlife in the Blue Mountains, predator/prey relationships, species identification, and general safety when recreating in wild places.

Conducting Business Operations and Policy

Fence Contractors: Currently, Swanson Lakes Wildlife Area has two contract businesses rebuilding the boundary fence lines from damage caused by the Whitney Fire of 2020. One of the businesses, Doherty Fencing LLC is rebuilding what has been described as Area 5, 6, and 7 on the west side of the project. Four K Fencing Contractor is rebuilding what is described as Area 4 on the east side of the project. All the fence lines that will be rebuilt will be to wildlife friendly standard except where the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife land is adjacent to an active cattle operation - then the top wire will be barbed. All other fences will be rebuilt to the top wire and bottom wire being smooth. 

Lincoln County Annual Fire Meeting: Wildlife Area Manager Finch and Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Wagner attended the Lincoln County Annual Fire Meeting. Finch introduced Wagner to the group as the new wildlife area assistant manager for the Swanson Lakes, Revere, and Reardan Audubon wildlife areas. All the fire districts were present along with employees from Department of Natural Resources, The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, the Washington State Fire Commissioners Association, and others to give an update on each organization relating to the upcoming fire season. Finch and Wagner updated the group on water tank placements within the wildlife area, the fence building project, and other information. 

Managing Wildlife Populations

Tucannon Bighorn Sheep: Wildlife Area Manager Dingman located the Tucannon bighorn sheep several times this week. Lambing should be happening anytime. There is only one ewe with a working collar currently. The ewes appear to be dispersing to get ready to lamb. 

Golden Eagle Monitoring: Dingman checked the Cummings Creek, Merengo, and Hartsock nests this week. The Cummings Creek birds either did not nest or the nest has already failed this year. Both the Merengo and Hartsock nests have hatched, and each nest has at least one eaglet in it.

Five Sisters Wolf Pack: Biologists Lowe and Brinkman assisted Wolf Biologist Roussin with checking a trapline for wolves in the Five Sisters pack. One wolf, a 2-year old male, was captured and collared during this effort. The GPS collar attached to this wolf will help biologists identify core-use areas, and the approximate boundaries of this pack’s territory.

Sharp-tailed Translocated Grouse Update: So far, from the 30 Sharp-tailed Grouse that were translocated from British Columbia to the Swanson Lakes Wildlife Area office there have been two accounted mortalities. One of the mortalities was retrieved by the Region 1 assistant district biologist and frozen so that it could be transported to Washington State University for a full necropsy. The second mortality appeared to be a coyote predation. 

Duck Banding: Wildlife Biologist Prince assisted Kalispel Tribe biologists with duck banding. The tribe is running a large-scale banding and radio-tagging project in collaboration with Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

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Lincoln County Bats: Biologists Lowe and Brinkman captured bats at Rock Ranch in Lincoln County and obtained samples that will be tested for Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd), the fungus that causes white-nose syndrome in bats. White-nose syndrome has not been detected in bats in Lincoln County; however, surveillance efforts are critical to early detection of Pd. Other Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife staff members, Bureau of Land Management employees, and a professor and students from Eastern Washington University assisted with the capture effort.

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Boggan’s Access Site Improvements: Access Manager Heimgartner ordered six truckloads of gravel for the Boggan’s Access Site using recent new supplemental budget funds. Natural Resource Technician Nielsen later used the access area tractor to complete the gravel spreading project. They anticipate there may be a few more gravel deliveries made with the goal of covering the entire site with a new surface.

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

Access Areas Spring Opening: North Region 1 Water Access Area Manager Dziekan and his assistant, Natural Resource Technician Brant, had the summer seasonal access areas ready for this week’s opener. Dziekan noted that he typically sees heavy site use with the spring opener, but based on the condition of the toilets, that appeared not to be the case this week. This will probably change once the weather starts getting a bit nicer. Over the week, Dziekan and Brant conducted routine activities such as cleaning restrooms, picking up litter, and applying herbicide to weedy areas. 

Turkey Access: Private Lands Biologist Nizer answered phone calls and emails regarding turkey access and gave advice to turkey hunters wanting to hunt in Whitman and Spokane counties. Nizer spoke to a hunter and directed him to a property enrolled in the Hunt by Written Permission Program. The hunter came from Alabama to hunt turkeys and was successful on the property. 

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Photo by WDFW

Recreation Access Site Maintenance: Heimgartner and Nielsen worked together to clean access sites across the district from Heller Bar and the Grand Ronde River to the Wooten Wildlife Area campgrounds. They picked up trash, sprayed weeds, and restocked supplies. They also cleaned the shooting ranges. Wade cut vegetation around the Asotin Creek shop and gate. 

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Photo by WDFW

Reardan Audubon - Access Manager Dziekan and Natural Resource Technician Brant spent some more time out at Reardan Audubon lakes this week. There was an application of herbicide a couple weeks ago, targeting broadleaf and grass. This time around, the broadleaf control was very effective, the grass control was effective, but more grass started popping up since the last visit. 

Brant focused on string trimming the entrance gate on the southern parking area, cutting down tall grass and dead weeds that had either previously been sprayed or blown in and gotten trapped on the fence. The string trimming work was done after the grass was mowed along the driveway leading to the property. 

While Brant was working on beautification, Dziekan loaded up some glyphosate and worked on getting the areas of new growth. More work is planned for this site, but they wanted to eliminate the grass growing in the rip-rap rock along the trail. The northern parking area is looking great. Dziekan applied broadleaf herbicide last season along the trail and had good results. 

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Trail Camera Check. Wildlife Conflict Specialist Bennett worked with a livestock producer with concerns of a recent calf loss. A coyote was the only wildlife noted on the trail camera in Pend Oreille County. 

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Photo by WDFW

Cougar Activity: Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife staff members trapped a juvenile male cougar in Columbia County. The cougar was in poor body condition and exhibiting behavior consistent with habituation. The cougar was transported to Department carnivore specialists for potential placement in a zoo or sanctuary. 

