Managing Wildlife Populations

Midwinter Aerial Seabird Surveys: Regional and Waterfowl Section biologists took to the skies to continue the long-term monitoring effort to document the abundance, trends and distribution of marine birds and mammals in the Puget Sound and Strait of Juan de Fuca. The team completed all surveys by the end of January, which is no small feat considering the amount and length of survey transects (blue and red lines in map below). Check out the survey data!

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

Port of Seattle Terminal 91: Biologist Anderson met with Port of Seattle and King County environmental staff members regarding the need to remove a creosote piling in the Terminal 91 area. They discussed the effects to the purple martin colony at the site. This project is part of a larger revisioning and redevelopment of that area.

The Port is examining alternative, steel piling sites in Elliott Bay, Duwamish Waterway, and on site at Lake Jacobs, between and just north of Terminal 91 and Terminal 90. These alternative sites seem, initially, to be good alternatives. If they are used, they would provide for similar alternate purple martin nest site opportunities for the greater Elliott Bay population of this state species of greatest conservation need. The local martin population along the Seattle waterfront has the largest concentration of martins in King County.

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Photo by Elaine Chuang

West/East of Cascade Crest Bobcat Study: Biologist Smith assisted Scientist Kertson with ongoing bobcat trapping in District 12.

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Photo by WDFW

 Trumpeter Swan Project: Biologist Smith assisted in captures of swans related to a new forage and spatial use study.

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Photo by WDFW

Conducting Business Operations and Policy

Northern Spotted Owl, South Fork Tolt Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Relicensing, Bat Box, Secretive Wetland Birds: Biologist Anderson participated in ongoing meetings regarding internal and external working groups, which all kicked-off in the new year. Looking forward to contributing and helping with working group needs and decisions.

Managing Wildlife Populations

Midwinter Aerial Seabird Surveys: Regional and Waterfowl Section biologists took to the skies to continue the long-term monitoring effort to document the abundance, trends, and distribution of marine birds and mammals in the Puget Sound and Strait of Juan de Fuca. The team has made good use of the weather and are on track to complete surveys by the end of January. Check out the survey data!

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Photo by WDFW

Managing Wildlife Populations

Ebey Slough White-nose Syndrome Monitoring Update: District 13 Biologists completed the installation of a solar powered PIT (Passive Integrated Transponder) tag reader at a maternity bat roost in Snohomish County. This equipment will help document survivorship, colony size, and colony phenology to assess efficacy of a vaccine trial to treat bats for white-nose syndrome.

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

Avian Influenza Mortality Event at Lake Tye: District 13 Biologists responded to an avian mortality event at Lake Tye in Monroe, predominantly impacting cackling geese. A total of approximately 80 sick and dead cackling geese have been collected to date. Washington State Department of Wildlife (WDFW) Wildlife Program staff members collaborated with many partners including WDFW Enforcement Program, Snohomish County Parks and Recreation, WDFW Communications and Public Engagement (CAPE), and Smith-Root Inc. to collect and sample carcasses, post informational signage, conduct public outreach, and test novel methods for avian influenza detection. Biologist Licence provided multiple media interviews on the event.

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Photo by WDFW

Winter Forage Ecology of Trumpeter Swans Field Project: Region 4 staff members are assisting the Waterfowl Section staff members and Graduate Student Romero in a telemetry project in the Skagit and Stillaguamish river deltas that will provide valuable insight into swan foraging, ecology, and management. Capture operations will extend into December.

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Annual Game Management Unit 485 Green River Watershed Special Permit Hunts: District 12 staff members worked the annual weeklong hunts in the Green River Watershed. A huge thanks to Tacoma Water for coordinating and hosting these special hunts. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) would also like to thank the Muckleshoot Indian Nation for their annual collaboration and planning to provide for both the annual citizen and tribal special hunts in October and November each year.

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Photo by WDFW

Conducting Business Operations and Policy

Park Use Conflicts with Wildlife – Seattle: Biologist Anderson met with City of Seattle staff members and a WDFW habitat biologist regarding proposed changes to the use of a Seattle park. The city plans to convert an open area that is currently staging trucks and other heavy equipment to a pickleball court. Originally, they planned for the area to be used for tennis courts. Seattle is currently weighing comments and concerns of the public and non-government agencies regarding the potential impacts to wildlife.

