Sea duck, Marine Bird Surveys: Biologist Murphie participated in the annual Puget Sound Ecosystem Monitoring Program winter marine bird and mammal survey effort, as a primary observer. These surveys have been conducted since 1992 and sample the inland marine waters of Washington. Biologist Murphie has participated in this effort since 1995. Observers identify and count all birds and marine mammals seen within a fifty-meter strip on either side of the survey aircraft. The current survey track line extends about 4,000 miles. So far, the crew has completed about 65% of the effort. The figure below shows the track lines covered so far (blue lines) and the track lines remaining (red lines), as of Jan. 4.
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Photo by WDFWSurvey track lines. Blue is completed and red is planned.
Grouse Wing and Tail Collection Barrels: Biologist Murphie placed grouse wing collection barrels at two locations in District 15 prior to the grouse season opener in September. They are located at Simpson Mill 5 near Matlock and at the George Adams Hatchery north of Shelton. Twenty-four samples have been collected this season, but none in recent weeks.
Goose Surveys: Biologist Cent and Novack conducted their bi-monthly surveys of dusky Canada goose across Grays Harbor and Pacific counties.
Swan Surveys: Biologist Cent conducted District 17’s annual tundra and trumpeter swan count, where she counted a total of 52 swans. This count is low, and Biologist Cent plans to survey a second time to confirm these numbers. Sometimes the swans are simply in a location that we are unaware of or do not have access to.
Brant Survey: Biologist Novack and Cent, along with Waterfowl Section Manager Spragens, conducted the annual survey of Brant at Willapa Bay. Just shy of 3,000 Brant were seen, which is well in line with prior years. Brant have been surveyed on an annual basis at Willapa Bay since 1959.
Providing Recreation Opportunities
Treponeme-associated Hoof Disease Permit Hunters: Biologist Novack has checked the hooves from various Master Hunter permittees and issued renewal letters for those submitting abnormal hooves. The renewal letters allow the Master Hunter to use their unused general season tag to try and harvest a 2nd treponeme-associated hoof disease infected elk.
Conserving Natural Landscapes
Morse Creek Cleanup: Wildlife Area Manager Laushman and Officer Lasko cleaned up an illegal campsite and debris located in the Morse Creek Unit.
Protection Island Visit: Technician Norris and Wildlife Area Manager Laushman visited the Zella Schultz Unit on Protection Island to assess recent work on invasive species and transplanted dune grasses.
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Photo by WDFWArea treated for invasive weeds on Protection Island.
Scatter Creek Wildlife Area: Biologist Kronland, Scatter Creek Wildlife Area staff members, Washington Conservation Corps crews, and Ecostudies partners have been able to treat non-native vegetation and seed and plant plugs on all five units burned this summer on the West Rocky and Scatter Creek units of the wildlife area, setting-us up for a fantastic spring show of prairie blooms.
We have also been able to take advantage of fantastic fire effects from the previous burn season and sow additional seed into units burned in 2022. The efforts have gone far in enhancing habitat for federally listed Taylor’s checkerspot butterfly, Mazama pocket gopher, and all the other critters and plants that call the prairie and oak lands of the Scatter Creek Wildlife Area home, which we guess now includes bluegill.
Seemingly random flash flood events have been inundating the mima mounds on some of our post-prescribed fire restoration sites, leaving behind piles of fresh water pan fish and the lingering question of where they came from. So, find your bobbers, get some red worms, and come out to Scatter Creek to catch yourself a mess of prairie bluegill! But be quick, because the surface water doesn’t flow for long and you may need to rake them up instead.
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Photo by WDFWScatter Creek Wildlife Area. Flooding in mina mounds; “Prairie Bluegill”.
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Photo by WDFWScatter Creek Wildlife Area. Flooding in mina mounds; “Prairie Bluegill”.
Providing Education and Outreach
General Wildlife Inquiries: Biologist Murphie responded to inquiries received by phone and email related to elk, deer, and duck hunting, grouse hunting, an osprey nest removal request, a sick Canada goose, fencing, and eastern gray squirrel.
Other
Snow Creek Site Visit: Wildlife Area Manager Laushman and Technician Stoneburner attended a group field tour led by the North Olympic Salmon Coalition and Jefferson Land Trust to learn about a recent restoration project on Snow Creek just upstream of the Discovery Bay Unit. The project increased stream complexity and reduced erosion and sediment loads in the creek, which will improve salmon habitat throughout the system.
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Photo by WDFWObserving engineered log jams on Snow Creek, adjacent to the Discovery Bay Unit of the North Olympic Wildlife Area.
Streaked Horned Lark Working Group: Biologists Tirhi and Butler represented Region 6 at the annual working group meeting hosted by the Portland Airport. The agenda included presentations on research results including habitat enhancement and lark reintroduction, updates to the federal listings and federal recovery plans, updates from both Oregon and Washington wildlife departments regarding ongoing and planned lark work, an overview of the survey results from Oregon and Washington 2022-2023 (including on airfields), data management needs, and more.
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife thanks Portland Airport for being such an excellent host and partner on lark recovery.
Mima Creek Unit, Oregon Spotted Frog and Waterfowl Grant Funding: In November, Biologist Tirhi gave a grant request presentation to the Aquatic Species Restoration Plan (ASRP) Regional Implementation Team review board. The grant presentation was for Phase 2 of the Mima Creek Unit of the Scatter Creek Wildlife Area Oregon spotted frog/fisheries project. Phase 2 requests $122,427 towards design completion, permitting, and cultural review for the construction of two ponds, hydrologic connector to deep water Mima Creek tributary, manual gate pond water control installation, and the installation of several beaver dam analogs into Mima Creek. After receiving a unanimous thumbs up by the review board, Tirhi completed and submitted the next step of the grant request.
Biologists Tirhi and Novak met with Ducks Unlimited staff members to discuss the early stages of project implementation after being notified that the $1.3M Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife and Ducks Unlimited (DU) North American Wetland Conservation Act (NAWCA) grant was awarded. Mima Creek will receive $310,000 from the NAWCA grant to enhanced wetlands for waterfowl and other species.
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Photo by WDFWMima Creek Unit of the Scatter Creek Wildlife Area concept plan including proposed ASRP and NAWCA funded enhancement areas.
Western Pond Turtle: Biologists Butler and Tirhi represented Region 6 at the annual internal pond turtle planning meeting which was also attended by Region 5 and headquarters staff members. This is the annual opportunity for those Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife biologists responsible for management of the eight pond turtle recovery sites to discuss and plan the past and upcoming turtle seasons and turtle recovery. The team presented their 2023 survey results and data collection including radio tagged breeding females and nesting results. They also discussed and planned research needs including disease response (USD), husbandry, and grant opportunities. This annual internal meeting is always followed at a future date with the larger partnership that includes Woodland Park Zoo, Oregon Zoo, PAWS, Sustainability in Prisons Project, and others.
Barred Owl and Common Loon: Biologist Tirhi represented District 11 by attending the internal discussion on barred owl removal project Barred Owl Management | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (fws.gov) and the internal planning discussion for common loon surveys and needs.