Beaver Evaluation: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Kolb met with a beaver relocation specialist and conducted a site visit in Walla Walla County. Current beaver activity has damaged critical shade trees utilized by cattle in the summer and blocked the flow of water to an irrigation pump. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife habitat biologists also assisted in providing near-term relief for the producer. Additionally, the beaver relocation specialist will meet with their team about long-term solutions for the problem area (for example a pond leveler/beaver deceiver). 

Bear Concerns in Stevens and Pend Oreille Counties. Wildlife Conflict Specialist Bennett worked with eight landowners with bear damage questions and concerns. Information on deterrents and securing attractants were covered. Bennett also reached out to the local garbage disposal company on a long-term solution. 

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Spring Habitat Work: Private Lands Biologist Nizer met with Private Lands Biologist Baarstad and Natural Resource Technician Keeling. Nizer assisted with planting 500 trees at a hunting access site. Nizer planned a last-minute spring planting at a Hunt by Written Permission property for clover and alfalfa. Nizer met with another landowner to discuss guzzler implementation for this summer. 

Riparian Shrub Project: Wildlife Area Manager Finch and Private Lands Biologist Baarstad prepared a rototiller and attached it to the tractor and moved it to the project site south of Z-Lake. The site was sprayed out with Roundup so that it could be tilled before laying matting material. Region 2 Private Lands Biologist Braaten came to help lay the matting material. Plants were delivered from Plants of the Wildlife the following day. The Aquatic Lands Enhancement Account (ALEA) riparian shrub planting day with volunteers was on May 11. The Spokane Chapter of the Pheasant Forever Habitat Chairman Gruenke and the Spokane Audubon will be working together to complete this important winter habitat project. 

The Pheasant Forever chapter listed this project on their national website. OnX is offering a chance to win a $7,500 grant for habitat projects so Pheasant Forever will be taking a lot of pictures. Pheasant Forever even mentioned this cooperative project may get published in the Pheasant Forever Magazine. It would be a great example of a cooperative project between Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Audubon, and Pheasant Forever.

Carcass Pit Retirement: The state Department of Transportation (DOT) has finished using its highway carcass drop pit off Trout Lake Road at Scatter Creek Wildlife Area, opting to take local roadkill to other disposal sites off Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife lands. DOT has covered the trenches, and Sherman Creek Wildlife Area staff members would like to implement a full site rehabilitation of the pit area, which had several trenches used over the decades. One option is to submit a grant to the state Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) for the cost of planning and implementing the site work. Thanks go to Region 1 Manager Kuttel for working with DOT to get the pit closure implemented so quickly! 

Smoothing Iron Ridge Field Work: Natural Resource Specialist Whittaker finished up spring planting of 50 acres of oats, ten acres of spring wheat, and 3.5 acres of a sunflower/millet/sorghum mix. He then cleaned up the equipment and put it in storage until fall planting time. A part broke on the drill and Whittaker and Wade worked together to reinstall a new part. 

Whittaker reported seeing a cow and calf moose running across the hillside on the Asotin Creek Wildlife Area.

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

Riparian Shrub Project: This week all the planning and work for the Aquatic Lands Enhancement Account (ALEA) riparian shrub planting project at Swanson Lakes Wildlife Area is underway. Saturday is the big work party. They are expecting approximately 35 volunteers who will help plant 780 shrubs and trees and construct a 7.5’ deer fence around the planting. Prior to the workday the site was prepped by rototilling and laying the matting material. 

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

Providing Education and Outreach

Turkey Presentation: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Harris and Officer Beauchene met with a group of first-time turkey hunters at Porcupine Bay Campground to discuss wild turkey biology and management in Washington. The turkey camp was put together by the Armed Forces Initiative and Backcountry Hunters and Anglers. 

Medical Lake Middle School STEM Career Night: Biologist Brinkman attended a career night with other Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) representatives at Medical Lake Middle School. Students and parents visited the tables of WDFW and other local organizations that have professionals working in a field related to the STEM curriculum. WDFW provided outreach materials covering various programs (for example, fish, wildlife, habitat, and enforcement) in our agency. 

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Photo by WDFW

Conducting Business Operations and Policy

General Facilities and Equipment Maintenance and Repairs: Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Palmer repaired part of the field irrigation system coming from Sherman Creek, by the diversion box adjacent to the Inchelium Highway. A section of the pipe was apparently damaged by a vehicle leaving the roadway since the last irrigation season. Palmer cold-welded a hole in the corrugated metal pipe and resealed coupler joints, fixing the leak. 

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

Managing Wildlife Populations

Prairie Grouse: Biologist Lowe was in British Columbia trapping sharp-tailed grouse that were subsequently transported and released in either Lincoln or Douglas county as part of a translocation effort to augment existing local populations. 

Biologist Brinkman assisted Swanson Lakes Wildlife Area Manager Finch setting up release boxes for sharp-tailed grouse on an existing lek in Lincoln County. Translocated birds get placed into the release boxes for 15 to 20 minutes to settle before being released into their new home. 

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

Prairie Grouse: Biologist Lowe was in 70 Mile House, British Columbia trapping the remaining four sharp-tailed grouse needed to complete the translocation effort for this year. The remaining four grouse were released in Lincoln County on the Swanson Lakes Wildlife Area at an existing lek. In total, 60 birds (30 males and 30 females) were captured, transported, and released over six days during this year’s translocation. On the final day of capture, Photojournalist Joel Sartore from National Geographic met the trapping crew to photograph the birds for his Photo Ark project. 

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Prescribed Burn Preparation: Fire Planner Lionberger and Sherman Creek Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Palmer performed fire control line preparation at Rustlers Gulch Wildlife Area. The pair dragged small pasture harrows pulled by an All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) and a Utility Terrain Vehicle (UTV) to prepare lines for any needed bulldozer use during burning. These lines are essentially fire boundaries. 