Bats and Bridges – Washington State Department of Transportaion (WSDOT): Biologist Anderson, WDFW Bat Specialist Tobin, and members of WSDOT Environment Group met to discuss partnerships that will provide for bats on transportation infrastructure. Many good thoughts and some pilot efforts were discussed. The hope is for the two agencies to partner on more projects in western Washington. The partnership between the agencies will support the conservation needs of bats while obtaining broader data on bat occurrence, type of use, and their overall activity patterns.

Providing Education and Outreach

Burke Museum Public Coyote Necropsy: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) District 12 Veterinarian Haman and members of the Prugh Lab at University of Washington conducted a training necropsy on a young, but independent, coyote that was found randomly deceased in a backyard in Seattle. The animal had been in good shape and in gross exam it appeared it had just started to decline recently – perhaps having a respiratory infection. They sent out the tests for analysis.

This was not only a great opportunity for the group of biologists to learn from Dr. Haman, but it was also an opportunity for the public to see WDFW staff members at work. Several school field trip groups dropped by the large pane window of the new, public viewing lab in the museum. It provided great outreach and it was a good opportunity for the public to see lab efforts related to wildlife biology and management. Thanks again to the Prugh Lab and Dr. Haman!

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Photo by WDFW

Managing Wildlife Populations

Fisher Camera Efforts: District staff members, conflict staff members, other internal staff members, collaborating partners, and tribes have all been involved with setting up various camera scent stations over the month of October. They hope to catch a glimpse of a state endangered fisher, a weasel that was extirpated (gone) from Washington until recent efforts to release individuals into the wilds of the state. 

Managing Wildlife Populations

Probiotic Bat Capture in Darrington: Biologist Licence participated in a second round of captures at a Yuma myotis and big brown bat roost in Darrington. These captures are associate with a white-nose syndrome research project aimed at determining the efficacy of a probiotic treatment (among other things) to this devastating disease.

 

Red Fox Trapping on San Juan Island: Biologist Licence co-lead a capture effort with Wildlife Veterinarian Dr. Haman targeting red foxes on San Juan Island. This project was initiated to conduct a baseline health assessment of the San Juan foxes for comparison to the endangered Cascade red fox population. Additionally, this provided an opportunity to optimize an immobilization drug dosing protocol and provided experience for a University of Washington PhD student currently planning a research project to conduct similar work on Cascade red fox. Outwitting a fox proved to be as challenging as one may guess! However, the team did not leave empty handed, and gained some valuable information and relationships. Many thanks to the participants that made this effort possible.

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

Bat Recon on Whidbey Island: Biologist Licence met with a north Whidbey Island landowner and Washington State Parks biologist to survey a bat roost in their attic and provide recommendations for supporting the local bats in this urban landscape. The visit generated great ideas and goodwill that appears to be formulating into a volunteer project with numerous roosting sites and bat boxes installed throughout the area.

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Photo by WDFW

Non-native Species Management: Biologist Licence collected multiple individuals of non-native species for documentation, sampling, and removal from the environment. A unique example is the detection of an eastern United States species, Bombus impatiens (common eastern bumble bee), at a nursery and greenhouse near La Conner. This is the first it has been detected between Bellingham and Seattle, and it has started to invade into Washington from Canada because of Canadian efforts to import this species to support crop production. Similarly, a snapping turtle was found in Oak Harbor on Whidbey Island, it was removed with the help of a local veterinarian and swabbed for Emydomyces testavorans, a turtle shell disease fungus.

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

Providing Education and Outreach

Ebey Island Pheasant Release: Wildlife Area Manager Boehm meets and greets early morning hunters during the pheasant season opener at Ebey Island. A fog-free morning set the stage for a great day of hunting. Manager Boehm answered questions, explained safety factors, and greeted new and returning hunters to the start of another season. The parking area was full and busy throughout the day.

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Photo by WDFW

Managing Wildlife Populations

Mariposa Copper Survey: Biologists Anderson and Combs surveyed for mariposa copper butterflies in The Cascade Range. A study is underway looking at different populations and genetics of the mariposa/Makah copper complex. WDFW is partnering with Xerces and academic partners to examine this for Species of Greatest Conservation Needs and consideration in relation to the State Wildlife Action Plan. More can be found here.