Providing Recreation Opportunities
Chimacum Unit Gate: Capital Asset Management Program (CAMP) staff members installed a gate at the Chimacum Unit in the North Olympic Wildlife Area to help allow emergency vehicles and vegetation maintenance equipment into the unit.
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Photo by WDFWA new gate at Irondale Beach of the Chimacum Unit.
Johns River Kiosk Repair: Assistant Manager Gallegos, Technicians Magliaro and Martinez, and staff members at the Olympic-Willapa Hills Wildlife Area recently refurbished the kiosk at the Johns River Unit and water access area. Infrastructure such as wooden kiosks weather quickly in coastal areas and are often subject to deterioration of the lumber, moss and mold growth, loss of shingles, in addition to normal wear and tear.
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Photo by WDFWJohns River kiosk repair work in progress.
Conserving Natural Landscapes
Interstate 5 (I-5) Connectivity Project: Biologist Tirhi represents Region 6 on the technical team for this project. She participated in the Connectivity Technical Team field trip to visit and discuss the various I-5 crossing locations that have been proposed. The team saw wildlife camera data from cameras positioned at the proposed locations showing big wildlife (bears, cougar) and small wildlife (bobcat, coyote, birds) attempting to cross or interested in crossing the interstate. Tirhi was surprised by how close the wildlife got to I-5 before deciding not to cross.
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Photo by WDFWInterstate 5 Connectivity Project technical team visiting proposed I-5 crossing location near Scatter Creek, Thurston County. Project engineer explaining crossing options and constraints.
Conducting Business Operations and Policy
Personnel Development Plan: Biologist Tirhi met with Biologist Butler to complete her annual evaluation and expectations review for 2023-2024. This was a time to review the excellent work Biologist Butler provides to the agency and highlight expected work for this next season. The wildlife of District 11 is better off due to the hard work of biologists like Biologist Butler.
Kitsap Lake, Kitsap County: The water access team removed a hazard tree at Kitsap Lake. This tree was broken roughly 30 feet up and was leaning over the back of the restroom towards the parking area. The access team was able to attach a cable to a truck and shake the lower portion of the tree subsequently forcing the upper part to fall in a controlled manner.
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Photo by WDFW
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Photo by WDFWHazardous tree at Kitsap Lake.
Morely Access, Grays Harbor: Access staff members dealt with a slew of littering issues including dumping of tires, construction debris, and abandoned vehicles. Shown below is a full trailer of 46 car and semi-truck tires dumped at the Morely Access Area on the Humptulips River. The cost for recycling commercial size tires is significantly more than passenger vehicle tires. This one trailer load cost over $350 to recycle.
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Photo by WDFW
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Photo by WDFWMorely Access on the Humptulips River.
Boston Harbor, Thurston County: Access staff members removed a dead madrone tree at the Boston Harbor ramp project. The project is nearing completion and includes a new boat ramp, restrooms, and parking area. Access staff members limbed and chipped most of the debris into the nearby planting strip. They left a ten-foot section that will remain as a post for the bat boxes that will be installed later this year.
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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 WDFWDead tree removal at Boston Harbor ramp.
Conducting Business Operations and Policy
McNeil Island Site Visit: Biologist Laushman, Wildlife Program staff members, and Lands Division staff members visited restoration areas on McNeil Island to look at previous work done and to discuss upcoming projects.
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Photo by WDFWWashington Department of Fish and Wildlife staff members visiting the Milewa Creek Estuary on McNeil Island.
Grouse Wing/Tail Collection Barrels: Biologist Murphie has collected 24 samples from the Mill 5 and George Adams barrels deposited by hunters since the grouse season opened on Sept. 15. Biologist Cent also continues to collect wing and tail samples collected by grouse hunters.
Sooty Grouse Survey Routes: In preparation for the next sooty grouse survey season, Biologist Murphie established survey routes in (Game Management Units) GMUs 621, 636, and 651. Biologist Cent also finalized routes for the upcoming sooty grouse surveys.
Elk Season Opener: Biologist Novack worked the modern firearm elk season opener in GMU 672. Morning weather was abysmal with high winds and hard rain. There were no harvests reported nor seen by those contacted.
Westside Deer and Elk Management: Biologists Butler and Tirhi met with other biologists, managers, and research staff members involved with managing westside deer and elk populations. This coordination meeting began with a discussion covering current management and monitoring methods for black-tailed deer and the western Washington elk herds. The meeting’s goal was to discuss current and future monitoring priorities and begin to strategize monitoring and management needs relative to cost for western Washington black-tailed deer and elk herds. Additional meetings will follow.
Dusky Canada Goose Surveys: Biologist Cent and Novack conducted dusky goose surveys. Limited numbers of dusky Canada geese were seen.
Presumed Avian Influenza in Geese: Biologist Cent visited a property near Elma and observed about 100 dead and dying cacklers. Additional reports of dead and dying cacklers were reported within a few miles of this location.
Game Management Plan and Three-Year Season Setting: Biologist Murphie has participated in several meetings and discussions related to Game Management Plan (GMU) revisions and three-year season setting work.
Mazama Pocket Gopher: Biologists Butler, Tirhi, Cent, and Rolls, other Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) staff members, and trained volunteers finished the 2023 Mazama pocket gopher survey effort this past week. The Mazama pocket gopher was listed as state threatened and the sub-species within Pierce and Thurston counties were listed as federally threatened with loss of habitat being a main driver of its decline.
This year’s survey efforts focused on measuring the abundance of gophers at known locations using a relatively new survey method. This method involved biologists collecting the locations of all fresh mounds along set transects, which a model then uses to estimate gopher abundance. The field data collected this year is awaiting analysis. Biologist Murphie also participated in a pocket gopher survey training activity.
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Photo by WDFWExample of Mazama pocket gopher survey results at Olympia Airport in 2023.
Fisher Study: Biologists Butler and Tirhi assisted District 13 staff members deploying a fisher scent station in Snohomish County this past week. Fishers are a member of the weasel family native to Washington’s forests. Due to over-trapping and habitat loss, fisher populations declined, and the species was listed as endangered by Washington State in 1998. In response, a fisher reintroduction project was established across the Olympic Peninsula and then the Cascade Mountain Range which released 279 fishers from Canada into Washington from 2008 to 2021. This year fisher scent stations were set up across the northern Cascades to monitor the distribution of fishers. The scent stations were set up in the fall with a trail camera and left over winter in hopes of attracting a fisher.
Providing Recreation Opportunities
Processing Harvested Game and Hunter Outreach: Biologist Tirhi processed six bobcats, three cougar, and one bear in early November.
Biologist Tirhi assisted eight hunters by advising them on hunting access and opportunities in District 11. Tirhi provided them with maps and hunting prospects.
Conserving Natural Landscapes
Protection Island Fieldwork: Technicians Magliaro, Martinez, and Norris, Wildlife Area Manager Laushman, and Research Biologist Pearson visited the Zella Schulz Unit of the North Olympic Wildlife Area on Protection Island. They treated invasive weeds, seeded native plants, and transplanted native dune grass to previously burned areas of the island utilized by rhinoceros auklets.
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Photo by WDFWTechnicians treating invasive plants on Protection Island.