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Photo by WDFW

Columbia Plateau Wildlife Management Association (CPWMA) Work Party: Private Lands Biologist Nizer worked with CPWMA on a hunt by written permission property. They seeded between two and three acres of an unproductive field into alfalfa strips, clover, and barley. Nizer helped seed with the ATV and with clearing out debris and fencing on the property. 

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

Providing Education and Outreach

Dayton Kid’s Fishing Event: Wildlife Area Manager Dingman and Natural Resource Technician Tritt helped with two kids' fishing events in Dayton. Both events were held on the same day, the first event included the kids from The Boys & Girls Club in Dayton and the second event was sponsored by the city of Dayton. There were approximately 100 kids total who attended and fished the Kid’s Pond in Dayton. 

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

Conducting Business Operations and Policy

South Fork Hayshed Repairs: Wildlife area staff members improved the South Fork hayshed by installing metal siding over the gable ends. The metal covers exposed wood and closes holes that were allowing birds to enter the building. A rental snorkel lift made the job much easier and safer. New bat boxes were also installed on each end of the building. 

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

Managing Wildlife Populations

Golden Eagle Mortality: Biologist Brinkman coordinated with the wildlife program manager from the Spokane Tribe that found a deceased golden eagle with a GPS transmitter on the Spokane Reservation. This coordination also included Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Biologist Vekasy, Wildlife Research Scientist Watson, and a biological consulting organization to determine the owner of the transmitter and learn about the history of the bird. They discovered the bird was marked in 2017 and provided five years of location data before the transmitter stopped functioning. Samples will be submitted to examine lead exposure levels.

Moose Mortality Notification: The moose team received a mortality notification for one of the cow moose collared in February. Biologist Brinkman met with three other WDFW biologists from the moose team to investigate the location of the mortality signal. The cow moose carcass was found intact with no evidence of predator activity. The team of biologists conducted a full field necropsy and collected samples that will be sent to the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Lab (WADDL) for analysis and determination of cause of death. 

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Photo by WDFW

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Access Areas: North Region 1 Water Access Area Manager Dziekan and Natural Resource Technician Brant have been busy cleaning access area restrooms in preparation for spring fishing and boating season. The work included picking up litter and cleaning restrooms, and they used backpack blowers to clear the parking areas of pine needles and other debris that accumulated during the winter. Backpack blowing is very much a routine task, but this scale of backpack blowing takes a lot of time. 

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Controlled Burning: Wildlife area staff members conducted controlled burns of agricultural fields on Smoothing Iron Ridge. They burned wheat stubble off food plot fields in preparation for weed control and spring plantings. They also burned off a perennial grass field due to increasing ventenata and to stimulate new perennial grass growth for the elk. This project was not completed due to the rain so staff members will need to finish it up once nicer weather arrives.

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

Weed Control: Biologist Woodall sprayed parking and access sites on Cloverland and Meyers Ridge roads. He also coordinated with a contractor who completed an aerial spray project for Mediterranean sage.

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Photo by WDFW

Tire Cleanup: Wildlife Area Manager Dingman contacted Columbia County Road Department about disposing of approximately 40 tires and a dryer that were picked up along Hartsock Grade by wildlife area staff members. The county covered the transfer station cost to dispose of everything since it is a county road and right-of-way. Tritt hauled the full dump trailer to the Columbia County transfer station and disposed of the tires and dryer.

Noxious Weed Control: Natural Resource Technicians Jensen and Tritt started spraying the field along Oliphant Road for yellow star thistle and houndstongue. They also sprayed weeds in the area of the Rainbow Lake spoils pile and the field by Campground 2. Tritt repaired one of the all-terrain vehicle spray tanks so all three sprayers are now functioning. Wildlife Area Manager Dingman sprayed weeds around the headquarters fields. Dingman set up some monitoring plots in upper Tumalum Creek for future monitoring of noxious weed infestations.

Habitat Planting: Natural Resource Technician Moberg assisted Private Lands Biologist Thorne-Hadley in planting 120 shrubs on private land that is enrolled in an access agreement program. The landowner tagged along and showed us an additional site with a water guzzler that would be an ideal candidate for future habitat work.

Hunting Access Programs: Natural Resource Technician Moberg and Private Lands Biologist Thorne-Hadley investigated a 2,000+ acre property whose owner has expressed interest in joining the private lands access program. Moberg also met with a representative of Puget Sound Energy to learn more about the Columbia County Windfarm Recreation access program. 

Habitat Plots and Plantings: Private Lands Biologist Nizer met with a landowner to mow a food plot with the tractor and prepared another site for a planting. Nizer also led a crew to plant 1,700 trees for turkey roosting habitat. In total, there were five volunteers for the Saturday project. Nizer also met with Private Lands Biologist Baarstad to plant 1,000 shrubs on a Hunt by Written Permission property.

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Photo by WDFW

Providing Education and Outreach

Trent Elementary: Biologist Brinkman gave a presentation to fifth grade students at Trent Elementary School about moose biology and management in Washington.

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Photo by WDFW

Eagle Scout Project: Wildlife Area Access Manager Dziekan worked with a local boy scout troop to complete an eagle scout project. They installed a personal flotation device loaner station at the Williams Lake Water Access Area.

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Photo by WDFW

Conducting Business Operations and Policy

Riparian Shrub Planting Project: This past week a freight company delivered eight rolls of deer fence that the Spokane Audubon Society purchased for the upcoming riparian winter shrub habitat project at Swanson Lakes Wildlife Area. The Spokane Audubon Society will also be purchasing all the shrubs for the project which makes their total donation over $8,200. The Spokane Chapter of Pheasants Forever will also be involved with their volunteers and funding. There will be approximately 780 trees and shrubs planted and then enclosed with deer fence to protect them from deer and possibly trespassing cattle.