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

Bumble Bee Survey: Biologist Anderson surveyed for bumble bees at high elevation sites as part of the collaboration of WDFW and Xerces Society. The surveys are part of the Pacific Northwest Bumble Bee Atlas.

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Photo by WDFW

Probiotic Bat Capture in Darrington: Biologist Licence participated in a second round of captures at a Yuma myotis and big brown bat roost in Darrington. These captures are associated with a white-nose syndrome research project aimed at determining the efficacy of a probiotic treatment (among other things) to this devastating disease.

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Photo by WDFW

Biologist Licence co-lead a capture effort with Wildlife Veterinarian Dr. Haman targeting red foxes on San Juan Island. This project was initiated to conduct a baseline health assessment of the San Juan foxes for comparison to the endangered Cascade red fox population. Additionally, this provided an opportunity to optimize an immobilization drug dosing protocol and provided experience for a University of Washington PhD student currently planning a research project to conduct similar work on Cascade red fox. Outwitting a fox proved to be as challenging as one may guess, but the team did not leave empty handed and gained some valuable information and relationships. Many thanks to the participants that made this effort possible.

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

Bat Recon on Whidbey Island: Biologist Licence met with a north Whidbey Island landowner and Washington State Parks biologist to survey a bat roost in their attic and provide recommendations for supporting the local bats in this urban landscape. The visit generated great ideas and good will that appears to be formulating into a volunteer project with numerous roosting sites and bat boxes installed throughout the area.

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Photo by WDFW

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Access Meeting for GMU 418 Elk Hunters: Private Lands Biologist Wingard and District Wildlife Biologist Waddell hosted a meeting for archery and muzzleloader hunters who successfully drew a Quality Bull special permit in Game Management Unit (GMU) 418. For several years, Sierra Pacific Industries (SPI) has partnered with WDFW to allow free motorized access to specific areas on SPI lands for GMU 418 elk hunters. Hunters attending the meeting were provided with details about the North Cascades elk herd, access rules, and a key to unlock specific SPI gates during their hunt. The Department is grateful to Sierra Pacific Industries for this partnership and the tremendous access opportunity they provide to our special permit elk hunters.

Providing Education and Outreach

Biologist Licence coordinated with community members of the City of Langley to provide brochures on the harms of feeding wildlife. Brochures will be mailed to the community with monthly utility bills and will aid in discussions to investigate implementation of a local ordinance against feeding wildlife in the city.

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Photo by WDFW

Managing Wildlife Populations

Band-tailed Pigeon Surveys: Region 4 biologists conducted annual band-tailed pigeon surveys at select mineral sites from July 10 to July 20. These surveys are essential and influence the annual season and bag-limit frameworks for band-tailed pigeons.

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

North American Bat Monitoring Program Detector Deployments: Region 4 Wildlife staff members deployed overnight bat detectors at multiple sites throughout the region as a part of the North American Bat Monitoring Program. This is an ongoing continent-wide effort to monitor bat distribution and population trends.

White Nose Syndrome Treatment of Bat Maternity Colony: District 13 Wildlife Biologist Licence collaborated with the Diversity division, U. S. Geological Survey researchers, Snohomish County Public Works staff members, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologists, private landowners, and volunteers to capture, measure, mark, and provide an oral white nose syndrome (WNS) vaccine to a mixed colony (predominantly Yuma Myotis) of bats in the Everett area. Over 100 bats were captured and treated and will be monitored by a solar powered pit tag reader system installed on the roost site to help determine efficacy of the treatment.

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

Lopez Island Bat Reconnaissance: District 13 Biologist Licence, joined by a Samish Indian Nation biologist, and a local non-profit research organization (KWIAHT) investigated bat roosts reported by partners and the public on Lopez Island. Information on bats on Lopez Island is limited and filling in these knowledge gaps are a priority for the district. Three new roosts for Townsend’s big-eared bats, big brown bats, and myotis species were documented on this visit. Additionally, guano was collected for myotis species identification.

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

 Bumble Bee Surveys in Snohomish County: District 13, with the help of Diversity staff members, completed two-point count surveys and two habitat surveys at Goat Flats on Three Fingers Mountain. These surveys are associated with Pacific Northwest Bumblebee Atlas and are an effort to monitor bumble bee distribution, population trends, and important pollinator habitat associations.

