Managing Wildlife Populations

White-tailed Ptarmigan Research: Biologist Heinlen assisted Research Scientist Schroeder with ptarmigan research efforts on Armstrong and Horseshoe mountains in the Pasayten Wilderness. The pair surveyed active male breeding territories and banded eight new birds (four males and four females). Deeper than expected snow conditions precluded camera checks and the retrieval of a transmitter (suspected mortality), so those tasks will wait until later in the summer. 

Bat Colony Surveys: Biologist Fitkin assisted Biologist Tobin and the Region 2 Diversity field staff members with bat colony survey work at three sites in the Methow Valley. The team documented over 300 individuals at a large pallid bat colony, 108 individuals at a big brown bat colony, and a handful of individuals (Myotis spp.) at the third site which will be revisited later in the summer in the hope of detecting more activity. This is part of a broader long-term inventory and monitoring effort for bats in Washington. 

Fisher Reintroduction Monitoring: Biologists Fitkin and Heinlen with help from Volunteer Fisher (ironic, we know) began retrieving the remote camera sites deployed last fall. This work is part of the North Cascades fisher occupancy monitoring effort following their recent reintroduction. A camera deployed along the Methow River near Mazama detected a fisher this spring. This animal was found in an area where a credible report from a Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife fish biologist had occurred several months earlier. This sighting suggests the fisher is a possible resident animal. As always, the cameras are documenting a variety of other species of interest as well.

Bobcat-Lynx Research: Earlier in the winter, Biologists Fitkin and Heinlen had assisted with remote camera deployment for a bobcat-lynx seasonal habitat use study in District 6. This study was overseen by Furbearer Specialist Welfelt. Recently Graduate Student Singh retrieved the cameras and discovered that one of the units deployed by Biologist Fitkin had captured a great sequence of a lynx chasing a snowshoe hare. Support for the old adage “it’s better to be lucky than good”?

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Hunter Access: Biologist Morris continued checking and posting signs on hunter access properties. Morris maintains signs on several thousand acres, so working on them throughout the summer ensures all properties will be properly posted for hunting season this fall.

Fishing Access: June 1 was opening day for Grimes Lake. Grimes Lake is unique because the main access site is via private property. Biologist Morris ensured the gate was open and spoke to some anglers that had already had success catching trout that morning. Wenatchee Valley Fly Fishers typically pay for a porta potty to be placed at the access site, but this year the normal servicer declined to provide a porta potty. Morris helped arrange for a new servicer to provide the toilet. Besides fish, Morris saw lots of fun wildlife.

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Weed Control: Scotch Creek Wildlife Area staff members started their yearly musk thistle control efforts on the Chesaw Unit. Staff members focused on the southern, warmer slopes because that is where the Class B thistle shows up first. Approximately 500 acres of the unit has been covered. It will take about four weeks to cover the remainder of the unit. Additionally, Scotch Creek Wildlife Area staff members also hand pulled hoary alyssum on the Charles and Mary Eder Unit.

Methow Wildlife Area staff members have also been busy with noxious weed control. All known patches of Scotch thistle have been treated with herbicide or mechanically removed. Scotch thistle is a Class B noxious weed in Washington requiring all propagation to be stopped. Additionally, Biologist Repp released a total of 2,400 Aulacidea acroptilonica, a Russian knapweed bio control agent, at six different sites across the wildlife area. Aulacidea acroptilonica is a host-specific, gall-forming wasp. Gall induction diverts nutrients from flower formation, seed production, and normal growth of plant tissues. Stress induced in the plant can reduce long distant spread of the weed.

Dalmatian Toadflax Biological Control Release: Private Lands Biologist Braaten purchased and delivered 33 releases (4,500) of dalmatian toadflax stem boring weevils (Mecinus janthinformis) to Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) cooperators.

Private Lands Biologist Braaten’s extensive evaluation and his determination of the appropriate locations for release of dalmatian toadflax in Douglas County resulted in specific deployment. Private Lands Biologist Braaten delivered biological control insects to a WDFW cooperating landowner Richard Rice to release on his farm in Douglas County. Biological agents were released in Conservation Reserve Program fields to control dalmatian toadflax. 

Many areas in Douglas County that held previous populations of stem boring weevils were destroyed by Pearl Hill Wildfire in 2020. Braaten is working to reestablish weevil populations to be effective against these aggressive noxious weeds. Nice work!

Fencing: Methow Wildlife Area staff members met with Capital Asset Management Program (CAMP) and the fence contractor who won the bid to rebuild a boundary fence burned in the Cub Creek 2 Fire. Work is slated to start later in the month. This fence is a critical piece in minimizing unauthorized grazing from cattle entering WDFW lands from neighboring private and federal lands.

Forest Health: Commercial thinning operations are wrapping up in the Cub Creek area and the contractor is moving equipment to start operations in the Methow Unit. This is the final unit to be commercially thinned for this project. One to three years post thinning, Methow Wildlife Area staff members plan to reintroduce low intensity ground fire back into these treatment units in the form of prescribed fire operations. 

Virtual Fencing: Assistant Regional Wildlife Manager Troyer has been working with various partners to begin the process of transitioning some grazing allotment on the Methow Wildlife Area to virtual fencing. Recently, Troyer was able to officially purchase the first two base stations to make this project a reality. Over the next several years, Troyer hopes to transition upwards of half of all grazed acres on the Methow to virtual fencing. It’s possible this practice will expand throughout the Department managed lands in Okanogan County if more operators are willing to transition to this new and inventive technology.

Habitat Plots: Biologist Morris checked his game camera on a habitat plot. The game camera serves two purposes. It will hopefully reveal any wildlife use of the habitat plot, and it will also show the plant development and growth throughout the year. There were not many wildlife observations, but the camera did capture one of the very leafy golden currant bushes blown over by the wind. It appears the plant is surviving, despite the main stem being broken by the wind. Additionally, the plants appear to be healthy and growing well, which is good going into what could be a very dry summer.

Biologist Cook and Technician Blanchard planted several food plots in Grant and Adams counties. The plots were delayed due to irrigation being installed and another plot had weed problems that required more control before planting. Species planted will be irrigated and provide cover during the season and over the winter. The food plots will be a food source mainly in winter for upland birds, but they will also benefit insects and songbirds.

Conducting Business Operations and Policy

Methow Wildlife Area Planning: Staff members held a Wildlife Area Advisory Committee meeting and field trip to Pipestone Canyon. They discussed recreation and trail use. A recreation sub-committee is being formed.

Wildlife area planners held two days of meetings working on the new Methow Wildlife Area management plan. Recreation and travel management were the major topics of the meeting. 

Other

Managing Wildlife Populations

Sharp-tailed Grouse Translocation: This month, fifteen male and fifteen female sharp-tailed grouse were trapped in British Columbia and relocated to the Sagebrush Flat Wildlife Area. Wildlife area managers and staff members transported the birds from the Canadian border and transferred them to release boxes in the wildlife area and released them from there. Satellite tracking is being used to follow the movements of these birds, and staff members have enjoyed watching where they choose to spend their time. This translocation required cooperation and involved working with the sharp-tailed grouse translocation team, Diversity Program staff members, and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife communications team. 

Image

Photo by WDFW

Sharp-tailed Grouse Lek Surveys and Searches: This month wildlife area staff members have continued with sharp-tailed grouse lek surveys. Staff members began completing adjacent lek counts synchronously removing suspicion that birds could be double counted after being flushed. New Natural Resource Technician Garcia started this month and was able to tag along for the last week of lek counts.  

Northern Leopard Frogs (NLF): In recent weeks, Biologists Dougherty and Clements, along with the assistance of Technicians Leipold, Kelly, Reed and Puckett, successfully established 25 tadpole pen enclosures at Columbia National Wildlife Refuge where eggs collected directly from Potholes Reservoir are being reared along with tadpoles that have been reared at our partner locations, the Oregon Zoo and Northwest Trek. The crew has also completed the elastomer tagging to help identify metamorphs later in the summer field season.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Waterfowl: Biologists Dougherty and Clements, with the help of volunteers from a local waterfowl group chapter, have been monitoring hen mallard nest tubes that got reconstructed over the winter and were placed in early spring. So far one nest tube has been seen to have a hen mallard inside of it while a couple of others have shown some early activity of nesting inside of them. The monitoring will continue throughout the month of June. 