Managing Wildlife Populations

Necropsy Training: Biologists Lowe and Brinkman attended a necropsy training conducted by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Veterinarians Drs. Mansfield and Haman, and Pathologist Dr. Oliveira from the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Lab (WADDL) at Washington State University (WSU). Staff members from several eastside districts and programs attended the class, which included classroom instruction and field necropsies on a variety of species. During the training, Dr. Oliveira performed a necropsy on a bighorn ewe that was collected last week from the Lincoln Cliffs herd. 

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Photo by WDFW

Fairchild Airforce Base: Biologist Lowe worked with Habitat Biologist Westerman to review and provide comments for the 2024-2028 Draft Integrated Natural Resource Management Plan (INRMP) for Fairchild Air Force Base in Spokane County. 

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Eloika Lake Parking Stops: Access Manager Dziekan and Natural Resource Technician Brant traveled to Eloika Lake to replace parking stops that have been crumbling. The first step was to remove the old blocks. Dziekan and Brant used pry-bars to lift the blocks that were in place, and a sledgehammer to loosen up the rebar anchors. They prepped and leveled the site. Then they carefully removed the new parking stops from the dump trailer and placed them where the old stops were originally located. The old rebar was salvaged and was driven into the ground where the old anchors were. The old parking stops were turned into gravel and spread in the parking area on site. 

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

Wildlife Area Maintenance: Sherman Creek Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Palmer used a mini excavator to continue cleaning up roads and trails on Bisbee Mountain, at Sherman Creek Wildlife Area. He also started cleaning up the exposed portion of the irrigation system coming off Sherman Creek. He removed leaves and silt and cleaned out the trash rack to ensure the water flows smoothly. This work is in preparation for turning on the seasonal irrigation system and gate opening on April 1. 

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

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Conserving Natural Landscapes

Volunteer Opportunities: Private Lands Biologist Nizer coordinated and setup four volunteer events for registered Whitman County Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife volunteers. Nizer led a crew of eight volunteers to plant 1,700 plants at designated locations on private lands enrolled in the Private Lands Access Program. 

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Photo by WDFW

Spring Weed Control: Wildlife Area Manager Dice sprayed food plot fields at Joseph Creek in preparation for spring food plot planting. Assistant Wildlife Area Manager Woodall started spraying parking lots with a pre-emergent herbicide that will keep them clean and looking good. This work will continue next week. Natural Resource Technicians Meisner and Hammons spent the whole week spraying emerging Scotch thistles in upland areas at the Halsey Unit. 

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Photo by WDFW

Noxious Weed Control: Wildlife Area Manager Dingman listened in on the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Project Advisory Committee meeting where they reviewed grant applications and answered questions pertaining to her noxious weed control grant application. The project ranked second on their list to be funded so once the official letter is received the project to spray yellow star thistle in upper Tumalum Creek can move forward. 

Conducting Business Operations and Policy

General Facilities and Equipment Maintenance and Repairs: Dziekan and Brant inspected their shop and vehicle first aid supplies and ordered more items to have fully stocked kits on hand, both in the shop and for the field. 

Asotin Creek Wildlife Area, Smoothing Iron Well Pit: Meisner and Hammons replaced a crumbling concrete well ring near the Smoothing Iron house. The old ring was failing, and it was not safe. They also installed a new concrete top with a manhole making access to well and pump equipment easier. 

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Photo by WDFW

Trainings: Natural Resource Technician Moberg attended the “How to Submit a Safety and Security Incident Report” online training. Moberg updated her First Aid/CPR Certification in Spokane. Additionally, Moberg studied Washington pesticide laws and related regulations for her upcoming pesticide certification test. 

Managing Wildlife Populations

Prairie Grouse: Biologists Lowe and Brinkman conducted a sage grouse lek survey this week to search for any remaining sign of sage grouse on the lek that was used by one male last spring. Unfortunately, no sage grouse were observed. Additionally, they searched the nearby Roseman sharp-tailed grouse lek site and no signs of sharp-tailed grouse were detected. 

After conducting prairie grouse lek surveys in the early morning, Biologists Lowe and Brinkman completed a raven and raptor survey that consisted of 16-point counts evenly spaced along a driving route. Each count is performed for ten minutes and sightings of ravens and/or raptors are documented at each site. The intention of these surveys is to document the presence and monitor the trend of avian predators in sharp-tailed grouse habitat. 

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Photo by WDFW

Bighorn Sheep: Biologist Lowe, with assistance from Officer Beauchene, retrieved a bighorn ewe carcass that was reported by a local landowner in Lincoln County. The landowner observed this animal acting somewhat sickly the day prior and then found it deceased the next morning. Because this animal was sick and the carcass is still intact, it provides a good opportunity for the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (WADDL) in Pullman to conduct a full necropsy to determine the cause of death and examine the animal for signs of illness and/or injuries. 

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Photo by WDFW

Grizzly Bear Handling Workshop: Wildlife Biologist Prince attended this year’s grizzly bear handling workshop hosted by the University of Montana and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The course covered different drug types used for handling bears, trap types, and many different scenarios for trapping both research and management bears. 

Moose Calf Capture: Wildlife Biologist Prince, Ungulate Research Scientist DeVivo, Conflict Specialist Harris, and Wolf Biologist Roussin successfully darted a calf moose with a PVC fitting on its foot. The calf had the PVC on its foot for a few months and this was the second attempt at capturing it. The fitting was removed, and they released the moose on-site. 

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Providing Recreation Opportunities

Access Area Spring Cleaning: Region 1 Access Manager Dziekan reports spring cleaning with the spring fishing opener on the horizon. Work has begun prepping for spring clean-up projects to get the access areas ready for the public. The weather has been cooperative, which has allowed Dziekan to start running water through the pumps on the truck earlier this season than ever before. 

The first, and most time-consuming, task is pressure washing vault toilets. Dziekan and Natural Resource Technician Brant have loaded the pressure washer into the truck and hooked the trash pump up to the pressure washer to be an entirely mobile cleaning unit. It takes a lot of water and about an hour for each toilet, compared to the five to ten minutes it takes for routine cleaning. The first step is bleaching the entire structure, inside and out. 

Dziekan purchased a one-gallon sprayer designed specifically for bleach, along with a rain suit that fits Brant to protect his clothing from the bleach. Using about a 5% solution, the crew applies the bleach to the inside and outside of the vault toilet. This works to help remove the moss and mildew buildup on the outside of the structure, and clean and disinfect the inside of the structure. 

They started the work at Newman Lake and will focus first on access areas that are open. Then they will move to the ones that haven’t opened for the season.

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Photo by WDFW

W.T. Wooten Wildlife Area Campgrounds and Parking Areas: Natural Resource Technicians Jensen and Tritt checked the campgrounds and cleaned up trash. They removed one of the locust trees in Campground 5 that split down the middle and was leaning over a picnic table. Additionally, they constructed buck and rail fence at Campgrounds 1 and 2 to keep the public from driving into areas outside of the campgrounds. 

Jensen and Tritt cleaned up trash on the Hartsock Unit. They used the back-blade on the tractor to smooth the gravel in Campground 9 where a member of the public tore it up with what looks like an all-terrain vehicle (ATV). They also removed a tree in Campground 10. A member of the public started to chop it down with a hatchet.

Wildlife Area Maintenance: Sherman Creek Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Palmer traveled partway up Trout Lake and Bisbee Mountain Road on the Sherman Creek Wildlife Area and used his mini excavator to clear downed trees from roadways. This work is in preparation for spring gate opening on April 1. 

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Wildlife Conflict: Natural Resource Technician Heitstuman assisted Conflict Specialist Wade and Supervisor Earl in trapping and relocating 16 turkeys for a private landowner in the Clarkston. A second trapping is planned where turkeys are damaging gardens and getting aggressive with local homeowners and residents. About 30 head of mule deer are in the area as well. 

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Elk Damage: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Kolb and Natural Resource Technician Moberg deployed zon gun cannons to alter elk movement patterns in Columbia County. The elk were not observed in the commercial crop fields following the deployment of the cannons. 

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Photo by WDFW

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Swegle Unit Restoration Project: Dingman spent the majority of a day at the Swegle Unit restoration project site with several Habitat Program engineers, Restoration Specialist Karl, and staff members from the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR). The group discussed the portion of the project that puts the West Little Walla Walla River back into a historic channel. They took several elevation points of the area so the Habitat Program engineers can put together drawings that will be used for permitting and putting the contract out to bid. 

Conducting Business Operations and Policy

Administrative Duties: Access Manager Dziekan welcomed his returning career seasonal Natural Resource Technician Brant, back to work this week. Dziekan has already taken Brant into the field and is getting him caught up with required training. 

Fence Contractor Meeting: Wildlife Area Manager Finch met with Capital & Asset Program Management (CAMP) Project Manager Johnston and four contractors to instruct them on a self-guided tour of the fence work that will need to be bid on. These contractors will decide which portion of the fence project to bid on and submit their bids within the next several weeks. The work will be in Areas 1 through 4 and includes the fences along Telford Road.

Managing Wildlife Populations

Moose Capture Effort: Biologists Lowe and Brinkman spent two days working with other Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) biologists to aerially capture and collar moose in District 2. The first day focused on searching and capturing moose in the Spokane West Hunt Area, and the second day moose were captured in both the Mt. Spokane North and South hunt areas. A total of 13 cow moose were captured and collared during those two days of effort (six in Spokane West and seven in Mt. Spokane North/South). This is the first year of a multi-year project to better understand moose population dynamics within their range in northeastern Washington (Districts 1 and 2). 

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Photo by WDFW

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Forest Grouse: Biologists Lowe and Brinkman participated in the eastside “wing-bee”, an event where biologists and other Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) staff members examine grouse wings and tails collected from wing barrels during the 2023 forest grouse hunting season. Grouse hunters are asked to deposit a wing and tail from each harvested grouse into these wing barrels. After the hunting season, biologists sort through the wings from each district and identify the species of grouse wing submitted before determining age and sex of the bird, when possible. 

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

Hartsock Golden Eagles: Wildlife Area Manager Dingman observed the adult pair flying in the territory and one adult landed in the nest with a stick. This is the first year the pair will be using this nest site and quite a bit of new material has been added to the nest.

Mountain Lions: Wildlife Area Manager Dingman came across video of a female mountain lion with two kittens on the W.T. Wooten Wildlife Area headquarters security cameras. The video is from Friday, Feb. 23 at 4:18 a.m. 

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Providing Recreation Opportunities

Early Spring Opener: Region 1 Access Manager Dziekan reports a few access areas have been prepped for the March 1 opener. The access areas that are prepped are Liberty Lake, Deer Lake (District 1), and Amber Lake. The picture below is from Liberty Lake after Dziekan cleaned the toilets. The gate at Liberty Lake has been locked open. The two other access sites do not have gates to lock open. 

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Access Areas: Access Manager Heimgartner serviced access sites at Heller Bar and the Grande Ronde River on Monday. Heimgartner serviced sites at the W.T. Wooten Wildlife Area on Thursday. Natural Resource Specialist Whittaker assisted Heimgartner with making a welding repair on his tractor back blade on Thursday afternoon. 

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Elk Damage: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Kolb responded to a report of elk damage in the Cheney area. The reporting party was upset about what they described as $10,000 in elk damage to a round bale haystack. Kolb placed 300 feet of netting style electric fence and turbo fladry around the haystack. A zon cannon was also provided to the producer in addition to pyrotechnics. 

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Elk Crop Damage: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Harris met with a producer in Spokane sustaining damage to haystacks and winter wheat fields from two different elk herds. Harris loaned a paintball gun and bird banger pistol to the producer to aid in their attempts to haze the elk off the haystack at night. Harris also worked with volunteer coordinators to organize a master hunter hazing effort to assist the producer with hazing. Harris and Private Lands Biologist Nizer will meet with the producer next week to discuss Damage Prevention Cooperative Agreement and public hunting access for his winter wheat fields.