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

Mountain Goat Surveys: Districts 13 and 14 wildlife biologists conducted mountain goat surveys in the Darrington and Mt. Baker areas. These surveys are typically flown annually to derive population estimates and assist with management by WDFW and tribal co-managers.

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Photo by WDFW

 Fisher Surveys in King County: District 12, with the help of partners, took down cameras from monitoring stations targeting fishers. Learn more about WDFW efforts with fisher here.

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

Common Loon Management Efforts: District 12 put up new outreach signage developed with Communications and Public Engagement (CAPE) staff members and printed by partners at Campbell Global Timber Company.

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Photo by WDFW

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Fall Bear Hunt Opportunities: The Region 4 Private Lands Access Program team prepared a site in Whatcom County for public access during the month of August and early September for behind the gate vehicle access for bear hunters. This private timber land access opportunity relies on good behavior and rule compliance from the public. This bear hunting opportunity is accessed through the Hunt by Reservation system on WDFW’s website.

Summer Mowing: The Region 4 Private Lands Access Program team mowed several sites to reduce the prevalence of reed canary grass and make portions of properties better for waterfowl and waterfowl hunting.

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Photo by WDFW

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Assisting Deer in Distress: Local Conflict Specialist Seitz, Law Enforcement Officer Andrus, and Wildlife Biologist Moore responded to a report of a male deer in distress in Whatcom County. The buck’s antlers were entangled in heavy duty polyester garden netting which was limiting his ability to forage and move about naturally. The team immobilized the deer and removed the netting. Reports of the deer looking much happier have already been received from several residents.

Conducting Business Operations and Policy

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Photo by WDFW

Managing Wildlife Populations

White Nose Syndrome Probiotic Bat Captures: District 13 Wildlife Biologist Licence, Diversity Program staff members, US Fish and Wildlife Services (USFWS) biologists, and WDFW Wildlife Veterinarian Dr. Haman gathered at an annual study site in the Darrington area to capture and sample a maternity colony of Yuma myotis. Although captures were relatively low on the first capture night, team spirits were high, and the bats appeared healthy. This research effort is a novel approach to utilizing naturally occurring bacteria to reduce impact of the causative agent of White Nose Syndrome (WNS). One more capture event is planned for later this summer.

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Photo by WDFW

Island Marble Butterfly (Euchloe ausonides insulanus) Monitoring: Wildlife Biologist Licence, Diversity Program staff, and numerous other partners wrapped up a productive field season of island marble butterfly (IMB) and host plant habitat monitoring. With a significant reduction of host plant habitat in a core occurrence area for IMB this year, it has been a busy year for dispersal which has resulted in IMB occupancy at two new Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances (CCAA) properties! WDFW and USFWS staff members piloted numerous new tools for habitat monitoring including a Rapid Habitat Assessment protocol and drone surveys.

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

Sand Verbena Moth (Copablepharon fuscum) Surveys: Opportunistic and targeted surveys for species of Greatest Conservation Need, sand verbena moths, on San Juan Island were successful this year with numerous moths captured and documented. District 13 Biologist Licence, Diversity Program staff members, and partners captured moths via net and ultraviolet moth traps. These surveys help document and inform our understanding of species distribution for an understudied and charismatic invertebrate.

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by Photo by C. Caldwell.

Propertius Duskywing (Erynnis propertius) Surveys on Orcas Island: Diversity staff members, District Wildlife Biologist Licence, and Lummi Nation biologists conducted a second round of propertius duskywing surveys associated with a Competitive State Wildlife Grant on Turtleback Mountain of Orcas Island. These “pre-treatment” surveys will provide a baseline indicator of duskywing presence prior to habitat improvement treatments to species host plant, Gary oaks. Once habitat improvements are completed, “post-treatment” surveys will be conducted to monitor any changes in the local duskywing population.  

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

Blue Mountain Elk Calf Captures: District 13 Biologist Licence traveled across the state to join the top-notch capture team of the Dayton Game Management Unit (GMU) 162 to wrangle, collar, and collect data on numerous elk calves. One of the primary objectives of the study is to monitor survival and determine mortality causes of calves of the Blue Mountain elk herd.

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Photo by Photo by E. Moberg.

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Photo by WDFW

Managing Wildlife Populations

Sooty Grouse Surveys: Region 4 district wildlife biologists completed the first year of surveys for sooty grouse using a protocol developed by Oregon State University and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Biologists will conduct listening surveys for male sooty grouse along predetermined routes each year from April into May. By listening for the distinctive calls of male sooty grouse, biologists can assess trends in abundance of grouse over time.

