Region 3 (South Central) | Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife

Biweekly report Jul1-15 2023 - Region 3 (South Central)

Year

2023

Dates

Jul1-15

Division/Region

Region 3 (South Central)

Report sections

Managing Wildlife Populations

Remote Fisher Cameras: The L.T. Murray Wildlife Area crew retrieved four remote trail cameras and scent dispensers from the Wenatchee National Forest west of Naches. The cameras were deployed by District 8 Wildlife Biologist Wampole last fall, to gather more information on Cascade Mountain Range fisher populations. No fisher presence has been detected yet, but there have been a few interesting pics.

Young black bear checking out skunk scent under dispenser.

District Wildlife Biologist Wampole deploying trail cameras.

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Wenas Recreational Use Monitoring: Wenas Wildlife Area Natural Resource Specialist Frame deployed serval pieces of road monitoring equipment throughout the wildlife area. This data will show how much use our roads receive during specific times of the year.

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Rattlesnake Hills Elk: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand continued to monitor elk activity and haze elk out of winter wheat crops near the Hanford National Monument. New Damage Prevention Permits were issued to landowners in Elk Area 3721 and minimal harvest has occurred likely due to nocturnal elk movements and hot weather conditions. Late night/early morning hazing patrols will continue by landowners and Hand. Fox lights have been employed along heavily used trails used by elk leaving Hanford to enter crop fields.

Cold Creek Elk Damage: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand received and responded to a complaint that a small herd of elk knocked over a section of elk fence and entered a large tree fruit and wine grape operation near Cold Creek. Most of the animals were hazed back out of the area and the fence has been repaired. A couple of Damage Prevention Permits have been issued to remove any remaining culprits.

Horn Rapids Deer Complaint: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand responded to a complaint from a wine grape vineyard near Horn Rapids concerning deer damage in a newer block of young grape plants. Several non-lethal hazing techniques are currently being employed with diminishing results. Damage permits were issued as well as planning for youth hunting opportunities.

Kittitas County Conflict: District 8 Conflict Specialist Wetzel worked with several hay growers who were having problems with elk in crops. Elk were reported in Badger Pocket, Kittitas, Peoh Point, and the Teanaway areas.

Yakima County Conflict: District 8 Conflict Specialist Wetzel worked with several hay and orchard growers who were having problems with elk in crops. Elk have been observed in the Cowiche Road area as well as the Naches River area.

District 8 Goat Depredation: District 8 Conflict Specialist Wetzel investigated several goats that had been killed by unknown predators. In two instances, a cougar trap was set after two goats were killed on separate nights.

District 8 Bear Issues: Upper Kittitas County campgrounds are experiencing many bear issues. All US Forest Services (USFS) campgrounds have reported bears in camps, in dumpsters, and wandering around campsites during daylight and nighttime hours. Bears were hazed and materials were provided to camp hosts to help reduce food attractants.

A USFS dumpster at Cle Elum River after a visit by a bear.

Conserving Natural Landscapes

L.T. Murray Weed Control: LT Murray Wildlife Area Natural Resource Technician Blore and Natural Resource Specialist Nass continued weed control efforts, but hot dry weather is slowing weed growth, so the crew is able to focus on other tasks.

Emergency Fire Restrictions: The L.T. Murray crew posted emergency fire restriction signs at wildlife area access points.

Mesa Lake Beaver Deceiver: Sunnyside Snake River Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Jahns and Natural Resource Technician Manderbach cleared a water control structure in the Mesa Lake Unit that was completely blocked by beaver debris. The blockage had resulted in flooding within the unit. Once the water flow was restored, Wildlife Area Manager Kaelber, Jahns, and Manderbach installed a beaver deceiver structure at the outflow of the 7-acre pond. Similar structures have proven to be successful in preventing unwanted blockage and flooding from beaver activity within the wildlife area.

Assistant Manager Jahns and Natural Resource Technician Manderbach clearing debris from 7-acre outflow.

Completed beaver deceiver structure at the 7-acre pond outflow.

Mesa Lake Russian Olive Removal: Sunnyside Snake River Wildlife Area staff members used an excavator to remove Russian olive trees along the 7-acre pond of the Mesa Lake Unit.

Freshly painted Windy Point disabled hunter access gate. — Manderbach removing a Russian olive tree in the Mesa Lake Unit.

Conducting Business Operations and Policy

New Oak Flats Gate: Oak Creek Wildlife Area Natural Resource Technician Boggs installed a new gate at Oak Flats with the assistance of Natural Resource Worker Close.

New Oak Flats gate on the Oak Creek Wildlife Area.

Oak Creek Wildlife Area Gates: Close worked on painting and updating signage on gates throughout the Oak Creek Wildlife Area.

Other

L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Grazing: LT Murray Wildlife Area Natural Resource Worker Schneider and Assistant Manager Winegeart completed vegetation monitoring and pasture evaluation for the Quilomene Unit Lower Parke pasture.

Donald Wapato Fire: A July 2023 wildfire burned approximately 78 acres of the I-82 Ponds Unit of the Sunnyside/Snake River Wildlife Area along the Yakima River. Wildlife Area Manager Kaelber and Assistant Manager Jahns walked the perimeter of the fire to assess the habitat damage and calculate approximate acreage impacted.

Donald Wapato fire damage along the Yakima River.

Donald Wapato fire damage. — Donald Wapato fire damage along the Yakima River.

Read more about Biweekly report Jul1-15 2023 - Region 3 (South Central)

Biweekly report Jun16-30 2023 - Region 3 (South Central)

Year

2023

Dates

Jun16-30

Division/Region

Region 3 (South Central)

Report sections

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Sunnyside Bats: Sunnyside Snake River Wildlife Area Manager Kaelber, Assistant Manager Jahns, and Technician Manderbach conducted an emergent count of the Sunnyside bat maternal colony as they exited their roost after sunset. There were 112 adult bats observed, as well as approximately 15 young pups in the roost.

A bat roost — A curious great horned owl sat nearby as staff counted emerging bats.

Bat pups — Newborn bat pups safe and sound in the roost box.

Burrowing Owl Tracking Project: Wildlife Biologist Fidorra finished up trapping burrowing owls for the pilot study on adult male habitat use and movements. WDFW and partners including Conservation Northwest and local Audubon chapters funded the placement of ten transmitters on adults with a few additional juvenile tags going out in support of an Environment Canada project to study juvenile movements, dispersal, and survival. All data will be helpful in understanding and reversing the apparent decline of Pacific Northwest burrowing owls.

Technician Bancroft with owl and transmitter ready for release.

A juvenile owl with transmitter backpack — Burrowing owl juvenile with transmitter backpack ready for release.

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Parking Lot Development: Colockum Wildlife Area staff members worked on improving a primitive parking area near the wildlife area headquarters. Original plans called for grading the site, asphalt paving and installation of fencing, signage and shade structures. A pre-project cultural resource survey determined the area qualified as a cultural resource site, precluding any grading, post hole digging ,or soil disturbance. Staff members used other methods to improve the site while minimizing disturbance.

A cultural resource contractor sifting soil — Cultural resource contractor sifts soil at Colockum parking lot site.

A truck laying out a line of rocks — Barrier rock being delivered at the Colockum parking lot improvement site.

A new gate — Gate fastened to large barrier rock at the Colockum Wildlife Area.

A tractor adjusting rock at a parking lot — Placing barrier rock at the Colockum parking lot.

Manastash Ridge Trails and Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance Volunteer Signage Day: Wenas Wildlife Area Manger Hughes, Specialist Frame, and Habitat Specialist Miller, with the help from volunteers, placed “Trail Closed for Restoration” and “Active Restoration” signs on trails within the Manastash Ridge trails. These trails are improperly built and often cause erosion. Closing them will help plants and wildlife return. The Wenas Team and volunteers also placed yield signs throughout the trails. This will educate users on how to properly yield to other types of user groups on the landscape.

A sign blocking trail traffick — “Trail Closed for Restoration” signage on the Manastash Ridge trails.

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Rattlesnake Hills Elk: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand prepared and delivered new damage prevention permits to landowners to address elk damage to commercial crops in elk area 3721. The summer bull season ended on June 30 with a new record of 31 bulls harvested on damage prevention permits. Late night and early morning hazing patrols are continuing along the Hanford National Monument border.

Franklin County Chicken Depredations: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand received and responded to a complaint of a fox that has raided a chicken coup and killed up to six chickens near Pasco. Enhanced protective fencing designs were discussed and encouraged as well as lethal removal and non-lethal hazing tools.

Kahlotus Deer Damage Claims: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand met with a producer who farms a large acreage wheat operation near Kahlotus concerning this year’s deer damage claim. The producer seemed very happy with last years coordinated hazing and hunting opportunities offered through both WDFW Special Permit hunters and Damage Permit Program, and is not looking at filing a crop damage claim this year.

Kittitas County Conflict: Conflict Specialist Wetzel worked with several hay growers who were having problems with elk in crops. Elk have been hazed from irrigated hay, row crops, and at haystacks. Elk are returning to the Parke Creek area, similar to last year.

Yakima County Conflict: Conflict Specialist Wetzel worked with several hay and orchard growers who were having problems with elk in crops. Elk have been hazed from irrigated hay, row crops, and orchard areas. Elk have been reported in the Naches River area in greater numbers than last year.

Conflict Specialist Wetzel Other: Conflict Specialist Wetzel assisted enforcement with trapping a bear that killed some chickens and was loitering in a neighborhood. The bear did not return to the area during the trapping period. Thanks to Rich and Lindsay for a new bear trap. It will be useful and safer to use.

A new bear trap on a trailer. — New bear trap.

Conserving Natural Landscapes

North Durr Road Trash Clean Up: Wenas Wildlife Area Specialist Frame cleaned up 740 pounds of trash from the north Durr Road target shooting area. A box containing roughly a hundred 2023 WDFW Big Game Hunting Regulations pamphlets was found dumped and used as a target.

Whiskey Dick Cleanup: L. T. Murray Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Winegeart worked with volunteers to remove half a mile of old barbed wire from the L. T. Murray Wildlife Area’s Whiskey Dick Unit. All the wire removed was picked up and taken to recycle.

A trailer full of wire — Volunteers removed half-mile of old barbed wire from Whiskey Dick Unit of L .T. Murray Wildlife Area.

2022 Vantage Highway Fire: L. T. Murray Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Winegeart flew the Vantage Highway fire area in preparation of fall restoration work. Vegetation is recovering well in most of the fire area, but the loss of the area's big sagebrush and large woody riparian vegetation will be felt for many years.