Elk River Unit Wetland: Biologist Novack and Cent worked with Lands Division staff members to initiate restoration of a wetland portion of the Elk River Unit. Willow stakes are being planted in an area dominated by reed canary grass.
Oregon Spotted Frog: Biologist Tirhi worked with WDFW Fish and Habitat Program staff members, Aquatic Species Restoration Plan (ASRP) advisors, and Wild Fish Conservancy NW to draft the first step of an ASRP funding request for the construction of two ponds at the Mima Creek Unit, Oregon spotted frog breeding site.
The project will include a hydrologic connector in a deep water Mima Creek tributary that will have the ability to control the water level in the ponds via a manual gate. Phase 2 will also include the installation of beaver dam analogs at two locations on Mima Creek. The $126K request thru ASRP will pay for the cultural review, permitting, engineering staff members time, and overhead to enable Phase 3, and build.
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Photo by WDFWMima Creek Unit of the Scatter Creek Wildlife Area draft concept plan.
Bats: Biologist Tirhi met with Western State Hospital and their construction engineering consultants to further discuss a project on the hospital campus to demolish several buildings, one of which is occupied by a maternity colony of bats. Tirhi and the team met earlier in the year for WDFW consultation.
This meeting was to discuss the possibility that the demolition may be delayed and thus overlap the breeding season when bats have returned and are already in the building (and prepare contingency plans). Unfortunately, bat colonies within structures occupied by people or in the vicinity of people do not have the same legal protections as those elsewhere. With that, Tirhi only advised how to avoid impact to the colony if the project is delayed. This included opening up the structure at the colony site to expose the bats to light and cold and thereby entice the bats to leave before they begin bearing pups.
Providing Education and Outreach
Discovery Bay Field Trip: Wildlife Area Manager Laushman and Regional Communications Specialist Mire visited a middle school field trip at the Discovery Bay Unit. North Olympic Salmon Coalition staff members and volunteers taught seventh graders about healthy stream habitat and helped students create restoration plans for upcoming tree plantings at the unit.
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Photo by WDFWStudents assessing the habitat quality of Salmon Creek in the Discovery Bay Unit.
General Wildlife Inquiries: Biologist Murphie responded to inquiries received by phone, email, and in person related to duck hunting, elk hunting, western pond turtles, deer, pig, bobcat sealing, and osprey nest removals.
District 11 Drone Project: Biologist Tirhi was approached by a University of Washington Tacoma senior computer programming team with a request to work with District11 on a drone project within the district. Tirhi met with the WDFW Drone Lead Jansen and the computer programing teams to brainstorm potential project ideas, including pond turtle, deer, and spotted frog monitoring. There will be more information to come.
Other
Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Gate in Capital Forest: Biologist Novack found a DNR gate in Capitol Forest had been torn out, presumably during the modern firearm deer season. A note was sent to DNR enforcement staff members.
Theler Wetlands Visit: Wildlife Area Manager Laushman met with staff members from the Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group at the Theler Wetlands to discuss upcoming trail and vegetation maintenance work that a Washington Conservation Crew (WCC) will do this winter.
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Photo by WDFWHood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group staff members assessing the boardwalk trails at the Theler Wetlands.
Fallen Tree: The access team received a report of a fallen tree at Hicks Lake blocking the access road. There were several vehicles stuck behind the log which spanned from the neighboring residential property, across the Department of Fish and Wildlife access road, and into Lacey City Parks property damaging several sections of two different fences that parallel the driveway. Access staff members were close and sprung into superhero-like action. These efforts included cutting the downed fir tree, opening the roadway by pulling the logs out of the way, and freeing the trapped site users.
The access crew managed to remove the remaining debris, clearing the area for future fence repairs. They accomplished this task in such a quick fashion that they still had enough time to place gravel on the boat ramp. It was already on the schedule to occur the following morning.
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Photo by WDFWThe fallen tree at Hicks Lake.
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Photo by WDFWHicks Lake entrance roadway blocked by fallen tree.
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Photo by WDFWHicks Lake entrance roadway cleared.
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Photo by WDFWHicks Lake boat ramp re-graveled.
Gravel Maintenance at Multiple Access Areas: The access team spread gravel at several access areas throughout the region. The access team hauled over 60,000 pounds of gravel to ten access areas. They filled gaps between ramp planks, side armoring, and potholes. In addition to the ramp maintenance, the crew also cleared storm drains, and bio swale catch basins that were clogged and not performing well.
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Photo by WDFWGravel project at Lost Lake.
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Photo by WDFWGravel project at Offutt Lake.
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Photo by WDFW
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Photo by WDFWGravel project at Island Lake.
Ross Point: Access staff members addressed issues associated with unlawful camping in Kitsap County’s Ross Point Access Area. The crew removed several hundred pounds of debris from the beach and wooded areas. They posted additional agency signs and cleared vegetation to give enforcement officers a better line of sight to monitor the property.
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Photo by WDFWTrash cleanup at Ross Point.
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Photo by WDFWTrash ready to be hauled away at Ross Point.
Other
Chainsaw Training: District Biologist McMillan, Assistant District Biologist Butler, Wildlife Area Technician Magliaro, and Wildlife Area Manager Laushman participated in a two-day chainsaw training course offered for Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife staff members to learn proper safety, maintenance, and usage techniques.
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Photo by WDFWWashington State Department of Fish and Wildlife staff members receiving chainsaw training.
Dungeness Hunting Point: Wildlife Area Manager Laushman and Biologist Ament prepared the River’s End site of the Dungeness Unit for waterfowl hunting season and refreshed safety signage at the Helen’s Pond site.
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Photo by WDFWBiologist Ament refreshing the unit sign at the River’s End site outside Sequim.
Providing Conflict Prevention and Education
Osprey On Cell Towers: Biologist Tirhi worked on three permit requests for osprey nest removals on cell towers in Olympia, Lake Tapps, and Vaughn. Companies can legally remove nests from cell towers outside the active nesting season, on inactive sites, or sites finished for the season using a permit issued by Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife.
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Photo by WDFW
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Photo by WDFWExamples of osprey nest conflicts on cell towers
Conserving Natural Landscapes
South Puget Sound Prairies: Biologists Tirhi participated in an all-day workshop hosted by Washington State University extension (Thurston County) and held at Thurston Conservation District to discuss conservation easements for remnant prairies of South Puget Sound. Conservation easements are a tool widely used in habitat conservation whereby private lands are retained by the landowner, but certain uses of that land are bought so that those uses cannot be implemented on the site. Uses usually include removing the ability to convert the habitat to other uses like pavement, buildings, and infrastructure but might also dictate activities like grazing, farming, and water use.
The workshop was geared at introducing Northwest Rangeland Trust, a rancher-lead non-profit land trust based in northeast Oregon. This land conservancy currently owns two conservation easements in Thurston County and may be available to purchase more, particularly on working lands having remnant prairie. Significant funds will soon become available for remnant prairie land acquisition (including conservation easements) and listed prairie species enhancement through the Thurston County Habitat Conservation Plan and Department of Defense, Joint Base Lewis-McCord (JBLM) Readiness and Environmental Integration (REPI) program.