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Photo by WDFW

Protected State Wildlife -Peregrine Falcon Climbing Closure in King County: District 12 Biologists Anderson and Smith spent some survey time in the field with volunteers from Urban Raptor Conservancy (URC). A very dedicated member of the URC has been keeping weekly tabs on a very popular King County climbing wall to monitor age and stage of young peregrine falcons. The four eyasses (chicks) should be fledging in the next two weeks. We thank the URC for their extra eyes and survey efforts as it really assists in providing a detailed tab on this and other falcon sites that are under pressure in King County. Appreciation also is extended to the broader climbing community, Washington Climber’s Coalition, State Parks, US Forest Service, and others for support and collaboration in nesting management efforts.

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Photo by WDFW

Washington Bat Working Group: There is a new working group that is a subcommittee of the Washington Bat Working Group. They will be examining bat box designs, efforts, outreach, research, and all things related to bat boxes. Biologist Anderson participated in the inaugural meeting.

Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT)-Habitat-Wildlife Program Culvert Replacement – Wildlife Considerations: District 12 Biologist Anderson and Waterfowl Biologist Hamer met with WDFW Habitat and WSDOT environmental leads regarding a project in the Grotto area of King County. At this site harlequin ducks, a species of greatest conservation need (SGCN) as outlined in the State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP), had a history of breeding season loafing and nesting at the site. The project and site were discussed specifically and visited. Due diligence surveys were conducted by the Habitat Program and WSDOT worked on implementation of the culvert replacement. The highlight was discussing consideration of harlequins and other SGCN in relation to other culvert/alteration of waterway projects, such as culvert replacement efforts, moving forward.

Providing Recreation Opportunities

The Region 4 Private Lands Access Program has spent several days this month partnering with Sierra Pacific Industries to remove dumped garbage from properties. Sierra Pacific Industries provides extensive recreational access to general public and additional access for special permit hunters and hunters who access their property through the Hunt by Reservation System. Garbage cleanups are a way to reduce the challenges that come with public access and encourage private timber companies to continue to allow public access. Some of these cleanups can be done by hand, but other require extensive planning and equipment.

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

The Region 4 Private Lands Access Program (PLAP) team recently finished planting the Bayview-Edison north and south hunt sites. PLAP has contracted with the landowner to lease 80 acres for waterfowl forage. This property was planted in pasture grass last fall. Over the winter, the sheet water built up and flooded out several zones and waterfowl foraged heavily on the growing grass. This spring in the flooded-out zones, the PLAP team prepared the ground and planted a mix of forage crops for wintering waterfowl that will increase the diversity of food resources on this property and provide more forage for waterfowl. The property is managed for hunting access as well. Washington Migratory Bird Stamp funds were used for this project.

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Restoration Project Coordinator Desmul and Environmental Planner Ballhorn with the Habitat Program spent a sunny morning on Spencer Island in the Snoqualmie Wildlife Area downloading level logger data to measure water temperature, depth, and salinity. The data will be used to help plan a restoration project on site.

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Photo by WDFW

Providing Education and Outreach

Restoration Project Coordinator Desmul and Assistant Regional Wildlife Program Manager Brokaw led two tours of Leque Island in the Skagit Wildlife Area, one for the community group Sound Water Stewards from Island County and one for the Habitat Strategic Initiative.

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Snoqualmie Wildlife Area Truck Bay Construction: Wildlife Area Manager Boehm reported that the rebuilding of the truck bay for the Cherry Valley pheasant pen facility has been completed. The non-closing doors, sagging, miss-matched lumber, rotting posts, and countless “band-aid” fixes of the original truck bay required a complete rebuild. Boehm was contacted by Master Hunters Darin and Jon, a father-son team, that needed a project. After discussing timeframe, skills, and project requirements, the project was placed in their hands.

After producing a detailed design, the construction team demolished the old structure except for some original good posts. They completed the foundation, framing, wire wrap, groundwork, and door alignments over three weekends in April. After over 80 combined hours, they produced a new truck bay standing on the original footprint. This project reinforces the great work the Master Hunter volunteers provide, while supporting the goals of the Department of Fish and Wildlife. We hope this truck bay will last for many decades to come.

       

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW