Managing Wildlife Populations

Sea duck, marine bird surveys: Biologist Murphie participated in the annual Puget Sound Ecosystem Monitoring Program (PSEMP) 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 more than 4,000 miles. So far, the crew has completed more than 80% of the effort. The figure below shows the track lines covered so far (blue lines) and the track lines remaining (red lines), as of January 9. Not shown is effort conducted on January 12, which covered areas west of Port Angeles. 

Dusky Canada Goose: Biologists Cent and Novack continued the bi-monthly surveys of Dusky Canada Geese. 

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI): Washington had its first confirmed case of HPAI in snowy plovers in November. Since the discovery, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) biologists have begun regularly patrolling Midway Beach in search of sick or dead plovers. Biologist Cent continued these efforts and has yet to find any, though she did count 30 healthy plovers along the stretch of Midway Beach, 11 of which were banded. She also spotted a banded streaked horned lark. The lark was banded over the summer at Midway beach by Ecostudies Institute and was equipped with a GPS unit.

Swans: Every January, District 17 biologists survey the Chehalis Basin to count trumpeter and tundra swans. This survey is done from the road using binoculars and spotting scopes. Biologist Cent and Novack have attempted the survey three times, but the swans have so far been proving elusive. The largest flock of swans is frequently found in a wetland near the Chehalis Wildlife Area. Unfortunately, they are very difficult to count when they are foraging in the wetland, as tall wetland vegetation blocks visibility. Biologists will make another attempt to count the swans later this month.

Brant: Biologist’s Novack and Cent conducted a ground survey for Brant geese in Willapa Bay. This survey is attempted every January. Almost 2,500 brant were seen during this survey which is close to the average seen across the 64 years since the first survey was initiated.

Western pond turtle. Biologists Butler and Tirhi represented District 11 at the annual western pond turtle working group meeting. The working group is comprised of state, federal, and local jurisdictions; Woodland Park Zoo and Oregon Zoo, and other partners focused on recovery of the state listed and federally under-review pond turtle. 

Oregon spotted frog. Biologists Butler and Tirhi represented District 11 at the annual Oregon spotted frog working group meeting. The working group is comprised of state, federal, and local jurisdictions; Woodland Park Zoo and Oregon Zoo, and other partners focused on recovery of the state and federally listed spotted frog.

Pocket gopher mitigation ratios. Biologist Tirhi arranged a meeting with headquarters staff members to discuss the creation of scientifically supported habitat mitigation ratios for impacts to listed Mazama pocket gopher. WDFW would provide these mitigation ratios to applicants seeking federal Habitat Conservation Plans for listed species.

Streaked horned lark. Biologist Tirhi and Mazama pocket gopher species lead LeGrande met several times with the Port of Olympia/Olympia Airport to discuss continuing with abundance surveys on the airport in 2025 and beginning a new survey approach. WDFW greatly appreciates the collaboration with the Port of Olympia and the Olympia Airport staff members. 

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Sealing game species. Biologist Tirhi processed and sealed two bobcats for local District 11 hunters.

Duckabush Cleanup: Wildlife Area Manager Laushman and Technician Norris assisted Officer Barabasz and Officer Hillman with cleanup at the Duckabush Unit.

Providing Education and Outreach

General Wildlife Inquiries: Biologist Murphie responded to inquiries received by phone or email related to elk, deer, bald eagles, duck hunting, an osprey nest removal request, and AI related sampling.

Conducting Business Operations and Policy

New biologist position. Biologist Tirhi spent significant time working with WDFW’s Human Resources (HR) section on posting a new assistant district biologist position for District 11. A skills and species scorecard for ranking candidates was crafted, along with creating two interview panels, phoning candidates for interviews, and scheduling nine candidates for interviews. WDFW received 165 applications which HR narrowed down to 29 who qualified, of which nine will be granted first round interviews.

Aquatic Species Restoration Plan reporting. Biologist Tirhi spent significant time balancing budgets for funds received in 2024 for Oregon spotted frog recovery work through the Chehalis Basin Strategy, Aquatic Species Restoration Plan (ASRP). Tirhi worked with WDFW billing section to correct and balance budgets and submitted the mandatory quarterly ASRP progress reports for two grants. 

Managing Wildlife Populations

Pronghorn antelope abundance survey: Biologist Ott assisted biologists from Region 3 this week to conduct the 2025 biennial pronghorn antelope survey across Klickitat, Yakima, and Benton counties. Pronghorn antelope were extirpated from Washington by the early 20th century. However, between 2011 and 2019, the Yakama Nation reintroduced 198 pronghorns to the Yakama Reservation. Since their reintroduction, the pronghorns have dispersed from the release sites and have shown a small population growth. The surveys are conducted using fixed-wing aircraft, allowing biologists from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and the Yakama Nation to gather a minimum population count of pronghorn in south-central Washington. The results of the 2025 survey are anticipated this spring.

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Beginning of 2025: The first two weeks of 2025 have been busy and productive for access area staff members. Staff members have addressed several issues, including anglers trespassing on private property in Wahkiakum County. Staff members talked to the property owner and added several new signs in hopes that the anglers using the Beaver Creek Access Area will follow the proper route to get to the river. Staff members have been working on removing a large blackberry briar patch up at the Mineral Access Area. Staff members are hopeful that removing the blackberries will not only look better but also deter theft and vandalism to the public restrooms and WDFW property. In anticipation of working on a rock project in Wahkiakum County next week, staff members trained on how to safely load and unload a tractor, as well as practice backing up and parking a tractor trailer in tight spaces. This training was very helpful and boosted confidence working with the tractor/trailer. Along their route, access area staff members spotted three juvenile deer in Wahkiakum County, soaking up the sunshine and munching on some grass. Staff members have also been working with the WDFW Enforcement officers in Lewis and Cowlitz counties to ensure there is a unified presence at the access areas.

Managing Wildlife Populations

L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Elk Feeding: L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Natural Resource Technician Blore and Natural Resource Specialist Nass have been busy plowing the Joe Watt and Robinson Canyon feedlots. Despite early season road clearing at Robinson, it has been too icy to get up the road and the snow too deep to access it. Many hours have also been spent clearing snow, ice, and tarps to get to the hay.

There have been several sightings of a (likely resident) golden eagle at the Robinson site where the elk have been bedding down along the lower road. 

There was one cow mortality on Jan. 15 on the lower Robinson Rd in the path of the feed truck. A lethargic cow of poor health and body condition was sighted the previous day near that location. District Wildlife Biologist Wampole sampled the mortality for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). 

L.T. Murray Wildlife Area – Winter Closure Signs: L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Manager Morrison and Assistant Manager Winegeart used snowmobiles to check signs on the south side to the wildlife area’s winter elk closure area. There is currently not much snow at the feed site but up the hill there were 2.5 feet.

L.T. Murray Wildlife Area – Elk Fence Repair: Natural Resource Technician Blore found and repaired two holes in the elk fence. Blore baited a couple of the one-way elk gates with good hay to lure more than 100 elk that were on the wrong side of the elk fence back to other side. It’s suspected that a few elk came through the two holes but that most walked around the end of the elk fence in Manastash Canyon.

Region 3 Pronghorn Aerial Surveys: District 4 Biologist Fidorra and Assistant Biologist Hoffman conducted aerial counts for pronghorn across portions of Benton, Yakima, and Klickitat counties. These bi-annual surveys combine aerial and ground data collected by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), Yakama Nation, and Safari Club International volunteer members to better understand pronghorn population trends in southcentral Washington. Information is still being collected, however, counts near the Horse Heaven Hills in District 4 were on par with previous years.

Sunnyside/Snake River Wildlife Area Wetland Maintenance: Sunnyside/Snake River Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Ferguson and Natural Resource Technician Cardenas have been busy maintaining pumps, water control structures, and ditches to keep wetlands filled for wintering waterfowl.

Region 3 Bighorn Sheep Test and Remove Monitoring: District 8 Biologist Wampole and Scientific Technician Ogburn investigated four collared sheep mortalities in the Yakima Canyon test populations. Samples have been submitted to the wildlife disease and diagnostic lab and will investigate presence of Movi.

District 8 Wolf Monitoring: District 8 Biologist Wampole and Scientific Technician Ogburn continue to monitor wolf activity in the district deploying trail cameras. 

Region 3 CWD Passive Monitoring: District 8 Biologist Wampole and Scientific Technician Ogburn began passive monitoring of elk and deer for CWD in the district with focus at designated feed site areas. Elk that are found dead or removed for conflict or fatal injuries/illness are being sampled as a new step towards proactive monitoring in the region.

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Sunnyside/Snake River Wildlife Area Access Site Maintenance: To allow for positive experiences for hunters, Sunnyside/Snake River Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Ferguson and Natural Resource Technician Cardenas have been maintaining the parking at wildlife area access sites by adding gravel, picking up trash, etc. 

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Kittitas County Conflict - Elk: Elk have been seen on Hayward Hill and Swauk Creek after the recent snow. Elk also moved onto Springwood and Kittias Reclamtion District, Yakama Nation, and permit hunters have been engaged in moving elk out of the area.

Some elk were observed on the wrong side of the elk fence in and around Robinson Canyon. Technician Leuck and L. T. Murray Wildlife Area staff moved the elk back through return gates by herding and baiting. Wildlife area staff also repaired some fence breaks that elk had made and the area appears to be secure at this time.

Cle Elum Cougar Relocation: A cougar was relocated out of a barn in Cle Elum and released into suitable habitat on a wildlife area.

Yakima County Conflict - Deer: Several deer were struck by vehicles and euthanized. They were donated to the Union Gospel Mission.

Yakima County Conflict – Domestic Dogs Conflict: Elk in the Cowiche area have been breaking elk fences and getting into areas east of the fence. A pack of domestic dogs have been killing elk at the feed site and it is suspected that fence breaks may also be attributed to dog packs chasing elk.

 

Picture of “Wetzel_1” photo here

Elk killed by domestic dogs.

 

Picture of “Wetzel_2” photo here

Domestic dogs loose near WDFW elk feeding site.

 

Yakima County Conflict - Elk: Elk have been persistent in the Tampico area coming from the west and south. In addition to the Tampico resident elk, migratory elk have been coming north from the Yakama Reservation into Evans’ orchard further east.

Several large groups of elk broke out of the Wenas fence on eastern Cleman Mountain. Wenas Wildlife Area staff members and the landowner herded elk back to the correct side of the fence and repaired the escape holes. A few elk remain on the wrong side, but the majority were herded back onto the Wenas Wildlife Area.

Rattlesnake Mt Elk: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand continued to monitor elk activity on Rattlesnake Mountain and coordinated with landowners on possible damage permit opportunities. Almost all elk activity is occurring on the Hanford National Monument.

Kahlotus Deer Damage Hazing and Hunts: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand conducted deer hazing patrols in several winter wheat fields in the Kahlotus area near Lower Monumental Dam on the Snake River. In addition, several youth hunters from the Region 3 damage roster hunts were deployed to landowners to assist them with hazing and removing problem deer.

Silver Dollar Coyote Control: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand met with cattle producers in the Silver Dollar area to discuss coyote control measures being implemented to reduce possible depredations during calving operations. Several coyotes have been harvested by hunters utilizing calling techniques and night hunts utilizing thermal imaging equipment.

Illegal Meat Transport: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand assisted Enforcement’s Detachment 19 with disposing of elk parts illegally transported into District 4 under CWD rules. The parts were buried at the approved Richland Landfill.

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Neff Jones Road Shrub Planting and Maintenance: Natural Resource Technician Pizzini and Region 3 Private Lands Biologist Manderbach planted sagebrush, rabbitbrush, and bitterbrush at the Neff Jones Hunt by Reservation property. Previous plantings were monitored while out on the landscape, with some of the sagebrush doing well and going to seed this year. Plans are in place to continue planting and increasing monitoring and maintenance. Pizzini went out later to clean up around existing shrubs, weed eating a swath around each one. 

Region 3 Ringold Hatchery Habitat Project: Ringold staff members, along with Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area staff members, and Private Lands Biologist Manderbach began work on a habitat project at the Ringold Springs hatchery. A new fabric mulch layer implement was used to lay fabric strips in preparation of shrubs being planted soon. The project will provide habitat for deer, upland birds, and other wildlife while also providing a windbreak and helping prevent wind erosion of the soil. 

Wenas Wildlife Area Acquisition Meetings: Wenas Wildlife Area Manager Gray, Property Acquisition Supervisor Woodruff, Water Rights Specialist Malon, and Region 3 Lands Agent Carbary met with three separate landowners regarding the status of acquisitions that WDFW is currently working on. Each project is at different stages. The Cleman Mountain (Hoover) acquisition has been acquired by WDFW. Final agreements regarding the split of water rights are currently being worked on. The Black Canyon Acquisition and Exchange is set to be finalized by late spring/early summer 2025. The last project is the Miracle Mile Conservation Easement and Life Estate. Gray and Wenas Wildlife Area Habitat Specialist Miller applied for a Washington Recreation and Conservation Office grant to fund this project and will hear back before the end of June as to whether the grant will be awarded or not. All of these on-going projects were created to protect critical habitat throughout the Wenas Valley.

Providing Education and Outreach

L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Outreach: The Kittitas County Field and Stream Club held Hunter Education Course field firearms training at the Green Gate site on the Quilomene Unit for a second year. The site’s location and ease of access has helped with getting new hunters trained and ready for the field.

Other

L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Safety: The L.T. Murray Wildlife Area purchased an OSHA approved safety basket for assisting with removing tarps from outside haystacks at the Joe Watt barn. 

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Hunter Access: Biologist Morris maintained and continued monitoring corn stubble fields enrolled in the Hunt by Reservation system for upland bird and waterfowl hunting seasons. Most bird seasons end in January, and these hunt by reservation sites will close January 26.

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Elk Issues: Conflict Specialist Heilhecker responded to several reports of elk damage in GMU 204. Elk are damaging livestock fences and compromising haystacks. She visited with landowners who signed damage prevention cooperative agreements and issued landowner kill permits. 

Depredation Permits to Address Deer Damage: Conflict Specialist Heilhecker responded to a deer damage report for an orchard in GMU 209. The owner signed a renewed damage prevention cooperative agreement. Specialist Heilhecker issued permits to the landowner who traditionally gives the permits to youth hunters. 

Deer and Elk Concerns: Conflict Specialist Bridges has been working with 30 different landowners in Chelan County to address deer and elk depredation concerns and has issued numerous permits for both species.

Cost Share Fencing Agreements: Conflict Specialist Bridges has been working with 15 landowners over the last several months to finalize the design and layout for cost share fencing agreements. Bridges has been coordinating to getting fencing materials to landowners who are willing to sign a 30-year cooperative fencing agreement with the State of Washington. These agreements will allow for the construction of fences to prevent deer and elk from entering orchards and reduce or eliminate conflict. 

Releasing Stuck Deer: Conflict Specialist Bridges and Supervisor Rickel responded to a call of a deer stuck in a fence. Bridges and Rickel responded to find a large four-point buck with its antlers hopelessly tangled in a rope and fencing material. Bridges was able to dart the buck with tranquilizers. Once it was down, the antlers were removed, and the reversal drug was given.

Providing Education and Outreach

Wolf Advisory Group Meeting: Specialist Heilhecker participated in the Wolf Advisory Group meeting where the wolf-livestock interaction protocol was reviewed.

Conducting Business Operations and Policy

Training: Specialist Heilhecker completed mandatory IT security and CJIS trainings.

Other

Seeking Options to Address Elk Issues: Specialist Heilhecker spoke with staff members in the hunter education program regarding the possibility of using master hunters to haze elk. She wanted to offer the opportunity to willing landowners who continue to experience damage after harvesting an elk. Master hunters can haze elk to count towards their volunteer hours.

Managing Wildlife Populations

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD): Private Lands Biologist Nizer drove to a roadkill elk alongside Highway 195 driving north to Spokane. The elk was hit by a car right before Spangle. Nizer took the CWD sample from the elk and took the other CWD samples he had with him to the Spokane regional office.

Cummings Creek Winter Closure: Natural Resource Technician Tritt closed the Cummings Creek gate for the annual January 1st to April 1st winter closure to protect wintering wildlife. 

Prairie Grouse: Biologists Lowe and Brinkman attended the annual Washington Sage and Sharp-tailed Grouse Workshop held at Central Washington University in Ellensburg. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) staff members and state, federal, and tribal partners gave updates on grouse populations, habitat restorations and improvements, and discussed conservation actions to benefit sage and sharp-tailed grouse. 

Chronic Wasting Disease Sampling: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Samsill sampled and coordinated the sampling of several elk harvested during the week with damage permits and in the Fruitland elk area.

Providing Recreation Opportunities

WT Wooten Wildlife Area Campgrounds, Parking Areas, and Shooting Range: Natural Resource Technician Tritt checked the campgrounds and parking areas and cleaned up trash. He cleaned up a tree that a camper chopped down with an axe in Campground 1. He also burned pine needles in Campground 1. 

Recreation Access Management and Maintenance: Natural Resource Technician Nielsen cleaned restrooms and picked up litter at Heller Bar, Shumaker, and Boggan’s. Natural Resource Technician Nielsen and Natural Resource Specialist 3 Whittaker applied and spread three dump truck loads of gravel at Heller Bar to level out low spots. 

Access Program: Private Lands Biologist Nizer received the signed contract for a new Hunt by Written Permission property in Spokane County from the landowner. Nizer plans to post the property in the next week. 

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Great Horned Owl: On Thursday, Natural Resource Technician Edmondson and Natural Resource Technician Keeling responded to a call regarding a great horned owl that had flown into a person’s home after colliding with the side of their house in pursuit of one of their chickens. Upon arriving on scene, the owl seemed to be calm and was easy to capture and place in a crate. The owl was then delivered to the Kettle River Raptor Center for further evaluation for possible injuries. 

Moose Complaints: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Harris and Enforcement Intern Swiger responded to a call regarding a bull moose frequenting a Whitman County landowner’s yard. The landowner had been unsuccessful in deterring the moose and asked for assistance with hazing the moose away from their house. Staff members successfully hazed the moose away from the residence using paintball guns. 

Wildlife Conflict Specialist Harris also responded to a report of two bull moose fighting in a Spokane resident’s back yard. One of the bulls got a rope swing twisted around its antlers but was able to free itself from the swing prior to Harris arriving on scene. The moose did not appear to have sustained any injuries during the incident. 

Elk Damage: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Harris was contacted by a producer that was sustaining elk damage to a haystack in Spokane. Harris loaned the producer a paintball gun to assist with hazing the elk away from the haystack. 

Wolf non-lethal deterrent work: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Kolb followed up with a Columbia County producer after a confirmed wolf depredation to assist with carcass sanitation. Natural Resource Technician Moberg and Wildlife Control Specialist Kolb also helped the producer install fladry and fox lights around a corral area where the depredation occurred. 

Elk: Natural Resource Technician Edmondson received a call from a landowner near Fruitland that has been having problems with elk near their hay stackyard. Edmondson brought a propane cannon down to the landowner to assist with keeping the elk away. 

Turkey: Natural Resource Technician Edmondson issued depredation permits to a landowner who had called to report a large number of turkeys in their field with the cattle.

Cougar: Natural Resource Technician Edmondson assisted Sergeant Bahrenburg with a cougar call involving a cougar that had attacked a landowner’s dog. Hounds were brought in to attempt to locate the cougar, but the cougar could not be found.

Wolf: Natural Resource Technician Edmondson checked three trail cameras that Natural Resource Technician Keeling had set out on a property where a possible wolf incident occurred.

Injured Deer: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Harris responded to a report of an injured deer on a Spokane college campus that was described as having what appeared to be intestines coming out of an abdominal wound. Harris determined that the mule deer buck had a papilloma on its hind leg and appeared to be in good health. Harris provided campus staff members with information on papillomas and assured them that the buck was going to be fine. 

Deer: Natural Resource Technician Edmondson and Keeling responded to a call about three deer carcasses that members of the public found in Northport. Upon arriving on scene, it was noted that the three deer were an adult doe and two yearlings. Edmondson and Keeling did a field necropsy to find any signs of the cause of death. Corn was found in the stomach of the adult doe.

Elk: Natural Resource Technician Edmondson and Keeling set up livestock panels in front of a landowner’s hay barn that elk had gotten into the night before. The next morning the landowner called to say that the elk had been back but were unable to get to the hay in the barn due to the panels.

Turkey Trap: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Kolb and Natural Resource Technician Moberg installed a turkey trap in Walla Walla County to address on-going damage complaints caused by nearly 100 turkeys.

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Habitat: Private Lands Biologist Thorne Hadley contacted a landowner that was making some repairs to their wildlife watering facility as well as inquiring about suggestions on how to enhance surrounding area. The landowner was very excited and very appreciative.

Cleaning Access Road: Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Wagner and Natural Resource Technician Duclos worked on removing an elderberry bush that had fallen across one of the access roads at the Revere Wildlife Area. Duclos ran the chainsaw while Wagner followed behind, removing the branches and tree. 

Habitat Project Planning: Private Lands Biologist Nizer met with Private Lands Section Manager McCanna to discuss a future private lands workshop for spring 2025.

Hartsock Unit: Regional Habitat Program Assistant Manager Schirm met with a Columbia County engineer to look at an illegal construction project on the Hartsock Unit. The county purchased grass seed and straw to seed and cover the disturbed area. The habitat biologists will be meeting with the co-managers to discuss what mitigation will be required by the county next summer during the work window. Natural Resource Technician Tritt cleared the blackberries and brush from around more of the irrigation risers on the Hartsock Unit to allow more parts of the field to be irrigated next summer.