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Conserving Natural Landscapes

Boundary Stock Fence: Natural Resource Technician Meisner, Natural Resource Technician Hammons, and Natural Resource Scientist Whittaker continued replacing aging stock fence at Boozier Ridge on the George Creek Unit of the Asotin Creek Wildlife Area. The fence borders a private property ranch with an active grazing program. 

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

Gate Found Open: From a tip received over the previous weekend, Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Palmer found that the Trout Lake Road winter range gate was open, when it should have still been locked shut. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) lock was also gone. Palmer checked the roads beyond the gate to determine the extent of travel and to ensure no vehicles remained behind the gate. He also finished cutting a tree out of the road, which the illegal accessors had cut just enough to squeeze past. Palmer checked with the Colville National Forest staff members about the gate as well, but they had no knowledge of the gate being opened. The gate is now locked shut with a WDFW lock. 

Providing Education and Outreach

Hunter Education: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Kolb assisted with the instruction of 14 students who completed their hunter education field day at the Waitsburg Gun Club. 

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

Spokane Great Outdoors and Golf Expo: Region 1 Access Manager Dziekan worked a shift at the Spokane Great Outdoors and Gold Expo over the weekend. Dziekan’s shift lasted about three hours, and it was busy almost the entire time fielding a variety of questions. Conveniently though, most of the questions were regarding access. People wanted to know where to go for different outdoor activities, primarily hunting and fishing. 

Biologist Brinkman gave a presentation at the Spokane Great Outdoors Expo about recreating safely in bear and cougar country. The talk was attended by about 40 people.

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Photo by WDFW

Grizzly Bear Train the Trainer Workshop: Wildlife Biologist Prince attended a workshop organized by the Selkirk/Cabinet-Yaak IGBC Subcommittee information and education task group. The workshop was led by a communications and outreach specialist from Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks. Workshop participants learned how to deliver bear education to audiences of different ages and identities. They learned why consistency is important in bear education and they received tools and materials to use in educational presentations. Each participant was also able to give a 5-minute presentation using their newly learned skills and receive feedback from the group. 

Conducting Business Operations and Policy

Tucannon U.S. Forest Service Project Tour: Wildlife Area Manager Dingman, Senior Restoration Specialist Karl, and some U.S. Forest Service staff members toured some U.S. Forest Service (USFS) projects on the Tucannon. Dingman and USFS staff members will work together to place large boulders on the property line in the USFS Tucannon Campground where Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife owns land that USFS has been charging people to camp on. 

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and U.S. Forest Service staff members reviewed the designs/plans for replacing the Little Tucannon Bridge with a longer-spanning bridge. The new bridge would be raised up to allow for larger flow events in the Little Tucannon without washing the bridge out every time. They reviewed and discussed the proposed large wood structures that will deflect the Tucannon River away from Tucannon Road near the Watson Lake parking area where the road was washed out during the 2020 flood event. 

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and U. S. Forest Service Annual Meeting: Wildlife Area Manager Dingman participated in the annual meeting of Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Umatilla National Forest U.S. Forest Service staff members. These meetings are always a good way to catch up on all of the projects going on and see everyone in person. 

Sherman Creek Wildlife Area Facilities: Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Palmer mounted a metal storage box and placed a new Automated Emergency Defibrillator (AED) in it, at the shop at Sherman Creek Wildlife Area. This activity is one result of the early February safety stand-up meeting held at the Sherman Creek Wildlife Area. The other AED will be mounted on a shelf at the Sherman Creek Wildlife Area office once the ordered shelving arrives. 

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Managing Wildlife Populations

Lynx Monitoring: Wildlife Biologists Prince and Turnock participated in two meetings about lynx monitoring in the Kettle Mountains of northeast Washington. A large effort for monitoring lynx occupancy and snowshoe hare abundance (still in the works) within the Kettles may begin this summer depending on funding and staff availability. Entities involved include the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, U.S. Forest Service, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington State University, and Conservation Northwest.  

Elk Damage: Natural Resource Technician Nizer and Wildlife Conflict Specialist Harris met with two producers in northeast Whitman County that were having elk damage on their crops. Nizer talked about the access program and how that could help mitigate the elk damage. Harris talked about the Damage Prevention Cooperative Agreement (DPCA) and how it works well with an access agreement. Both producers were interested in the program. If they agree to a contract, it will add about 1,000 acres in the Hunt by Reservation Program and 300 acres in the Hunt by Written Permission Program for elk and pheasant hunting access. Nizer will follow up with landowners to see if they want a contract worked up.  

Elk: Biologist Brinkman and other biologists from Region 1 traveled to an elk feeding site outside of Ellensburg to participate in immobilization training with Wildlife Veterinarian Mansfield and other WDFW staff members that have extensive experience in capturing ungulates. The purpose of this training was to practice working through the department capture protocols and datasheet that will be used on moose captures next week.  

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Hunter Contact: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Wade was contacted by a quality elk tag holder. Wade assisted with locating potential areas to hunt during the 2023 muzzleloader season. The hunter reported that he sent teeth from his elk to a lab in Montana to be aged and wanted to share the results. Wade also answered several questions for the hunter regarding potential hunts for the coming year.  

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Radio Activated Guard Box (RAG) Check: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Wade traveled to the Grande Ronde to check on the RAG box that was deployed last week, in a feedlot that has had recent wolf activity. The RAG box was functioning properly, and all cattle observed were calm and feeding. 

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Deer Damage: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Kolb received a complaint of deer damage to a cherry orchard in Walla Walla County. A site visit was conducted, and damage permits were issued in an effort to mitigate further damage.   

Conserving Natural Landscapes

W.T. Wooten Wildlife Area – Tree Planting: Wildlife Area Manger Dingman and Natural Resource Technician Tritt worked on planting ponderosa pine trees at the Rainbow Lake spoils site. The trees will replace the trees that were removed from the dam on the north end of Rainbow Lake. Two of the staff members at the Tucannon Fish Hatchery stopped by and helped plant the last 12 trees. 

Channeled Scablands Habitat Conservation - Outreach Kick-off Meeting: Wildlife Area Finch attended a meeting regarding the Channel Scablands habitat conservation. The purpose for the meeting was to discuss the next steps for wetland habitat conservation after the Waterfowl Spring Migration Survey and Report project in the eastern Washington Channeled Scablands. Everyone that attended the meeting was trying to come up with ideas for how to advertise conservation to private landowners. They want it to be appealing for landowners to develop their property for habitat conservation for waterfowl migration.  

Providing Education and Outreach

Bear Outreach and Education: Biologists Lowe and Brinkman attended the second Grizzly Bear Information, Education and Outreach Summit in Coeur d’Alene Idaho. The workshop included 120 participants from several state and federal agencies, two provinces, non-profits, businesses, county representatives, and community members.  

Public School Visit: Sherman Creek Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Palmer conducted an annual visit to the Kettle Falls Elementary School, to teach 4^th grade students about wildlife interactions. The entire grade of about 50 kids was broken up into four groups: Eagle, Wolf, Cougar, and Deer, where they learned about their animal’s life history.  

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Photo by Kettle Falls Elementary School

4^th Grade Animal Experts: Wildlife Biologists Prince, Turnock, Bennett, and Palmer served as experts to 4^th graders at Kettle Falls Elementary School. They shared information and answered questions about bald eagles, cougars, white-tailed deer, and wolves.  

Waikiki Springs Eagle Scout Project: Access Manager Dziekan met with a boy scout to sign off on a project proposition so that the scout troop can begin working on it. This project has been in the works for some time now. With Dziekan’s signature agreeing to the project, the boy scout will begin building and installing an informational kiosk at Waikiki Springs Wildlife Area. This kiosk will be installed at the lower portion of the wildlife area to compliment the kiosk at the trail head, which was also an Eagle Scout project. The boy scout has the funding secured to purchase the materials. Once the scout has acquired everything that is needed, Dziekan will schedule a time for the scout and a trusted adult, since the scout is under 18, to meet at the WDFW Region 1 shop and use the workspace and tools to build this kiosk. 

Conducting Business Operations and Policy

Equipment Maintenance: On Feb. 1, Sherman Creek Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Palmer turned over two old snowmobiles to the gentleman who bought them from state surplus. Palmer also changed the oil filter on one of the newer snowmobiles assigned to Sherman Creek Wildlife Area. 

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Photo by WDFW

Managing Wildlife Populations

Bighorn Sheep: Biologist Brinkman received a report from a member of the public that had discovered a collared bighorn sheep that had died in the Lincoln Cliffs area. The sheep was presumed to have been killed and eaten by a cougar, the reporting party observed tracks around the kill site and took pictures that were verified by Biologist Brinkman.

Although the kill looked relatively fresh, the carcass was almost completely consumed. The skull was still intact, as was the collar. The remains were collected by the reporting party and were dropped off at the regional office in Spokane. Upon receiving the collar, Biologist Lowe searched the bighorn collar database for the Lincoln Cliffs herd and determined that this ewe was collared as an adult in 2015.

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Tucannon Bighorn Sheep Herd: A ewe with a GPS collar was sending off a mortality signal and had a cluster of points in one spot. Wildlife Area Manager Dingman and Natural Resource Technician Tritt located her and determined the collar was malfunctioning. The ewe was standing up and feeding and looked healthy. Later in the week Dingman found 12 of the 13 sheep in the Tucannon herd. The one half-curl ram is still missing.

Deer Road Surveys: Biologist Vekasy compiled summaries of post-hunt deer surveys for District 3. District staff members counted and classified 1,353 mule deer for a buck to100 doe ratio of 0.19 and a fawn to100 doe ratio of 0.55. Incidental to mule deer counts, we also counted and classified 406 white-tailed deer for a buck to100 doe ratio of 0.28 and fawn to100 doe ratio of 0.62. Mule deer buck ratios were lower than the previous 5-year mean but within the 95% Confidence Interval (CI), while fawn ratios were higher than the 5-year mean but also within the 95% CI. White-tailed ratios for both buck and fawn were both above the 5-year means but within the 95% CIs.

Bighorn Sheep Capture: Vekasy worked with District Biologist Wik to dart bighorn sheep lambs in the Asotin Creek herd. Lambs are being collared to detect adolescent movements of bighorns, providing new information for risk-management models for contact with domestic sheep and goat herds. In addition, the recent detection of M. ovi. in bighorn sheep from multiple Hells Canyon herds makes disease testing a priority. 

Swan: Biologist Brinkman received a swan carcass that was found by a hunter while waterfowl hunting. This was the only bird carcass found in the area, veterinary staff members decided to not test for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) at this time. However, if additional bird carcasses are discovered in that area, tests will be conducted to determine if a localized HPAI outbreak may have occurred.

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Recreation Access Site Maintenance: Maintenance Mechanic Heimgartner and Natural Resource Technician Nielsen cleaned and serviced access areas across the district. 

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Photo by WDFW

Sportsman Contacts: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Wade spoke with two muzzleloader elk hunters this week and assisted them with identifying a potential area to hunt. One hunter contacted Wade to let him know that he had successfully harvested a cow elk on a Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Register to Hunt area, Wade had recommended. Wade assisted the hunter with contacting the owner of the property to gain vehicle access to the property so that the hunter could retrieve the elk. The hunter thanked Wade and Natural Resource Technician Heitstuman for their information sharing and assistance. 

Hunting Access: Private Lands Biologist Hadley spoke to a gentleman regarding hunting access for next upland bird season. He was looking for properties to hunt with his daughter. Hadley recommended several access sites in Walla Walla and Columbia County and forwarded information of a couple local hunting chapters that have a strong youth program and women program to see if his daughter would be interested. He was very appreciative. 

