Managing Wildlife Populations

District 8 Fisher Monitoring: District 8 Wildlife Biologist Wampole, with assistance from Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Intern Flores and Habitat Biologist Bucher, retrieved fisher monitoring stations set in fall 2023. Six of approximately 140 camera stations were collected. A wolverine was detected at one of six sites and marten at two of six sites, no fishers were detected.

District 8 Wildlife Population Monitoring Using Camera Traps: District 8 wildlife biologists have been deploying summer camera traps in remote areas across the district. Biologists will retrieve these cameras before the snow returns. 

Region 3 Monarch Butterflies Returning: In the past week, Sunnyside Snake River staff members have observed monarch butterflies returning to areas of the wildlife area that have milkweed. Monarchs have been observed in the Windmill and Hope Valley units. 

District 4 Unusual Milkweed Variety: During monarch surveys, District 4 Wildlife Biologist Fidorra located a patch of showy milkweed of an unusual color on the Windmill Unit. Photos were sent to Olympia staff members who consulted with the collections manager of the University of Washington Herbarium who had never seen this color variety. A specimen will be collected and prepared next week.

District 4 Burrowing Owls Give It a Second Go: District 4 Wildlife Biologist Fidorra thought the owl project was wrapping up as the team went to check the final two nests of the year. However, one of the nests failed and the owl pair had re-nested, which is uncommon this late in the year! Perhaps an indication of good food supply, or encouraged by the unseasonably cool temperatures, this owl nest is one of two that will not be ready for banding until late July. Good luck owlets!

District 4 Goose Banding: District 4 Wildlife Biologist Fidorra, along with help from Sunnyside Snake River Wildlife Area Manager Kaelber, District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand, Private Lands Biologist Manderbach, volunteers from District 4 Fish Program, volunteers from the Wildlife Program in neighboring districts, and many volunteers from the public trapped and banded geese in District 4. In total, 155 geese were banded between Columbia Park and Hood Park and many previously banded geese were recaptured and released. 

Amphibian Monitoring on Sunnyside Wildlife Area: District 4 Wildlife Biologists Fidorra and Hoffman received training from Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Herpetologist Hallock on amphibian trapping and tadpole identification. Several Species of Greatest Conservation Need were detected. Surveys will be conducted these next few weeks to begin cataloging sites important for these amphibians on WDFW land.

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Region 3 Harder Springs Blackbirds: Region 3 Private Lands Biologist Manderbach was checking the parking area and registration box at the Harder Springs Register to View site in Kahlotus. Volunteers from goose trapping earlier in the month mentioned that they had stopped and seen the tricolored blackbirds there recently on their way into town, so Manderbach took a look and found a few amongst the yellow-headed blackbirds and red-winged blackbirds. Manderbach will work with the landowners to continue to maintain the site and extend the access contract.

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

District 4 Corral Canyon Elk Area Damage Prevention and Kill Permits: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand delivered the next round of damage prevention permits and kill permits to landowners in elk area 3721. Meetings with landowners were held to discuss changes in crop damage compensation, permit coordination, and hazing strategies.

District 4 Injured Richland Deer: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand responded to a call concerning a possible injured deer at the Columbia Point Golf Course in Richland. The deer was located and showed signs of injury to a lower rear leg and a broken antler, possibly from a vehicle collision. The deer was mobile and was actively feeding, so no further action was necessary.

District 4 Bird in Chimney: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand received a report of a possible squirrel in a fireplace in Finley. The squirrel noises were actually a starling that was trapped in the chimney which was captured and released unharmed.

Wenas Wildlife Area – Tree Removal and Elk Fence Repair: Wenas Wildlife Area Specialist Frame, Habitat Biologist Miller, and Natural Resource Technicians Stoltenow and Janes removed trees that had fallen on the fence along North Wenas Road and removed trees that could potentially fall on the fence in the future. The fence in that section was repaired to prevent wildlife from leaving the wildlife area.

Wenas Wildlife Area – Roza Cable Installation: Wenas Wildlife Area Natural Resource Technicians Janes and Stoltenow installed an additional cable extending from the gate at the entrance to the Roza restoration area. There has been issues in this area with people leaving the green dot road to drive around the locked gate in order to access this area. This will hopefully prevent people from doing this in the future.

L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Elk Fence: L.T Murray Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Winegeart and Natural Resource Technician Blore worked with a master hunter to install an elk return gate in a section of elk fence that routinely receives damage from elk. The elk seem to get in around the Kittitas Reclamation District Road and possibly the creek, but this gate should eliminate future fence damage once the elk find and get used to using it. 

Kittitas County Conflict: District 8 Conflict Technician Leuck night hazed elk this month in the Park Creek and Badger Pocket areas. Conflict Specialist Wetzel trapped one bear and immobilized another. Both were relocated to approved areas. 

Yakima County Conflict: District 8 Conflict Specialist Wetzel checked for elk in the Tampico and Cowiche areas and inspected fences in those locations. Elk have been reported near orchards and some hay areas but have been easily hazed and have not returned.

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Colockum Wildlife Area Forestry: Colockum Wildlife Area Manager Lopushinsky and Assistant Manager Hagan toured the Clara Lake area with Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Forester Pfeifle to assess the area for possible forest health thinning work. This is a pristine, high elevation area with no active timber management in the past. After looking at access limitations, habitat conditions, and recent fire events it was decided to not pursue thinning work there in the near future.

Wenas Wildlife Area – Weed Control: Wenas Wildlife Area Natural Resource Technician Stoltenow sprayed Scotch thistle growing in the lower portion of the Black Canyon Trail and some Russian thistle growing around the Wenas Wildlife Area headquarters.

Oak Creek Wildlife Area Weed Control: Oak Creek Wildlife Area staff members continue to chemically control weeds across the wildlife area. Focus continues to be placed on the control of Scotch thistle but other species being controlled include Russian thistle, knapweed, Canada thistle, yellow star thistle, and poison hemlock. 

L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Weed Control: A local vegetation management crew was hired to treat weeds along and within 30 feet of green dot roads in the 2022 Vantage Highway Fire area which includes most of the Whiskey Dick Unit and some of the Quilomene Unit. The crew covered all the roads and found yellow star thistle and rush skeleton weed which are two weeds that have potential for serious landscape harm and the wildlife area crew were unaware of their presence.

L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Cultural Resource Surveying: L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Manager Morrison worked with Westland Archaeology which was contracted to do an extensive cultural survey project on the Whiskey Dick and Quilomene units. The information provided from this project will allow the L.T. Murray Wildlife Area management team to better plan and implement restoration activities post 2022 Vantage Highway Fire while protecting sensitive and significant cultural resources. 

L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Roads: L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Winegeart and Natural Resource Technician Blore added barrier rocks to a road that led to an illegal crossing through Cole Creek on the Yakima River Unit near Easton. A new road was quickly created around the barrier so Winegeart and Blore placed two cameras on the crossing hoping to identify the individuals making the new roads over the holiday weekend. 

Sunnyside Snake River Wildlife Area Weed Control: Sunnyside Snake River Wildlife Area staff members have been spraying near access sites and roadways to reduce many species of broadleaf weeds. Staff members will be transitioning to mowing interior roadways to reduce fire hazards and then begin wetland mowing activities in a few weeks. 

Seed Collection Efforts at Thornton: Sunnyside Snake River Wildlife Area Manager Kaelber, Natural Resource Technician Edwards, and Private Lands Biologist Manderbach joined staff members from the Benton/Franklin Conservation District in a seed collection effort of slender hawksbeard on the Thornton Unit. The collected seed will be used in seedball making events and spread out over other units of the wildlife area. Spiny hopsage and lupine seeds were collected as well.

Antelope Bitterbrush Seed Collection: Sunnyside Snake River Wildlife Area Manager Kaelber and Private Lands Biologist Manderbach collected antelope bitterbrush seed from the Thompson Seeps Unit. The amount and size of bitterbush plants in multiple areas of the unit is promising for seed collection events far into the future. The seed will be used to restore bitterbrush on other wildlife area units and private lands access sites.

Providing Education and Outreach

Wenas Wildlife Area – Durr Road Kiosk: Wenas Wildlife Area Lands and Recreation Specialist Frame and Natural Resource Technicians Stoltenow and Janes installed a kiosk and repositioned a green dot road management sign on the north Durr Road entry to the wildlife area. The green dot road management sign shows information regarding the proper usage of green dot roads and includes the new 2024 Green Dot Road Map. The kiosk has signage that provides information on regulations for recreational use, emergency restrictions, and as well as information about the wildlife area.

Wenas Wildlife Area – New Green Dot Road Maps for 2024: Wenas Wildlife Area Lands and Recreation Specialist Frame has ordered and installed new for 2024, Green Dot Road Maps on all the informational kiosks that are within the Wenas Wildlife Area. These new maps have updated information about the wildlife area and are printed in full color, making it easy for members of the public to read.

Conducting Business Operations and Policy

Region 3 Wildlife Program Safety Training – ATV and UTV classes: Over two days, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Safety Staff Members Mundy and Culican held an ATV and UTV Operator Training class at Oak Creek Wildlife Area. More than 15 Region 3 staff members are now trained and certified to safely operate and maintain these machines, which are important for the off trail and often remote nature of some of WDFW’s work. 

Supervisor Training: Private Lands Biologist Manderbach attended a three-day supervisor training in Spokane. The three days were packed full of great information and interaction with the class on leadership and supervisory strategies as well as general Human Resource information. The training is intended for new supervisors, but it is also a great refresher course for any supervisor and a great informative training for those who do not supervise.

Other

Sunnyside Snake River Wildlife Area Byron Wetland Tour: Sunnyside Snake River Wildlife Area Manager Kaelber toured the Byron Unit with partners from Ducks Unlimited to deploy data loggers to record water data from multiple ponds located in the eastern portion of the Byron Unit. Data collected will help with possible future wetland development and management. While touring many waterfowl broods were observed along with many species of shorebirds and turtles. 

Providing Recreation Opportunities

L.T. Murray Shoestring Trail and Camp Sites: Natural Resource Scientist Nass worked with the President of Northwest Motorcycle Association Toenyan in the planning phase of re-routing one mile of the existing single track/multi-use trail contributing sediment loading into the South Fork Manastash Creek. 

Staff members worked with law enforcement to remove an abandoned camper from a Taneum Creek camping site. The camper had a blown tire, plywood doors, and unhealthy interior air quality.

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Corral Canyon Elk Area Damage Prevention and Kill Permits: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand prepared the next round of damage prevention permits (DPP) and kill permits in Elk Area 3721. Permits will be distributed in the next week to landowners on Rattlesnake Mountain to assist with crop damage impacts from elk leaving the Hanford National Monument.

Rattlesnake Hills Elk: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand continues to monitor elk activity and damage impacts while actively performing late night and early morning hazing patrols. They coordinated with and assisted landowners and damage hunt participants. Increasing numbers of elk continue to raid wheat fields along the top of Rattlesnake Mountain, mostly at night.

Plymouth Paterson Wine Grapes: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand checked several wine grape vineyards in south Benton County for deer damage. Although deer activity was observed in a few areas, no significant damage is occurring at this time, likely due to lots of different forage available and active hazing strategies.

Vehicle and Deer Collisions: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand was dispatched to two calls for service concerning injured deer involved with vehicle collisions. One young buck deer was euthanized, and two doe deer were deceased on arrival. All of the carcasses were transported and deposited at the Washington Department of Transportation carcass pit.

Conserving Natural Landscapes

L.T. Murray Volunteer Events: Assistant Manager Winegeart and Natural Resource Scientist Nass worked with volunteers on the annual maintenance of the South Fork Manastash cabin. Enforcement has been using the cabin during elk season and it has great historical value to some folks in the Ellensburg area. 

Assistant Manager Winegeart led a volunteer event to remove relic barbed wire from the Whiskey Dick Unit. The project originally began as part of a mule deer migration corridor enhancement grant and to the volunteers' delight, a fawn was located on the fence line. The crew was able to see a benefit of their efforts as this little fellow stands a greater chance of survival with the old fence removed. The crew moved to a different area to work.

Oak Creek Wildlife Area Volunteer Service Day: Oak Creek Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Charlet and 18 Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife volunteers collected garbage from high public use areas around the wildlife area, including dispersed camping sites, target shooting sites, and various roadways. Volunteers covered over 100 miles of roadways on the wildlife area and collected roughly 300 pounds of garbage. Their success and hard work were celebrated with an annual potluck BBQ and meeting at the Oak Creek Visitor Center.

Oak Creek Wildlife Area Weed Control: Oak Creek Wildlife Area staff members have continued chemical control of noxious weeds throughout the wildlife area. The primary focus has been on the control of Scotch thistle, but as time allows all species on the noxious weed list are controlled. Contractors have also completed the chemical control of noxious weeds on the Cowiche Unit.

Managing Wildlife Populations

District 4 Burrowing Owl Nest Monitoring: District 4 Wildlife Biologist Fidorra and Assistant Wildlife Biologist Hoffman monitored artificial burrows for nesting owls with staff members and volunteers. The artificial burrows are in high demand following a mild El Nino winter allowing many owls to stay in Washington over the winter and experience high survival. Many sites designed for only one pair of owls currently have two pairs nesting at the artificial burrows, emphasizing the lack of suitable burrows and habitat for the species in our area, and the importance of the artificial burrow project.

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Photo by WDFW

Bighorn Sheep Lamb Monitoring: District 8 Wildlife Biologist Wampole and Assistant Wildlife Biologist Moore continue monitoring lambing in the district bighorn sheep herds including the Quilomene, Yakima, and Cleman Mountain populations. We are looking to establish peak lamb to ewe ratios and monitor for any signs of illness including coughing, nasal discharge, or lethargy that are consistent with Movi infections. 

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Photo by WDFW

Townsend Ground Squirrel Monitoring: District 8 Wildlife Biologist Wampole and Assistant Wildlife Biologist Moore continue to survey for Townsend ground squirrel colony sites. Ground squirrels were once common. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has noticed declines in historically occupied sites. To better assess this, biologists have been working to assess historic site status and identify new locations of colonies to determine if breeding is occurring. Efforts to solicit public observations of these tailless ground squirrels are ongoing. If you see one please submit reports using WDFW’s ‘At-Risk’ Wildlife Observations form.

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Photo by WDFW

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Region 3 Special Permit Season: The Customer Service and Wildlife Program staff members addressed a record number of inquiries from hunters (in person, on phone, and by email) and they offered invaluable guidance to aid hunters in making informed choices regarding their applications for special hunts.

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Tree Removals During Nesting Season: Assistant District 8 Wildlife Biologist Moore has been called to address instances of tree removal involving existing nests. Initially, a western screech owl was found nesting within a tree that was slated to be removed. Moore inspected the tree cavity and set up a motion-activated trail camera to monitor activity. However, it was determined that the owl had vacated the area, thus alleviating concerns of ongoing nesting. 

In another scenario, a local tree-cutting service was tasked with removing a potentially hazardous tree on private property. During the limb removal process, it was discovered that one of the tree's natural hollows served as a nest for several kestrel nestlings. Promptly recognizing the need for guidance, the company reached out to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) for advice. In accordance with the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act, the company was instructed not to proceed with tree removal until the nestlings have fledged, ensuring compliance with legal protections for migratory birds.

Wenas Wildlife Area – Roza Posts and Cable: Wenas Wildlife Area Lands and Recreation Specialist Frame, Natural Resource Technician Janes, and Assistant Manager Taylor installed posts extending out from the gate blocking access to the Roza Road. There have been issues with people driving around the gate and illegally accessing the area. A cable will be strung along the posts to help prevent people from driving into the area.

Corral Canyon Elk Area Summer Bull Permits: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand monitored and coordinated damage prevention permit (DPP) hunts in elk area 3721. Ten bull elk have been harvested thus far. Non-lethal hazing in crop fields continues during nocturnal hours.

Kahlotus Deer Damage: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand inspected several wheat fields in the Kahlotus area that have historically received substantial deer damage. Heavy deer damage has occurred in a few areas, especially near remote locations near the breaks of the Snake River.

Richland Deer: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand responded to a call concerning an injured deer in Richland. While in route to the area the deer died from its injuries sustained in a vehicle collision along a very busy roadway. The young buck deer was transferred to a Washington Department of Transportation carcass pit.

Kittitas County Conflict: District 8 Conflict Technician Leuck and Conflict Specialist Wetzel hazed some elk from areas in Kittitas County. Elk ventured to areas in Thorp, Vantage, Kittitas, Badger Pocket, and Cle Elum mostly following migratory routes and visiting some crop fields and new seedings. Leuck and Wetzel also responded to several elk that were struck on I-90. Elk have been hazed away again from I-90 in some locations.

District 8 Conflict Specialist Wetzel responded to several calls about black bears that have been nuisances and have low fear of humans in a neighborhood in Hyak. Trapping has been underway.

Yakima County Conflict: District 8 Conflict Technician Leuck and Conflict Specialist Wetzel checked for elk in the Tampico and Cowiche areas and inspected fences in those locations. Elk appear to have moved up and away from the winter damage areas.

Bumping Lake Deer: District 8 Conflict Specialist Wetzel rescued a deer trapped in the spillway at Bumping Lake.

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Wallula Gap Vineyards Food Plot: Region 3 Private Lands Biologist Manderbach met with two landowners in Benton County to do a site visit for a potential food plot project. The main concern that brought the idea up is deer eating young grapes, and the landowners thought of implementing a food plot to attract the deer away from the grapes. They are also required to use water this summer and a food plot would be a great project to use extra water. In total there would be 130 acres to work with. Manderbach has been working with staff members from the Benton Conservation District to help with the implementation of the project. The timing of finding out about this idea was not ideal, but a temporary food plot may be implemented this year with a better native mix along with shrub rows being added in starting this fall.

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Photo by WDFW

Wenas Wildlife Area – Weed Control: Wenas Wildlife Area staff members have continued weed treatment throughout the wildlife area. The primary target for spot spraying with backpack sprayers has been whitetop, but Canada and Scotch thistle are still being found. Natural Resource Technician Janes sprayed the firebreaks and parking areas in the southern portion of the wildlife area to help hinder the movement of fires through the wildlife area.

Wenas Wildlife Area – Mowing: Wenas Wildlife Area Lands and Recreation Specialist Frame mowed the McCabe restoration site to knock down cereal rye in the area and prepare for weed spraying. Natural Resource Technician Stoltenow mowed around the Mellotte office and the Wenas Wildlife Area Headquarters to help reduce the risk of fires. 

L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Quilomene Grazing: The bison are back on the Quilomene Unit leading to a heightened interest in figuring out some fencing issues in the Parke Creek drainage.

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Photo by WDFW

L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Relic Barbed Wire Cleanup: L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Winegeart led a volunteer effort to remove old barbed wire from the Whiskey Dick Unit of the L.T. Murray Wildlife Area. The day was a great success with over a half mile of barbed wire being taken down and removed from the landscape. 

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Photo by WDFW

L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Cole Creek Resource Protection: The L.T. Murray Wildlife Area crew placed 3,800-pound concrete blocks across an off-road trail some individuals had been using to go around the broken Cole Creek Bridge on the Yakima River Unit. Someone moved one of the blocks the first weekend after installation and more than a half dozen vehicles were seen and/or cited for driving around the blocks and subsequently through Cole Creek. An extra block and additional signage will be added soon.

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Photo by WDFW

Oak Creek Wildlife Area Volunteer Service Day: Oak Creek Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Charlet and 20 Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation volunteers used a combination of mechanical and chemical control to treat approximately 20 acres of land around Mud Lake. This area has a dense infestation of dalmatian toadflax with occasional Canada thistle, knapweed, and mullein plants found. 

Oak Creek Wildlife Area Weed Control: Oak Creek Wildlife Area staff members have continued weed treatment throughout the wildlife area. The primary focus has been on the chemical control of Scotch thistle, but as time allows all species on the noxious weed list are controlled. Contractors have also started chemically controlling noxious weeds in various areas on the Oak Creek and Cowiche units, primarily focusing on Scotch thistle.

Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Weed Control: Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area staff members have been busy applying herbicide to Scotch thistle, houndstongue, and other noxious weeds. Windy weather has delayed some of the herbicide applications. Staff members have also been cleaning litter and debris from wildlife area access sites. 

Colockum Wildlife Area: Colockum Wildlife Area staff members ordered multiple dump truck loads of rock to be dumped into mudholes created by 4X4’s at Lily Lake. There is a long history of “mudding” at Lily Lake in the Stemilt Basin and they are attempting to discourage this by dumping sharp angular rock into the worst of the mudholes. Rock will be spread out to make mudding a little less attractive.

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

Providing Education and Outreach

Sacagawea Park Salmon Celebration: Region 3 Private Lands Biologist Manderbach led birdwatching walks for elementary classes as part of the Franklin Conservation District’s Salmon Celebration at Sacagawea Park. Each class was able to see a handful of different bird species while following general birdwatching rules of remaining quiet and moving slowly. Many of the students were very excited and some were even pointing out birds for their classes. The highlight of the day was a raccoon peeking its head out of a tree cavity that a few of the classes were lucky enough to see.

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area Outreach: Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area Manager Kaelber and Natural Resource Technician Edwards taught students attending Salmon Celebration about the wildlife found in the State of Washington. Students were able to touch and feel various animal pelts, antlers, and skulls. 

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Photo by WDFW

Mesa Elementary Ecology Day: Region 3 Private Lands Biologist Manderbach, with the help of an environmental educator from the Franklin Conservation District, worked a station at the annual Ecology Day at Mesa Elementary. Students attended 30-minute stations throughout the day with different presentations and activities centered around ecology and the environment. This year Manderbach put on a seedball workshop while speaking about wildflowers and pollinators. Each student crafted three to five seedballs using a compost/clay powder/water/wildflower seed mix. Some of the species in the mix included western yarrow, Lewis blue flax, arrowleaf balsamroot, and Munro’s globemallow. 

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Photo by WDFW

Wenas Wildlife Area – Legoman Kiosk: Wenas Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Taylor, Lands and Recreation Specialist Frame, and Natural Resource Technicians Stoltenow and Janes installed a kiosk and reader-board in the Legoman portion of the wildlife area. The reader-board shows information regarding the proper usage of green dot roads and will have a green dot map in the future. The kiosk has information on regulations for recreational use of the wildlife area as well as information about the wildlife area. 

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

Conducting Business Operations and Policy

Wenas Wildlife Area- RCO Grant: Wenas Wildlife Area Manager Gray and Habitat Specialist Miller presented a proposed project on the Wenas Wildlife Area to The Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO). Grants from RCO help to supplement acquisition funding for the wildlife area as well as contribute toward essential conservation work.

Other

District 4 Burrowing Owl Supplies: District 4 Wildlife Biologist Fidorra coordinated with the Blue Mountain Audubon Society chapter to purchase supplies for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service artificial burrows for burrowing owls. Fidorra received and delivered supplies to the Hanford Reach National Monument staff members.

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Photo by WDFW

Oak Creek Wildlife Area Abandoned Trailer: Oak Creek Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Charlet found an abandoned trailer on the Cowiche Unit after the long Memorial Day weekend. Law enforcement was contacted and were very responsive and helpful in working through the process to resolve this situation. 

Managing Wildlife Populations

Townsend Ground Squirrel Monitoring: District 8 Wildlife Biologist Wampole and Assistant Wildlife Biologist Moore continued to survey for Townsend ground squirrel colony sites. Ground squirrels were once common. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has noticed declines in historically occupied sites. To better assess this, biologists have been working to assess historic site status and identify new locations of colonies to determine if breeding is occurring. 

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Photo by WDFW

District 8 Bat Monitoring: District 8 Wildlife Biologist Wampole and Assistant Wildlife Biologist Moore started monitoring the arrival of bats to summer maternity sites. Maternity sites are monitored for white-nose syndrome and population trends. There are two key sites receiving experimental vaccinations and treatments to combat the deadly fungal disease. 

Teanaway Community Forest Spotted Owl Surveys: District 8 Wildlife Biologist Wampole, Habitat Biologist Meyers, and Diversity Division Wildlife Biologist Kohler joined forces to begin the deployment of autonomous recording units (ARU’s) for monitoring spotted owl populations in the Teanaway Community Forest. ARU’s automatically record calls of birds and other species in the area. Assessment of the audio recordings will allow biologists to determine the presence of spotted owls and determine sex of those individuals from their call patterns. 

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Photo by WDFW

Bighorn Sheep Monitoring: District 8 Wildlife Biologist Wampole and Assistant Ungulate Specialist Kyle conducted surveys for new lambs in the Movi-positive Yakima herd. Wampole and Kyle also worked to retrieve and sample a natural mortality of the Movi-positive ewe from the Umtanum South sub-population where active infections were found in the winter 2024 capture and test effort. 

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Photo by Ralph Owen, public member

Burrowing Owl Transmitter Project: District 4 Wildlife Biologist Fidorra received locations from partner researchers regarding two burrowing owls with transmitters in unusual locations in Douglas and Yakima counties. Despite multiple attempts of various efforts using UHF, playback, and visual searches, neither owl was located. Due to the technology, it can be difficult to track birds to a specific location so more data will need to come in from the satellite before knowing the location or fate of these two owls.

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Photo by WDFW

Burrowing Owl Nest Project: District 4 Wildlife Biologist Fidorra and Assistant Wildlife Biologist Hoffman began nest checks at artificial burrow sites near Pasco. Most nests have already hatched with many young clutches detected. After a mild winter, many owls were onsite early, and breeding is ahead of schedule with most available sites occupied. 

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Photo by WDFW

White-nose Syndrome Probiotic Study on Bats: District 4 Wildlife Biologist Fidorra and Assistant Wildlife Biologist Hoffman, and Sunnyside Snake River Wildlife Area Manager Kaelber assisted staff members and partners to capture, assess, band, and tag little brown and Yuma myotis bats at a colony in Yakima County. This location will be used as a control site for the probiotic study attempting to identify preventative treatments for white-nose syndrome. Approximately 60 bats were sampled. 

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Photo by WDFW

Porcupine Rescue: District 4 Wildlife Biologist Fidorra responded to a call about a porcupine that had been staying under a car for several days on a busy street in Pasco with no suitable habitat in near vicinity. Fidorra and Conflict Specialist Hand quickly trapped the animal and moved it to a nearby natural area.

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Photo by WDFW

Diversity Grant Review: District 4 Wildlife Biologist Fidorra reviewed and scored applications for the new wildlife diversity grants.

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Wenas Wildlife Area Durr Road Shooting Range Coordination: Wenas Wildlife Area Manager Gray, Archeologist Barrick, and Environmental Engineer Hansen met with members of the Yakama Nation to discuss the Durr Road Shooting Range. Gray expressed how the range will improve safety, lower the risk of wildfires, and lower the amount of garbage left behind by providing the public a developed site to use. They discussed the importance and history behind harvesting food for the Yakama Nations. They also discussed the need for improvements on communication. The meeting went well, and it was a good opportunity to discuss target shooting and the Durr Road Target Shooting Range. The new range should be completed and ready for use in June of 2024.

Oak Creek Wildlife Area Winter Closures Open: Oak Creek Wildlife Area staff members and volunteers opened all winter closure public access gates on May 1 at 6 a.m. Over 100 vehicles, various hikers, and horseback riders were waiting at the gates at 6 a.m. to enter the winter closure areas to search for elk antler sheds. Winter closures on the Oak Creek Wildlife Area aid in the protection of wintering wildlife, specifically elk, that are in high concentrations near winter feed sites and are within their winter recovery period. 

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Photo by WDFW

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Rattlesnake Hills Elk: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand monitored elk activity and conducted late night hazing activities near the border of the Hanford National Monument. Several landowner meetings were conducted to coordinate damage permit hunting and hazing activities.

Corral Canyon Elk Area Summer Bull Permits: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand delivered Damage Prevention Permits (DPP) to landowners in elk area 3721. These permits were the first to be developed and issued from the new Damage Permit System platform and will be used to pressure elk away from commercial crops.

Ice Harbor Deer: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand monitored deer activity and damage impacts at a large tree fruit and blueberry farm near Ice Harbor Dam along the Snake River. 

Prosser Marmots: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand received and responded to a complaint of yellow-bellied marmots causing damage at the Whitstran Elementary School near Prosser.  They provided information on deterrence strategies and contact information for local Wildlife Control Operators.

Oak Creek Wildlife Area Signage: Oak Creek Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Charlet had four signs updated and reprinted for various locations on the wildlife area. These signs have been updated to follow the new Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife sign standards and guidelines. 

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Wenas Wildlife Area – Sheep Company Target Shooting Clean-Up: Wenas Wildlife Area Lands and Recreation Specialist Frame collected 360 pounds of trash and target shooting material from the Sheep Company Target Shooting Range. Notable items were a toilet and dishwasher. 

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Photo by WDFW

Wenas Wildlife Area Spring Weed Treatments: Wenas Wildlife Area staff members continue to treat the wildlife area for noxious weeds. This time of year, common targets are Scotch thistle, Canada thistle, and whitetop. Preventing the encroachment of these noxious weeds is an essential aspect of maintaining the natural landscapes on the wildlife area.

Oak Creek Wildlife Area Noxious Weed Control: Oak Creek Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Charlet and Natural Resource Worker O’Brien continue to chemically control noxious weeds on the Cowiche and Oak Creek units. Spot spraying reduces the presence of Scotch thistle and other various noxious weeds on Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife lands and helps conserve and maintain natural landscapes.

Private Land Shrub Plantings: Region 3 Private Lands Biologist Manderbach and Wildlife Biologist Fidorra planted native shrubs on private lands in Franklin County that burned in 2020 and lost most all shrub cover. Sagebrush plantings from the year prior were doing well, but other species planted appeared to be browsed fatally by deer and cattle. New shrubs were added to augment the plot and browse protections will be implemented.

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Photo by WDFW

L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Weed Control: L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Winegeart hired Central Valley Helicopters to aerially treat 64 acres of the perennial weed, whitetop (Cardia draba), within the footprint of the 2022 Vantage Highway Fire. The lack of overhead cover makes this a good time to reach and treat remote weed populations.

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Photo by WDFW

Teanaway Valley Unit Restoration Site: L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Manager Morrison and Assistant Manager Winegeart walked the L.T. Murray Wildlife Area’s Teanaway Valley Unit. They accessed the unit’s need for future attention. Restoration has been ongoing on the unit for several years, but the Recreation and Conservation (RCO) Grant is now closed. Wildlife area staff members will work hard to protect the work done and ensure success of the site’s structural improvements and weed control efforts performed over the years by Mid-Columbia Fisheries.

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South Ridge Road Site Visit: Region 3 Private Lands Biologist Manderbach met with South Yakima Conservation District staff members, an engineer from the Central and East Klickitat Conservation District, a member of the Audubon Society, and the landowner of the property enrolled in access as the South Ridge Road property. The meeting was focused around the development of a natural spring to increase flow and provide a solid pool of water for wildlife use and to allow for future habitat development. 

Past habitat projects were also viewed and plans to expand on them were discussed. Senior Program Manager Hulett from Audubon discussed plans for sage grouse surveys on this property as well as others in Yakima and Benton counties. The spring development project should get rolling this summer which would allow for habitat expansion later this year or next year.

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Providing Education and Outreach

Salmon Celebration: Sunnyside Snake River Wildlife Area Manager Kaelber and Natural Resource Technician Edwards presented at a recent salmon release event in Sacajawea Park. Students learned about the types of animals found in Washington and were able to touch furs, skulls, and antlers. 

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Conducting Business Operations and Policy

Wenas Wildlife Area RCO Grant Application: Habitat Specialist Miller has been working on a grant application through the Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO). Grants through RCO require a multi-step process that involves several different presentations of proposed projects. Funds awarded through these grants are often used to acquire new lands for wildlife areas and supplement funds for the improvement of existing sites.

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Other

American Badger Sighting: Natural Resource Specialist Frame spotted an American badger in the Cleman Mountain area.

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Quilomene Unit Visitors: Domestic bison from a neighboring landowner's pasture made their way to WDFW's L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Quilomene Unit in search of green grass and water. Their white faces give them an awe-inspiring presence when meeting face to face on the landscape. It was fun while it lasted but the visitors had to return home in absence of a grazing permit. 

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Managing Wildlife Populations

Oak Creek Wildlife Area Wildlife Safety Zone: Oak Creek Wildlife Area Natural Resource Worker O’Brien built and installed a new wildlife safety zone signpost. This sign informs hunters of the wildlife safety zone located directly around the Oak Creek Wildlife Area headquarters office and feed yard. 

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White Nose Syndrome Probiotic Bat Captures: District 4 Wildlife Biologists Fidorra and Hoffman, District 8 Wildlife Biologist Moore, and Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area Manager Kaelber assisted Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Bat Biologist Tobin with the capture and sampling of a maternity colony in the Sunnyside area. The team successfully captured approximately 60 new bats and recaptured 20 bats that were marked and sampled during previous efforts. This research effort is a novel approach to utilizing naturally occurring bacteria to reduce impact of the causative agent of white nose syndrome (WNS). One more capture event is planned for later this summer. Additionally, guano samples were collected and will be tested for Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd), the fungus that is known to cause white-nose syndrome in bats.

Providing Recreation Opportunities

L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Opener: It was chilly and windy but a beautiful day on the L.T. Murray Wildlife Area for the May 1 elk closure opener. Around 120 vehicles lined up for the 6 a.m. rush through the gates at Joe Watt and Robinson Canyon, which yielded few antlers, but it was still a great time for people on horseback, all-terrain vehicles, bicycles, cars, and trucks.

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Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Central Washington University (CWU) Students in Taneum Creek: L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Manager Morrison led geology students and members of AWRA (American Water Resources Association) on a field tour in the L.T. Murray’s Taneum Creek system. The field day objective was to learn about riparian projects implemented by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and Yakama Nation Fisheries.

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Whiskey Dick Creek Bird Count: Central Washington University Cultural and Environmental Resource Management graduate student started bird point count data in the Whiskey Dick Creek system for a thesis focused on shrubsteppe songbird response to fire-based vegetation response.

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District 4 Rattlesnake Hills Elk: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand had continued to conduct hazing activities near the border of the Hanford National Monument. Increasing numbers of animals are being observed entering wheatfields along the southern border of the monument.

District 4 Corral Canyon Elk Area Summer Bull Permits: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand prepared damage prevention permits (DPP) to be delivered to landowners in elk area 3721. These permits assist with pressuring elk away from valuable wheat crops during critical plant development. These permits were the first to be developed and issued from the new Damage Permit System platform.

District 4 Master Hunter and Special Permit Points Restoration: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand worked with Headquarters staff members on identifying which master hunters or special permit holders were not deployed on damage hunts, so their special hunting permit points could be restored. 

District 4 Deceased Pronghorn: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand received and responded to a report of a car/pronghorn antelope collision on Highway 221. No collar or ear tag was observed on the animal and biological information was collected and entered in Survey 123.

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Wenas Wildlife Area Spring Weed Treatments: Wenas Wildlife Area staff members continue to treat the wildlife area for noxious weeds. This time of year, a common pest is the Scotch thistle. Preventing the encroachment of these noxious weeds is an essential aspect to maintaining the natural landscapes of the wildlife area. 

Oak Creek Wildlife Area Noxious Weed Control: Noxious weed control continues on the Cowiche Unit of the Oak Creek Wildlife Area. Oak Creek Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Charlet and Natural Resource Worker O’Brien continue spot spraying efforts to reduce the presence of Scotch thistle and other noxious weeds on Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife lands. 

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Oak Creek Wildlife Area Parking Area Maintenance: Oak Creek Wildlife Area Natural Resource Worker O’Brien filled potholes and raked gravel in parking lots on the Oak Creek Unit to improve parking areas. Assistant Manager Charlet sprayed parking lots on the Oak Creek Unit and Cowiche Unit for a wide variety of nonnative plant species. This effort reduces the risk of noxious weeds spreading onto Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife lands and reduces wildfire risk by eliminating vegetation where vehicles commonly park. 

Wenas Wildlife Area Future Conservation Easements/Acquisitions: Wenas Wildlife Area Manager Gray continued to work with two landowners who are interested in conserving their private property to prevent future development and protect the current habitat. Gray and Region 3 Lands Agent Carbary met with a landowner off Umptanum Road to discuss potential options for conserving their property and to conduct a site visit. The property is approximately 3400 acres of shrubsteppe and riparian habitat. Gray and Wenas Wildlife Area Habitat Specialist Miller will be submitting this project area through the internal Lands 20/20 process for review this year. 

The second project area is approximately 440 acres of shrubsteppe, ponderosa pine woodland, and riparian habitat. Gray and Miller have been working on a RCO (Recreation and Conservation Office) WWRP (Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program) – Critical Habitat grant to receive funding for a conservation easement and life estate for this property. This past week Gray met with a professional photographer and the landowners to take photos of the property to be used in the grant application. Both of these projects will protect crucial areas of habitat for wildlife including a significant number of species listed as Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN).

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Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area / Region 3 Private Lands collaboration with Benton Conservation District: Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area Manager Kaelber and Private Lands Biologist Manderbach had a meeting and followed up on a field trip with the Benton Conservation District staff members to the Thornton Unit. They discussed future collaborative efforts to harvest sagebrush and native seeds from plants that can be used to create seed balls to spread throughout Benton and Franklin counties on private lands and portions of the Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area. Other habitat enhancement projects were also discussed. 

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Franklin County Shrub Planting: Private Lands Biologist Manderbach along with help from District 4 Wildlife Biologist Fidorra expanded on a shrub planting from 2023 on the Neff-Jones Hunt by Reservation site in Franklin County. In 2023 sagebrush and antelope bitterbrush were planted in three draws on the property. The sagebrush has survived well, but the bitterbrush had a very low survival rate likely due to deer damage soon after planting. Manderbach and Fidorra planted more sagebrush as well as winterfat and a few patches of Rocky Mountain juniper in two of the draws to expand on the project. Manderbach will continue to monitor the plantings and provide water occasionally throughout the spring and summer.

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Other

Kittitas County Corner Crossing: Region 3 Private Lands Biologist Manderbach met with a landowner in Kittitas County who called about issues with corner crossing that them and a neighbor are having. Both landowners border state land and there is a fence at the corner being crossed. The landowner gave Manderbach a tour of their land, their neighbors’ land that they work on, as well as some of the state land bordering them. 

They discussed many issues and the potential for future collaboration in ways of first-time pheasant hunter opportunities, habitat work potential, and the possibility of allowing public access. The landowner has worked with many Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife staff members on different projects and issues. Manderbach will continue diving into the corner crossing topic.

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Managing Wildlife Populations

Cleman Mountain Bighorn Sheep Survey: District 8 Biologist Wampole, Assistant Biologist Moore, Wenas Wildlife Area Natural Resource Technician Frame, and Tulalip Tribal Biologist Collins conducted lamb/ewe counts of the Cleman Mountain bighorn sheep population to inform lamb recruitment. This information is used for the continued population monitoring following the experimental protocols for Test and Remove. 

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Yakima Canyon Bighorn Sheep Survey: District 8 Wildlife Biologist Wampole, Assistant Biologist Moore, Conflict Technician Leuck, Conflict Specialist Wetzel, and Ungulate Assistant Biologist Kyle, and tribal biologists from the Tulalip and Yakama Tribes collaborated to conduct lamb-ewe counts for the Yakima Canyon bighorn sheep population. These counts are crucial for understanding lamb recruitment and are part of ongoing population monitoring efforts following the experimental protocols for Test and Remove.

Bat Box Installation: District 8 Wildlife Biologist Wampole and Conflict Specialist Wetzel worked to install bat boxes to replace recently disbanded barns. The barns were removed as part of a larger land restoration plan, but they were identified as a summer maternity roost in the previous years. Bat boxes were installed this spring to provide returning bats with opportunity for a secure roost site. Biologists will monitor boxes for activity and work to install additional sites. 

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Motus Tower Installation: District 4 Wildlife Biologist Fidorra assisted with the installation of a new Motus tower in Benton County. Fidorra met with the partner in flight biologist and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff members to install the new tower. The tower is a first in District 4 and one of only two in all of eastern Washington. The Motus system can be used to track wildlife as small as butterflies. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife intends to develop more studies using the system for bats and bird monitoring in the future. 

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Ferruginous Hawk Nest Platforms: District 4 Wildlife Biologist Fidorra checked for occupancy at six nest platforms installed for ferruginous hawks in District 4. Two platforms were removed prior to the breeding season at the request of a wind development project. None of the platforms had signs of use this season.

Bluebird Nesting Boxes: District 4 Wildlife Biologist Fidorra made a quick check on a volunteer project installed in Benton County. Fidorra checked 20 nest boxes, installed for swallows and bluebirds, for nests from last season. It might take some years for the site to become established by target species. For the second year in a row, one of the boxes appeared to be used by ash-throated flycatchers, an uncommon Washington breeding bird. 

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Ferruginous Hawk Data: District 4 Wildlife Biologist Fidorra was part of a team working to address data collection at historical ferruginous hawk nesting sites. The team worked to develop a method for documenting and differentiating sites where nesting structure was missing, where nests were destroyed or missing, or where habitat within the vicinity had been permanently converted.

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Wenas Wildlife Area Sheep Company Shooting Range: Wenas Wildlife Area staff members chemically treated the Sheep Company Shooting Range. This treatment includes the shooting lanes, berms, walkways, as well as the parking lot. Such treatments help to ensure that fire danger is kept to a minimum while helping to keep noxious weeds at lower levels in disturbed portions of the wildlife area. This has the benefit of providing a well-kept recreation site for the popular practice of target shooting on the wildlife area.

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Wenas Wildlife Area Spring Fence Checks: Wenas Wildlife Area staff members checked over 20 miles of elk fence on the boundary of the wildlife area to look for any winter damage. Damage to the elk fence will be fixed promptly to prevent elk from going onto private lands outside of the fence. This will help prevent wildlife conflict on the wildlife area.

Rattlesnake Hills Elk: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand had contact with landowners on Rattlesnake Mountain concerning elk activity, damage occurrence, and damage permit issuance. Late night hazing activities were employed with a few small groups of bull elk returning back onto the Hanford Monument.

Trail Camera Deployment: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand deployed a trail camera in an area on Rattlesnake Mountain that elk have historically used to leave the Hanford Monument for winter wheat crops. Small groups of young bulls have been showing up on camera during nocturnal hours and retreating back to Hanford prior to sun-up. Information is being relayed to landowners to assist with their hazing activities.

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Plymouth/Paterson Deer Patrols: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand monitored several large wine grape operations along the Columbia River between Paterson and Crow Butte for deer damage. Very minor deer activity is occurring in the vineyards currently.

Silver Dollar Livestock Producer Check-Ins: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand continued to check in with landowners in the Silver Dollar and Blackrock areas concerning predation during calving operations. No major problems or concerns have developed this year and mild winter weather conditions were beneficial.

Kittitas County Conflict: District 8 Conflict Technician Leuck and Conflict Specialist Wetzel hazed some elk from areas in Kittitas County. Elk ventured to areas in Thorp, Vantage, Kittitas, Badger Pocket, and Cle Elum, mostly they were following migratory routes and visiting some crop fields. Elk have been hazed away again from I-90 in some locations, however some elk have been struck on I-90.

Conflict Specialist Wetzel tasked an agency range rider to work on wolf issues from the Lauderdale to Kittitas area of the old Naneum Pack territory.

Yakima County Conflict: District 8 Conflict Technician Leuck and Conflict Specialist Wetzel checked for elk in the Tampico and Cowiche areas and inspected fences in those locations. The elk appear to have moved up and away from the winter damage areas.

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Oak Creek Wildlife Area Weed Control: Oak Creek Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Charlet and Natural Resource Technician O’Brien begin control of noxious weeds on the Oak Creek and Cowiche units. Efforts focus on the control of Scotch thistle but also include a wide variety of noxious weed species. 

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Wenas Wildlife Area – Spring Weed Treatment: Wenas Wildlife Area Natural Resource Technicians Stoltenow and Janes sprayed the firebreaks along the southern portion of the wildlife area elk fence. This is in an effort to reduce the fuel load in those areas and help control the spread of potential wildfires. Technicians Janes and Stoltenow also began spot spraying for Scotch thistle in the wildlife area. In addition, wildlife area staff members sprayed around parking lots and kiosks throughout the wildlife area to prevent weeds from growing.

Wenas Wildlife Area – Spring Planting: Wenas Wildlife Area Technicians Stoltenow and Janes finished planting the last of the plugs that will be planted this spring. These plants went in along riparian areas in Black Canyon and McCabe. 

Byron Unit Shrub Planting: Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area Manager Kaelber, Assistant Manager Ferguson, and Natural Resource Technician Cardenas continue to plant shrubs for the Byron Unit fire restoration shrub planting. They are receiving help from Private Lands Biologist Manderbach, a volunteer from the fish program, and occasional other volunteers. The planting should be completed soon. All of the shrubs that have been planted this season look great so far. They will continue to be monitored and possibly watered as the summer heat comes on. 

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Wapato Exit Fire: Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area Manager Kaelber and Natural Resource Technician Cardenas checked the location of a fire near the Wapato exit to monitor the regrowth of cottonwood trees within the area. So far, the cottonwoods are showing great regrowth and will be monitored throughout the year. The cottonwoods that grow in the riparian areas of the Yakima River are important because they provide wildlife habitat and shade the river keeping it cooler for rearing and migrating salmon. Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area staff members will treat the area for Scotch thistle, poison hemlock, and houndstongue in upcoming weeks. 

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Providing Education and Outreach

Presentation to Field and Streams Club: District 8 Wildlife Biologist Wampole presented an update on the Colockum Elk Herd population, current knowledge of the Kittitas mule deer, and the on-going Test & Remove bighorn sheep study.

Salmon Summit: April 15 through April 16 was the annual Salmon Summit at Columbia Park in Kennewick. Approximately 6,000 students, teachers and parents gathered to release fall chinook fry that they have raised from the egg stage to fry. Students released fish into the Columbia River and then spent the remainder of the day learning about many aspects of the salmon life cycle, PIT tagging, and natural resources. 

Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area Manager Kaelber, Region 3 Private Lands Biologist Manderbach, and Fisheries Technician Meehan scooped fish and handed them out each day. Kaelber and Manderbach also worked the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife booth teaching students about the types of animals that live in Washington. The students enjoyed seeing and touching a variety of animal pelts, skulls, horns, and antlers. 

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Conducting Business Operations and Policy

Firearms Training: District 8 Wildlife Biologist Moore attended and completed a two-day agency-approved firearm safety course as required by the position description under Policy 7011.

Washington Waterfowl Advisory Group (WWAG) Meeting: District 8 Wildlife Biologist Moore assisted the Waterfowl Section in hosting the advisory group meeting at the Yakima Arboretum. The meeting had a focus on onboarding the eight new WWAG members. The section delivered thorough presentations on the many ongoing waterfowl research and monitoring projects. There is more information about the Washington Waterfowl Advisory Group on our website. 

Washington Waterfowl Advisory Field Tour of Sunnyside Unit Wetlands: Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area Manager Kaelber led a field tour with the Washington Waterfowl Advisory Group, regional staff members, and statewide waterfowl specialists. The group toured the Brady Wetland which is the location for a wetland restoration project that is being funded by state duck stamp funds. The group was also shown a short demonstration of the amphibious Marsh Master machine that is used throughout the wetlands for maintenance activities. 

Grandview Wastewater Treatment Facility and Byron Unit Tour: A site tour of the Grandview Wastewater Treatment Plant and Byron Unit of the Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area was attended by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife staff members, Ducks Unlimited, and Yakima Audubon. The tour showed the existing ponds that are pumped from the treatment facility to the Byron Unit. The future operations of the treatment plant may call for these ponds to dry up. There is potential for an alternate out flow of treated water that would keep water flowing through the Byron Unit and create additional wetland and pond acres. This site has historically been very productive for nesting waterfowl and provides habitat for a diverse variety of wildlife. 

Other

L.T. Murray Wildlife Area: L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Winegeart checked all herbicides being used on the L.T. Murray Wildlife Area against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) bulletins for new restrictions related to potential accidental take of endangered species. No new restrictions were found. 

Natural Resource Technicians Blore and Winegeart conducted a survival survey on the 2023 fall Vantage Highway fire restoration sagebrush planting. They counted 296 10ci plugs and 154 40ci plugs. Fifty-five percent of the 10ci plugs counted were alive, but many seem to be missing from known planting locations due to high winds, rodents, or ungulates and many will probably not make it through the dry summer months. Survival of the 10ci plugs will most likely be much lower. Ninety-three percent of the 40ci plugs counted were alive and appeared much healthier than the 10ci plugs and stand a greater chance of surviving the summer. 

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L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Hay Delivery: L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Natural Resource Technician Blore and Assistant Manager Winegeart helped with the delivery and tarping of 275 tons of new high-quality hay at the Joe Watt elk feed site. 

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L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Automated External Defibrillators: L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Natural Resource Technician Blore and Assistant Manager Winegeart set up two new Automated External Defibrillators (AED). One will be set up at the wildlife area shop and one in the Ellensburg office that can also be checked out for field projects such as remote volunteer events. 

Oak Creek Wildlife Area Automated External Defibrillators: Oak Creek Wildlife Area Natural Resource Worker O’Brien set up a new AED in the Oak Creek shop providing easy access to wildlife area staff members in the case of an emergency.

L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Quilomene Unit Grazing: L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Natural Resource Worker Blore worked with the Quilomene Unit grazing lessee to repair pasture fence ahead of cows coming on the first week of May. 

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Invasive Annual Grass Workshop: Region 3 Private Lands Biologist Manderbach attended an all-day virtual workshop titled ‘Defending and Growing the Core by Breaking the Cycle of Invasive Annual Grasses’ put on by University of Wyoming’s Institute for Managing Annual Grasses Invading Natural Ecosystems (IMAGINE) along with Working Lands for Wildlife and many other agencies and organizations. There were multiple presenters from multiple states and agencies who all provided useful information. Cheatgrass, ventenata, and medusahead were the main topics and landscape wide efforts to prevent or reduce invasion was a main strategy, among others.

Blackrock Greenstrip Fuel Break Pilot Project: Region 3 Private Lands Biologist Manderbach checked out the Blackrock greenstrip planting off of Highway 241 from 2021 ahead of an upcoming meeting with the greenstrip fuel break team. The greenstrip on the west side of the highway is very green right now and will hopefully remain that way throughout the dry summer months. The planting on the east side of the highway unfortunately did not take as well and will likely need to be reseeded.

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Managing Wildlife Populations

Region 3 Elk Surveys: Region 3 District Wildlife Biologists Wampole and Fidorra conducted aerial surveys of the Colockum elk herd. Aerial surveys provide data to estimate population size and post-hunt calf to cow and bull to cow ratios. This information is used to inform population trends. 

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Oak Creek Wildlife Area Elk Feeding Operations: Oak Creek staff members wrapped up the last of elk feeding on the Oak Creek Unit on March 16 and on the Cowiche Unit on March 19. A total of 702.9 tons of hay were fed to wintering elk from Dec. 26, 2023 to March 19, 2024. The high count of elk fed during this season was 3,072.

Walleye Fishing for Predator Food Web Project: L.T Murray Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Winegeart and Natural Resource Technician Blore assisted the Large Lakes fisheries team by taking a day to help catch walleye near Lyons Ferry. The study is to evaluate and understand prey utilization by walleye, but the L.T. Murray crew focused on fishing and learning more about what their coworkers do on a daily basis. 

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Providing Recreation Opportunities

L.T. Murray Recreation Access: After receiving a complaint from a hiker, L.T. Murray Wildlife Manager Morrison and Assistant Manager Winegeart looked at a structure that was constructed by a private landowner years ago on the Quilomene Unit property boundary. The structure was built to eliminate corner hopping from Department of Fish and Wildlife to Department of Natural Resources land. 

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Conserving Natural Landscapes

L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Access Site Improvements: L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Winegeart, Natural Resource Scientist Nass, and Natural Resource Technician Blore replaced a partially burned wire gate with a new metal gate and placed barrier rock around the perimeter of the Whiskey Dick Unit’s Pump House Road parking site to replace the sagebrush barrier that was lost to the 2022 Vantage Highway fire. Individuals with trailers had begun driving outside of the parking site around other vehicles to turn around to avoid having to back up. A few tested their vehicles 4-wheel drive capabilities by driving farther into the newly replanted shrubsteppe. The rocks and gate provide an obvious boundary and facelift for this site. 

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Wenas Wildlife Area Plug Planting: Wenas Wildlife Area staff members, along with help from Region 3 Natural Resource Specialist Boggs, planted plugs of various species in three locations across the wildlife area. Near Sheep Co. Road, both sage and bitterbrush were planted, while a variety of species including sage, juniper, mock orange, bitterbrush, and Scouler’s willow were planted throughout the Cow Canyon fire 2022 burn scar and the Evans Canyon fire 2020 burn scar on Cleman Mountain.

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Wenas Wildlife Area Fence Repair: Wenas Wildlife Area Natural Resource Technicians Stoltenow and Janes repaired a portion of fence surrounding a parking area off Durr Road that had been torn down and members of the public were driving through off the green dot road. Tracks were going through a Conservation Reserve Program lease where the agency is working with a lessee on reestablishing the site back into native habitat.

Wenas Wildlife Area Firebreak Maintenance: Wenas Wildlife Area staff members finished burning weeds throughout the firebreak that runs along the elk fence in the southern portion of the wildlife area. The removal of the tumbleweeds will improve the chances of wildfires in the wildlife area to be contained and not jump to neighboring properties. This will also improve the effectiveness of the herbicide that will be applied to the firebreak. The herbicide will prevent weeds from building up throughout the rest of the year.

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L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Grazing: Manager Morrison worked with a Vence technician to install a virtual fence base station (tower) on the Quilomene Unit of the L.T. Murray Wildlife Area. The tower has a line-of-sight reach of approximately ten miles. The wildlife area’s cattle grazing lessee will place GPS enabled shock collars on all adult cows that will communicate with the base station to allow the grazer to alter the collar’s preloaded boundaries via radio frequency while the GPS function will allow for tracking and delivering audible sounds and incremental shocks to the cows when necessary. 

The 2024 grazing season will mark the beginning of virtual fence use on the wildlife area. Hopes are high for this grazing management technique to be successful due to the state of the areas pasture fences and the impediment of fences to the wildlife that utilize the wildlife area. Boundary fences and fences needed for safety, such as fences paralleling the highway, will still be maintained. Ideally, internal pasture fences that are in very poor condition will be removed several years from now once the program proves successful. 

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Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area Byron Shrub Planting: Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area Manager Kaelber, Assistant Manager Ferguson, Natural Resource Technician Cardenas, along with help from Region 3 Private Lands Biologist Manderbach have been plugging away with shrub plantings on the Byron Unit. These shrubs are part of a fire restoration project after a fire burned much of the area in September 2022. Sagebrush, bitterbrush, juniper, mock orange, serviceberry, golden currant, and Pacific willow are all being planted.

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Pine City Planting: Region 3 Private Lands Biologist Manderbach assisted Region 1 Private Lands Biologist Nizer and a group of volunteers with a large shrub and tree planting project in Pine City. The area burned in the Labor Day fires in 2020 and is an important roosting area for turkeys. Ponderosa pines were planted on the hillsides, along with hawthorn, juniper, and Wood’s rose in the flats. Nearly 700 plants were put in the ground that day on top of the 800 that were planted earlier in the week.

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Providing Education and Outreach

Oak Creek Wildlife Area Kiosk Updates: Oak Creek Wildlife Area Natural Resource Worker O’Brien updated signage at the kiosks on Tim’s Pond and the Naches River access site across from Rowe Farms.

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Other

Oak Creek Wildlife Area Graffiti Removal: Natural Resource Worker O’Brien covered up graffiti at multiple locations on the Oak Creek Wildlife Area. 

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Oak Creek Wildlife Area Gate Improvement: Oak Creek Wildlife Area Manager Mackey and Natural Resource Worker O’Brien retrofitted the locking mechanism of the Mud Lake gate to allow for multiple locks. 

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L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Elk Feeding: The L.T. Murray crew members took some bad hay to a local landscaping company for compost. The hay had too much moisture to cover with tarp at delivery and never had a chance to dry so a few of the top bales were set aside during the feeding season. Some would fall through the hay forks like butter. 

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L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Road Management: L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Manager Morrison and Assistant Manager Winegeart inspected an area of the Corrals Access Road on the L.T. Murray’s Whiskey Dick Unit after heavy erosion was reported. The site burned in the 2022 Vantage Highway fire. Without standing vegetation and a litter layer to reduce and slow water runoff and with the addition of potentially hydrophobic soils resulting from fire intensity, excess water runoff altered this once easily traversable road to a barely accessible road. 

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L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Fence Repair: L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Natural Resource Technician Blore worked with a master hunter to repair boundary fence around the Teanaway Valley Unit. Melting snow and wildlife always leave this fence in need of maintenance in the spring. 

L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Habitat Work: L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Manager Morrison and Habitat Biologist Reavill deployed 20 data loggers in meadows near the L.T. Murray Unit’s Tamarack Spring to monitor snow melt timing and water availability to start a project to improve headwater retention in the Manastash drainage. 

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Private Lands Work Party: Most of the Private Lands team members from around the state met in Electric City for an annual Private Lands Work Party. Region 3 Private Lands Biologist Manderbach met many Private Lands staff members he had not met before. Private Lands biologists demonstrated equipment and tractor implements. They planted around 600 shrubs and seeded two food plots. 

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Managing Wildlife Populations

Artificial Burrows Ready for Owls: District 4 Wildlife Biologists Fidorra and Hoffman repaired and maintained artificial burrows for burrowing owls near Pasco prior to the breeding season. Due to the mild winter conditions, many owls over-wintered and remained onsite. This allowed Fidorra and Hoffman to recapture/band many adults during cleaning. Banding studies contribute greatly to our understanding of the survival and dispersal of this species.

Fidorra and Hoffman removed two non-functional transmitters that were placed on owls last season and stopped working. 

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Pasco Mitigation Project Gets Owl Approval: District 4 Wildlife Biologist Fidorra assisted the City of Pasco with their burrow mitigation project, which appears to be successful so far. Follow-up photos of burrows in late February already show at least one pair of owls using the newly installed artificial burrows! 

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District 8 Bighorn Sheep Disease Testing: Disease results from February 2024, bighorn sheep capture and testing efforts in the Yakima Canyon population detected three Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae (M. Ovi) positive sheep. Of the three positive sheep, one was indeterminant in the 2023 capture year and will be removed in the coming weeks as an identified chronic carrier of M. Ovi. 

District 8 Mule Deer Collar Retrievals: Assistant Wildlife Biologist Moore continues to work to retrieve dropped mule deer collars. These collars were part of a study designed to help inform scientists of mule deer migration and habitat use across the Okanagan-Wenatchee population. 

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Wenas Wildlife Area Durr Road Shooting Range Development: Wenas Recreation Specialist Frame and Natural Resource Technician Janes picked up approximately 1,500 pounds of garbage from the Durr Road shooting area. They were cleaning the area prior to future construction. The shooting range will start development on March 18. Wenas Wildlife Area Manager Gray conducted outreach throughout the local area and to the Wenas Target Shooting Advisory Committee. Gray participated in a press interview regarding the shooting range for additional outreach to go out to the public.

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Rattlesnake Hills Elk: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand monitored for elk activity on the Hanford National Monument and adjoining private lands. Several reports of elk being observed outside the Hanford National Monument have been received. Two elk were reported harvested on damage permits.

District 4 Deer Hazing Equipment Return: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand coordinated with a tree fruit producer on the return of several acoustic alarms that were deployed on access points to their orchard. 

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Wenas Wildlife Area Firebreak Maintenance: Wenas Wildlife Area staff members burned weeds along the fire break off Bull Pasture and Lower Buffalo areas and the Sheep Company Shooting Range. Old skeletons from Russian thistle and kochia are being burned. After the area is cleaned up, wildlife area staff members will be chemically treating the firebreaks to control weeds from growing this spring and summer.

Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area Litter Removal: Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Ferguson and Natural Resource Technician Cardenas have been occupied recently cleaning up the above-normal amounts of trash being deposited in different locations around the Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area. They have devoted several days in recent weeks to garbage removal, including removing an entire semi-truck that was cut up into pieces and dumped in a pile on wildlife area lands.

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Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area Culvert Failures: Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area staff members discovered another culvert that rusted out over the past 30 years. Currently there are three of these water control structures that will require replacement to prevent further damage to access roads. Cultural Resource staff members surveyed these areas last week. Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area Manager Kaelber will explore funding options and be working on the replacement of these structures in the summer months. 

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Private Lands Habitat Monitoring: Region 3 Private Lands Biologist Manderbach checked out two shrub plantings implemented last year by former Private Lands Biologist Hulett. Three separate areas were planted at the South Ridge Road Hunt by Written Permission site. 

An existing Mule Deer Foundation plot was added to and cleaned up last year. Those shrubs are growing well with little space remaining for future shrub planting. Russian thistle and other debris caught in branches of the shrubs were removed. 

The other two areas they visited were planted with riparian shrubs, which took a big hit from the deer and pronghorn but did show some life. The Rice Road Hunt by Reservation site was also checked by Manderbach. Sagebrush planted there has grown very well, but the site will have to be cleaned up and monitored more often to reduce the invasive weed pressure. 

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Providing Education and Outreach

District 4 Conflict Specialist Job Shadow: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand had a student ride-along this past week. The freshman student from the University of Idaho is interested in a career in Enforcement or Wildlife Conflict and wanted to get some exposure on each job class.

Washington State University Tri-Cities Conservation Biology Course: District 4 Wildlife Biologist Fidorra presented local conservation issues and shrubsteppe species information as a guest lecturer for the Conservation Biology class at Washington State University (WSU).

Other

Sunnyside Headquarters Unit Wildlife Viewing: March is a great time of year to observe migratory waterfowl at the Sunnyside Headquarters Unit. This year thousands of snow geese have been using agriculture fields and lakes within the unit. The wetlands have had very large numbers of pintail, mallards, and northern shovelers. 

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Managing Wildlife Populations

L.T. Murray Winter Vehicle Restricted Area: L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Natural Resource Scientist Nass closed the gate on Cayuse Creek to complete the annual winter closure to vehicles on the Whiskey Dick Unit. On the Feb 1. closure date, Washington State Parks denied wildlife area staff members entry through the lower elevation Washington State Parks gate off Recreation Drive because soft wet roads could lead to resource damage and the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife access roads were blocked by snow drifts.

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L.T. Murray Bird Boxes: L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Natural Resource Technician Blore and Assistant Manager Winegeart checked nine kestrel boxes near Parke Creek on the Quilomene Unit. Three boxes contained kestrel feathers, and all the boxes had been used. Most boxes had nesting material added to them indicating use from other species. 

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Oak Creek Wildlife Area Elk Feeding Operations: Oak Creek Wildlife Area staff members continue to conduct feeding operations at the Cowiche Unit and Oak Creek Unit feed sites. With mild winter weather and an early spring, elk have started to leave the feed sites and forage elsewhere. Daily elk counts fluctuate based on weather and movement of elk but total counts on the Cowiche Unit have reduced from 2200 in the middle of February to an average of 600 at the end of February. Total elk counts at the Oak Creek feed site have reduced from 600 in the middle of February to an average of 250 at the end of February. Daily monitoring of elk indicates elk are in seasonable good health. 

District 4 Ferruginous Hawk Mitigation Impacted by Proposed Windfarm: District 4 Wildlife Biologist Fidorra removed two nesting platforms from private lands that had been installed as part of a mitigation project. The land is under contract with the Horse Heaven Hills Windfarm and the developer requested the platforms be removed. New sites should be identified to relocate these platforms.

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Burrowing Owls Overwinter in Tri-Cities at Habitat Project: District 4 Wildlife Biologist Fidorra and Assistant Wildlife Biologist Hoffman checked and maintained artificial burrows for burrowing owls. Mild weather this winter allowed many owls to overwinter successfully, with a large number of birds already on breeding sites during February maintenance checks. Recapturing these owls provides important data on survival and movements as many were banded individuals from the regional population. 

Over-wintering owls is a unique phenomenon in the Columbia Basin as most of the western subspecies are migratory. In most years, most females and juvenile birds migrate south to California and Mexico, but some hardy adult males tend to overwinter. It appears females and some younger birds skipped migration this season!

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City of Pasco Installs Artificial Burrows for Burrowing Owls as Mitigation: District 4 Wildlife Biologist Fidorra worked with City of Pasco staff members and contractors to finalize installation of 21 artificial burrows on property where construction was impacting known breeding sites. These new burrows should provide breeding sites for seven pairs of owls, which would be a potential net positive outcome for the local owl population! Fidorra and City of Pasco staff members will monitor the burrows for success.

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District 8 Bighorn Sheep Collaring: District 8 Wildlife Biologists Wampole and Moore alongside Ungulate Specialist Moore work together with a contractor Quicksilver to capture and collar, bighorn sheep in the Yakima Canyon and Clemen Mountain herds. Captures took place Feb. 16 through Feb. 18. Data entry and shipment of biological swab and blood samples also occurred.

District 8 Kittitas County Deer Collars: In Kittitas County, District 8 Wildlife Biologists Wampole and Moore continue to pick up dropped deer collars from Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife 2020 mule deer project.

District 8 Trail Cameras: Biologists Wampole and Moore have been picking up trail cameras used for winter wildlife monitoring. This project helps species specialists monitor wildlife populations, growth, and movement.

District 8 Grouse Wing Bee: Assistant District Wildlife Biologist Moore joined other district biologists, and other Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife staff members in Spokane for the department’s annual grouse “Wing Bee”. Biologists are able to determine the species, age, and sex from the plumage characteristics on the wings and tail fans that were collected via the grouse wing and tail collection barrel program.

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Wenas Wildlife Area Manastash Ridge Trails – Trail Conditions Sign Install: Wenas Wildlife Area Lands and Recreation Specialist Frame created, designed, and installed an interactive sign that displays current trail conditions in the area. This sign has an adjustable arrow that indicates if the trails are in good, fair, icy, or poor condition. The arrow is held in place with a lock and pin configuration to prevent unwanted movement of the arrow. This sign idea was suggested by the Manastash Ridge Trails Committee.

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Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Rattlesnake Hills Elk: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand monitored elk activity on the Hanford National Monument and adjoining private lands. Large numbers of elk continue to occupy low elevation areas near Highway 240 on the Hanford Monument and were hazed away from the roadway. 

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District 4 Pasco Nuisance Deer: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand received and responded to a complaint from a homeowner along the Columbia River in Pasco concerning a small group of deer that have browsed on fruit and ornamental trees and shrubs. Advice on protection measures and hazing strategies were discussed and will be employed to hopefully reduce any damage impacts.

District 4 Kahlotus Deer: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand continued to coordinate deployed youth from the Region 3 special permit roster to landowner’s experiencing deer damage in the Kahlotus area. 

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District 4 West Richland Deer Complaint: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand continued to work with a landowner along the Yakima River to address an increasing number of deer causing damage. Two master hunters have been deployed to the property for hazing and removal operations.

District 4 Vehicle Collision with Pronghorn: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand responded to a call of a vehicle collision with a pronghorn antelope along Highway 221 south of Prosser. Biological information was captured and entered in Survey 123.

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District 8 Kittitas County: Conflict Technician Leuck and Conflict Specialist Wetzel hazed some elk from areas in Kittitas County. Elk ventured to areas in Thorp, Vantage, Kittitas, Badger Pocket, and Cle Elum mostly visiting haystacks and domestic animal feeding areas. Elk have been hazed away again from Interstate 90 in some locations. Wetzel also tasked an agency range rider to work on wolf issues in the Lauderdale to Kittitas area of the old Naneum Pack territory.

District 8 Yakima County: Conflict Technician Leuck and Conflict Specialist Wetzel repaired elk fence at the return gate and another location in the Cowiche area where elk were in orchards outside the elk fence. Elk were hazed from Tampico and the Tieton areas as well. 

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Conserving Natural Landscapes

Quilomene Watershed: Natural Resource Technician Blore continued working with Assistant Area Habitat Biologist Shaffer to either replace a Parke Creek tributary culvert or convert the site to a ford. 

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Wenas Wildlife Area Bull Pasture Rd / Bell Tell Rd – Illegal Trash Dump Clean Up: Wenas Wildlife Area Lands and Recreation Specialist Frame and Wenas Wildlife Area Natural Resource Technician Janes cleaned up an illegal trash dump on the Wenas Wildlife Area. The trash was partially burned and spread over the ground. Frame and Janes discovered multiple pieces of trash with names and addresses that may lead to who dumped the trash. Those pieces of evidence were submitted to Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Enforcement. A total of 210 pounds of trash was removed from the site.

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Wenas Wildlife Area Grazing: Wenas Wildlife Area Manager Gray met with a grazing lessee to review how last season’s grazing went throughout the unit. The lease was designed to help improve habitat and maintain positive relationships within the community. Gray discussed the need for a future lease with the lessee and will be working on doing another lease this coming season.

Neff Jones Road Hunt By Reservation Site Shrub Monitoring: Private Lands Biologist Manderbach checked on a shrub planting done about a year ago by then Natural Resource Technician Manderbach and former Private Lands Biologist Hulett on the Neff Jones Private Lands Access site. The sagebrush that was planted is doing well and growing, but the antelope bitterbrush had a very low success rate. Notes were taken on what went well and what could be improved upon for future habitat work at that site.

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Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area Byron Unit Sagebrush Planting: Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area staff members and District 4 Assistant Biologist Hoffman planted sagebrush plugs using hand drills with auger attachments in late February. This is a new technique and seems very efficient. The sagebrush is being planted as part of a restoration effort to replace sagebrush lost to a fire that occurred there in 2022. 

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Providing Education and Outreach

L.T Murray Hunter Education: The Kittitas County Field and Stream Club held two Hunter Education classes at the Green Gate subunit of the Quilomene Unit on the L.T. Murray Wildlife Area. More than 40 students participated and earned their Hunter Education Certificate.

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Rosalind Franklin Elementary STEM Night: Private Lands Biologist Manderbach setup a pelts and skulls table for the Rosalind Franklin Elementary STEM Night in Pasco. Students and parents both were intrigued by all of the pelts and skulls and had many questions. The elk antlers were a big hit.

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Central Washington Sportsmen Show: Private Lands Biologist Manderbach worked the booth at the Central Washington Sportsmen Show for the first time. There were many questions answered about all things fish and wildlife, but not many that were specific to private lands access.

Conducting Business Operations and Policy

Wenas Wildlife Area Bonneville Power Contract: Wenas Wildlife Area Habitat Specialist Miller started the process of renewing the Bonneville Power Administration contract for the wildlife area. This contract is essential to the wildlife area for maintaining an operating budget. Bonneville Power Administration funds comprise a majority of the Operations and Maintenance Budget for the wildlife area.

Other

L.T. Murray New Spray Tanks: Natural Resource Technician Blore assembled a couple 45-gallon spray tanks on small trailers to be used to transport as extra water to water planted shrubs or refill spray tanks. 

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Oak Creek Wildlife Area Elk Fence Repair: Oak Creek Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Charlet, Natural Resource Technician Stoltenow, and Natural Resource Worker O’Brien repaired a section of elk fence that was damaged by a Utility Terrain Vehicle (UTV) that lost control. Damage included multiple leaning or broken posts and a large hole in the fence that elk could easily pass through. 

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Managing Wildlife Populations

Cougar Sealing: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand sealed a cougar for a hunter who harvested it in the Blue Mountains GMU 156.

Bobcat Sealing: District 8 Biologist Wampole sealed a bobcat harvested in Kittitas County.

Wolf Monitoring: District 8 Biologist Wampole set additional camera traps to monitor wolf activity in Kittitas County following the observations of tracks.

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Rattlesnake Hills Elk Survey Completed: District 4 Wildlife Biologist Fidorra completed surveys for Hanford elk herd with the help of District 8 Biologists Wampole and Moore. Flight photographs of groups were taken and still need processed before herd numbers are updated.

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Oak Creek Wildlife Area: The winter elk feeding program continues on the Oak Creek Unit and Cowiche Unit of the Oak Creek Wildlife Area. Elk are in seasonally good health and are monitored daily throughout the feed season. Winter weather has been mild through the beginning of February 2024. Elk are moving in and out of the feed site daily. Additionally, they are seen grazing away from the feed sites. However, Oak Creek staff members continue to feed approximately 2300 elk on the Cowiche Unit and 650 elk on the Oak Creek Unit daily.

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Pelican Diet Study: District 4 Wildlife Biologist Fidorra joined Region 3 fisheries staff members and Olympia Diversity Program and Science Program staff members for discussions with the Yakama biologists regarding a diet study on white pelicans and interactions with salmon smolt and predatory fish.

Audubon Climate Watch Point Counts: District 4 Wildlife Biologist Fidorra assisted a local Audubon chapter on a morning of long-term point counts in Benton County. The work was part of the National Climate Watch project that tracks changes in bird species distribution related to climate change.

Eagle Carcass Testing and Avian Influenza: District 4 Wildlife Biologist Fidorra assisted with responding to three separate eagle mortalities in the Tri-city area. Avian influenza (AI) testing was conducted on two of the three birds with one positive and one negative result. AI has been an ongoing concern for wildlife in the area over the past two years.

L.T. Murray Darting Training: Wildlife Veterinarian Mansfield put on a large ungulate darting training at the L.T. Murray’s Joe Watt feed site. Several elk were darted, and samples were taken.

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Providing Recreation Opportunities

Wenas Wildlife Area All Trails Public Lands Program: Wenas Wildlife Area Lands and Recreation Specialist Frame are now working with All Trails via their Public Lands Program to help manage the recreational trails throughout the Wenas Wildlife Area.

This program was created by All Trails to work with land managers (federal, state, city, and private). With this program, the Wenas Wildlife Area will be able to give critical information regarding trails in the area such as, trail closures, emergency restrictions, seasonal closures, accurate trail descriptions, etc. The program will also help with data collection such as trail use and popularity.

Sheep Company Road Target Shooting Area Clean-Up: Wenas Wildlife Area Lands and Recreation Specialist Frame collected 510 pounds of trash and target shooting material. Most of the items were targets used incorrectly by the public. Items include wood pallets, cardboard, metal, brake rotors, and paper. Frame also removed a deceased and partially butchered domestic pig and three buckets of paint primer from the horse parking area on Sheep Company Road.

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Kiosk and Parking Area Development: Wenas Wildlife Area Technician Janes and Assistant Manager Taylor laid out barrier rock just past the lower Buffalo Road gate and installed a kiosk this winter. This is a second parking area lined out for the road. Increased signage is needed because it is a popular area used for hiking. Wenas Wildlife Area Manager Gray coordinated with the Department of Natural Resources on the kiosk installation and barrier rock placement.

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Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Rattlesnake Hills Elk: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand monitored for elk activity on the Hanford National Monument and adjoining private lands. Large numbers of elk continue to occupy low elevation areas near Highway 240 on the Hanford Monument.

Deer Damage and Youth Damage Hunt Opportunities: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand deployed youth from the Region 3 special permit roster to Kahlotus area landowners experiencing deer damage in their wheat fields. Hand continued coordination on hazing, permit issuance, and reporting. Additionally, a landowner along the Yakima River has requested youth hunters for hazing and removal efforts.

Possible Cougar Observation in Finley: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand assisted a local Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Enforcement officer with a call concerning a cougar observed near Finley. The area was canvassed for signs or evidence of cougars, but nothing was located. They provided the homeowner with information concerning cougar behavior and asked the homeowner to let them know if it returns.

Dumped Elk Carcass: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand assisted local Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Enforcement staff members with the investigation of elk parts and garbage that were dumped near Horn Rapids Dam.

Kittitas County Conflict: Conflict Technician Leuck and Conflict Specialist Wetzel hazed some elk from areas in Kittitas County. Elk ventured into areas in Thorp, Vantage, Kittitas, Badger Pocket, and Cle Elum. They were mostly visiting haystacks and domestic animal feeding areas. Elk have been hazed away from I-90 in some locations.

Wetzel also worked with a nuisance wildlife control operator on a skunk issue in the city limits of Roslyn.

Yakima County Conflict: Conflict Technician Leuck and Conflict Specialist Wetzel repaired elk fence in the Cowiche area where elk were in orchards outside the elk fence. Elk were hazed from Tampico and the Tieton areas as well.

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Presentation to Wildlife Area Volunteers: District 8 Biologist Wampole presented to Oak Creek Wildlife Area visitor center volunteers on the status of Yakima elk and management challenges. In addition, Wampole showcased information on the on-going test and remove bighorn sheep study being carried out in the Selah Butte/Umtanum and Cleman Mountain herds.

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Sunnyside Cleanup: Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Ferguson and Natural Resource Technician Cardenas cleaned up dumped mattresses and other trash and installed a new cable gate at a road pull-off that was being targeted for loitering and garbage dumping recently. Hopefully the new gate will prevent further illicit activities.

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L.T. Murray Parke Creek Culvert: L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Natural Resource Technician Blore and Manager Morrison worked with regional Habitat Program staff members to access a small culvert in Parke Creek that has failed in two spots.

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Providing Education and Outreach

Oak Creek Wildlife Area Visitor Center: The Oak Creek Visitor Center continues to open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with feed site tours available from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. The visitor center is completely staffed and operated by a group of volunteers, The Friends of Oak Creek Wildlife Area. As of the first week of February, they had conducted 210 tours and had approximately 4097 people visit the center.

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L.T. Murray Outreach: L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Natural Resource Scientist Nass and Manager Morrison held two outreach events at the Joe Watt feed site for Thorp Elementary School students and home school students. Both groups played games for ecological education followed by group discussions.  

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Conducting Business Operations and Policy

Safety Stand-Up meetings: District 4 Wildlife Biologist Fidorra met with the Region 3 Wildlife Program supervisors as well as the Pasco Wildlife Program team to discuss safety and personal protective equipment. Several items were purchased to improve safety including personal floatation devices and supplies for vehicles.

District 8 Wildlife Capture Training: District 8 staff members, Wampole, Moore, and Wetzel participated in capture training of elk at the Watt and Robinson feed sites. Training was led by senior biology staff members and Wildlife Veterinarian Mansfield on safe capture operations to protect wildlife and human health and ensure data quality.

Other

New Staff Hired: District 4 finally has their first assistant district wildlife biologist! Biologist Hoffman started on Friday, Feb. 16 and will be helping to build capacity on Diversity Program projects for species including burrowing owls, ferruginous hawks, ground-squirrels, and other shrub steppe species. Blake attended the University of Montana for his BS in Wildlife and has nearly completed his master’s degree from Northern Arizona University on ringtail management at Grand Canyon National Park. Prior to this work for the National Park Service, he held various positions contributing to wildlife research in Idaho, Montana, and Colorado. His diverse background includes work with small and large mammal trapping, survey design, songbirds, bat mist-netting, chemical immobilization and veterinary experience. Having grown up enjoying the Washington outdoors in Chelan County, Hoffman is happy to be moving back to his home state with his wife. Please help WDFW in welcoming Biologist Hoffman as he settles into this new position based in the Pasco District 4 office.

Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area Truck Maintenance: Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Ferguson and Natural Resource Technician Cardenas installed new wooden side boards on wildlife area dump-bed truck International 4700, replacing broken boards. The truck is used for hauling gravel and other materials around the wildlife area for various projects.

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