Image

Photo by WDFW

Sage Grouse Surveys: Private Lands Biologist Braaten continues to count and search the last of the grouse leks in Douglas County for 2024. This last two weeks Private Lands Biologist Braaten has walked many miles of Conservation Reserve Project (CRP) in north Douglas County. These efforts finally paid off with the discovery of two new sharp-tailed grouse leks consisting of an additional 15 grouse. 

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Pygmy Rabbit Support: Biologist Cook and Technician Blanchard mowed a fire lane to provide access and an area for fire crews to create a defensible space in case of wildfires. The main goal of this work is to protect one of the pygmy rabbit enclosures. On the same trip, Cook and Blanchard mowed access roads used by the pygmy rabbit crew to reduce fire risk when it will most likely be accessed later in the year when fire danger is higher. During the mowing Cook drove the tractor while Blanchard followed in a truck with a 110-gallon spray tank to be able to extinguish any fire starts that may occur. The mowing also occurred in the morning on a day with lower winds and temperatures to reduce fire risk.

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Hunter Access: Biologist Morris checked and posted signs on hunter access properties. Morris maintains signs on several thousand acres, so working on them throughout the summer ensures all properties will be properly posted come hunting season this fall.

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Elk Issues: Specialist Heilhecker received a report of elk damage. The livestock producer stated 60 head of elk were eating all the grass. Therefore, he was not able to turn his cows out to pasture. The elk are also damaging his livestock fences. They discussed nonlethal hazing options. Specialist Heilhecker will meet with the producer to sign a damage prevention cooperative agreement. 

Range Rider Coordination: Specialist Heilhecker met with a new Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife contracted range rider (CRR). They discussed wolf activity in the county, reviewed paperwork the CRR needs to submit for payment, and possible riding locations for the grazing season. Heilhecker also gave the CRR a Garmin InReach to use. The CRR started work in the Sullivan Creek pack territory.

Depredation Investigation: Specialist Heilhecker and law enforcement investigated a dead calf in the Sullivan Creek pack territory. Based on information gathered at the scene, they determined the calf was a probable wolf depredation event. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was notified of the event.

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Bridgeport Bar Irrigation and Preparation: Staff members have been working to prepare fields and irrigation on the Bridgeport Bar for spring seeding. Natural Resource Technicians Haney-Williamson and Ruiz completed routine maintenance, replaced several butterfly valves, and started the pump on the winter wheat fields.  

Scotch Thistle Spraying: Wildlife area staff members sprayed Scotch thistle sites across the Big Bend Wildlife Area. They saw a noticeable reduction in the number of plants as a result of last year’s spraying efforts. While completing this project, they assessed the success of last year’s bull thistle spraying and noticed that lakes that were covered in hundreds of bull thistle rosettes last year now host only a handful.  

Image

Photo by WDFW

Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) Spraying: Thirty-nine acres were treated using chemical fallow treatment to prepare for a seeding project on Barry Field in the Big Bend Wildlife Area. In this cooperative project wildlife area staff members supported the grazing permittee and NRCS with this spray project. 

Habitat Plots: Biologist Cook met with the Cultural Resources archeologist to look over maps of four potential projects to determine siting changes to avoid known cultural resources and potential needs for field surveys. Cook learned more about the cultural resources review process and how best to submit and track projects review progress. These projects are expected to begin work later this fall or next spring.

Biologist Morris set up a game camera on a habitat plot. The game camera serves two purposes: it will hopefully reveal any wildlife use of the habitat plot, and it will also show the plant development and growth throughout the year.

Biologist Morris has also been monitoring another habitat plot that has some mature and some recently planted (1 year ago) trees and shrubs. The plot has some Canada thistle and will need to be sprayed. Biologist Morris is keeping an eye on the thistle since it will need to be sprayed either when it starts bolting, or this fall before dormancy sets in.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Providing Education and Outreach

Chief Joseph Dam Earth Day Event: Biologists Balderston and Haupt participated in an Earth Day Event at the Chief Joseph Dam where many different organizations led stations for groups of students from local elementary schools. Balderston and Haupt taught students what they can learn about an animal by looking at just their skull.  

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

STEAM by the STREAM Event: As hosts of the annual STEAM by the STREAM event, wildlife area staff members prepped the site on the Sagebrush Flat Wildlife Area and led stations for students from local elementary and middle schools. Three of the four stations were run by Douglas County Wildlife Area Complex staff members, and these stations included landscape painting, planting native forbs, and a skull and bones themed nature walk. Students also learned about sharp-tailed grouse and the work that Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife does to help protect and enhance their habitat.  

Conducting Business Operations and Policy

Contracting: Lands Operations Manager Finger participated in contractor interviews for a Route Inventory and Assessment contract. The successful contractor will inventory trails, assess trails sustainability, and provide recommendations for trails improvements across a select few wildlife areas across the state. 

Safe Harbor Agreements to Conservation Benefit Agreements with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Biologists Rickel and Morris met with U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff members to begin transitioning existing Safe Harbor Agreements to Conservation Benefit Agreements. The new regulatory certainty template serves as a better management tool for species conservation and landowner flexibility. 

Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Assistance: Private Lands Biologist Braaten received a call from Okanogan County NRCS. They requested assistance and wanted to talk with someone for advice regarding a 2012 conservation easement Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has on private land near Oroville. There was a Department of Natural Resources timber thinning project that recommended thinning timber in the easement area. Okanogan Land Trust also forwarded information of easements to Private Lands Braaten regarding this issue. Private Lands Biologist Braaten forwarded info to Regional Program Manager Haug, and he forwarded it to our Real Estate Manager.

Other

Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) Grant Applications: Biologists Blake and Haupt submitted RCO grants this month. One application was for work at the Big Bend Wildlife Area, and the other was for the new acquisition at Barclay Crane (Wells Wildlife Area) to do habitat restoration and cultural resource protection.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Sage BIL Grant Application: Biologist Haupt submitted a proposal for a USFWS Sage BIL grant. If funded, the project will involve mowing, weed control, and native planting to improve habitat for Columbia Basin pygmy rabbits on the Sagebrush Flat Wildlife Area.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Managing Wildlife Populations

Sage and Sharp-tailed Grouse Lek Searches: Biologist Turnock and Technician Hara continued searching for new sage and sharp-tailed grouse leks in northern Douglas County. High winds have made surveying difficult, but they were able to cover four grids, which will help inform our understanding of these species’ distributions in Region 2.

Sharp-tailed Grouse Translocations: Technician Force assisted staff members in translocating 
60 sharp-tailed grouse from British Columbia to Dyer Hill and Swanson Lakes Wildlife Area.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Sharp-tailed Grouse Management: Biologist Heinlen documented a live signal from a female Columbian sharp-tailed grouse released into the Tunk Valley area of Okanogan County during an augmentation effort in April 2023. This will be the second nesting season for this grouse in Tunk Valley since release, which exemplifies the goal of getting new genetics into our local grouse population. 

A mortality signal from a male sharp-tailed grouse from the 2023 release in Tunk was also investigated. The radio collar, leg band, and feathers were found near an unmarked fence. It is likely the bird struck the wire fence causing the mortality. Marking wire fences has been documented to reduce grouse mortalities.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Lewis’s Woodpeckers: Biologists Eilers and Jeffreys, along with other Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and Chelan Public Utility District biologists, started conducting Lewis’s woodpecker surveys at five project areas in Rocky Reach Wildlife Area. The goal of this year’s cavity nest surveys are to: 

• Learn more about Lewis’s woodpecker nesting phenology and ecology of the population within the Rocky Reach Wildlife Area including clutch size, number of eggs hatched, number of hatchlings to reach fledging or late nestling phase, etc.
• Examine these data alongside habitat and microhabitat characteristics for the purpose of drawing inferences regarding nest success of Lewis’s woodpecker at both the local scale and microsite scale (breeding territory). 

These inferences may in turn be useful for informing habitat management considerations at the regional scale (North Central Washington). Collecting this data will require staff members to survey assigned grids for the purpose of locating nesting Lewis’s woodpecker pairs within the Rocky Reach Wildlife Area. Staff members will conduct multiple visits to each nest cavity over the course of the nesting cycle. Additionally, they will perform a nest cavity habitat assessment at each nest following the nesting cycle. 

So far this year, a variety of Lewis’s woodpecker pairs have been found and are showing signs of courtship (copulation, territorial calling and drumming, wing and flight displays, etc). Lewis’s woodpeckers are migratory to our region and typically arrive on the breeding grounds between the very end of April to early May. It is still at the beginning of the breeding season. As such, it appears that egg laying and incubation haven't started at our survey sites. Biologists will continue to monitor sites throughout the season. Stay tuned for some cute bird photos!

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Northern Leopard Frog Surveys: Biologist Turnock and Technician Hara conducted northern leopard frog breeding surveys in District 5, including at the Potholes off road vehicle park. They did not detect any leopard frogs, but these surveys resulted in some exciting incidental observations such as a badger with three young and breeding Great Basin spadefoot toads.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Pygmy Rabbit Trapping: Biologist Turnock and Technician Hara assisted Biologist Crowell with pygmy rabbit trapping at the B3 enclosure near Beezley Hills. They were able to capture the enclosure’s lone resident, an adult male rabbit, to confirm his survival.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Mule Deer Management: Radio-collars are deployed to help monitor mule deer herd demographics. When mortalities occur, investigations are conducted when possible to determine cause of death. Biologist Heinlen investigated a mortality in GMU 242 and confirmed cause of death as predation. The radio collar was recovered so it can be refurbished and redeployed.

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Cougar Information: Specialist Heilhecker received a call from an employee of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. The caller stated friends living in Snohomish County had a cougar on their ranch. Specialist Heilhecker discussed cougar safety information with the caller and provided contact information for the wildlife conflict specialist in Snohomish County.

Responding to Cougar Reports: Specialist Heilhecker received a call about a cougar killing chickens. They discussed keeping the chickens contained and inaccessible to the cougar. The reporting party was concerned for their family’s safety. Heilhecker advised the reporting party of their rights to put the cougar down if they felt in danger.

Responding to Cougar Reports: Specialist Heilhecker responded to a cougar sighting report. The reporting party submitted security camera videos of an adult and juvenile “cougars” near their porch. After reviewing the video, Specialist Heilhecker spoke with the reporting party. The juvenile “cougar” was a domestic cat, and the adult cougar was likely a dog, but she encouraged the reporting party to submit any future videos for more complete verification.

Conserving Natural Landscapes

State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement-Conservation Reserve Program: Biologist Cook visited with a landowner to give advice for rolling a current general Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) contract over into State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE). The field failed for the current contract and the landowner and operator were looking for confirmation with a Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) field visit to determine what they could do to prepare to move into SAFE. This landowner has other fields enrolled in SAFE contracts where plans were written by the Department of Fish and Wildlife, and a strong relationship currently exists.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Habitat Plots: Biologist Cook and Technician Blanchard tilled and applied herbicide to prepare supplemental food plots for planting later this month. Planting has been postponed due to delays with irrigation installation and to improve weed control, however they will be irrigated so they should still grow well.

Private Lands Biologist Braaten assisted Swanson Lake Wildlife Area staff members and volunteers in laying fibrous mulch for a Pheasant Forever habitat project. Installation of ten 300-foot rolls of mulch were laid with specialized equipment. This will benefit sharp-tailed grouse and upland birds in the future.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Providing Education and Outreach

Snake Day 2024: Biologist Fitkin and retired U.S. Forest Service Biologist Rohrer conducted the annual snake survey on a portion of the Methow Wildlife Area. This survey was a part of an adult (and some kids) education class for the North Cascades Institute (NCI). Warmer than normal temperatures had snakes often hiding in the shadows, but we located 15 individual snakes from three different species during the class and had two other species on hand to share with participants. 

The data is an indicator of abundance and species diversity over time and gives us an opportunity to monitor for snake fungal disease (no suspect legions found). The proceeds from the course support NCI’s Mountain School program for kids. Thanks to Regional Diversity Biologist Gallie and his daughter for joining this year’s event.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Wildlife Coexistence: Biologist Fitkin gave a presentation on wildlife coexistence to a 7^th grade Environmental Studies class at Liberty Bell High School in Winthrop. The talk emphasized living with bears and snakes and the students got hands on experience with the engaging reptiles as well as the opportunity to practice deploying bear spray (with inert ingredient cans).

Image

Photo by WDFW

Abandoned Horse: Specialist Heilhecker received a call about a horse dumped on Public Utility District land. The reporting party asked if Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife wanted to investigate. She told the reporting party that investigations occur at the request of the owner. If the reporting party wanted the horse removed, to contact the landowner.

Oden Road Fire Study with Okanogan High School: Regional Wildlife Program Manager Haug, Assistant Wildlife Program Manager Troyer, and Regional Communications and Outreach Specialist Jordan attended the annual Oden Road Fire Study put on by the Okanogan Land Trust and Okanogan High School’s Advanced Biology class. 

This was the 12th year of the study (the last year for Haug) that looks at the effects of wildfire on a landscape level. Representatives from Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Washington Department of Natural Resources, Okanogan Conservation District, Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, and Okanogan Land Trust were in attendance and providing their expertise. The students gathered data on soils, vegetation, bird diversity, and insect activity and will present their findings to a large audience later next month.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Scotch Creek STEAM Event with Tonasket and Oroville Elementary: Regional Wildlife Program Manager Haug, Scotch Creek Wildlife Area Manager Dupont, Scotch Creek staff members, Sinlahekin Wildlife Area staff members, Department of Natural Resources Specialist Medina and volunteers worked with staff members from the North Central Educational Service District (NCESD) and Tonasket and Oroville elementary schools and held a Science Technology Engineering Arts and Math (STEAM) field trip to the Scotch Creek Wildlife Area, Beaver Dam Analog Project. Over two days, Tonasket and Oroville elementary schools brought nearly 100 students to the Scotch Creek Wildlife Area.

The purpose of these visits was to take their classroom science learning into the field for an authentic science experience. Students worked alongside scientists to collect data, engineer water retention devices, plant and identify important plant species and paint their observations all in their efforts to learn more about how science is helping conserve the state-endangered sharp-tailed grouse in Okanogan County. 

As part of the field trip Scotch Creek Wildlife Area staff members installed Beaver Dam Analogs (BDA) as part of a Recreation and Conservation (RCO) funded state lands restoration project along a stretch of Scotch Creek over the past four years. Students learned that the purpose of the BDAs is to slow the water flow of the creek and increase water retention to support the growth of water birch. Water birch is an important plant species for winter survival of the endangered sharp-tailed grouse. 

Haug gave a short presentation on sharp-tailed grouse and Wildlife Area Manager Dupont discussed the construction and use of BDAs (Scotch Creek staff built a mock BDA and river system simulation where students observed hydrologic affects). 

Students spent their day rotating through different stations. At the planting station, students learned to use a dichotomous key to identify native plants commonly found in the shrubsteppe. Students also explored stream transects with Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation Fish and Wildlife Department. Students used scientific tools to calculate the volume of water in the stream and looked at ground water levels before and after a BDA installation. 

Half the group rotated out to do insect collection and identification. They also built their own water retention devices using recycled bottles and natural materials to see if they could slow the flow of stream water. And finally, students had an opportunity to put their observations to paper in a station led by a Tonasket art student. Students used watercolor to capture the scenery around the project site.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Wild Washington Outdoor Classroom at Beebe Springs: The Wild Washington Outdoor Classrooms (WWOC) is a pilot program expanding our current offerings by bringing students to a wildlife area near them for experiential learning to hone skills taught in lessons in outdoor and real-world applicable settings. Given Beebe Spring’s unique landscape diversity and rich cultural history, the program weaves together scientific inquiry with cultural knowledge of the area. 

The program was a “choose your own adventure” where students decide which investigation path most interests them. Students moved through their chosen investigations that were led by local experts from Cascade Columbia Fisheries, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Northcentral Washington Educational Services District, and the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. Because of the diversity of Beebe Springs, activities included: designing beaver analogue dams, measuring biodiversity, wildlife viewing, predicting landform erosion, sound mapping, storytelling, watercolor painting, wild food preparation and more. The Wild Washington Outdoor Classroom Program will give students a chance to meet local natural resource practitioners, elders, and artists and experience career connected learning. 

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Conducting Business Operations and Policy

Cost Share Fencing Contract: Specialist Heilhecker completed a payment form for cost-share fencing materials to prevent deer damage. She submitted the paperwork to Wildlife Conflict Program staff members. 

Cooperative Agreement: Specialist Heilhecker completed cost-share payment paperwork for a livestock producer with a Damage Prevention Cooperative agreement. She submitted the paperwork to the Wildlife Conflict Program.

Other

Gallery Photos: 

Image

Photo by Heinlen

Image

Photo by Heinlen

Image

Photo by Heinlen

Image

Photo by Cook

Image

Photo by Haug

Image

Photo by Haug

Managing Wildlife Populations

Greater Sage-grouse: Biologists across Douglas County are finishing up monitoring known greater sage-grouse lek sites. Sage-grouse numbers recorded so far this spring represent an increase over the previous several years. This is very encouraging to see because this species is classified as Endangered in Washington and has been experiencing a dramatic population decline for many years now. For more information on greater sage-grouse in Washington, visit the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife website.

Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse Translocation: Biologists Eilers joined other biologists to trap and relocate 60 sharp-tailed grouse from British Columbia, Canada into Washington. This will help supplement the species abundance and genetic diversity in Washington. Sharp-tailed grouse are State Endangered and are a Species of Greatest Conservation Need due to their low and declining numbers in Washington. 

The translocation effort involved finding leks (breeding display grounds where males dance to attract females) in British Columbia, setting up walk-in traps, and then returning each morning to watch from a blind as the birds performed their daily displays. Once a bird found itself in a trap, biologists quickly left the blind and captured the bird to bring it to a processing site. All 60 grouse (30 males and 30 females) were banded, and half of them were outfitted with a radio collar to allow biologists to track their movements. Half of the birds were released in northern Douglas County and the other half were released in Lincoln County. For more information about this species visit the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife website.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Sharp-tailed Grouse Management: Biologist Heinlen traveled to 70 Mile House, British Columbia and participated in trapping Columbia sharp-tailed grouse for augmentation back into Washington. After much planning, logistical coordination, and field work by many staff members, everything aligned perfectly, and 60 (30 males and 30 females) sharp-tailed grouse were captured and successfully released in Washington in six trapping days. The goal is to bolster the Washington population by increasing genetic diversity.   

Biologist Heinlen also conducted annual surveys for Columbia sharp-tailed grouse within District 6. Relocating leks (breeding grounds) that have moved, and a mild winter has led to a better survey effort and an increase in sharp-tailed grouse numbers over the 2023 surveys. 

Biologist Heinlen and Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation Wildlife Biologist Laspa toured a property in Tunk Valley that the tribe acquired a couple years ago. Before the tribe acquired the property, Biologist Heinlen conducted the sharp-tailed grouse surveys on it. During the tour Biologists Heinlen and Laspa were fortunate enough to relocate a lek that hasn’t been active in over 20 years. 

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Sage Grouse Surveys: Biologist Morris completed grid searches for sage grouse in Grant and Douglas counties. Morris saw some great sunrises, picturesque landscapes, and lots of upland birds while surveying.

Bighorn Sheep Management: Biologist Heinlen investigated a bighorn sheep mortality in the Mt. Hull herd. Not enough was left to determine a definitive cause of death. However, disease and parasite samples were taken and sent to Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory at Washington State University for analysis. The radio collar was also retrieved. 

Image

Photo by WDFW

Mule Deer Management: Biologist Heinlen and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Volunteer Fischer investigated a mule deer mortality. They found it to be predated by a cougar. The radio collar was recovered.

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) Sealing: Biologist Heinlen sealed several bobcat pelts from Okanogan County with CITES tags this period. CITES is an international agreement that aims to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. Because the trade in wild animals and plants crosses borders between countries, the effort to regulate it requires international cooperation to safeguard certain species from over-exploitation. The deadline for sealing has now passed. All bobcat and river otter pelts harvested this season were required to be sealed by April 20.

Lek Searches: Biologist Turnock and Technician Hara continued searching for new sage and sharp-tailed grouse leks in northern Douglas County. High winds have made surveying difficult, but they were able to cover four grids. This will help inform our understanding of these species’ distributions in Region 2.

Sharp-tailed Grouse Translocations: Technician Force assisted staff members in translocating 60 sharp-tailed grouse from British Columbia to Dyer Hill and Swanson Lakes Wildlife Areas.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Northern Leopard Frog Surveys: Biologist Turnock and Technician Hara conducted northern leopard frog breeding surveys in District 5, including at Potholes off road vehicle (ORV) park. They did not detect any leopard frogs, but these surveys resulted in some exciting incidental observations such as a badger with three young and breeding Great Basin spadefoot toads.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Pygmy Rabbit Trapping: Biologist Turnock and Technician Hara assisted Biologist Crowell with pygmy rabbit trapping at the B3 enclosure near Beezley Hills. They were able to capture the enclosure’s lone resident, an adult male rabbit, to confirm his survival.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Hunter Access: Biologist Morris checked and posted signs on hunter access properties.

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Deer Issues: Specialist Heilhecker spoke with a landowner regarding acclimated deer in his yard. A group of seventeen deer have been eating flower gardens and walking across the porch. Specialist Heilhecker provided recommendations on how to nonlethally haze the deer. 

Cost-Share Fencing: Specialist Heilhecker ordered fencing materials for an orchard experiencing deer damage. The orchardist signed a cost-share fencing agreement. Subsequently, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife orders materials and arranges for the materials to be delivered onsite. Then, the orchardist installs the fence.

Range Rider Information Sharing: Specialist Heilhecker answered questions from an individual interested in becoming a contracted range rider. She met with wildlife conflict section staff members to discuss the individual’s application and funding availability.

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Habitat Plots: Biologists Cook and Morris pulled cheatgrass weeds from around 200 recently planted shrubs, from this spring and last year. Plastic mulch was used but the weeds were aggressively growing through the holes cut for the planted shrubs. Machine cutting the grass was unfeasible due to the small size of some shrubs and the thickness of weeds. Pre-emergent herbicide will be used to prevent regrowth of weeds.

Habitat Plots: Biologist Morris sprayed weeds at one of the habitat plots he has been working on. By controlling weeds, it allows the native plants to get established with less competition for available soil moisture and nutrients. Around 200 of the native trees and shrubs were planted in plastic mulch to prevent weed competition, but cheatgrass was growing through the holes where the shrubs were planted. Biologist Morris and Biologist Cook spent some time removing the cheatgrass manually from these holes.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Providing Education and Outreach

Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Day in the Field: Biologist Cook participated in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) day in the field at the Desert Unit of Columbia Basin Wildlife Area. Cook participated in providing instruction for groups of 6th graders around wildlife resources and their effect and interaction with the environment.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Turkey Hunting Information: Specialist Heilhecker provided feedback to a hunter who called looking for places to hunt turkeys. 

Conducting Business Operations and Policy

Wolf Advisory Group Meeting: Specialist Heilhecker participated in the Wolf Advisory Group (WAG) meeting and participated in the WAG coordination meetings.

Firearm Certification: Specialists Heilhecker and Bridges, and Supervisor Rickel all completed annual firearms qualifications.

Other

CPR Training: Specialist Heilhecker, Supervisor Rickel and Private Lands Biologists Braaten, Morris and Cook attended CPR training in Ephrata.

Managing Wildlife Populations

Wolf Management: Biologist Heinlen investigated the mortality signal from a Beaver Creek pack female’s radio collar that the wolf crew found while conducting their annual survey/capture flights. The drop off device was activated, but no sign of a carcass was found. The animal is presumed to still be alive. In addition, public reports suggested the Beaver Creek pack was still using their traditional areas over the winter and early spring, and a Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife wolf biologist was able to confirm at least two animals are still in the territory.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Spring Mule Deer Surveys: Biologists Fitkin and Heinlen completed spring mule deer surveys classifying over 1500 mule deer. The raw counts yielded a ratio of 44 fawns to 110 adults. This is above both the 5-year and long-term averages and indicates better than average post-winter fawn recruitment this year.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Rattlesnake Den Monitoring: Biologist Fitkin assisted retired U.S. Forest Service Biologist Rohrer in refining the location of and monitoring a northern Pacific rattlesnake hibernacula on the Methow Wildlife Area. In addition to counting around three dozen snakes, two live pit-tagged snakes were detected that were translocated to the general vicinity of the den last fall. This technique of moving unwanted snakes from private property to known den sites when snakes are entering their hibernacula has proven very successful over the years as an alternative to lethal removal.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Grouse Area Search Grids and Grouse Lek Surveys: Private Biologist Braaten continues early morning sage and sharp-tailed grouse lek count surveys in Douglas County and is completing grouse area search grids.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Sage Grouse Surveys: Biologist Morris will finish sage grouse searches this week. He will be searching grids in Grant and Douglas counties without known sage grouse leks, searching for birds and new leks. Morris saw some great sunrises, picturesque landscapes, and sandhill cranes foraging in fallow wheat fields while doing the surveys.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Lek Counts: March marks the beginning of lek counts, and wildlife area staff members have started the yearly early morning task of observing grouse lek sites on the Sagebrush Flat and Big Bend wildlife areas. Staff members attended a brief virtual training on data collection and have been using this new information to log survey data in Field Maps.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Bridgeport Bar Preparation: With spring setting in quickly, wildlife area staff members are working to prepare irrigation infrastructure and equipment in the Bridgeport Bar’s many agricultural fields and shrub rows. Technicians Haney-Williamson and Ruiz have been prepping irrigation, maintaining pivots at Washburn Island, and taking soil samples to prepare for spring seeding. 

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Wolf Non-Lethal Deterrence Outreach: Wildlife Conflict Specialists’ Bridges and Heilhecker, Supervisor Rickel, Regional Program Manager Haug, Regional Director Hoenes and other Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife staff members participated in a meeting with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service staff members to discuss coordination on wolf issues in the federally managed wolf area of Region 2 that is located west of Highway 97. Recent incidents have highlighted the need to be coordinated for future events so management and staff members met to discuss how to coordinate best and identify what and who will be the main points of contact for the various tasks. This timely meeting will facilitate a common approach to wolf related issues in the federally managed wolf area of Region 2.

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Habitat Plots: Biologist Morris evaluated two recently planted habitat plots. The shrubs that he planted this spring are growing well so far. There are some weeds in both plots that he needs to spray, but overall they are doing well.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Shrub Planting: Technicians Blanchard and Wilson, and Biologist Cook planted 150 shrubs along the base of a small coulee to increase diversity and increase shrub establishment. This site had been previously planted in 2021, but the following spring was very dry and many of the shrubs did not survive. This was another effort to establish more shrubs in this area. The bottom of the coulee was seeding with native bunchgrasses and further weed control and native forb seeding will follow, hopefully in fall of 2024.

Prescribed Burn in Sagebrush Flat: Wildlife area staff members burned Russian thistle that piled up in a fire break on the Sagebrush Flat Wildlife Area. This month, three staff members completed their red card certification and are looking forward to using what they learned to help with future burns.

Providing Education and Outreach

Shrubsteppe Ecology Field Trip: A group of students from a wildlife ecology class at Washington State University came out to the shrubsteppe and learned about local ecosystems. Biologists Peterson and Blake along with Schroeder, Crowell and Gallie spoke to students about shrubsteppe ecology and the sensitive species that live there. Students learned about pygmy rabbits, sharp-tailed grouse, and sage grouse and how they interact with the landscape. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife staff members made sure to highlight the management activities that they focus on in this area and what their efforts accomplish. 

Image

Photo by WDFW

Wild Turkey Hunters: Private Lands Biologist Braaten fielded many hunter access questions to hunters interested in the upcoming wild turkey seasons.

2024 Private Lands Work Party: Twelve private lands biologists from around the state attended the 2024 Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Private Lands Work Party in Electric City. Supervisors and Private Lands Section Manager McCanna, as well as Region 2 Regional Program Manager Haug also attended. Hosts Braaten and Baarstad designed the three-day event to focus on safety, equipment use training, habitat project initiation and completion, as well as team building. 

The group visited a 16-year-old planting in Douglas County and discussed project objectives, how to work with landowners, and how to plan and execute projects. They also installed a few hundred fence markers around fencing of a habitat plot for a landowner to help reduce bird collision with the fence. On the second day, staff received training on several pieces of agriculture equipment typically used for completing habitat projects. Staff members received training from experienced staff members on how to safely use and operate equipment. All participants were grateful for the opportunity provided through the work party. 

Upon completion of the two-day work party, approximately 500 trees and shrubs were planted, and two acres of food plots were seeded.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Conducting Business Operations and Policy

Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Association (WAFWA) Washington Grouse Conference Field Trip Planning: Private Lands Braaten completed the field trip route and tour bus booking for WAFWA Grouse Conference in Wenatchee in August 2024.

Other

Incidental Observations: Spring has sprung, and babies are already on the ground for some critters.

Road Maintenance: This month wildlife area staff members have been tackling various road maintenance tasks. They added material to roads across the wildlife areas that were eroded over the winter months, strengthening them, and making them safer. Other wildlife area staff members have focused on spraying roads on various wildlife areas for annual grasses and broadleaves. 

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Gopher Snake Release: Gopher snakes that staff members found in hibernacula underneath the floorboards during the headquarters remodeling were released earlier this month. After unearthing these snakes during a reflooring project in the office, Assistant Manager Blake sought council from Beck, a retired herpetologist and professor from Central Washington University. Blake followed his recommendations and kept the snakes contained in the correct conditions through the winter. With the warmer weather and start of spring, wildlife area staff members were happy to release them back outside. 

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Managing Wildlife Populations

Sinlahekin Beavers: Manager Wehmeyer was out inspecting campgrounds to see what spring maintenance needed to be done, when he came across an area that looked like someone had been falling trees. On further inspection the notorious sport faller was a beaver, that had been hard at work building its dam. 

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Hunter Access: Biologist Morris checked and posted signs on hunter access properties. 

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Limebelt Forest Health: Scotch Creek staff members teamed up with the Sinlahekin staff members for a day of thinning on the Limebelt. In total, approximately ten acres were thinned. 

Image

Photo by WDFW

Scotch Creek Riparian Restoration: Staff members constructed a new fence enclosure and added weave material to multiple beaver dam analogs within the project area. The enclosure will be planted with deciduous shrubs the first part of April.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Providing Education and Outreach

Private Lands Work Party: Biologists Morris, Cook, Braaten and Supervisor Rickel attended the Private Lands Work Party in Electric City. The private lands team from across the state met to work on some habitat projects, get training, get updates on the private lands program, and to network with other Private Lands staff members. There was a lot of rain and mud, but it was fun. 

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Conducting Business Operations and Policy

Other

Incidental Observations: The recent warm spells have coaxed snakes from their hibernacula. Rattlesnakes are now basking near their den entrances as conditions allow and other species like garter snakes and gopher snakes have begun foraging. 

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by Rohrer (USFS)

Image

Photo by Rohrer (USFS)

Scotch Creek Boundary Fence Repairs: Staff members repaired approximately two miles of boundary fence on the Scotch Creek Unit, one mile on the Ellemeham Unit, and one mile on the Tunk Unit.  

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Managing Wildlife Populations

Greater Sage-grouse: Biologists Eilers and Jeffreys and Technicians Hara and Force surveyed greater sage-grouse leks (communal display grounds for males). Biologists across Douglas County will be surveying for sage-grouse and Columbian sharp-tailed grouse, both of which are classified as endangered by the State of Washington. They are monitoring known current and historic leks to count birds for the purpose of generating a population estimate. 

Biologists and other Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) staff members and agency partners will be conducting an intensive search for previously unknown leks by driving county roads and stopping every half mile to get out and listen for the vocalizations grouse often make while displaying. Douglas County currently has the greatest abundance of greater sage-grouse in Washington, but populations are declining. With this year’s increase in survey efforts, biologists hope to find more lek sites for both species and locate leks that were displaced by the Pearl Hill Fire. For more information on greater sage-grouse in Washington, visit the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife website at Greater sage-grouse | Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Private Biologist Braaten continues sage grouse lek counts in Douglas County. Biologist Morris started sage grouse searches. He will be searching grids in Douglas County without known sage grouse leks, searching for birds or new leks.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Pronghorn Aerial Survey: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Biologists Jeffreys and Eilers joined Biologist Rushing, a wildlife biologist for the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation (CTCR), in performing an aerial survey for pronghorn across Douglas County. 

Pronghorn were extirpated from Douglas County by the late 1800s. The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation introduced 52 pronghorn to the Colville Reservation in 2016, and 98 in 2017, many of which swam across the Columbia River to Douglas County. The pronghorn they introduced were from Nevada. 

A minimum of 103 individual pronghorn were observed during the aerial survey, predominantly in the Sim’s Corner and Leahy Junction areas. Surveys conducted on the Colville Reservation the week prior found approximately 120 pronghorn. For more information on pronghorn in Washington, visit the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife website at: Pronghorn Antelope | Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Mule Deer Collars: Hunter Education Coordinator Montanari retrieved one additional GPS collar from a mule deer to download the data that was stored onboard. Between 2020 and 2022, more than 60 does were collared in Chelan County as part of an ungulate movement and migration study being conducted in several Washington herds as well as across the western United States. Biologists have used location data gleaned from these GPS collars to learn valuable information about timing and duration of migration, migratory corridors and stopover points, and winter and summer range use for mule deer wintering in the Wenatchee Foothills as well as the Nahahum Canyon, Burch Mountain, and Swakane areas. 

These collars were programmed to drop off in four years after deployment, so the last 12 collared does still standing since the January 2020 capture dropped their collars as scheduled last month. Biologists have recovered four of these collars so far and will continue to go after the other eight in the coming months. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife will continue to receive GPS data from the approximately 13 collars still active on does in Chelan County for two more years. 

Image

Photo by WDFW

Pygmy Rabbit Surveys: Biologist Morris helped with more pygmy rabbit surveys. The lack of snow on the ground made surveys more difficult, but some burrows in a known occupied area showed activity. A lot of cottontails were also seen.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Mule Deer Methow Winter Range Closure: The Methow Wildlife Area winter range closure is still in effect until April 1. Even though it’s been an unseasonably mild winter and early spring, collar data shows migratory mule deer are still on their winter ranges. For example, staff members counted over 85 mule deer at the Golden Doe last week and collar data shows deer congregating in the shrub steppe area that recreationist tend to prefer. Staff members have been counting nearly 50 deer at Lewis Butte on a fairly regular basis, which is a huge increase from years past. Staff members also noticed increased deer use at Rizeor Lake and even saw a cow moose and her calf utilizing the closure area. Deer seem to be moving into the spring green up areas of the Big Buck in larger numbers the last few weeks. In summary, by reducing human disturbance at this critical time of year, the closure is proving beneficial to the Methow’s beloved and iconic herd of mule deer. 

Image

Photo by WDFW

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Hunter Access: Biologist Morris checked fields enrolled in our Waterfowl Habitat and Access Program (WHAP). The late white goose season is currently open and ends at the end of the week. 

Biologist Morris completed two Hunter Access contracts that landowners wanted to renew, one Hunt by Written Permission and one Feel Free to Hunt.

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Wolf Deterrence Outreach: Specialist Heilhecker and Wildlife Regional Program Manager Haug visited with Okanogan Conservation District staff members to discuss nonlethal wolf deterrence measures. They discussed wolf activity in the county and how to get the message of nonlethal deterrence measures out to the local community.

Radio Activated Guard Deployment: Specialist Heilhecker deployed a Radio Activated Guard (RAG) box near cattle feedlots and calving pens. Wolves were coming close to the feedlots due to an open carcass pit. The producer buried the carcass pit. The wolves continued to come to the buried pit for the following eight days before it tapered off to less frequent visits.

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Habitat Plots: The ground is clear and now it is time to start spring habitat management activities. Biologist Morris spent some time planning spring habitat management projects.

Biologist Cook visited two landowners in Grant and Adams counties to discuss options of habitat improvement. Potential projects include irrigated and non-irrigated tree and shrub planting to improve wildlife cover and food sources and stabilize drainage ditch banks. Other projects include no-till native grass seeding to improve stand diversity and Russian olive removal to reduce invasive species and open space for desirable plants. Some shrub replanting may occur this spring depending on nursery stock. Most projects will be implemented this fall or later.

Conservation Reserve Program: Biologist Morris spoke with a landowner about preserving sagebrush that could provide potential pygmy rabbit habitat. The landowner is re-enrolling land in the federally run Conservation Reserve Program and needs to reseed the field. Biologist Morris will recommend leaving portions of the field that contain mature sagebrush since pygmy rabbits occupy fields less than two miles away and could occupy the site in the future. 

Part of the reason for preserving sagebrush areas is that it can take 10 to 20 years to get a stand of sagebrush that is mature, dense enough to support pygmy rabbits. Every time mature sagebrush is destroyed it resets the clock for another 10 to 20 years before the area could provide pygmy rabbit habitat again.

Limebelt Forest Thinning: Scotch Creek staff members resumed thinning small diameter trees in the forested portions of the Limebelt on the Scotch Creek Unit. The goals of the thinning are to eliminate conifer encroachment in and around aspen, reconfigure fuels, and restore historical stand densities.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Shrub Enclosure Removal: Scotch Creek staff members removed approximately 2000 feet of temporary deer fence that was installed back around 2010 to protect newly planted deciduous shrubs. In 2015, the Okanogan Complex Fire burnt a portion of the enclosure. The fence was repaired, and new plants were planted in 2016. The fence has reached its life span and most of the shrubs are tall enough to be out of browsing height of deer. 

Boundary Fence Repair: Scotch Creek staff members repaired approximately one mile of boundary fence on the Similkameen-Chopaka Unit damaged by high water from the Similkameen River and one mile on the Tunk Valley Unit damaged by falling dead trees from the Tunk Block Fire in 2015.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Providing Education and Outreach

Grant Elementary School Science Fair: Administrative Assistant Jones and Biologists Cook, Morris, Nason, and Technician Balderston organized an outreach room for Grant Elementary School students and their families to learn more about wildlife resources. Mammal skulls and skins, amphibian and reptile skeletons, and an insect coloring and cutout activity were provided for the public. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife stickers and pamphlets were also available for families.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Conducting Business Operations and Policy

Natural Resource Conservation Service Local Working Group Meetings: Biologist Cook attended the West Palouse Local Working Group meeting in Ritzville and Biologist Morris attended the North Central Local Working Group meeting in Chelan. During these meetings, local priorities are decided for ranking Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQUIP) proposals for the following fiscal year. Cook and Morris provided feedback and suggestions to include terrestrial wildlife habitat as a priority in the Rangeland Improvements Category.

Private Lands Work Party Planning: Private Biologist Braaten worked on planning an upcoming statewide Private Lands work party in north central Washington March 26 through March 28. 

Region 2 North Community Collaborations: Assistant Regional Wildlife Program Manager Troyer has recently engaged in a variety of community collaborations. For example, Troyer recently attended the Chewuch Canal Company meeting to discuss future infrastructure improvements that would better serve irrigators, but also conserve more water for in-stream flows. Additionally, Troyer ran into a variety of other Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife colleagues at a Natural Resource Conservation Service workshop in Chelan. Lastly, Troyer has been busy as a core planning team member on Okanogan County’s Community Wildfire Protection Plan efforts.

Other

Damage Claim Processing: Specialist Heilhecker gathered notes and documentation for a deer damage crop compensation claim.

Permit Database Development: Specialist Heilhecker provided comments to a draft users’ manual for the new damage permit database system.

Wildlife Observed: While out checking local conditions Biologist Morris spotted several swans and bald and golden eagles, in agricultural fields near Quincy.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Managing Wildlife Populations

Waterfowl: Biologist Clements attended the quarterly Washington Waterfowl Association Moses Lake Chapter meeting on Feb. 8. Clements gave a recap of the successful hen mallard nesting tube reconstruction project and offered another volunteer project of monitoring the tubes for any nesting activity starting in March.

Greater Sage-Grouse and Sharp-Tailed Grouse: Biologist Eilers mailed out letters to private landowners in Douglas County asking for land access permission to survey grouse on private property. Biologists will be searching for new greater sage-grouse and sharp-tailed grouse leks. They will monitor known leks across Douglas County to get population estimates of these species.

Douglas County currently has the greatest abundance of greater sage-grouse in the state of Washington. Unfortunately, populations are declining.