Read more about the Habitat Conservation Plan here and the JBLM REPI program here. Other local land trusts are also poised to participate in expanding their capacity and acquisitions through this funding. Trusts such as Capitol Land Trust, Community Farm Land Trust, and South of the Sound Community Farm Land Trust have a long history of successful land conservation in the South Puget Sound and do exceptional work. One thing is certain, it will take all partners working together to conserve remnant prairie and recover listed prairies species in the South Sound region.
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Photo by WDFWSouth Puget Sound prairie in full bloom with Mount Rainier in the background
Providing Education and Outreach
Theler Wetlands Restoration Public Meeting: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group held a public meeting at the Salmon Center in Belfair to present future restoration work at the Theler Wetlands. Plans for removal of a breached levee, restoration of the natural estuary, and a future boardwalk to connect the walking trails were presented, followed by a question and answer session. The next public meeting will be on Wednesday, Oct. 18 from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the North Mason Timberland Library in Belfair.
South Puget Sound Wildlife Area Work Party: A volunteer opportunity is coming up for interested participants at the South Puget Sound Unit in Lakewood, on Oct. 7 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Activities will include planting native plants, pulling Scotch broom, preparing a restoration area for plantings and signage, and pruning trees. Contact Katie Laushman with any questions.
Conducting Business Operations and Policy
Nisqually Indian Tribe Co-management: Biologist Tirhi arranged a collaboration meeting with Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Regions 5 and 6 Wildlife Program staff members, Nisqually Indian Tribe Wildlife Program Manager Borrego, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service partners, and WDFW Wolf Specialist Lead Maletzke to discuss and plan wildlife co-management opportunities between Nisqually Indian Tribe and WDFW. Wolf monitoring was the main emphasis.
Camp Murray Integrated Natural Resources Management Planning: Biologist Tirhi represented WDFW at the Camp Murray Integrated Natural Resources Management Planning (INRMP) workshop held at Camp Murray, Pierce County. Camp Murray is located adjacent to and is home to the Washington Army National Guard, Washington State Guard, and the Washington Air National Guard. It has been a military post since 1855. Camp Murray encompasses approximately 295 acres containing American Lake shoreline, oak woodlots, conifer forest, remnant prairie soils, Murray Creek, buildings, and infrastructure.
The Sikes Act requires most military installations within the United States to develop and implement a comprehensive plan for natural resource conservation and management (for example, fish and wildlife, forestry, land management, outdoor recreation) on the installation. The INRMP requires both federal and state representation and signatures. Tirhi reviewed the current draft INRMP and participated in the full day planning meeting. WDFW appreciates the dedication shown by the Washington Army National Guard, Washington State Guard, and the Washington Air National Guard in preserving legacy wildlife and habitats on the installation and planning for their conservation and enhancement.
Region 6 Senior Staff Visit: The Wildlife Program senior staff group visited the Nisqually Unit of the South Puget Sound Wildlife Area, which is shared with the Luhr’s Landing Water Access Area and the Nisqually Reach Nature Center. Staff members from the Nature Center gave a tour of their facilities to the group. The Nature Center is open to the public on the weekends and provides summer camp opportunities in the summer.
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Photo by WDFWThe Region 6 Wildlife Program senior staff and other Wildlife Program staff members visiting the Nisqually Unit.
Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge Visit: Staff members from Regions 4 and 6 toured the boardwalk at the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge to learn about engineering successes and challenges involved in tidal boardwalk trails, to inform potential boardwalk designs at WDFW wildlife areas.
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Photo by WDFWWDFW staff members learning from U. S. Fish and Wildlife staff members at the Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge boardwalk.
Western Bumble bee Monitoring: Biologist Tirhi spent several hours following up a report of the rare western bumble bee sent in from the public at a nursery in Graham, Pierce County as requested by Headquarter Invertebrate Lead Combs. Although several other species were captured and photographed that day, no western bumble bees were located. The public is encouraged to report any suspected western bumble bees at WDFW wildlife reporting form. Please include good photos or video from several angles.
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Photo by WDFWWestern bumble bee (most notable field mark is the white rump).
Wolf Monitoring: Biologist Tirhi and Volunteer Extraordinaire Terry spent a day deploying the last functional camera for monitoring wolves in District 11 in the White River drainage near Corral Pass.
Providing Recreation Opportunities
Access Maintenance: The access team continues to paint restrooms, ADA parking stalls, and curbs, as well as addressing graffiti, and replacing signage as needed at access sites across Region 6.
Access Cleanup: The access team worked with Enforcement for removal of abandoned vehicles and RV’s in Grays Harbor, Jefferson and Pacific counties.
Providing Conflict Prevention and Education
Landowner Meetings: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Janowski and Assistant Wildlife Program Manager Blankenship met farmers across Pierce, Thurston and Clallam counties to address crop damage.
Elk Conflict: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Janowski worked on permit issuance and hand-delivered both Landowner Kill Permits and Damage Prevention Permits to landowners in Thurston County. Wildlife Conflict Specialist Janowski also dropped off a paintball gun to a producer in Orting who is sustaining significant elk damage on their vegetable crops. The producer will use the paintball gun to haze elk out of their field. The producer farms within a no-shooting ordinance area, and other noise producing non-lethal deterrents are limited.
Wildlife Conflict Specialist Janowski also responded to a call of an elk calf which had become trapped in a landowner’s pasture in Graham. The calf jumped into the fence line and had been trapped and unable to find its way out for over five days. Janowski arrived on scene and walked up to the calf, which then jumped the fence out of the landowner’s property. Reporting party was appreciative of the response and further advice was provided.
Cougar Depredation: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Janowski coordinated with Fish and Wildlife Officer Izatt and Fish and Wildlife Sargent Jewett on a cougar depredation report in Sequim. The cougar killed five goats over the course of two weeks and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife staff members determined a lethal removal action was required. Both a cougar trap and a local hounds man were deployed, the animal was successfully removed, biological samples were taken, and the carcass was donated to a local tribe.
Wildlife Conflict Specialist Janowski also received a call from Fish and Wildlife Officer Schrader regarding a possible cougar depredation on a horse in Mason County. Photos of injuries were shared with Janowski, and Officers Schrader and Janowski determined the animal likely was not attacked by a cougar.
Conserving Natural Landscapes
Rat Island Avian Influenza Management: Wildlife Program staff members continued clean-up efforts at Rat Island which is part of the Marrowstone Unit of the North Olympic Wildlife Area. This work has helped reduce the viral loads on the unit from an outbreak of Avian Influenza in the nesting Caspian terns. More recently, it spread to harbor seals.
Western Pond Turtle Habitat: Assistant District Biologist Butler and Wildlife Area Manager Laushman met with Capital Asset Management Program staff members to start work on a habitat improvement project which will create new nesting mounds for western pond turtles.