An aerial view of Whisky Dick Bay — Whiskey Dick Bay, ten months after the Vantage Highway fire.

L. T. Murray Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Winegeart and Natural Resource Specialist Nass took photos at some Vantage Highway fire photo points. Most grasses and forbs seem to be recovering well and hopefully fall plug planting will aid in recovery of the missing shrub component.

Providing Education and Outreach

Stolen Shooter Man Sign: The Wenas Wildlife Area worked together on designing and fabricating a new sign to draw attention to target shooting restrictions throughout the wildlife area. The team hand drew and cut out the image below in metal along with developing a locking slider to allow for changing of signs within the metal shooter man. The sign will highlight target shooting restrictions year-round on the Wenas Wildlife Area. It will switch from green stating no timing restrictions, yellow stating sunrise to 10 a.m., and red saying no target shooting when in full emergency fire restrictions. After initially posting the sign at the entrance of Sheep Company Road, the sign was gone within 48 hours. Someone had grinded the metal sign off the post it was welded onto and cut out the yellow timing sign throwing it on the ground. The life-size shooter man sign was stolen. The wildlife area ended up taking an additional sign originally meant for another area and reposting it after adding additional precaution measures to prevent theft.

The wenas shooterman sign — Shooter Man highlighted Target Shooting Restrictions on Wenas Wildlife Area.

L. T. Murray Wildlife Area Manager Morrison and Assistant Manager Winegeart worked with volunteers to rebuild the Corrals kiosk which was lost in the Vantage Highway fire of 2022.

Corrals kiosk being constructed — Manager Morrison working with volunteers on Corrals kiosk.

Completed Corrals Kiosk — Corrals kiosk completed.

Other

A thistle with a butterfly and bee — Native thistle, bees, and butterfly on the Whiskey Dick Unit.

Read more about Biweekly report Jun16-30 2023 - Region 3 (South Central)

Biweekly report Jun1-15 2023 - Region 3 (South Central)

Year

2023

Dates

Jun1-15

Division/Region

Region 3 (South Central)

Report sections

Managing Wildlife Populations

Burrowing Owl Artificial Burrow Project: District 4 Wildlife Biologist Fidorra monitored and banded burrowing owls as part of an ongoing research project utilizing artificial burrows. Fidorra got help from Assistant District 8 Biologist Wampole and Region 2 technicians during this period to band and trap adults and nestlings in the artificial burrows. Fidorra also assisted US Fish and Wildlife Services with monitoring and banding at their Paterson Unit where owls are using the burrows for the first time in several years! Fidorra also toured the Energy Northwest Powerplant property where 8 clusters of artificial burrows were created. This is the first time WDFW has been to the site, and while the burrows were in good order, no owls were nesting this season.

Biologist Wampole with juvenile burrowing owl banded and ready for release.

Biologist Fidorra with adult burrowing owl, originally born at the artificial burrow sites. — Biologist Fidorra with adult burrowing owl, originally born at the artificial burrow sites two years ago and recaptured this year as a breeding adult.

Burrowing Owl Transmitter Project: District 4 Wildlife Biologist Fidorra worked with University of Idaho Researcher Conway to deploy and test new solar tracking devices GPS accuracy on burrowing owls in Pasco. Fidorra also deployed trail cameras onsite to monitor the adults to make sure the harness and transmitter package worked without impacting the owls.

Adult male Burrowing Owl with solar powered GPS transmitter on its back. — Adult male burrowing owl with solar powered GPS transmitter on back posing in front of the artificial burrow with his nestlings inside.

Fisher Monitoring: District 8 Wildlife Biologist Wampole began retrieving fisher monitoring sites that were placed in fall 2022. Sites were left over winter and spring to monitor for fisher occupancy and is part of a large effort across the southern Cascades to evaluate the status of fisher following reintroductions.

Bear Monitoring: Bear monitoring sites were installed in portions of the Oak Creek Wildlife Area and the Okanogen-Wenatchee National Forest in District 8. Sites are designed to capture hair from curious bears in the area using barbed wire strung around a stand of trees with a scent lure in the center. DNA analysis will be conducted on hair samples and used to estimate bear density in the area. This monitoring effort is led by Statewide Bear and Cougar Specialists Beausoleil and Welflet.

Pelican and Tern Colony Monitoring: District 4 Wildlife Biologist Fidorra and US Fish and Wildlife Service McNary and WDFW staff members joined the Real Time Research contractors for a boat based colony survey of terns, gulls, and white pelicans on the Columbia River. Some of the first fledglings of the year were detected. Fidorra also worked on analysis of aerial colony images taken by WDFW in May, for the annual adult pelican count on Badger Island.

Conducting colony counts of terns, gulls, and pelicans on islands of the Columbia River near Pasco.

Tri-Cities Goose Banding: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand, Private Lands Biologist Hulett and Technician Manderbach participated in a goose round-up and banding project at Columbia Park in Kennewick.

Blue Mountain Elk Collaring: Sunnyside-Snake River Manager Kaelber assisted WDFW staff members and others with collaring elk calves in the Blue Mountains for a calf survival study.

State Wildlife Action Plan Process Review: District 4 Wildlife Biologist Fidorra provided comments and attended the State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP) process review meeting in preparation for the 2025 SWAP update. The process outlined how species would be selected for inclusion in the SWAP as Species of Greatest Conservation Need.

Blue Mountains Elk Collaring: Colockum Wildlife Area Manager Lopushinsky and Assistant Manager Hagan also assisted WDFW staff members and others with collaring elk calves in the Blue Mountains for a calf survival study. Staff members worked in rugged terrain spotting cow elk with calves and then hiking to get close enough to capture and collar newborn calves.

Colockum Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Hagan scanning for elk in the Blue Mountains.

Elk calf captured and being fitted for radio collar, Blue Mountains.

Typical Blue Mountains terrain at high elevation overlook.

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Reducing Vehicle Collisions: District 8 Habitat and Wildlife staff members, met with a Washington Department of Transportation biologist and engineers to begin discussion of our prospects for safe passage of wildlife to reduce wildlife vehicle collisions and improve connectivity.

Bear Cub Orphan: District 8 Wildlife staff members and police responded to a report of an orphaned bear cub on private land. The 3–4-month male cub was safely located, captured, and transported to a wildlife rehabilitation facility. The cub was determined to be in good condition and is slated for release in spring 2024.

Rattlesnake Hills Elk: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand continues to monitor elk activity and damage impacts while actively preforming late night/early morning hazing patrols. As natural forage dries-out and crop fields mature, increasing numbers of elk continue to raid wheat fields along the top of Rattlesnake Mountain, mostly during nocturnal hours.

Elk Thermal Imaging in Crop Areas Over One Mile in the Distance. — Elk thermal imaging in crop areas over one mile in the distance.

Richland Coyote: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand responded to a complaint from a homeowner near Badger Mountain concerning a coyote that was hanging around residences. “Living with Wildlife” material was discussed as well as actions that can be taken to protect pets.

Providing Education and Outreach

Public Presentation Deer and Elk: Assistant District 8 Biologist Wampole presented to the Kittitas Field and Streams Club on the status and trends of the elk and deer in District 8 and answered questions regarding concerns around mule deer and elk in the area.

Mesa Elementary Ecology Day: Assistant Manager Jahns attended Mesa Elementary School’s Ecology Day. The entire K-6 student body rotated through different educational stations throughout the day learning about all things ecology! The students were very enthusiastic about Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. It was a fun, action-packed day of learning!

Pelts & Skulls display at Mesa Elementary’s Ecology Day.

Other

District 4 staff members in Pasco prepared for the furniture update of desks and cabinets expected in the coming week. Wildlife Biologist Fidorra worked to secure a contract with moving companies while everyone cleaned and prepped to remove old furniture once the new arrives.

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Diffuse Knapweed Control: Oak Creek Technician Boggs and Assistant Manager Charlet released biocontrol insects (bangasternus farsti) to help control dense diffuse knapweed patches in the Cowiche Unit of the Oak Creek Wildlife Area. Biocontrol insects were provided by the Washington State University Extension as part of the integrated weed control project.

Technician Boggs releases biocontrol agents in dense patch of diffuse knapweed.

Biocontrol insects provided by the Washington State University Extension Integrated Weed Control Project.

Sunnyside/Snake River Weed Control: Manager Kaelber and Technician Manderbach removed large patches of Scotch thistle from the I-82 Ponds Unit. Sunnyside/Snake River Wildlife Area staff members continue to apply integrated pest management strategies to control invasive weeds throughout the wildlife area.

Manager Kaelber cutting down a large stand of scotch thistle. — Manager Kaelber cutting down a large stand of Scotch thistle.

Read more about Biweekly report Jun1-15 2023 - Region 3 (South Central)

Biweekly report May16-31 2023 - Region 3 (South Central)

Year

2023

Dates

May16-31

Division/Region

Region 3 (South Central)

Report sections

Managing Wildlife Populations

Sunnyside Bats: Sunnyside and Snake River wildlife area staff assisted Department of Fish and Wildlife bat biologists, District Wildlife Biologist Fidorra, and others with annual bat sampling at the Sunnyside Headquarters Unit. Bats were collected using a harp trap as they exited their roost box. Once trapped, bats were sampled and banded. It was a late night, but staff members had a great time learning more about the bats and assisting with the sampling.

Roosting bats. — Bats nice and cozy in their roost.

A bat wing being examined. — Examining bats for wing damage.

A person collecting bats from a harp trap. — Collecting bats from the harp trap.

A bat sample taken on a cotton swab. — Wildlife area staff assisting with bat sampling.

WDFW staff members preparing for bat exodus. — Department of Fish and Wildlife staff members preparing for the bat exodus.

District 8 Bat Surveys: Assistant District Biologist Wampole commenced summer maternity bat roost surveys in Yakima County. Long term monitoring showed an increase in roosting big brown bats at one maternity colony.

District 8 Wolf Sighting: Wolf monitoring within the Naneum Canyon revealed no additional sightings of a previously detected gray wolf.

Burrowing Owl Tracking Study Commences: Species Lead Hayes and District 4 Wildlife Biologist Fidorra worked with partners including the University of Idaho to deploy transmitters on male burrowing owls to study movements and habitat use during the non-breeding season. Many Columbia Basin males have been shown to remain in the state during the winter, unlike other populations of this subspecies. Transmitters will also be deployed in Oregon and British Columbia in this regional study spearheaded by WDFW.

A staff member releasing an owl. — Burrowing Owl Species Lead Hayes releases an owl with new backpack transmitter.