With the warmer temperatures and lack of snow this winter season, greater sage grouse are displaying at lek sites a few weeks early this year. Biologist Eilers and Hunter Education Coordinator Montanari completed the first lek counts in southern Douglas County near Alstown and the Badger Mountain area. The grouse lek near Badger Mountain has consistently been the most well-attended with up to 30 males displaying on some mornings in 2023, and it’s off to a good start this year with the highest count yet of 37 birds.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Sharp-Tailed Grouse Monitoring: Biologist Heinlen surveyed the winter habitats of sharp-tailed grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus columbianus) finding a total of 28 birds foraging in the water birch (Betula occidentalis) trees in the Siwash Creek area. This is five more birds than were counted during the area’s spring lek surveys last year. It’s probable that there is at least one unknown lek in the area we have yet to document. Water birch catkins (seeds) are a primary food source for sharp-tailed grouse in the district making them an important component of sharp-tailed grouse habitat.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Mule Deer: Biologists Jeffreys and Eilers retrieved two GPS collars from mule deer to down-load data stored onboard. Between 2020 and 2022, more than 60 does were collared in Chelan County as part of an ungulate movement and migration study being conducted in several Washington herds as well as across the western United States.

Biologists have used location data gleaned from these GPS collars to learn valuable information about timing and duration of migration, migratory corridors, stopover points, and winter and summer range use for mule deer wintering in the Wenatchee Foothills as well as the Nahahum Canyon, Burch Mountain, and Swakane areas. These collars were programmed to drop off in four years after deployment, so the last 12 collared does still standing since the January 2020 capture dropped their collars as scheduled last month. Many are still inaccessible due to snow cover and land access, and biologists will continue to retrieve them over the upcoming months. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife will continue to receive GPS data from the 13 active collars in Chelan County for two more years.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Pygmy Rabbit Winter Surveys: Staff members started out the year carrying out pygmy rabbit surveys in the Sagebrush Flat Wildlife Area. With a mowing and prescribed burn project on the horizon, they took advantage of the limited snow and conducted burrow surveys to inform staff members of the best areas for land management. While there have been no pygmy rabbit sightings in the project area, staff members have flushed several sage grouse and short-eared owls. Wildlife staff members will continue to work collaboratively with the pygmy rabbit recovery crew assisting with surveys outside of the project area.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Pygmy Rabbits: Biologist Clements led a group of Washington Conservation Corps members and the pygmy rabbit team members finish up burrow surveys on a parcel known to have active pygmy rabbit sites. The team successfully completed the remaining transects, and despite the lack of snow making burrows easier to identify and muddy terrain, they were able to identify multiple burrows and collect fecal samples to send off to the lab for genetic analysis.

Bobcat Research Assistance: Biologists Fitkin and Heinlen assisted Biologist Welfelt with a multi-day deployment of several dozen remote cameras as part of an ongoing research effort examining bobcat and lynx seasonal habitat use dynamics. Cameras were deployed from the valley floor on the Sinlahekin Wildlife Area to over 6500 feet on the divide between the Methow and Okanogan watersheds. Data collection will continue for another year, and in addition to bobcat and lynx, the cameras are gathering data on a variety of additional species of interest.

Additional thanks to retired Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Biologist Base for helping with this effort.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Water access staff members have been putting the newly acquired Bobcat mower arm to good use. Assistant Manager Steele, and Natural Resource Technicians Wilson and Blanchard have been able to mow previously hard to reach and access roadsides and tracks where traditional tractor mowing hasn’t been an option ahead of spring residual herbicide application. This was done at the Quincy Lakes Wildlife Area with both the Bobcat mower arm and the new Bobcat Mini Track 100 (MT 100). The mower and MT 100 were also used at the Lake Lenore fish trap for mechanical control of tall emergence vegetation. Steele and Blanchard also removed a fallen tree and repaired a damaged fence at Blue Lake in Grant County.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Conserving Natural Landscapes

West Foster Creek Beaver Dam Analogue Project: During late summer and early fall, wildlife area staff members installed around 50 beaver dam analogs on West Foster Creek near Bridgeport. These beaver dam analogs were revisited when staff members were alerted by Douglas County Public Utility Department Biologist Schilling that they had salvaged a large bounty of free Christmas trees. Wildlife area staff members repurposed 55 trees that were going to be discarded at Fred Meyer and another 60 from Home Depot.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Big Bend Restoration: When reflecting on accomplishments of the past year, staff members recall the all-hands-on deck effort to prepare seed, plant, and spray restoration fields at Big Bend in late fall. This work was across the Magers, Bissell Flat, and Back Rock Lake units. In total, staff members drill seeded 261 acres with native grass, 43 acres with native forbs, and planted 5-1/8-acre forb plug islands across another 30 acres. Each field was approached differently, with the most intensive restoration occurring at Back Rock. The Back Rock restoration fields required six staff members to work long hours mowing, harrowing, spraying, and drill seeding to complete the project before winter conditions took hold.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Other

Administrative Work: Biologists Dougherty and Clements attended the quarterly meeting with the Bureau of Reclamation to discuss updates within both agencies. Biologist Clements mentioned that she heard discussion of replacing panels within the canal near the Pinto Ridge Dam. She suggested that as parts are replaced, finding potential wildlife friendly options would be helpful to aid in deer that consistently end up stuck in that stretch of the canal.

Ground Squirrels: District staff members attended a meeting regarding the 2023 Washington ground squirrel survey efforts and to offer suggestions of future projects and next steps for this species.

Northern Leopard Frogs: District staff members began the process of selecting and interviewing candidates for scientific technician positions. When filled, these positions will assist in northern leopard frog recovery work. The new hires will be onboarded and ready to start the busy field season in April.

Shipping Container Improvements: The shipping container that is used to store seed for restoration fields has undergone significant improvements. Maintenance Mechanic Rios prepped the unit so that he could install a heater and air conditioning unit. This task ensures improved temperature control for seed and other materials stored in this unit.

Headquarters Reflooring: What was supposed to be a simple reflooring project at headquarters proved to be more exciting than anticipated. While peeling up the old flooring, Maintenance Mechanic Rios was surprised to find six gopher snakes deep in their hibernacula in a small space that had been created under the floor of an office space.

Assistant Manager Blake sought council from District Biologist Jeffreys and Fitkin who recommended she speak with Beck, a retired herpetologist and professor from Central Washington University. After seeking consultation, she decided to keep them contained in the correct environment to ensure they winter in the proper conditions.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by Fitkin

Managing Wildlife Populations

Trapped, Sick and Injured Wildlife: Biologists in District 5 have been receiving several phone calls regarding deer that have been stuck in the east-low canal. Biologists have teamed up with the Adams County Irrigation District Office in setting out deer escape ramps in areas where it is most common for deer to be found trapped. Along with the escape ramps, there are a couple of maintenance ramps that are located throughout the canal for irrigation district employees to get equipment into the canal that deer are also able to easily access should they walk along the canal far enough to find it.

Northern Leopard Frogs: Biologists Nason, Dougherty, and Clements are continuing to plan the 2024 northern leopard frog field season. They have also worked with the broader northern leopard frog team to identify priority actions for conservation, including DNA analysis of frogs surveyed in the 2023 season and dedicated bullfrog management.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Pygmy Rabbits: District 5 staff members, including Biologists Nason and Dougherty, have continued to support the pygmy rabbit team with their winter burrow survey efforts. Despite challenges with staff member turnover and melting snow, the team has successfully completed survey transects, identified active burrows, and collected samples for DNA analysis.

Pygmy Rabbit Survey: Biologists Cook and Morris assisted the pygmy rabbit recovery team with winter surveys looking for active burrows and collecting fecal pellets for DNA sampling. Snow helps with surveys, but the day grew wetter as the warmer temperatures continued to melt the snow. Surveys include walking in a zig-zag pattern through pygmy rabbit habitat and looking for signs of use such as trails, tracks, scat, and burrows. These surveys help determine occupancy and numbers of rabbits in both known and potential pygmy rabbit habitat.

Waterfowl: Biologist Clements spent a handful of days in January organizing a volunteer project reconstructing hen mallard nesting tubes with the Washington Waterfowl Association (WWA), Moses Lake chapter. Clements went out with a Washington Conservation Corps (WCC) crew to collect over 20 nest tubes to disassemble and reassemble with new straw and orchard grass.

With the help of four WWA members plus the WCC crew membrs, they were able to accomplish reassembling 30 tubes. The next day, the WCC crew members and Biologist Clements went out to redeploy the tubes to their appropriate stands. The district team will follow up in the spring to see if the nesting tubes are being utilized by any mallard hens and if any clutches are successful.

Along with the mallard nest tubes, Biologist Clements has been reaching out and connecting with several dark goose hunters that have harvested geese with GPS collars on them. The hunters have been providing extremely helpful information in regards to their harvest as well as being fairly quick to exchange the real GPS collars for replicas that have been provided to WDFW staff members from Alaska Department of Fish and Game. With the exchange of collars and information on the harvest, Alaska Department of Fish and Game biologists are sending hunters certificates and maps of the movements associated with the collars. Clements has collected over ten collars that have been harvested in in the Columbia Basin this season.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Hunter Access: Biologist Morris checked fields enrolled in our Waterfowl Habitat and Access Program. Some hunters had success harvesting both waterfowl and upland birds on these sites. Biologist Morris also worked with landowners to start updating two hunter access contracts that expired this year (one Hunt by Written Permission and one Feel Free to Hunt).

Image

Photo by WDFW

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Habitat Plots: Biologist Cook created an initial habitat improvement plan that would help deal with invasive common reed and Russian olive trees in a wet circle corner. The landowner was excited by the prospects of habitat improvement and Cook shared the plan. If the landowner approves the project and potential permitting is approved, field work can begin this spring.

Biologist Morris checked an established habitat plot to see if there was evidence of wildlife use during the winter. He saw upland game bird and mule deer signs in the area. This habitat plot provides valuable cover and forage for game and non-game species throughout the year.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Other

Specialist Heilhecker had a busy couple of weeks. She took her vehicle in for service and submitted her fingerprints to Washington State Patrol for her period review. Then she boarded a flight for the annual wolf population survey.

Wildlife Sightings: While out checking local conditions Biologist Morris spotted several great blue herons, swans, bald eagles, and other wildlife along Moses Lake.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Managing Wildlife Populations

Sinlahekin Maintenance: Staff members have been using the slow winter months to refurbish equipment that was used during the field season. This is an annual process that helps to make sure equipment is ready to go during the field season and helps to reduce downtime due to equipment failures during our busy times. Currently staff members are servicing a tractor that is used on a variety of projects on the wildlife area. This includes replacing a water pump and doing the regular maintenance.

Wildlife Area Advisory Committee Scheduling: Sinlahekin and Scotch Creek staff members have been working to find a place to hold their annual Wildlife Area Advisory Committee meeting. They hope to have an in-person meeting this year since it has been a couple years since their last in-person meeting. They look forward to this meeting so they can communicate what has been happening on the wildlife areas and to get ideas for future projects.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Annual Deer Surveys: Pronghorn Antelope: Private Biologist Braaten continues to document winter herd locations and classifications to Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) staff members regarding pronghorn antelope populations in Douglas County.

Methow Winter Range Closure: A partial closure of the Methow Wildlife Area aimed at protecting wintering migratory mule deer went into effect on Dec. 15. Within approximately 20 days of the closure taking place, staff members noted mule deer activity in several areas that have been nearly void of deer use for several years pre-closure. For example, several groups of deer were seen utilizing the popular Lewis Butte and Rizeor Lake areas in the Rendezvous. Several other groups of deer were monitored in the Frazer Creek area as well as near Sullivan’s Pond. All of the aforementioned areas used to be preferred winter grounds for the Methow’s iconic migratory mule deer herd, but deer presence has been extremely limited or non-existent for years now, likely due to an increase in year-round human presence. These are very early preliminary findings, but promising, nonetheless.

Mule Deer: Early in December Douglas County Wildlife Area Complex staff members assisted with a mule deer survey, identifying deer herds, and estimating herd composition. During this one-day survey, staff observed 254 deer and recorded their location, sex, age, and antler point category.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Sharp-tailed Grouse: Douglas County Wildlife Area complex staff members have been coordinating with district biologists, research biologists, and the Diversity Program in an effort to capture sharp-tailed grouse at lek sites in the Big Bend Wildlife Area. They have placed traps and game cameras that have now been there since November.

Staff members have routinely monitored the game cameras and replenished the corn that is used as bait. Sharp-tailed grouse have been detected by the cameras. However, in early December not enough were showing up consistently to go out and trap. The bait that was placed in the traps was covered by snow, which might account for the significant decrease in detections this last round. Once snow covers the ground again, hopefully more grouse will be returning to the leks and be able to be trapped. Staff members hope to affix a GPS collar to a captured bird to gain knowledge on seasonal habitat use.

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Washington Conservation Corps Projects: Over the last few months, Methow Wildlife Area staff members have been working intermittently with a Washington Conservation Corps (WCC) crew to accomplish recreation-related projects. These projects have been planned in close collaboration with statewide recreation staff members, and they are made possible via recently acquired recreation specific funding.

Some of the great work completed by WCC includes buck and rail fencing in Beaver Creek Campground and Davis Lake parking, gate improvements at the Big Valley to support winter snow grooming, shooting range maintenance and cleanup, and trail corridor vegetation maintenance in the popular Cub Creek area of the Rendezvous. Now that winter has finally blanketed the Methow Valley, future recreation related WCC projects are likely on hold until the spring, but there should be more great work to come.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Hunter Access: Biologist Cook obtained landowner signatures on two Hunter Access contracts. One in Adams County on 320 acres as Feel Free to Hunt and another in Grant County on 150 acres as Feel Free to Hunt. The contract in Grant County is on the west side of Winchester Lake and will provide legal access for hunters to wildlife area lands on that side of the lake. It will also provide the landowner with better management tools for the public that have been accessing the property. Biologist Morris will lead habitat projects on a sagebrush shrubsteppe improvement on property in another section, closer to Ephrata, with the same landowner. 

Feeding Stations: Staff members have been tending to feeding stations that span across the Wells Wildlife Area and Sagebrush Flats units near Brewster. These stations are filled with wheat seed for upland game birds such as quail, pheasants, chukar, and sharp tailed grouse as well as some species of migratory birds. This year the feeding stations received a revamping, and now have lids and gates to keep animals out of the seed buckets. These new gates and lids allow buckets to be filled with seed preemptively in early December, then opened when hunting season ends. Wheat that is left over from this project is kept on site and available to the public.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Habitat Plots: Biologists Cook and Morris met with Columbia Basin Pheasants Forever Board and Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) District Conservationist to discuss the possibility of partnering again in providing funding, technical assistance, and labor to help landowners with installation of shrub rows. Most of the previously installed shrub rows are still functioning and providing cover and food for upland birds and native wildlife. An increase in funding to NRCS is a potential large pool for competitive projects.

Biologist Cook visited the fall planting site of native grasses in a circle corner because of the rather warm winter up to this point (early January). Cook was concerned that weedy cheatgrass might have had the opportunity to sprout and get a foothold despite herbicide applications. Fortunately, the area remained mostly weed free and looked ready for spring germination of native seeds. Hopefully, we get some precipitation.

Biologist Cook has been making plans for a habitat improvement project in a circle corner that has some wetland plants (cattails, common reed, etc.) and borders an irrigation drainage ditch and wetland ponds. The landowner is excited about the potential of the project to improve wildlife habitat and hunting opportunities. The corner is quite weedy and could host some native shrubs to provide food and shelter for wildlife. Russian olive removal could be part of the project as it has some small but established, dense stands.

Private Lands Okanogan County: Private Biologist Braaten provided outreach to two different landowners providing information on habitat recommendations on their properties. Food plots and habitat enhancements for upland birds and riparian habitat conservation concerns were topics covered.

CRP-SAFE: Private Biologist Braaten continues providing outreach and assistance to landowners who were rejected in the last SAFE CRP signup in Douglas County. Private Biologist Braaten relayed concerns to Farm Bill Coordinator Reseland and Landowner Services Division leadership.

Other

Wildlife Area Facilities Maintenance: Staff members spent time installing new metal drip edge on multiple outbuildings to keep rainwater and snow from deteriorating the fascia board. Staff members also started putting down new flooring in the office to replace the old linoleum flooring.  

Chopaka Fence Maintenance: Staff members brushed out a section of the North boundary fence on the Chopaka Unit, prepping it for repair, when weather conditions improve.                           

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Winter Maintenance: After completing a rather rigorous seeding project in November, this month wildlife area staff members have been tackling various projects to prepare for the winter. These tasks include repairing and maintaining equipment that was used heavily in the fall, winterizing vehicles, and spray tanks.

Lands Division Workshop: There was a Lands Division Workshop in Ellensburg where Douglas County Wildlife Area Complex staff members were able to put faces to names and attend lectures on lands related topics. Many attendees were particularly interested in hearing about the projects going on in other districts that differ greatly from their own.