Oregon Spotted Frog Habitat Management: Biologists Tirhi and Butler oversaw contracted Washington Conservation Corps teams mowing invasive reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea) at three listed spotted frog breeding sites (Mima, Salmon, Allen Creeks, Thurston County). The funding for this annual mowing is paid for by the Chehalis Basin Strategy, Amphibian Species Restoration Plan. Reed canary grass invasion in spotted frog breeding sites is one of the most threatening aspects impacting frog recovery. Mowing canary grass using hired Washington Conservation Corps (WCC) crews is a cost-effective means of control. The grass is mowed heavily in late summer/early fall to maintain the low structure/open water spotted frogs depend on for successful egg laying in late winter. The WCC crews cut previously for one day per site in August and returned for additional mowing this September. Tirhi and Butler were both onsite various days to assist mowing using a Billy goat brush cutter.
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Photo by WDFWArea mowed at Salmon Creek Oregon spotted frog breeding site using the WDFW Billy goat brush cutter.
Oregon Spotted Frog Recovery: Biologist Tirhi and Real Estate Services Specialist Buck met with a landowner in the Allen Creek drainage of Thurston County to discuss his interest in purchasing an existing WDFW conservation easement on the neighboring property. Tirhi is continuing to contemplate and discuss with the landowner a possible future where his desire to graze cattle and/or hay would promote the objectives of spotted frog habitat improvement within the easement.
North American Bat Acoustic Monitoring (NABAT): Biologist Tirhi spent time uploading the District 11 NABAT data obtained from the four deployed acoustic monitors. Biologist Butler will likewise be uploading data from her four deployed locations. Data will be analyzed by WDFW Bat Species Lead Tobin. See July 2023 Highlights for explanation of this annual bat monitoring project.
Western Bumble Bee Monitoring: Western bumble bee is a candidate species for listing due to its dramatic decline across Washington and the west.For this reason, WDFW and partners have been conducting bumble bee surveys over the past several years. Based on a credible report of western bumble bee in Dupont, Biologists Butler and Tirhi and volunteer Cheney spent a day conducting surveys at two nearby locations in Steilacoom. Although several other species were captured and photographed that day, no western bumble bees were located. The public is encouraged to report any suspected western bumble bees at WDFW wildlife reporting form. Please include good photos/video from several angles.
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Photo by WDFWWestern bumblebee (most notable field mark is the white rump).
Western Pond Turtle: Biologist Murphie deployed two artificial basking structures at the western pond turtle recovery site in District 15. A PIT tag (passive integrated transponder) antenna array was placed at the pond and fitted to one of the platforms. Trail cameras were also placed to collect images of turtles using the platform. Over 300 turtles were released in this pond from 2005-2013. All the turtles released are uniquely marked and have a PIT implant. The objective of this effort is to see if the PIT tag antenna array can identify remaining turtles released into the pond. Secondarily, we are looking for turtles that are unmarked and potentially new recruits hatched at the pond. Biologist Murphie has counted 36 turtles basking at various locations around the pond and positioned one of the basking platforms with antennas adjacent to basking logs with the most current activity. After a month of deployment and monitoring, it doesn’t appear that the platform is getting any use by turtles. This may be related to the “newness” of the platform, availability of other structures for basking, or simply that the platform is not in the right place. Regardless, Biologist Murphie removed the monitoring equipment on Aug. 30 and will try again next season. He intends to leave the platforms deployed over the winter and plans for an earlier deployment of the monitoring equipment next season.
Mourning Doves: Biologist Cent wrapped up trapping and banding mourning doves. The mourning doves seemed to arrive later this year, and numbers were lower than normal. She banded 52 doves during this year’s trapping efforts.
Beller’s Ground Beetles: In an effort to identify new populations of Beller’s ground beetles, Biologist Cent conducted reconnaissance of two sphagnum bogs (the habitat of these beetles) in Grays Harbor and Pacific counties. These efforts will continue next August once additional land access permits have been approved.
Bat Acoustic Surveys: Biologist Cent conducted District 17’s annual bat acoustic surveys. She deployed four acoustic detectors overnight in order to detect bat presence and identify species at various habitats within the district.
Providing Recreation Opportunities
Hunting Prospects: Biologists Butler and Tirhi further updated District 11 game species data spreadsheets. Biologist Tirhi used that data to update the 2023 Hunting Prospects for District 11. New this year is better informed game harvest data for small game and upland bird species provided by headquarters. Hunters having general questions related to hunting in any district should first be directed to the Hunting Prospects.
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Photo by WDFW
Sooty Grouse: Biologists Butler and Tirhi recovered three acoustic monitors for sooty grouse that had been deployed in spring, along assigned monitoring routes in the southern portion of District 11. The data (over 2,000 files) from each monitor was downloaded to HQ as requested. The data will be analyzed by the Small Game Section lead by Species Specialist Garrison.
Wolf Monitoring: Biologist Tirhi and Volunteer Cheney spent two days changing batteries and SD cards on trail cameras deployed in the Carbon River and White River drainages of District 11. The SD cards are screened by Volunteer Terry and then later redeployed. While credible reports of individual wolves have been reported in the district, no wolf or wolf packs have been confirmed within District 11 to date. This monitoring is done in partnership with Northwest Trek, U.S. Forest Service, Manulife, and Conservation Northwest.
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Photo by WDFWVolunteer Cheney changing the batteries and SD card in a District 11 wolf monitoring trail camera.
Olympic Goat, Deer and Elk Status and Trend Reports: Biologist Murphie completed updates to the Olympic goat, Olympic deer, and Olympic elk status and trend reports. Other data work associated with these write-ups was also completed. Reports are now available for supervisor review.
Union River Wildlife Viewer: Partners at the Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group installed a wildlife viewer provided from WDFW’s Watchable Wildlife Program at the Union River Unit in Belfair. The viewer includes an ADA accessible attachment as well as autocorrection lenses for color-blind viewers.
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Photo by WDFWNewly installed wildlife viewer at the Union River Unit of the South Puget Sound Wildlife Area.
Olympic-Willapa Hills Wildlife Area: Construction of a new 3,000 square foot pole barn was recently completed at the Olympic-Willapa Hills Wildlife Area headquarters. The staff members there utilize a range of machinery and standard farm equipment in managing the wildlife area, some of which has had to be stored outdoors throughout the winter simply due to a lack of sheltered storage space. The building has been a regular capital budget request item dating back to at least 2008, and its construction now fulfills this long-term need.
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Photo by WDFWThe new pole barn at the Olympic-Willapa Hills Wildlife Area headquarters.
Pierce County - Crescent Lake: The access team repaired potholes, weather cracks, and washout areas with asphalt repair on State Game Access Road in Gig Harbor which is the access road to Crescent Lake water access. The area of asphalt is over 500 feet long these efforts took 13,000 pounds of cold patch asphalt. Another 400 feet of gravel roadway was graded with minor potholes filled in. This roadway has been an area of contention with residents, Pierce County, and WDFW. No one knew who was responsible for the maintenance and each believed it wasn’t their responsibility. Water access made these repairs for now with future talks between Pierce County Works and WDFW to take place in the future.
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Photo by WDFW
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Photo by WDFW
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Photo by WDFWCrescent Lake water access.
Kitsap County - Kitsap Lake, Long Lake and Wildcat Lake:The access team worked with Washington Conservation Corp on installing new monofilament recycling tubes. The collaboration has resulted in eight additional WDFW access locations with the collection sites, including three in Kitsap County. The expansion has been in the works for several months, approximately 25 more recycling tubes will be installed at access sites across all eight regions and six counties.