An owl with a transmitter. — Male burrowing owl with new solar powered transmitter ready for release.

Ground-squirrel Survey Completed: Wildlife Biologist Fidorra and biologists across the Columbia Basin revisited known colony sites for Townsend’s and Washington ground-squirrels this spring. While a few colonies remain, many historic colonies were vacant. Local landowners supported the theory that a recent decline coincided with the harsh late snows of 2017-2018 around Tri-Cities, but long term declines had started long before.

A truck parked in the sand. — Fidorra launched a successful mission to rescue a sand-stuck squirrel surveyor from Region 2.

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Unapproved User-Built Bike Jump Removal: Natural Resource Specialist Frame disassembled and removed a total of five unapproved user-built bike jumps on Cheeky-Bugger and Wildcat trails. Some jumps were large and were constructed of fallen logs and rocks. After removal, Frame re-graded the trails back to their original state.

A mound on a ridge trail. — Before clearing jumps on the Manastash Ridge trails.

A trail cleared of a mound. — After clearing jumps in Manastash Ridgel trails.

Another Successful Year of the Landowner Hunting Program: Private Lands Biologist Hulett worked with landowners enrolled in the Silver Dollar and Blackrock Landowner Hunting Program to complete and submit their 2023 Landowner Hunting Program report. In total, 21 bull elk and three cow elk were harvested across the six enrolled properties. Along with these landowner tags, 21 state drawn hunters were brought out to the properties for opportunities to harvest elk.

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Rattlesnake Hills Elk: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand processed and issued additional damage prevention permits to a landowner in elk area 3721. A trail camera was installed on a traditional route elk use to enter wheat fields near the Hanford National Monument. It will monitor elk use and activity.

An elk in low-light. — Hanford elk exiting crop field.

Elk Thermal Imaging: Night-time hazing continues and the use of newly purchased thermal imaging optics have improved the ability to locate animals in crop areas in complete darkness.

Elk spotted in thermal imaging. — Elk thermal imaging in crop areas in total darkness.

Pasco Rattlesnake Response: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand responded to a call in Spillman concerning an aggressive rattlesnake near the Columbia River. Three young teenage individuals abandoned their belongings near where the snake was initially observed. After a search of the area, no snake was located. Their belongings were returned, and education was provided on rattlesnake behavior and avoidance.

Two River’s Park Osprey: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand responded to a call concerning an osprey that was observed tangled with fishing line and attached to a tree from the previous day. One osprey was located at the area that was described but it was uninjured and flew away.

Prosser Beaver: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand received and responded to a complaint from an orchardist in the Prosser area concerning a beaver that had damaged a few cherry trees. Several preventive techniques were discussed including protective armament around the trees and possible trapping.

Horse Heaven Hill Pronghorn: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand and Enforcement Officer Kunz-Pfeiffer responded to a report from local power company staff members that a buck pronghorn antelope had an arrow in it. After contacting the landowner and obtaining permission to access the property, we conducted a search. No signs of the animal were located. We asked the landowner and neighboring landowners to contact us if they see any sign of the animal or scavenging bird activity.

Kahlotus Deer Damage: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand completed renewals of two Damage Prevention Cooperative Agreements for landowners in the Kahlotus area to address deer damage in winter wheat crops.

Kittitas County Conflict: Conflict Specialist Wetzel worked with several hay growers who were having problems with elk in crops. Elk have been hazed from irrigated hay, row crops, and at haystacks. Greenup is helping keep elk higher and on public land.

Yakima County Conflict: Conflict Specialist Wetzel worked with several hay growers who were having problems with elk in crops. Elk have been hazed from irrigated hay, row crops, and orchard areas.

Wetzel Cougar: Conflict Specialist Wetzel assisted enforcement with trapping a cougar that killed a chicken and was loitering in a neighborhood. Trapping is ongoing.

I-90 Wolf Vehicle Collision: A dead wolf was recovered after being struck on I-90. The wolf had a tracking collar.

A deceased wolf with a collar. — Deceased wolf on I-90.

Naches Elk Relocation: An elk was relocated away from a goat pen where it had been living for several months. The elk was an orphan that attached to the goats and had become a nuisance to the livestock owner. Biologists Mackey and Moore relocated the elk to the Little Naches River area.

Conserving Natural Landscapes

L. T. Murray Wildlife Area Weed Control: Natural Resource Technician Blore flew with Central Valley Helicopters to identify heavy weed populations in the 2022 Vantage Highway Fire burn area. Assistant Manager Winegeart hired the helicopter to spray 50 acres of areas identified for whitetop and Russian knapweed. The fire removed most canopy cover from the riparian areas making weed identification and herbicide application easier.

An view taken from an flight. — Areas of white are the rhizomatous, perennial, whitetop weed. Blore took this picture from a Central Valley Helicopters flight.

L. T. Murray Riparian Health: Manager Morrison and Assistant Manager Winegeart accompanied some Habitat Program staff to the Whiskey Dick Unit for drone flights which focused on creek banks and possible areas in need habitat enhancement.

A drone in the L. T. Murray Wildlife Area. — Habitat Biologist Torrey piloting drone on Whiskey Dick Unit of the L.T. Murray Wildlife Area.

Wenas Wildlife Area Weed Spraying: Biologist Miller, Natural Resource Technician Frame, and Natural Resource Specialist Stoltenow all have been thoroughly covering the wildlife area in search of Scotch thistle, Canada thistle, and whitetop to be sprayed with herbicide. These species are all noxious and invasive weeds that can harm native plants and animals. Much of the spraying is done with backpack sprayers.

Miracle Mile Acquisition or Conservation Easement: Wenas Wildlife Area Manager Hughes, Habitat Biologist Meyer, and Environmental Planner Teske met with a landowner bordering the Wenas Wildlife Area. The landowner is interested in conserving their property either by selling it to WDFW or by putting it into a conservation easement. The three toured the property and took photos displaying the varying forms of habitat that remain on the property. The property includes shrubsteppe habitat leading into areas with ponderosa pine. It also includes a riparian section of North Wenas Creek. Hughes, Meyer and Teske are planning to apply for a grant a couple years from now to help conserve the property. Getting photos and documenting information now is an important step in this process.

Photo by WDFW

A field. — Habitat to be conserved in the future through an acquisition or conservation easement.

Habitat Projects on Private Lands: Private Lands Biologist Hulett along with Private Lands Technician Manderbach completed all of their spring shrub plantings. In total, 250 additional shrubs were planted on two sites in Yakima County. This brings the total number of shrubs planted in 2023 to 900 across nine sites.

A shrub planted around a solar well fed water trough. — Shrub planting surrounding a solar well fed water trough. The goal of the project was to provide canopy cover to reduce evaporation and provide cover for wildlife during the hot summer months.

Colockum Wildlife Area Forestry: Work continues on the forest treatment and thinning work on the Colockum Wildlife Area. Contract loggers are working in Unit 5 and Unit 6, while also hauling logs from log decks in Unit 1. Work will continue all summer unless it is restricted by fire danger restrictions.

Feller buncher working on trees. — Feller buncher working on overstocked forest in the Colockum Wildlife Area.

Stripped logs on the ground. — Thinned forest and logs ready to be hauled in the Colockum Wildlife Area.

Oak Creek Wildlife Area Weed Spraying: Biologist Charlet, Natural Resource Technician Boggs, and Natural Resource Worker Close have been diligently applying herbicide to Scotch thistle, Canada thistle, knapweed, yellow star thistle across the Oak Creek and Cowiche units. This is all spot treatment via backpack sprayers and all-terrain vehicles.

A scotch thistle. — Mature Scotch thistle on the Cowiche Unit.

A yellow starthistle. — Yellow starthistle on the Cowiche Unit.

Providing Education and Outreach

L. T. Murray Wildlife Area Kiosk: Assistant Manager Winegeart and Natural Resource Workers Hamlin and Schneider, set five posts in preparation for a volunteer project that will rebuild the large three panel kiosk that burned in the 2022 Vantage Highway fire.

A tractor drilling a new post hole. — Hamlin digging post hole for a new kiosk at the Corrals parking area on the Whiskey Dick Unit.

Oak Creek Wildlife Area Volunteer Work Party with the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation: On May 19 and 20, volunteers with the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) assisted Oak Creek staff members in the clean-up of a recent 100-acre acquisition along the Tieton River. This was the site of a homesite and small farm. Although, WDFW Capital and Asset Management Program (CAMP) crews removed the larger structures, several small outbuildings remained as well as a small orchard. Volunteers removed and piled the fruit trees, removed three outbuildings, and removed approximately 500 feet of fencing. In total approximately 15 cubic yards of construction debris was hauled to the landfill.

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation volunteers. — Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Volunteers at work Oak Creek Unit.

Oak Creek Wildlife Area Signs, Kiosk, and Cattle Guards: Oak Creek staff members began cleaning cattle guards on the Cowiche Unit, along with installing a green dot management sign and kiosk within a recent acquisition to the unit.

Conducting Business Operations and Policy

Unfortunate Change to Providing Technical Assistance to Landowners: Private Lands Biologist Hulett organized all State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE) contracts in Region 3 to hand over to the local county Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS). As of April 7, 2023, WDFW is no longer the Technical Service Provider (TSP) for any of the SAFE contracts in Washington State. Instead NRCS will be taking responsibility of all SAFE contracts. Hulett passed off all Franklin County SAFE contracts to NRCS on May 25, 2023. They are waiting to pass off Benton County’s SAFE contract documents until they can meet with a representative for Benton County NRCS, but there is currently not an NRCS staff member for Benton County.

Other

L. T. Murray Fence: Assistant Manager Winegeart and Natural Resource Specialist Nass repaired riparian exclosure fence on the Parke Creek subunit of the Quilomene Unit.

Giffon Lake Outflow: In order to maintain water levels and flow in Giffon Lake and surrounding wetlands, Manager Kaelber and Natural Resource Technician Manderbach removed beaver debris and sediment from the Giffon Lake outflow at the Sunnyside Headquarters Unit. The operation required launching a small boat to access the outflow and successfully dislodge the debris.

A boat. — Launching the boat to tackle the Giffon Lake outflow.

Sunnyside Headquarters Food Plot: Manager Kaelber, Assistant Manager Jahns, and Natural Resource Technician Manderbach seeded several food plots along circle edges at the Sunnyside Headquarters Unit. The crops planted will provide valuable forage for wildlife throughout the entirety of the growing season.

A tractor on a field. — Manderbach seeding food plot at the Sunnyside Headquarters Unit.

Sunnyside and Snake River Nesting Season: Sunnyside and Snake River staff members have observed a variety of hatchlings and fledglings throughout the wildlife area this spring including great horned owls, barn owls, and several species of waterfowl and shorebirds.

Newly hatched ducklings. — Newly hatched Sunnyside ducklings.

Read more about Biweekly report May16-31 2023 - Region 3 (South Central)

Biweekly report May1-15 2023 - Region 3 (South Central)

Year

2023

Dates

May1-15

Division/Region

Region 3 (South Central)

Report sections

Managing Wildlife Populations

L. T. Murray Wildlife Area, Whiskey Dick Unit: Manager Morrison joined members of the Ecostudies Institute in the field while they were conducting horned lark (Eremophila alpestris) nest searching and monitoring, and bird captures in the Whiskey Dick and Quilomene areas. The search and captures are part of a pilot study to gather further information about lark introduction to new locations. The pilot study supports a greater study to facilitate work in supporting population of threatened listed streaked horned larks (Eremophila alpestris strigata).

A horned lark with its chicks. — Horned lark chicks on Whiskey Dick Unit.

A bitterroot plant. — Bitterroot plant on the Whiskey Dick Unit.

Sunnyside and Snake River: Manager Kaelber assisted volunteers from the Richland Rod and Gun Club with servicing wood duck nesting boxes in the Sunnyside Headquarters and Byron Units. Several boxes were being occupied with nesting wood ducks, as well as screech owls and kestrels.

Screech owls in a nesting box. — Screech owls nesting in a nesting box in the Sunnyside Headquarters Unit.

Screech owls nesting in a box. — Screech owls nesting in a nesting box in the Sunnyside Headquarters Unit.

A nesting kestrel with its chicks. — Nesting kestrel at the Sunnyside Headquarters Unit.

A mallard nest. — Mallard nest at the Sunnyside Headquarters Unit.

Bighorn Sheep Monitoring: Collared individuals from the ‘Test and Remove’ study sites continue to be monitored. District personnel responded to two mortalities occurring the past two weeks within the Cleman Mountain population due to vehicle strike and a likely predation event. Nasal swabs and heads were collected and sent for additional testing. Nasal swabs test for active infection, while heads are inspected for nasal tumors. The presence of tumors would indicate chronic Mycoplasma ovipneumoniea (M. Ovi).

Mule Deer Coordination: District biologists gathered with ungulate specialist personnel to discuss current and future mule deer monitoring and management.

Ground Squirrels: District 8 staff members continued to conduct surveys for Townsend ground squirrels on private and public lands. Ground squirrel colonies have seen drastic declines. Staff members have been revisiting historic colony sites and investigate new areas on private lands. District 8 personnel have registered several new colonies in the area hosting large family groups.

Providing Recreation Opportunities

End of Winter Closure: On May 1, Natural Resource Technician Stoltenow and Assistant Manager Taylor opened gates in the Wenas Wildlife Area allowing public access to the winter closure area. At the time of opening, there were around 26 vehicles at the Hardy Canyon gate and one vehicle at the gate at the top of Woodcamp Road looking to access the winter closure area for shed hunting.

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Rattlesnake Hills Elk: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand processed and issued damage prevention permits to several landowners in elk area 3721. These permits, for antlered bull elk only, are an extremely effective tool used for hazing elk away from valuable crops during the growing season.

Richland Deer: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand and Sergeant Fulton responded to an injured deer call in Richland. They observed a young buck mule deer that could not move its rear legs and appeared extremely emaciated. The deer was lethally removed, and the carcass was taken to a Department of Transportation disposal site.

Pasco Fox: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand responded to call from a Pasco homeowner who has lost chickens, ducks, and rabbits to a fox. The reporting party has witnessed the fox in the act of depredations in the past and assumed the recent attacks are from the same animal. Multiple protective measures were discussed as well as potential use of a Wildlife Control Operator for possible trapping.

Prosser Bald Eagle: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand responded to an injured wildlife call concerning a bald eagle hanging from a powerline in the Prosser area. Local power company staff were alerted to the situation and were available to assist, but unfortunately the adult eagle died prior to any rescue attempt. The bird was tagged and labeled for shipment to the National Repository.

Photo by WDFW

A dead bald eagle on the ground. — Prosser area deceased adult bald eagle.

Kittitas County Conflict: Conflict Specialist Wetzel worked with several hay growers who were having problems with elk in crops. Elk have been hazed from irrigated hay, row crops, and at haystacks. Greenup is helping to keep elk higher and on public land.

Wetzel Other: Conflict Specialist Wetzel assisted enforcement with trapping a cougar that killed a housecat. The cougar did not return to the trap.

A deer mortality was recovered in the Teanaway. A second also occurred in a very remote area that will be recovered when snow recedes.

A mule deer mortality with collar still on it. — Mule deer mortality.

Wolf Activity: Individual wolves have been reported but not verified in any one location. No packs are present at this time.

Wenas Elk Fence Check: Natural Resource Worker Frame and Biologist Miller finished the spring elk fence checks. They ensured the fence was intact in places of the wildlife area bordering areas that will be holding livestock.

Wenas Breakaway Installation: Natural Resource Specialist Frame and Natural Resource Technician Stoltenow installed breakaway fencing in a drainage along Newlands Road, between two sections of elk fence installed last summer. The purpose of this fence is to breakaway in the event of a major flooding or debris flow event, so that the rest of the fencing is not damaged.

Natural Resource Specialist Frame nailing a board to the breakaway fencing.

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Colockum Litter Cleanup: Manager Lopushinsky coordinated with WDFW Enforcement and the Wenatchee Sportsman’s Association in cleaning up a very nasty garbage site near Lily Lake in the Stemilt Basin. After being alerted to the problem the Sportsman’s Association responded immediately to rally volunteers and pick up and haul this garbage pile to the local landfill.

A pile of garbage at Lily Lake. — Garbage pile at Lily Lake, Colockum Wildlife Area.

Mowing at Mattoon and Fio Rito: Access Manager Garcia mowed Mattoon and Fio Rito to reduce non-native fire risk and to improve weed management.

A tractor mowing grass. — Mowing at Mattoon Lake.

Boundary Fence Repair: Access Natural Resource Technician Barbosa and Natural Resource Worker Wolff repaired fences at Pond1, Pond 2, and Pond 3.

Garcia removing a trailer from Lavender Lake. — Manager Garcia and Natural Resource Worker Wolff removed an abandoned trailer that had no VIN number or plate at Lavender Lake.

An abandoned trailer loaded onto another trailer. — Removed abandoned trailer at Lavender Lake.

Graffiti: Access Natural Resource Tech Barbosa and Natural Resource Worker Wolff painted out graffiti at Pond 6.

A person removing graffiti off a structure. — Buena Pond graffiti removal.

L. T. Murray Wildlife Area, Quilomene Unit Grazing: Assistant Manager Winegeart and Natural Resource Workers Schneider and Hamlin completed pre-grazing vegetation utilization monitoring on the Quilomene Unit’s Whiskey Jim pasture. The pasture showed very little to no grazing from wildlife.

Hamlin and Schneider conducting vegetation monitoring. — Natural Resource Workers Hamlin and Schneider conducted vegetation monitoring for grazing lease.

Beacon Ridge Road Gate: Natural Resource Technician Blore built a gate across the Quilomene Unit’s Beacon Ridge Road to be used while cows are in the Upper Parke pasture during the first half of July.

Sunnyside and Snake River: Manager Kaelber, Assistant Manager Jahns, and Natural Resource Technician Manderbach visited the Thornton Unit to evaluate a wildlife food plot that was recently seeded. There was new growth of the seeded species, as well as regrowth of grasses.

Beautiful spring day at the Thornton Unit food plot.

Colockum Wildlife Area, Post Burn Activities: WDFW staff members conducted a 270-acre prescribed burn on the Colockum Wildlife Area last fall. This spring things are greening up nicely, and this month staff are seeding the containment lines with native grasses.

An area of Colockum. — Area treated with prescribed fire in the Fall of 2022, Colockum Wildlife Area.

An all-terrain vehicle with seeder and harrow. — All-terrain vehicle, seeder, and harrow used to rehabilitate containment lines after prescribed fire.

Other

L. T. Murray Wildlife Area, Quilomene Unit: Assistant Manager Winegeart presented information to the Region 3 management team regarding a new private firing range being developed a few miles east of Ellensburg on the Vantage Highway. The property sites between the Green Gate subunit or the L. T. Murray Wildlife Area, Quilomene Unit and the Wild Horse wind farm and was almost purchased by DFW for a public firing range around five years ago. The range is owned by Vantage Valley Properties LLC and is currently being used by local law enforcement for target practice.

A private firing range. — Private firing range between Green Gate subunit and the Puget Sound Energy wind farm.

Sunnyside and Snake River: Assistant Manager Jahns and Natural Resource Technician Manderbach continue to implement integrated pest management strategies to control noxious weeds throughout the wildlife area.

Read more about Biweekly report May1-15 2023 - Region 3 (South Central)

Biweekly report Apr16-30 2023 - Region 3 (South Central)

Year

2023

Dates

Apr16-30

Division/Region

Region 3 (South Central)

Report sections

Managing Wildlife Populations

Bighorn Sheep Surveys: WDFW biologist, regional conflict specialists, wildlife area staff, and ungulate specialists teamed up to conduct two mark-resight surveys of bighorn sheep in the Yakima Canyon. Surveys are conducted by visually identifying bighorn sheep and quantifying the number of marked animals (wearing GPS collars) and the total number present. Staff members also collect data on the sex and age composition of observed groups. This survey provides an estimated population size and importantly 2022 lamb recruitment. This data will be utilized for the Test and Remove study that began earlier this year to address concerns of prevalence rates of mycoplasma ovipneumoniae (MOVI).

A collared ewe in Yakima Canyon. — A collared (marked) ewe in Yakima Canyon

Bear Density Surveys: Black bear density surveys were approved to be carried out early this summer in District 8. Non-invasive hair snag sites will be set in the region of Oak Creek Wildlife Area and Okanagan-Wenatchee National Forest. This data will provide estimates of bear density locally and improve efforts to understand variation in black bear density statewide. See Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. 2022. Statewide Black Bear Density Monitoring in Washington: A cross-region and interagency team approach.

White-trailed Jackrabbit Sightings: L. T. Murray staff members saw two white-tailed jackrabbits on the Whiskey Dick Unit. That makes four white-tailed jackrabbits seen on the Whiskey Dick Unit this year. The first was mistaken for a cottontail rabbit and shot by recreators at Whiskey Dick Bay but the remaining three were spotted in April alive and healthy.

Photo by WDFW

A jackrabbit with its ears up. — White-tailed jackrabbit on the Whiskey Dick Unit of the L. T. Murray Wildlife Area

District 8 Wolf Activity: Individual wolves, both collared and uncollared, are leaving and arriving in the district at this time. It is suspected that they will remain transient for some time.

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Rattlesnake Hills Elk: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand had contact with landowners on Rattlesnake Mountain concerning the elk activity, damage occurrence, and damage permit issuance. Summer bull damage prevention permits were developed and will be distributed to landowners in the next couple of weeks. These permits provide hunting opportunity during critical wheat growth development while aiding in hazing elk back to the Hanford National Monument.

Kahlotus Deer: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand conducted deer monitoring and damage inspections at a couple of dryland wheat farms in Game Management Unit (GMU) 381. Very few deer were observed, and damage impacts appear to be reducing.

Kittitas County Wildlife Conflict: Conflict Specialist Wetzel worked with several hay growers who were having problems with elk in crops. Elk were hazed from irrigated hay, row crops, and at haystacks. One elk near a garlic field died from pneumonia complications.

Yakima County Wildlife Conflict: Conflict Wetzel worked with several hay growers who were having problems with elk in crops. Elk have been hazed from irrigated hay, row crops, and orchard areas. One elk near an irrigated field died from unknown causes.

Fence repairs are underway in West Valley. It is likely winter snow caused the elk fence to fall over in that area. Repairs were also needed at un-permitted entry points that adjacent landowners have cut into the elk fence.

Photo by WDFW

Photo by WDFW

Photo by WDFW

Conserving Natural Landscapes

L. T. Murray Pedestrian Surveys: The L. T. Murray staff members, Off-road Vehicle Education Specialist Schrauth, and state foresters assisted a cultural resource specialist with pedestrian surveys within the 2022 Vantage Highway Fire footprint. Among the lithic scatter found was an arrowhead which is believed to be between 200 and 2,000 years old. The arrowhead was documented and reburied at the site. A few hundred acres have now been surveyed and will be available for planting this fall.

A row of people conducting a survey in the Whiskey Dick Wildlife area.

Photo by WDFW

Two people surveying the ground. — L. T. Murray Wildlife Area personnel and state foresters assisting a cultural resource specialist with pedestrian surveys on the Whiskey Dick Wildlife Area

An old arrowhead. — Arrowhead found during cultural surveys estimated over 200 years old

Petrified Wood: While crossing state parks through the Recreation Drive access point, L. T. Murray staff members found six bags of petrified wood in the road. Assistant Manager Winegeart contacted a very grateful John Ernster with State Parks who requested Winegeart fill out a witness statement and then had State Parks enforcement investigate and file a criminal report.

Five bags of petrified wood in front of a truck. — Five of the six bags of illegally obtained petrified wood found on State Parks land by L. T. Murray staff members

L. T. Murray Grazing: Wildlife Area Manager Morrison and Assistant Manager Winegeart performed pre-grazing monitoring in the Lower Parke pasture of the Quilomene Unit’s grazing lease.

Providing Education and Outreach

Back Country Hunters and Anglers: Assistant Manager Winegeart met with the president of the local chapter for Back Country Hunters and Anglers and discussed upcoming volunteer opportunities on the L. T. Murray Wildlife Area.

Stuck Vehicle in Wenas: Off-road Vehicle Education Specialist Schrauth came across a stuck off-road vehicle while on patrol in the Wenas Wildlife Area and assisted with the removal of the vehicle. Education was also provided on proper use of the Green Dot Road system as well as proper recovery equipment, communication standards, and recovery efforts safety.

Muddied road conditions. — Road condition after removal of stuck vehicle on the Umtanum Ridge Road in the Wenas Wildlife Area

Sunnyside and Snake River: Assistant Manager Jahns and Natural Resource Technician Manderbach had the pleasure of participating in the 25^th annual Salmon Summit at Columbia Park. Thousands of elementary students from the Tri-Cities and surrounding areas released their classroom salmon into the Columbia River and rotated through stations to learn more about fish, wildlife, and natural resources in Washington. WDFW’s “Pelts & Skulls” station was a huge hit with the kids. They learned about the importance of wildlife habitat, native fish, and wildlife species during the interactive, hands-on lesson. Thank you, Communication Manager Lehman and Customer Service Specialist Tucker for helping at the booth as well.

Photo by WDFW

Jahns and Manderbach teaching kids outdoors. — Assistant Manager Jahns, Natural Resource Technician Manderbach, and Customer Service Specialist Tucker teaching kids about fish and wildlife in Washington

Natural Resource Technician Manderbach and Habitat Biologist Maikis attended a career night at Leona Libby Middle School in West Richland. They were able to teach students and community members about fish and wildlife in Washington and potential career opportunities with WDFW.

Maikis with a WDFW table set up in a gym. — Habitat Biologist Maikis excited to teach students about wildlife in Washington

Other

Sunnyside and Snake River: Manager Kaelber, Assistant Manager Ferguson, and Natural Resource Technician Manderbach spent a day cleaning up litter at the Sunnyside Headquarters Unit. Two dump trailers were filled with garbage, tires, and furniture.

Discarded tires off the side of the road.

Photo by WDFW

A pile of branches and debris with a tractor nearby.

Photo by WDFW

Photo by WDFW

Jahns and Manderbach cleared beaver debris from a waterway in the Hope Valley Unit to alleviate flooding on neighboring private property. They also cleared beaver debris from a water control structure in the Mesa Lake Unit.

Manderbach clearing a waterway with a tractor. — Manderbach clears the Hope Valley waterway

Mesa Lake Control Structure before improvements. — Mesa Lake control structure, before

Lake Mesa Control Structure after improvements. — Mesa Lake control structure, after

Conflict Specialist Wetzel assisted Washington Department of Transportation and Washington State Patrol to haze elk from several areas near I-90. Multiple stranded or nuisance beaver calls were handled in Yakima and Kittitas counties.

Photo by WDFW

A traffic sign that reads 'Watch for Elk.'

Photo by WDFW

Photo by WDFW

Read more about Biweekly report Apr16-30 2023 - Region 3 (South Central)

Biweekly report Apr1-15 2023 - Region 3 (South Central)

Year

2023

Dates

Apr1-15

Division/Region

Region 3 (South Central)

Report sections

Managing Wildlife Populations

Ground Squirrel Surveys: Assistant District Biologist Wampole commenced Townsend ground squirrel (Urocitellus townsendii townsendii) surveys in Kittitas and Yakima counties. Surveys conducted in 2020 and 2021 confirmed a significant decline in Townsend ground squirrel occupancy at historic colony sites. Current surveys aim to monitor remaining occupied sites and identify new colony locations.

A Townsends Ground Squirrel at one of the remaining large colonies in Yakima County. — A Townsends ground squirrel at one of the remaining large colonies in Yakima County.

Ground Squirrel Surveys: District 4 Wildlife Biologist Fidorra revisited Townsends ground squirrel colonies for the range wide survey of this Washington endemic species. Thus far two of 27 Benton County colonies that were active in 2005 had squirrels detected. There was a sharp decline in occupancy around the year 2018.

Tricolored Blackbird Research: District 4 Wildlife Biologist Fidorra placed sound recorder devices at two known tricolored blackbird colonies for a California researcher. The loggers will be used to analyze vocalizations but also provide remote monitoring for arrival and productivity which is valuable for this rare breeding species in Washington.

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Hardy Canyon Gate Installation: The Wenas Wildlife Area staff members installed a gate near the Hardy Canyon trailhead to allow both users on foot and those on horseback to access the Hoover acquisition. The sale for this property recently went through. The property will be a walk-in only access site for the public. Opportunities for wildlife viewing, hunting, and hiking will be popular throughout the new acquisition. The primary focus of this acquisition is to conserve shrubsteppe and riparian habitat.

The newly installed walkthrough gate at Hardy Canyon

Wenas Wildlife Area Road Maintenance: Manager Hughes and Assistant Manager Taylor have been working closely with Capital Asset Management Program (CAMP) on road maintenance being conducted on the Wenas. The three priority roads being worked on through June are Kelly Hollow leading into Hessler Flats and Bell Tell off Sheep Company and Roza roads. The roadcrew is becoming familiar with the alkali and clay soils throughout the Wenas along with spring runoff issues that occur when there are not proper drainages built into each road. Taylor and Hughes have been working with the roadcrew on getting rolling dips and ditch outs to be angled enough for water to run off the road. If there is not enough angle (aiming for a 45-degree angle) the water will pool at the base of each rolling dip in the road. Another important feature is making the rolling dips wide enough and gradual so you can easily roll through while driving compared to a drastic dip that is difficult to haul a trailer through or get a fire engine through. Certain parts of the road are also being out sloped for water runoff. Almost all the roads throughout the Wenas have severe damage due to spring run-off issues. It is very exciting, there was some funding allowing maintenance work and some issues to be addressed. In the long run, the road maintenance will help keep user groups on the established road and in turn preserve adjacent habitat that was being eroded due to spring run off and from the public driving off the main road in order to get through.

Roadwork on Kelly Hollow Road. — Roadwork on Kelly Hollow Road

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Mule Deer and Highways: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife staff members met with Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) to discuss a potential point of collaboration to reduce vehicle collisions with wildlife on major roadways in Kittitas County. Information obtained from GPS collared mule deer highlighted key corridors of movement which will help guide WSDOT project priority and mitigation efforts by establishing hotspots of possible conflict.

Oak Creek Volunteers and Visitor’s Center Banquet: Oak Creek Manager Mackey and Assistant Manager Charlet attended the annual volunteer awards dinner in Yakima. Two 20-year service awards, one 10-year service award, one 5-year service award, one “Smooth Talker” award, and one “Busy Bee” award were handed out to honor our dedicated volunteers for the year.

Conserving Natural Landscapes

2022 Vantage Highway Fire: Assistant Manager Winegeart and Natural Resource Specialist Nass established photo points in a 100 acre section of the Vantage Highway Fire footprint which is planned for drill seeding in the fall. Later, they joined a Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife archaeologist and volunteering foresters in performing a pedestrian cultural survey of the same area. The entire 100 acres was also aerially treated with Laramie 25DF to control cheatgrass for fall seeding in some areas and to control cheatgrass to reduce native grass competition as the plants recover from fire in others.

Photo monitoring site in Vantage Hwy Fire restoration polygon — Photo monitoring site in Vantage Highway Fire restoration polygon

Forbs the spring after Vantage Hwy Fire — Forbs the spring after Vantage Highway Fire

Roza Fence Posts and Cable: Assistant Manager Taylor and Natural Resource Technician Stoltenow pounded metal posts with a cable strung across to prevent unauthorized vehicle access in the Roza portion of the wildlife area. An area was left open adjacent to the gate for the public to be able to walk in or ride a horse in. The following weekend someone from the public went even further off the Green Dot Road to cut a fence the wildlife area installed behind the cable and drove their motorized vehicles through. This has been an ongoing challenge for the Wenas Wildlife Area. The surrounding landscape of the area is difficult to block off where the Green Dot Road ends. Below the Green Dot Road goes into a riparian area along with heavier fuels. This is a popular area for hunting, wildlife viewing, and hiking. It also holds valuable habitat for elk, upland birds, mule deer, and more. Manager Hughes is going to continue to work with enforcement on the illegal offroad use past the gate and fenced area.

Photo by WDFW

Photos of new posts and wire string on each side of the Roza gate. — Photos of new posts and wire string on each side of the Roza gate

Wenas Kelly Hollow Reseeding: Habitat Specialist Miller seeded old, decommissioned sections of Kelly Hollow Road, as well as new ditch-outs on the Kelly Hollow and Hessler Flat roads. This seeding will be the start to recovering habitat from an outdated and unusable roadbed.

Wenas Sheep Company Spraying: Habitat Specialist Miller made a spray application at the Shooting Range off of Sheep Company Road. This spray will help to ensure the berms are acting as sufficient fire breaks as well as making the shooting area a pleasant and accessible place to recreate for the public. This will help to limit dispersed shooting on the wildlife area, benefiting public safety as well as limiting distribution of refuse.

Sunnyside/Snake River Spraying: Approximately 480 acres of the recently burned Byron Unit was sprayed for annual grasses by helicopter in preparation for seeding of native vegetation in the fall.

Solar Energy Project Reviews: District 4 Wildlife Biologist Fidorra attended meetings and reviews of several solar projects in District 4. The scope and size of projects overall will have unmitigated impacts to many wildlife species.

Providing Education and Outreach

Arbor Day Event: Assistant Manager Winegeart assisted with Arbor Fest at the Yakima Arboretum.

Other

Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area: With the weather improving slightly in recent days, Natural Resource Technician Wascisin and Assistant Manager Ferguson spent several days pulling up and burning last year’s bumper crop of kochia and Russian thistle from around the shop and office area at the Sunnyside Unit. They also put pre-emergent herbicide down to hopefully curb growth of the weeds this year.

Assistant Manager Ferguson has been busy installing the new gate for the driveway to the Sunnyside Unit office. The gate structure is made of heavy-gauge steel and composed of a swinging gateway and a frame situated underground and embedded in ten yards of concrete. The hope is to prevent any further forced entries into the compound by burglars.

Installing gate support. — Installing gate support frame

Sunnyside Unit Front Gate: Assistant Manager Ferguson completed installation of the new front gate at the Sunnyside Unit.

12 yards of concrete- should stop any Honda Civics from breaking through our gate again. — 12 yards of concrete should stop any Honda Civics from breaking through our gate again.

Lowering the new gate into place. — Lowering the new gate into place

Region 3 Chainsaw Training: Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area Manager Kaelber, Sunnyside Assistant Manager Jahns, Sunnyside Natural Resource Technician Manderbach, Oak Creek Wildlife Area Manager Mackey, L.T. Murray Assistant Manager Winegeart, Natural Resource Specialists Blore, Nass, Frame, and Stoltenow attended chainsaw training in Yakima. The training was provided by members of the Department of Natural Resources Ahtanum Wild Land Fire Hand Crew. It was a fun training, and we learned a ton of valuable information!

Clark Pond Fire: On Wednesday, Mar. 22, there was a fire in the Clark Pond Unit of the Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area. The fire began on neighboring private property and spread into the wildlife area, burning an estimated 87 acres. Unfortunately, all the native shrub plots in the unit were destroyed.

Native shrub plots badly burned in the Clark Pond fire — Native shrub plots badly burned in the Clark Pond Unit fire

Region 3 Fall Protection Training: Sunnyside Manager Kaelber, Sunnyside Assistant Manager Jahns, all L.T. Murray Wildlife Area staff members, and all Oak Creek Wildlife Area staff members attended Fall Protection Awareness training at the regional office in Yakima.

Read more about Biweekly report Apr1-15 2023 - Region 3 (South Central)

Biweekly report Mar16-31 2023 - Region 3 (South Central)

Year

2023

Dates

Mar16-31

Division/Region

Region 3 (South Central)

Report sections

Managing Wildlife Populations

District 8 Assistant District Biologist Wampole and Conflict Specialist Wetzel confirmed wolf presence of an uncollared individual in the district. District biologists will continue to monitor the area for wolf activity.

District 4 Wildlife Biologist Fidorra worked with partners and coordinated the annual meeting on artificial burrow management for regional partners in the Pacific Northwest. A recommendation from the group was to create a broader Pacific Northwest Burrowing Owl Conservation Working Group for Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and British Columbia partners in a more recurring format.

L.T. Murray Elk Feeding: The L.T. Murray crew fed elk a few days until there was enough spring grass growth to keep the elk off the Robinson and Joe Watt feed sites.

Conflict staff members and supervisors attended the Human-Carnivore Interaction Response Workshop held in Moses Lake. The training included Depredation Investigations, Cougar/Wolf/Bear Ecology, Capture and Immobilization, and other presentations including Forensic Entomology.

Conflict staff members reviewing capture equipment and cougar sampling. — Conflict staff members reviewing capture equipment and cougar sampling with statewide Cougar Specialist Beausoleil during the workshop

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Hoover Acquisition: Manager Hughes and Assistant Manager Taylor have been working together on the management plans for the Hoover Acquisition now that it has gone through. Hughes and Taylor met with the landowner to stake out an area where the boundary fence will be built on private ground. The landowner has agreed to give WDFW a fencing easement in this section. This is being done to avoid building the fence through the property line that goes into a marsh. In addition, Hughes coordinated cultural surveys done for the boundary fence that the Wenas Wildlife Area team will be building this spring. Recreation Specialist Frame and Technician Stoltenow cleared brush where a section of the fence will be built.

Water rights were a lengthy part of this acquisition. The Wenas Wildlife Area and the landowner are sharing water rights of an artesian well. The wildlife area plans to use a minimal amount of water for spraying weeds and emergency fire use. Manager Hughes is working on developing a water use agreement to be signed between the landowner and Fish and Wildlife due to the shared well. Taylor installed a butterfly valve into a 6” steel irrigation pipe. The valve installed will be used to shut off water going onto the newly acquired property.

Pumphouse Road Post Fire Area: Assistant Manager Winegeart and Natural Resource Specialist Nass assessed the Pumphouse Road post fire area for early spring vegetation and noxious weed growth. Areas that had potential for drill seeding and sagebrush plugs were identified for cultural review and anticipated seeding in the fall. A small site that had a Rimsulfuron application in the fall showed promise but a close examination of what's growing by May 1 will give a better idea of how useful the chemical will be under similar circumstances in the future.

Assistant Manager Winegeart had Central Valley Helicopters apply 1,800 pounds of native seed mix to areas within the Vantage Highway Fire footprint.

Habitat Program Support: District 4 Wildlife Biologist Fidorra conducted site visits with Habitat Biologist Makis to sites of future proposed development. Fidorra recorded inactive ground-squirrel burrows onsite and some nice intact quality shrubsteppe with surprisingly high sagebrush recruitment and intact soil crust. The site will soon be a housing development and WDFW will request mitigation, which might occur. Fidorra also participated in calls and meetings for various solar energy proposals.

Habitat Biologist Maikis checking out a shrubsteppe site of future housing development.

District 4 Wildlife Biologist Fidorra participated in the demonstration of the Least Cost Solar Siting product to be released by Audubon and Partners in April. The product identifies high priority conservation lands as well as those where wildlife concerns are lower and make development more suitable for energy projects. The product should be released April 12 to the public following this external review period.

Other

Chainsaw Safety Training: Recreation Specialist Frame and Technician Stoltenow attended and successfully completed National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) Course S-212. This course is designed to display proper chainsaw techniques and use. Chainsaw safety is a large part of the course. Many other Region 3 WDFW employees attended the class as well.

Assistant Manager Winegeart, Natural Resource Specialist Nass, and Natural Resource Technician Blore attended S-212 chainsaw training in Yakima. The crew members learned how to properly sharpen a chain, tree felling techniques, and forest stand assessment for general safety while cutting, working, or just hiking in vegetation that has potential for overhead dangers.

S212 Wildland Chchainsaw Training with DNR Ahtanum Hand, Crew Leads Schroeder and Delarosa — S212 Wildland Chainsaw Training with DNR Ahtanum Hand, Crew Leads Schroeder and Delarosa.

Forester Nequette making proper cuts to fell a tree.

Forester Nequette making proper cuts in a tree.

Photo by WDFW

New Cambell Property Signage: Winegeart and Nass noticed a new gate and posted sign on the Cambell property which borders the Green Gate Subunit on the Quilomene Unit. Upon inspection, they noticed the property has been sold and a physical/firearm training center is planned for the site. Below is some information available on the web about the planned facilities. No groundwork appears to have taken place at this time.

Photo by WDFW

Cross Valley National Training Center – Cross Valley Training

Photo by WDFW

Photo by WDFW

The L.T. Murray Wildlife Area’s new track loader arrived.

New 289D3 CAT for the L.T. Murray Wildlife Area. — New 289D3 CAT for the L.T. Murray Wildlife Area

Natural Resource Technician Blore and Natural Resource Workers Hamlin and Schneider installed a new metal gate with metal brace points to replace the wire and wood gate that burned last year at the Corrals parking area on the Whiskey Dick Unit.

New metal gate at Corrals parking area on Whiskey Dick Unit.

L.T. Murray Natural Resource Workers Hamlin and Schneider continued to pick up wire on the Whiskey Dick and Quilomene units.

Natural Resource Technician Blore checked on the condition of culvert in need of replacement on Parke Creek Road.

Providing Education and Outreach

Burrowing Owl Presentation at Sandhill Crane Festival: District 4 Wildlife Biologist Fidorra was invited to present information on burrowing owls at the Annual Othello Sandhill Crane Festival. The presentation was improved after many years using the Public Affairs WDFW template and was well received by approximately 100 people. A lively Q&A session followed. There was no WDFW outreach table this year, as their contacts for the department were out of date. Fidorra provided them with Team Ephrata information to rectify this in the future.

Burrowing owls of Washington — Burrowing owl presentation

Backcountry Horseman Rendezvous: Lands Operations Manager Finger, Wenas Wildlife Area Manager Hughes, and Methow Wildlife Area Manager Troyer attended the Backcountry Horseman Rendezvous in Ellensburg. A Fish and Wildlife booth was displayed to provide outreach and answer questions from the public. The Wenas Wildlife Area works with the Wenas Valley Backcountry Horseman Chapter to manage the Hardy Canyon Trail. The Wenas Valley Backcountry Horseman adopted this trail for routine maintenance every spring. It is a popular trail for wildlife viewing, horseback riding, and hiking. Outside of the work done on the Wenas there are many other Backcountry Horseman Chapters that help with parking area and trail maintenance projects in collaboration with Fish and Wildlife.

DWF Booth — Department of Fish and Wildlife booth

Read more about Biweekly report Mar16-31 2023 - Region 3 (South Central)

Biweekly report Mar1-15 2023 - Region 3 (South Central)

Year

2023

Dates

Mar1-15

Division/Region

Region 3 (South Central)

Report sections

Managing Wildlife Populations

California Sight of a Burrowing Owl from Washington: A male burrowing owl banded in June 2022 on the Rattlesnake Unit of the Hanford National Monument as part of a demographic study was found wintering near McKinleyville, California last month. A photographer got several photos of the banded owl to identify its origin. This owl’s coastal northern California wintering grounds is 700 kilometers away and a very different habitat than the shrubsteppe and grassland of its breeding site here in Washington. Resights of banded owls from Washington are infrequent so this sighting provides important data in understanding the wintering grounds and migration of our Washington breeding burrowing owl population.

WDFW and USFWS staff in front of a field — WDFW Wildlife Biologist, United States Fish and Wildlife staff members, and volunteers present during June capture and banding of the owl on the Arid Lands Ecology Reserve.

A band on the leg of an owl — A cropped photo collected by California photographer to identify the owl in Feb. 2023.

Artificial Burrows for Owls Ready for Spring: Wildlife Biologist Fidorra and volunteers worked to prepare and repair 65 artificial burrows for burrowing owls on lands surrounding the Tri-Cities.

A hole in the dirt that is home to a pair of burrowing owls — It may just look like a hole in the dirt, but to a pair of burrowing owls, this is home.

Cackling and Snow Goose Tagging in Columbia Basin: District 4 Wildlife Biologist Fidorra assisted Waterfowl Specialist Wilson along with additional agency staff and Alaska Fish and Game biologists to capture and tag cackling geese and snow geese for migration studies. California Fish and Wildlife contributed the snow geese tags. Four tags were placed on Taverner’s geese and 17 on snow geese at McNary.

Bait and rocket net set up on the shore — Bait and rocket net ready for geese on McNary National Wildlife Refuge.

Colockum Elk Surveys: Colockum Wildlife Area Manager Lopushinsky assisted Wildlife Program staff members Moore and Wampole in conducting the annual aerial elk surveys on the Colockum. Staff members used a parking lot at the top of the Wild Horse Wind Farm to launch and refuel the survey helicopter. Colockum Manager Lopushinsky appreciated Assistant District Biologist Wampole choosing a beautiful day to fly and survey elk.

A helicopter on the ground — Helicopter used to survey Colockum elk.

Goose Capture: Biologists Bernatowicz and Wampole assisted Waterfowl Specialist Wilson and biologist from Alaska capture cackling geese as part of an ongoing cooperative study. After a day and a half of watching geese land and walk everywhere but in front of the net, 53 geese were captured. Unfortunately, the majority, 49, were small cacklers and not the wanted Taverner's cackling geese. Four transmitters were deployed on the four Taverner's. It was obvious that the geese were somehow aware of the nets and actively avoiding them. The fields were cattle pastures where lines of hay are common. The rancher even believed the geese were present due to left over alfalfa hay.

A flock of cackling Geese flying over hidden rocket net — Cackling geese flying over the hidden rocket net.

Several people extracting geese from a net — Geese being extracted from the net.

Coordination Meeting with the Yakama Nation Wildlife Program: Region 3 Wildlife Program staff attended a meeting with their counterparts at the Yakima Nation. The purpose of the meeting was meant to discuss shared priorities and management objectives including pronghorn, big horn sheep, mountain goat and waterfowl.

Cougar Harvest: District 8 Biologist Bernatowicz sealed a cougar harvested by a tribal member on the Yakama Reservation. The hunter had a lot of questions about cougars and bears, which he believed were numerous on the reservation. The SURVEY123 system did not appear to be set up for tribal harvest as it required Game Management Unit (GMU) and WILD ID.

Elk numbers have been high at the Watt feed site as weather and temperatures fluctuate between sun, snow, rain, and wind and 22 to 42 degrees Fahrenheit. Numbers have been low at the Robinson site with estimates ranging from 1 to 300 and feeding has been based on hay left over from the last feeding, occurring every other day on average. Bulls are just beginning to lose their antlers and feeding is anticipated to end as grass begins to green up with warmer night temperatures.

DATE	SITE	COW/CALF	BRANCHED BULL	SPIKE BULL	Mortality	TOTAL
2/11/23	Watt	592	48	16		656
2/11/23	Robinson	529	47	16		592
2/17/23	Watt	143	19	12	0	174
2/27/23	Watt	735	19	31	1	785
2/28/23	Robinson					350 (estimate)
3/6/23	Watt	693	32	30		755
3/13/23	Watt	625	7	20		652

Burrowing Owl Data Submitted to WDFW database: District 4 Wildlife Biologist Fidorra compiled and submitted eight years of study data from the Tri-Cities Burrowing Owl Project. This data is important to enter as it feeds the Priority Habitats and Species database which is used in land developers during project siting.

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Wenas Target Shooting Clean Up: Recreation Specialist Frame removed 520 pounds of trash from Sheep Company Road target shooting area and Sheep Company Road and Cottonwood Creek Area. Small campfires composed of trash are common in this area.

Cleaning up Private Lands Hunting Opportunity: Private Lands Biologist Hulett and Private Lands Technician Manderbach cleaned up a private lands access site that has been plagued with litter. In total 9,500 pounds of litter was collected and taken to the transfer station.

A pile of concrete — A large pile of concrete and blocks dumped on private lands hunting opportunity.

A cleared area after concrete was removed — After a large pile of concrete and blocks removed.

A trailer filled with rubble — First trailer load of litter.

A trailer filled with trash — Second trailer load totaling up to 9,500 pounds.

Grading Parking Lots: Natural Resource Tech Barbosa has started to grade smaller public access area in the Lower Valley.

Gravel Road — Zillah Bridge Public Access after grading.

Dumping: Natural Resource Tech Barbosa and Access Manager Garcia removed a large dump pile at Duportail public access. Officer Fulton discovered the trash while patrolling the area and informed Manager Garcia of the findings.

A dump truck ready to be loaded with a pile of trash

Photo by WDFW

Hazardous Tree: Access Manager Garcia removed a hazardous tree that was along the entrance to Teanaway Junction.

A before and after shot after a hazardous tree was removed — Removed hazardous tree Teanaway Junction.

Graffiti: Natural Resource Tech Barbosa painted out graffiti at Pond 6, unfortunately the site was tagged again the next day.

Two structures tagged with graffiti — Buena Pond graffiti removal.

There has been a lot of waterfowl activity at the Sunnyside Headquarters Unit. Snow geese, white-fronted geese, and swans have been foraging in the agriculture fields near headquarters.

Waterfowl foraging in a large corn field — Waterfowl foraging in the large corn field near the Sunnyside Headquarters.

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Rattlesnake Hills Elk: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand had contact with landowners on Rattlesnake Mountain concerning current weather conditions and access. Heavy amounts of drifting snow and cold temperatures at the end of February had some roads in the area closed. Elk are continuing to utilize low elevations areas near highway 240 on the Hanford National Monument.

Ringold Beaver Damage: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand met with an orchard owner in the Ringold area along the Columbia River that had sustained damage to several of his cherry trees from beavers. Multiple preventative strategies were discussed as well as contact information provided for hiring a licensed nuisance control operator.

New Damage Permit System: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand participated on the new damage permit testing team. The first iteration of the permit system had numerous functionality issues and has been scrapped. WDFW Information Technology Division will be working with an outside vendor to start development of a new damage permit development platform with hopes of having a workable solution by early fall 2023.

Kahlotus and Paterson Deer: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand continued to conduct deer hazing operations at multiple winter wheat fields in the GMU 381 and wine grape vineyards near Paterson. Current mild weather conditions have deer finding adequate forage in non-crop areas.

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Byron Unit: Assistant Manager Ferguson and Natural Resource Technician Wascisin continued beaver-proofing the culvert underneath an access road in the Byron Unit with additional cattle panels after retaliatory efforts from the resident beavers causing blockages. The panels are keeping the beavers away from the culvert now, but new dams have been created upstream and downstream of the road crossing.

Assistant Manager Furguseon unclogging a culvert — Assistant Manager Ferguson clearing out culvert.

Sunnyside Wood Duck Boxes: Natural Resource Technician Wascisin helped Richland Rod and Gun Club volunteers with yearly cleaning and repair of wood duck nest boxes at the Sunnyside and Byron units.

A picture of the Johnson Wetland with a wood duck box

Photo by WDFW

Sagebrush Planting: Habitat Specialist Miller and Recreation Specialist Frame began planting Sagebrush in the Wenas Wildlife Area. These plantings will help to supplement natural regeneration of sagebrush within the Wenas Wildlife Area. Sagebrush plugs will be planted throughout the Cow Canyon Fire, Cleman Mountain, and sites that burned in the Evans Canyon Fire.

Shrub-Steppe Restoration: Colockum Wildlife Area personnel used the Colockum landing craft to assist in hauling restoration equipment and supplies to an area burned by the 2022 Whiskey-Dick Wildfire. WDFW staff members used the boat to transport an all-terrain vehicle, seeder, harrow and native grass seed to be used for early spring seeding. Access roads to the area are still snowed in making vehicle access difficult.

A boat with bags of grass seed — Colockum Wildlife Area boat preparing to haul an all-terrain vehicle and native grass seed to restoration site.

A boat on a rocky shore with an ATV — Small spring-toothed all-terrain vehicle harrow delivered to remote site, Whiskey Dick Wildlife Area.

Colockum Forest Restoration: Work has paused on the Colockum Forest Health Project as we wait for the soft, muddy roads to firm up this spring. WDFW has temporarily closed the last mile of the Ingersoll Road to vehicles, posting signs and blocking the road with logs. Depending on the weather, the road should be back open around April 30.

A muddied road blocked with trees — Ingersoll Road on the Colockum Wildlife Area temporarily blocked.

Providing Education and Outreach

Assistant Manager Winegeart attended the Eastern Washington Riparian Symposium in Ellensburg. The training took place over two days and included a day of presentations and a half day of project site visits. Bottom line, your best chance for successful shrub and tree establishment with plants that like to have their roots in water is to plant deep enough that the roots are still in water during the dry season and beaver dam analogues, when properly engineered, can greatly improve riparian habitat, and help water reach higher elevation terraces that are part of the 100-year flood plain.

A riparian restoration area near Yakima River — A riparian restoration project along the Yakima River at Ringer Loop in Ellensburg.

Several people being toured along the Yakima River — A site tour of several restoration projects along the Yakima River was led by Kat Strathman, project coordinator and ecologist with Mid-Columbia Fisheries Enhancement Group. The tour discussed project details, successes and challenges and was well attended.

Working with Partners on Fire Prevention Strategies: Private Lands Biologist Hulett took part in Bureau of Land Management’s Lower Basin fire prevention meeting. Hulett shared his knowledge and current projects with the group to help combine efforts for fuel breaks on public and private ownership.

Conducting Business Operations and Policy

Sunnyside Maintenance: Assistant Manager Ferguson and Natural Resource Technician Wascisin have been conducting maintenance on the wildlife area heavy equipment, doing fluid changes, filter changes, and any necessary repairs before the spring planting season.

Assistant Manager Furguson changing oil on a vehicle — Assistant Manager Ferguson checking hydraulic oil level after refilling.

Other

Wenas T-Post Puller Fabrication and Construction: Assistant Manager Taylor, Habitat Specialist Miller, and Recreation Specialist Frame fabricated and assembled seven T-Post pullers for future fence removal projects. The pullers are constructed from square metal tubing and flat bar. Pullers were painted blaze orange for easy visibility. All fabrication and assembly took place in the Wenas shop.

L.T. Murray Hay Damage Issues: Assistant Manager Winegeart fed elk on a few occasions and took note of water damage on some grass and triticale mixed hay. This isn’t the first time the issue of professionally installed hay tarps having holes has surfaced. Hopefully the Joe Watt barn will get a hay shed soon and this will be a problem of the past.

Hay with water damage seeping through the stack — Hay showing clear signs of water damage from professionally installed tarps.

Read more about Biweekly report Mar1-15 2023 - Region 3 (South Central)

Biweekly report Feb16-28 2023 - Region 3 (South Central)

Year

2023

Dates

Feb16-28

Division/Region

Region 3 (South Central)

Report sections

Managing Wildlife Populations

Burrowing Owl Artificial Burrow Mitigation Project Preps for the Season: District 4 Wildlife Biologist Fidorra made visits to several artificial burrow sites to check and repair owl burrows for the upcoming spring. Two owls were seen onsite and likely have overwintered here, which is not unusual in Washington’s Columbia Basin. Fidorra hopes to visit and prepare all 70 burrows prior to mid-March.

L.T. Murray Elk Feeding: Cold weather and a bit of snow have brought elk back into the feed sites. Feeding at the Robinson site remains on the lower road since the main access road is still too icy to drive.

DATE	SITE	COW/CALF	BRANCHED BULL	SPIKE BULL	MORTALITY	TOTAL
2/11/23	Watt	592	48	16		656	Aerial count
2/11/23	Robinson	529	47	16		592	Aerial count
2/17/23	Watt	143	19	12	0	174	Feed site
2/27/23	Watt	735	19	31	1	785	Feed site
2/28/23	Robinson					350 (estimate)	Feed site

Two employees on truck bed with hay — Assistant District Biologist Wampole and Volunteer Zacavish assist with elk feeding on the L. T. Murray site

Forest Grouse Wingbee: Assistant District Wildlife Biologist Wampole met with other eastern region staff members in Spokane for the annual wingbee. Hunters are asked to contribute both a wing and tail feathers to “wing barrel” collection sites. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and tribal staff members met to classify species, sex, and age classes from the voluntary wing barrel contributions collected this past season. This data is used to establish a harvest record and provide information on forest grouse populations.

Monitoring Disease: Bacteriology and serology results for Bighorn Sheep captures conducted earlier in the year found no confirmed active infections of Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae (MOVI) in captured and tested bighorn sheep.

Natural Resource Technician Blore and Natural Resource Worker Schneider assisted Assistant District Biologist Wampole, Lands Operations Manager Bates, and Conflict Specialist Wetzel collect a lymph node sample from a euthanized elk at the Watt feed site for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) testing.

Conflict Specialist Wetzel observed the CWD gland removal process on an elk that died of an infection at the Joe Watt feed site.

An infected cow elk — Advanced infection in cow elk observed during lymph gland removal

Muckleshoot Deer Study: Biologist Bernatowicz investigated a radio collar deer mortality in the Yakima River Canyon. The cause of the mortality could not be determined as all soft tissue, the head, and three legs had been consumed/removed by scavengers. There has been an issue with a batch of collars either false reporting mortalities or not reporting. In this case, the collar was stationary, but the mortality sensor failed to report. Any deer mortality in relatively open typically gets consumed in about 48 hours.

Skeletal remains of a deer on the ground — Typical deer mortality that has been out a few days

Sunnyside Agricultural Lease Monitoring: Biologist Bernatowicz reviewed over 1400 pictures taken by trail cameras in the Snipes Reserve agricultural fields between Dec. 7 and Feb. 16. After deleting double photos and those that didn’t capture enough terrain (fog at night), approximately 600 pictures were used for monitoring. Waterfowl, mostly geese, use was only observed for short periods of time between Dec. 23 and Dec. 27. Use was not significant enough to create any nearby hunting opportunities. While reviewing photos, three unusual objects appeared off the end of one field in one photo. The unknown objects appear to be targets in a reserve closed to access.

Rifle targets out in the reserve — Rifle targets in the Snipes Reserve

Sunnyside Snake River Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Rodgers and Natural Resource Technician Manderbach have recently constructed a box style beaver deceiver that will be installed at the outflow of the 7 Acre Pond wetland within the Mesa Unit. As seen from the picture below, beaver activity has become frequent and has caused flooding. This outflow structure was cleared of debris two weeks prior to this photo. The new beaver deceiver will prevent the blockage from debris and will allow for the water to flow.

Debris blocking structure in water — Beaver debris at 7 Acre Pond wetland of the Mesa Unit

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Wenas Enforcement Coordination: Manager Hughes and Assistant Manager Taylor met with Sergeant Schroeder to go over priority areas of the Wenas Wildlife Area for patrolling. Hughes went over upcoming permits and larger group events that will take place on the wildlife area this spring including a long distance run off Lower Buffalo Road and a civil war reenactment. Hughes also provided an update about the Hoover acquisition and walk-in only access points, Durr Road target shooting area development, management of the Manastash Ridge Trails, and new signs that will be placed at the trail system. The Wenas Wildlife Area staff will continue to work on improving signage throughout the wildlife area at popular recreational sites where enforcement is patrolling and routinely responding to calls.

Wenas Target Shooting Clean Up: Recreation Specialist Frame removed multiple pick-up loads of trash from multiple spots within the wildlife area. Including Sheep Company designated target shooting area, Sheep Company Road, Roza Road, and North Durr Road.

Wenas Clearing Downed Trees: Assistant Manager Taylor and Habitat Specialist Miller removed windblown trees from elk fence. This ensures that the integrity of the fence is not compromised. Elk fence is essential to keeping wintering elk populations from potentially damaging adjacent private property. Assistant Manager Taylor and Habitat Specialist Miller also removed multiple windblown trees in and along Black Canyon Road. This helps to ensure that access is maintained to this site.

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Rattlesnake Hills Elk: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand met with wheat growers on Rattlesnake Mountain to discuss field conditions, elk activity, and coordinate hazing and damage permit hunting. All elk activity and observations are on the Hanford National Monument currently.

Silver Dollar and Blackrock Cattle Calving: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand met with three large livestock producers to discuss coyote related depredations during their calving operations. Although the coyote population appears to be strong in the area, local hunters and assistance from U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services have removed several coyotes, so losses have been minimal. Most producers are reporting that they are about 75% completed with calving for the year.

Yakima and Kittitas Counties: Conflict Specialist Wetzel and Technician Leuck worked with several hay growers who were having problems with elk in crops.

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Monitoring Proposed Construction Sites: District 4 Wildlife Biologist Fidorra made visits to some natural lots proposed for construction in Richland with Habitat Program staff members. Some shrubsteppe habitat remains on the site. A lot of jackrabbit signs and a black-tailed jackrabbit were seen during the visit! WDFW staff members will work with the city and developers to identify avoidance and mitigation options.

Standardizing Best Management Practices for Nesting Season Avoidance: District 4 Wildlife Biologist Fidorra worked with Habitat Program to draft tables to simplify construction buffers and nesting season windows for birds in the Columbia Basin portions of Region 3. More work is needed before finalizing the product to simplify and provide consistency in guidance for development projects in the region.

L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Fences: Natural Resource Technician Blore and Natural Resource Worker Schneider built metal gate brace points for corrals, jack knife, and pump house locations. They will replace wood brace points which burned in the 2023 Vantage Highway Fire. Natural Resource Worker Hamlin and Schneider continue to fix and rebuild fences in Parke Creek. These fences are part of the area's grazing pastures.

Providing Education and Outreach

Assistant Manager Winegeart worked the WDFW booth at the Sportsmen Show in Yakima. The booth was set up well and received much positive feedback from the public.

Sportsman show in Yakima — 2023 Sportsmen Show in Yakima

Other

Deceased goat with neck exposed — Necropsy of goat killed by unknown predator in Selah area

Damaged irrigation pipe — Elk damage to gated irrigation pipe in the Park Creek area

Deceased elk caught in a fence — Elk that was caught in stock fence and died in the Park Creek area

A repaired segment of fence — Fence repaired in breakaway segment near Tampico

Read more about Biweekly report Feb16-28 2023 - Region 3 (South Central)

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