Sign removal: Private Lands Biologist Hadley began removing access signs on a property that was recently removed from a Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife hunting access program in Columbia County. 

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Wild Game Retrieval: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Samsill picked up a dead buck deer and a dead bull moose calf from two different properties in Ferry County. The carcasses were transported to the Wildlife Health Lab at the Spokane Regional Office and will be used at an upcoming necropsy training. 

Cougar Sighting: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Samsill followed up on a series of cougar sightings in Springdale. Upon speaking to the reporting party, Samsill determined that they had never actually seen a cougar but believed a cougar was frequenting their property based on grainy security camera footage and tracks. Although Samsill was unable to view the videos the reporting party referred to, pictures of tracks indicated that a large dog was frequenting the property instead of a cougar. 

Elk Damage: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Kolb spoke with a Spokane County landowner about on-going elk damage to a haystack. Advice was provided and the producer is considering entering into a Damage Prevention Cooperative Agreement

Wolf Non-Lethals: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Kolb responded to a proactive request for non-lethal support from a Columbia County producer who will start calving soon. The calving pastures are within the Columbia pack territory and the producer has experienced wolf-livestock interactions in previous years. Kolb dropped off foxlights and offered to help set up fladry once calves start hitting the ground. 

Elk Damage: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Samsill responded to the report of elk consuming and damaging haystacks in Fruitland. Samsill performed a site visit and provided the producer with a landowner kill permit. Samsill offered to erect electric fencing around the haystack, however the producer decided to stack unwanted moldy hay bales around the hay he intends to feed to his livestock.

This acted as a barrier to prevent elk from reaching the quality hay inside. The producer requested additional damage permits. Samsill informed the producer that a Damage Prevention Cooperative Agreement for Crop Damage (DPCA) contract would need to be signed and the producer would need to commit to a hunting access option before additional permits could be issued. The producer agreed to sign a DPCA and asked to be added to the landowner access list for elk and turkey hunting. 

Stuck Deer: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Kolb was contacted by Wildlife Services concerning a deer stuck on a landing at Lower Monumental Dam. Kolb contacted the Corps of Engineers and coordinated dam access. The location of the deer impacted contracted work plans at the dam. Numerous Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and Corps of Engineers staff members assisted with the effort. The deer was removed from the landing and scheduled work was able to be resumed. 

Clarkston Deer Call: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Wade responded to two deer calls this week. The first call was a report of a deer that was deceased in an absentee homeowner’s lawn. When Wade contacted the homeowner, they had already arranged to have the carcass removed. The second call was a report of a deer that was unable to stand. Wade and Natural Resource Technician Heitstuman responded to the area to evaluate the deer. They determined that euthanizing the deer and removing the carcass for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) sampling was the best course of action. Upon further inspection, it was determined that the deer was infested by ticks. Natural Resource Technician Heitstuman collected CWD samples and disposed of the carcass.

Haystack Damage: Natural Resource Technician Harris followed up on a complaint of elk damage to a haystack in Ferry County. The producer reported that they had setup their own electric fence around the haystack to protect it from the elk, but the elk managed to destroy the fence beyond repair. Harris issued a kill permit and loaned the producer an electric fence kit to protect the haystack from further losses. 

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Photo by WDFW

Asotin County Wolf Activity: Natural Resource Technician Heitstuman responded with Supervisor Wade to a potential depredation in the Grande Rhonde area. The Radio Active Guard (RAG) Box was deployed, and Foxlights were put up at several locations. 

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Lands and Facilities Check: Natural Resource Technicians Meisner and Hammons cut up and cleared some dead trees that had succumbed from the Lick Creek fire and came down in a windstorm. The trees blocked access and made a mess. Wade also checked the Smoothing Iron house and placed a trail camera in Warner Gulch.

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

Conducting Business Operations and Policy

Grant Applications: Natural Resource Technician Nizer followed up with Pheasants Forever Spokane Chapter to give them more information about a site that could be a great habitat planting area. Nizer gave pictures of the site as well as a report that was taken during a site evaluation.

Natural Resource Technician Nizer applied for an internal grant for turkey habitat that was applied for last year and requested more funding to continue habitat work for roosting, nesting, and brood rearing habitat. The total amount requested for the project was $5,000. Maps were created through GIS of the updated planting areas. 

General Facilities and Equipment Maintenance and Repairs: Sherman Creek Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Palmer spent a good amount of time plowing snow at the wildlife area headquarters. Between six and ten inches of snow fell between Tuesday and Friday in Spokane and northeastern Washington. North Region 1 Access Area Manager Dziekan spent a fair bit of time removing snow from parking lots at access areas and the Region 1 headquarter facilities, and Dziekan made sure sidewalks were ice-free. 

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Photo by WDFW

Administrative Duties: Dziekan began the process of updating specifications for his career seasonal employee, changing term length from six months to nine months. The change will provide more stability for the Incumbent Natural Resource Technician Brant but it is also beneficial to Research Scientist DeVivo.

Brant will still be working with Dziekan on access areas for six months out of the year, and for the other three months he will be doing Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) surveillance work. With the term change, DeVivo won’t have to worry about recruiting candidates for a three-month position, but will already have an employee onboarded, trained, and ready to sample.

Brant will get some biology work that he can put on his resume to go with his new biology degree. This will help make him more able to meet his career goal of becoming a biologist. So far, Dziekan has created a ticket to change the season length, and he has received approval from Washington Association of Fish & Wildlife Professionals (WAFWP) for the change, which will come with no loss of off-season benefits.

Other

W.T. Wooten Wildlife Area: Natural Resource Technician Jensen found a postcard from 1942 for sale on eBay that is a photo of the W.T. Wooten Wildlife Area taken just north of the headquarters. Wildlife Area Manager Dingman was able to get the postcard photo enlarged and printed on metal to hang in the W.T. Wooten headquarters. 

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Photo by WDFW