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Photo by WDFWLong Lake recycling tube install.
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Photo by WDFWKitsap Lake monofilament recycling tube.
Grays Harbor - Chehalis River and tributaries: The access team, with assisstance from Enforcement, cleaned up several dump piles and an abandoned vessel left in the Chehalis River
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Photo by WDFWBlack River.
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Photo by WDFWFuller Bridge.
ADA Maintenance: The access team also has continued painting restrooms where needed and began refreshing preparing and painting ADA parking stalls, curbs and replacing signage as needed.
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Photo by WDFWHorseshoe Lake.
Conserving Natural Landscapes
South Puget Sound Northwest Youth Corp: A Northwest Youth Corps (NYC) crew continued to do weed control and site clean-up at the unit in Lakewood through collaboration with the Clover Park Rotary Club.
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Photo by WDFWNYC crew members removed browse cages from the oak plantings in Lakewood to allow for tree growth and better weed maintenance around the trees.
Oregon spotted frog habitat maintenance: Biologists Butler and Tirhi each oversaw Washington Conservation Corps (WCC) work groups which were hired to cut invasive reed canary grass that invades and threatens listed Oregon spotted frog breeding sites. WCC crews are hired annually to provide this assistance. One day each was spent at our Salmon Creek, Allen Creek, and Mima Creek recovery sites. The work crews focused on cutting grass within specific plots that are the focus of research on the use of the herbicide Imazapyr to impede canary grass growth and thus increase the efficiency of mowing (e.g. reduce the rate/need to mow). The effect of Imazapyr on reed canary grass, on spotted frogs directly, and bioaccumulation at treatment sites is being investigated. WCC crews will return to Salmon Creek for two more days in September and Allen Creek for one day in October for additional mowing.
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Photo by WDFWWCC crews mowing invasive reed canary grass at an Oregon spotted frog breeding site.
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Photo by WDFWOregon spotted frog breeding site after mowing (pink flagging represents corners of herbicide research plot).
South Puget Sound Weed Control: Weed Specialist Heimer assisted Wildlife Area Manager Laushman in knotweed control along Chambers Creek at the South Puget Sound Unit in Lakewood.
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Photo by WDFWSpecialist Heimer bravely tackling a forest of knotweed.
Noxious Weed Control: Biologist Novack and Cent spent a week operating a skidsteer with a brush hog to mow invasive blackberries at Davis Creek Wildlife Area, Hoxit Wildlife Area, and the Region 6 headquarters in Montesano.
Providing Education and Outreach
General Wildlife Inquiries: Biologist Murphieresponded to inquiries received by phone, email, or in person related to bear, elk, deer, pocket gopher, waterfowl hunting, squirrels, and bats.
Conducting Business Operations and Policy
Aircraft Safety Training - Instructor: Biologist Murphie provided a basic airplane and helicopter class at the Natural Resource Building in Olympia this period. Staff members from the Fish and Wildlife programs attended.
Other
Status and Trends: Biologist Novack submitted draft versions of the Status and Trends report for Willapa Hills deer and elk.
SOBA Training:Water Access Manager Reeves participated in the SOBA (States for Boating Access) symposium. The symposium is where state, federal, and private agencies gave presentations in relation to grants funding and displayed new technology and successful projects for any and all things associated with boating, boating access and industries, and related fields. Several individuals from WDFW gave great presentations.
Bullfrog Management and Control: Biologists Tirhi and Butler participated in a half day workshop on invasive bullfrog control, removal, and management followed by an evening of training. Their learning included various bullfrog capture and euthanasia techniques and equipment training. District 11 strongly needs to increase their bullfrog management program considering the agency is working hard on listed Oregon spotted frog and Western pond turtle recovery. Both species are predated by non-native bullfrogs and bullfrogs are partially responsible for their demise. The training workshop was organized by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service Lacey office while the field capture and dissection training was hosted by Biologist Munes with the Billy Frank Jr. Wildlife Refuge.
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Photo by WDFWParticipants of the inaugural Washington bullfrog management workshop seining a pond for bullfrog tadpole and juvenile capture.
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Photo by WDFWBullfrog tadpoles and juveniles collected for removal.
North American Bat Acoustic Monitoring: North American Bat Acoustic Monitoring (NABat) is a multi-national, multi-agency coordinated bat monitoring program across North America. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (Department) has been a participating agency in NABat across the state for several years. Several biologists in the Department participate and are assigned a 10-by-10 kilometer sample unit that remains consistent year to year. For one to two evenings per year, the biologists deploy an acoustic monitor capable of recording all bats by species and totals in each of the 5-by-5 quadrants of the unit. Biologists Butler and Tirhi completed their assigned NABat monitoring deployment in District 11. More information on the program can be found here.
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Photo by WDFWNABat sampling design.
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Photo by WDFWPrivate landowner and volunteer T. Morey assisting with acoustic bat monitor as part of NABat (2023).
Western Pond Turtle: Biologist Tirhi and Technician Leopold spent a day at the Woodland Park Zoo processing hatchling pond turtles for the 2023 release to the wild. Pond turtles are a Washington State endangered species and the Woodland Park Zoo has partnered with WDFW for 32 years on the recovery of this important native species. Each year, WDFW brings pond turtle eggs from the Pierce County recovery site to the zoo to hatch and grow for one year. In late July, those hatchlings are weighed, measured, and specially marked in preparation for their release back to the wild (scheduled for August) where they will spend the rest of their lives aiding in the recovery of their population. Over 1,000 zoo visitors visited the event this year. 2023 marks the 32nd year of this Head Start program and one of the longest ongoing recovery programs at WDFW. Media story here.
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Photo by WDFWProcessing hatchling Western pond turtles at Woodland Park Zoo for the 2023 release to the wild.
Fisher Monitoring: Biologists Tirhi and Butler along with Volunteers Terry and Cheney spent several days removing scented camera stations deployed in the fall of 2022 for fisher monitoring (Pekania pennanti). The monitoring is occurring across sections of the south Cascades where fishers were released in the past with one camera deployed per area. District 11 had deployed eight cameras. Tribal, city, state, and federal partners were deployed. Each station contains a camera tree positioned across from a tree containing a skunk lure dispenser, a beef bone, and a band for collecting hair samples. Tirhi and Butler have documented fishers in three of the four cameras checked so far and one wolverine! The other four cameras await check. Cameras took between 800-3,000 pictures each. All eight of the district deployed cameras were functional at retrieval and although bears and cougar (and other wildlife) had visited most, none had been destroyed or camera dislodged.
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Photo by WDFWFisher camera scent station with scent dispenser and bone lure.
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Photo by WDFWFisher captured at one of District 11 monitoring stations.
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Photo by WDFWWolverine captured at one of District 11 monitoring stations.
Bat Maternity Roost Monitoring: Biologists Butler and Tirhi organized a group effort to count bats at the Western State Hospital in Lakewood. This is an annual survey that involves a minimum of seven people to conduct. Staff members and volunteers stage themselves outside the various buildings and count bats as they emerge from their roost locations in the attics and crawl spaces of the hospital. Bats have occupied the attic spaces of these buildings for over 30 years. WDFW has partnered with Washington Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), who runs the hospital, to separate the bats from the staff and patients and manage all facets of the colony occupation. Bats occupy three known roost locations from spring to summer and are comprised of females raising pups. There are likely other smaller unknown locations that non-breeding females and males use on the grounds. This year the count was down from approximately 500 in 2022 to approximately 250 this year. This could be due to observer error, changing flight patterns of the bats, or a true population decline. WDFW focuses on longer term trends rather than year-to-year declines. Regardless, the hospital is one of several colonies that WDFW is annually monitoring trends to determine whether White Nose Syndrome is affecting Washington’s bat colonies as it has on east coast populations. This year also featured a media event to showcase how DSHS and WDFW are working together to conserve bats and run a hospital including the replacement of one of the buildings housing a bat colony. WDFW appreciates the commitment of DSHS in helping conserve Washington’s valuable wildlife species.
Snowy Plovers: Biologist Cent checked on the last of the active plover nests. All known nests have now hatched or failed, though plovers are still in the area. Two nests at Midway were confirmed to have hatched a total of three chicks. All other nest fates were unknown.
Band-tailed Pigeon: Biologists Cent and Novack completed annual counts at known mineral sites. Grays Point, along the Columbia River, was surveyed for the first time with assistance from the Spartina Crew Member Mikkelsen and an airboat. District 10 Biologist Holman brought a boat from Region 5 to assist with the survey at the Cosmopolis site. Moclips mineral site had low numbers this year (45 birds), but Biologist Novack confirmed that some birds use the site further upriver and out of sight of the previous survey location.
Site Name
Total
Cosmopolis
187
Grays Point
36
*Naselle
22
*Moclips
45
Biologist Novack arranged visits to newly discovered mineral sites for confirmation from U. S. Fish and Wildlife Services (USFWS) Biologist Sanders. Waterfowl Section Biologist Hamer assisted with providing boat access to sites in the Willapa River and Clallam Bay. District 16 Biologists Ament and McMillan guided them to three sites within Clallam County.
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Photo by WDFWBiologist Ament and USFWS Biologist Sanders inspecting roosting locations above newly discovered band-tailed pigeon mineral site near Clallam Bay.
Mourning Doves: Biologist Cent began trapping at one of District 17’s mourning dove trapping sites. Ten birds have been trapped and banded since trapping began. The second site where trapping occurs each year has yet to have a significant number of doves show up, though the landowner continues to bait each day. Hopefully, trapping will begin at this second site in the next week or two.
Mariposa Copper Butterflies: Biologist Cent began collection of mariposa copper butterflies at North Bay Bog, a Department of Natural Resources property in Grays Harbor County. She is also scouting the Elk River Unit, which is a site which once had wild cranberry bogs, the habitat of mariposa copper butterflies, to determine if the wildlife area is home to any coppers.
Black River Elk Capture: Biologists Novack and Cent attempted to capture and collar a cow elk at the USFWS Black River site near Littlerock with assistance by USFWS Manager Nakai and the Nisqually Refuge biologist. The objective is to track the movements of these elk that are in close proximity to I-5 and create conflicts with private landowners. A group of 43 elk were found in the open fields and Biologist Novack was able to get into range for placing a tranquilizer dart. Unfortunately, almost every adult cow appeared to be afflicted with Treponeme-associated hoof disease and were not suitable candidates for placement of a telemetry collar. Another effort will occur in winter when migratory elk come to the property that will likely have some healthy elk.
Western Pond Turtle: Biologist Murphie deployed two artificial basking structures at the Western pond turtle recovery site in District 15. A PIT tag (passive integrated transponder) antenna array was also placed at the pond and fitted to one of the platforms. Trail cameras were placed to collect images of turtles using the platform. Over 300 turtles were released in this pond from 2005-2013. All the turtles released are uniquely marked and have PIT implant. The objective of this new effort is to see if the PIT tag antenna array can identify remaining turtles released into the pond. Secondarily, we are looking for turtles that are unmarked and potentially new recruits hatched at the pond. Biologist Murphie has counted 36 turtles basking at various locations around the pond, but so far it doesn’t appear like they are using the platforms. Stay tuned, as adjustments to antenna placement and number of antennas deployed are made.
Bear Hair-Snare Project: Biologist Murphie along with carnivore section and regional staff set up 36 stations in GMU 636 to collect hair samples from bears from May through July. If successful, the project will provide an estimate of bears in GMU 636. Biologist Murphie reports collecting 744 samples (a sample can be an individual hair or a cluster of many hairs) at the conclusion of the sampling phase. On camera, visitors included turkey vulture, deer, squirrel, bobcat, cougar, spotted skunk, grouse, unidentified weasel, raccoon, and bears. More to come, as analysis from this project is completed over the next few months.
Bat Counts: Biologist Murphie participated in bat counts organized by U. S. Forest Service (USFS) biologists at the Snider Work Center and the Intorem Cabin on the Duckabush.
Band-tailed Pigeon Mineral Site Counts: Biologist Murphie conducted counts of band-tailed pigeon at two mineral sites in District 15. He reports count totals were at or below previous years. Additional analysis will generate the final index for these sites.
Providing Recreation Opportunities
Band-tailed Pigeon: Biologist Tirhi conducted the annual band-tail pigeon survey of the Mud Bay mineral site. Tirhi counted 220 band-tails using the site this year compared to 239 in 2022 and 263 in 2021.
Hunting Prospects and Status and Trend Reports: Biologist Murphie completed a first draft of the 2023 District 15 Hunting Prospects. He also completed the first draft of the Olympic goat status and trend report and started the Olympic deer status and trend report. Other data work associated with these write-ups was also completed.
Pierce County, American Lake: Region 6 water access staff have been working around the influx of users at water access areas. While vegetation control is a large part of access staff regular duties, these projects are often difficult to accomplish due to the hazards of navigating around vehicles and pedestrians. The other main consumer of time during the summer season is litter collection. Usually, a handful of water access areas will contribute to 90 percent of the litter collected throughout any county. In recent weeks, the recreational activity and litter collection at American Lake Access Area has been above and beyond the normal seasonal increase. The past three weeks of routine maintenance visits has accumulated over 1100 pounds of litter collected. The most recent visit consisted of 600 pounds and over seven hours logged for collection and disposal. The previous maintenance visit, just one week before, tallied 280 pounds of litter collected. Access staff and Enforcement are looking for ways to help improve this ongoing issue.
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Photo by WDFWAmerican Lake Access Area before litter collected.
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Photo by WDFWAfter litter collected.
Grays Harbor County, Black Creek and South Montesano: Region 6 water access staff members worked with Washington Conservation Corp (WCC) crew on expanding the monofilament recycling programs collection bins. This recycling program has proven successful with collections bins at WDFWaccess areas in Kitsap, Mason, Pierce, and Thurstoncounties. The collaboration of the water access team and WCC has been favorable to both programs. They have increased recycling efforts and planed an expansion at other water access areas in the remaining Region 6 counties starting in Grays Harbor. Recycling bins were installed at four access areas: Black Creek, South Montesano, Double Bridges and Fuller Bridge. Plans to install additional bins in Grays Harbor, Clallam, Jefferson, Pacific counties will continue in the weeks to come.
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Photo by WDFWMonofilament recycling bin installed at south Montesano.
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Photo by WDFWMonofilament recycling bin installed at Black Creek.
Kapowsin Lake: Region 6 access team prepared and arranged for new striping, directional arrows, ADA parking, walkways, and speedbumps at Kapowsin Lake. The previous striping was no longer visible, and the parking structure was all but lost. These improvements should help users navigate the parking areas much easier and once again have areas designated for those with disabilities. This is part of a larger effort by the water access crew to steadily bring this access to better overall condition. A pattern of misuse, vandalism, and vegetation overgrowth had this site in poor condition.
Conserving Natural Landscapes
Rat Island: Wildlife Area Manager Laushman and Biologist Norris put up signage at the Marrowstone Unit of North Olympic Wildlife Area to close Rat Island due to an outbreak of avian influenza.
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Photo by WDFWNew signage closing Rat Island.
Group efforts from the Wildlife Program have helped reduce the viral load of avian influenza at the Marrowstone Unit of North Olympic Wildlife Area. The main part of the unit is closed due to an outbreak of avian influenza in Caspian terns. Biologist Ament, Water Access Team Members McKinlay and Walker, Wildlife Area Manager Laushman, Wildlife Veterinarian Haman, Technician Norris, and Safety Manager Mundy traveled to the island to remove tern carcasses and assess the colony.
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Photo by WDFWWildlife Program staff help clean up Rat Island amidst an outbreak of avian influenza.
South Puget Sound: A new gate was installed for the South Puget Sound Wildlife Area in Lakewood to reduce trespassing.
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Photo by WDFWNew automated gate at the South Puget Sound Unit.
Chehalis Unit Acquisition: Biologist Novack provided some information to Real Estate in preparation for the upcoming Commission meeting when a 40-acre acquisition will be proposed.
Union River: Wildlife Area Manager Laushman, Habitat Engineer Lockwood, Habitat Restoration Coordinator Waldbillig, and Grants Manager Weller conducted a tour of the Theler Wetlands, adjacent to the Union River Wildlife Area Unit to discuss future restoration ideas with partners at the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group.
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Photo by WDFWTouring the trails at the Union River Wildlife Area Unit.
Bell Creek: Wildlife Area Manager Laushman, Assistant Regional Wildlife Program Manager Blankenship, and Assistant Lands Division Manager Lowery met with long-time volunteers and partners with the Department of Natural Resources and other local groups at the Bell Creek Unit, part of the North Olympic Wildlife Area. The group met to discuss next steps for the oak woodland restoration project that has been on-going at the unit for over 20 years, thanks to dedicated volunteer support.
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Photo by WDFWTouring the oak planting area at the Bell Creek Unit in Sequim.
Skokomish: Wildlife Area Manager Laushman cleaned up trash at the Skokomish Unit and refreshed signage.
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Photo by WDFWBefore and after photos of a dump site at the Skokomish Unit.
Providing Education and Outreach
General Wildlife Inquiries: Biologist Murphie responded to inquiries received by phone, email, and in person related to deer, rabbit, bear, and a bat.
Conducting Business Operations and Policy
Aircraft Safety Course Instruction: Biologist Murphie conducted a basic aircraft class in Montesano during the review period. The next one is scheduled for August.
Chemical Immobilization: Biologist Murphie conducted final turn-in and destruction of expired immobilizing drugs for the District 15 station, as the station is being closed. Associated paperwork has been completed.
Meetings Attended: Biologist Murphie participated either in-person or online in meetings discussing cougar, sooty grouse surveys, deer surveys, and the Avian Influenza outbreak on Rat Island.
Other
Drug Coordination: Biologist Novack conducted administrative duties relating to chemical immobilization drugs. He supplied Enforcement with chemical immobilization drugs and destroyed excess drugs that were past their expiration. Inventories and logs have been updated.
Snowy Plover: Biologists Cent and Novack completed the third and final round of breeding adult snowy plover surveys with the help of various WDFW staff members. Below is a summary table of the adults observed during the three surveys (“visits”) in 2023. Numbers at Midway Beach continued to trend downward compared to prior years. Plover observations were fairly consistent at Conner Creek and Copalis Spit. Six nests were discovered at Midway Beach during survey efforts, three nests were discovered at Copalis Spit, and one at Conner Creek. Three chicks were observed in the final survey at Midway Beach. Biologist Cent will continue to monitor active nests as time allows.
Site
Visit 1
Visit 2
Visit 3
Midway Beach
10
14
12
Conner Creek
2
0
4
Copalis Spit
5
5
5
Oyhut Spit
0
0
0
Ocean Shores
0
0
0
Streaked Horned Lark: Biologists Cent and Novack completed the last round of lark surveys. Below is a summary table of the three surveys completed during the 2023 breeding season. After a site visit to Damon Point showed the habitat was no longer suitable for breeding larks, Biologist Cent determined the site did not need to be surveyed in 2023. The habitat at Oyhut Spit (adjacent to Damon Point) is now very marginal, which likely explains why no larks were observed this season. Numbers of larks at Shelton Airport and Midway Beach were similar to the last surveys conducted in 2018, with a slight increase at Midway.
Site
Visit 1
Visit 2
Visit 3
Midway Beach
10
10
9
Shelton Airport
7
3
6
Oyhut Spit
0
0
0
Conserving Natural Landscapes
Protection Island: Wildlife Area Manager Laushman, Prairie Specialist Cook, and Biologist Norris worked with a Sound Native Plants crew to spend time working on weed removal and dune grass transplanting on Protection Island, part of the North Olympic Wildlife Area.
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Photo by WDFW
McNeil Island: Wildlife Area Manager Laushman treated noxious weeds including Japanese knotweed and tansy ragwort on McNeil Island.
Irondale Beach: The Water Access team assisted Wildlife Area Manager Laushman in cutting overgrown vegetation around the parking and trails at Irondale Beach, of the Chimacum Unit, and refreshed signage.
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Photo by WDFWBefore (left) and after (right) photos of the main trail at Irondale Beach.
Irondale Beach: The Water Access team assisted Wildlife Area Manager Laushman in cutting overgrown vegetation around the parking and trails and refreshed signage at Irondale Beach, of the Chimacum Unit.
Lands 20/20: Biologist Novack submitted an initial draft proposal for land acquisitions along the Chehalis River Valley in Grays Harbor County.
National Association of Clean Water Act (NACWA) Grant: Biologist Novack provided review and support to partners with Ducks Unlimited for their application for federal funding from NACWA. WDFW is providing match dollars from property acquisitions that have already occurred or are funded for the next fiscal biennium. The grant proposes to undertake wetland enhancement and restoration actions on public and private lands within Thurston and Grays Harbor counties.
Conducting Business Operations and Policy
Customer Service: Biologist Novack has handled several questions from hunters after the permit draw results were posted.
McNeil Island: Wildlife Area Manager and Assistant Regional Wildlife Program Manager Blankenship attended the quarterly McNeil interagency meeting to facilitate coordination and planning on the island.