Revere Wetland Project: With the Ducks Unlimited Wetland project completed at the Revere Wildlife Area, Wildlife Area Manager Finch contacted Ducks Unlimited engineer Heck about the possibility of installing the wood slats back in the dam. Brian Heck gave Finch the go ahead, so Natural Resource Technician Duclos installed the wood slats back into the dam. 

West Medical Access Site: This week Wildlife Area Manager Finch, Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Wagner, Natural Resource Technician Duclos, Region 1 Access Manager Dziekan meet with Vasquez, a salesman from Pacific Fence and Wire to go over the fence replacement at West Medical Lake from the 2023 Gray Fire. All present walked over the area where the existing fence was to inspect the line and details of the fence project. This fence should be completed before April 15, 2025. 

Revere Wildlife Area Wetland Project: This week Wildlife Area Manager Finch, Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Wagner and Natural Resource Technician Duclos made a trip from West Medical Lake to Chapman Lake and then down to the Revere Wildlife Area to inspect the wetland project since its completion and after the boards were installed back in the structure. Finch filmed a video that can be showcased at the next District 2 Team meeting in February. 

Providing Education and Outreach

Winter Camp: Biologist Lowe provided a program and activities for 50 Girl Scouts ages six to 14 who were attending the Girl Scouts of Eastern Washington/Northern Idaho winter break day camp. The theme of the presentation was winter adaptation, and the girls examined tracks, scat, skulls and hides and tried to determine species based on identified features. 

Job Shadow: Biologist Lowe met with a high school student on a job shadow day to answer questions about wildlife biologist duties and role in the agency.

Presentation: During the Columbia County Conservation District’s annual meeting held in Dayton, Private Lands Biologist Thorne Hadley presented information about the WDFW’s Private Lands Access Program, along with information from Wildlife Conflict Specialist Kolb and Wildlife Area Manager Dingman. Private Lands Biologist Thorne Hadley will coordinate with two landowners the following week to meet at their properties to discuss habitat projects after talking to them at the meeting. 

Wildlife Experts at Kettle Falls Elementary School: Every year the Kettle Falls Elementary School fourth grade teachers invite local WDFW staff members to serve as wildlife experts to answer student questions about gray wolves, cougars, bald eagles, and white-tailed deer. This year Wildlife Area Manager Palmer was joined again by Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hultberg, as well as Wildlife Biologist Johnson and Wildlife Conflict Specialist Samsill. PowerPoint presentations and animal mounts are used to add to the experience for the students. Some ask, “Are these real?” while petting the cougar rug or deer mount. 

Conducting Business Operations and Policy

Facility/Equipment Security: Wildlife Area Manager (Acting) Palmer worked with District 1 Fish Biologists Baker and Walker to complete a cross-program project. The Fish Program needed a secure location to store their airboat, so the program purchased four gates to enclose an open shed at Sherman Creek Wildlife Area headquarters. The custom gates were picked up from the supplier a couple of weeks ago. This week Palmer, Baker and Walker worked together to install the gates. The Fish Program’s airboat in now securely stored, as seen in the photo below. 

Signs: Wildlife Area Manager Dingman submitted “Closed Waters” and “Wildlife Area” signs to be updated with the new WDFW branding so she can order new signs to replace faded or missing ones on the WT Wooten Wildlife Area.

KREM 2 News Interview: Private Lands Biologist Nizer was interviewed by KREM 2 about the first ADA duck blind that was installed in Region 1 on a Hunt by Reservation parcel. The blind was put in by WDFW and the Inland Northwest Wildlife Council, who donated the blind.

Other

Volunteer Opportunity: Private Lands Biologist Nizer coordinated with a volunteer member to work on a trailer lights and trouble shoot the issues, along with installing a metal sheet for blocking wind when transporting pheasants. Nizer also took the volunteer member on a drive and showed him how to take CWD samples. Unfortunately, no samples were found along the road. 

Managing Wildlife Populations

Golden Eagles: Biologist Lowe attended a meeting to learn about a tool developed by Research Scientist Watson and GIS Analyst Jansen to predict landscape use by breeding golden eagles. The tool is intended to be used for evaluating wind power development in Washington. 

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Rogersburg Road: Access Technician Nielsen used the access John Deere 2502R tractor to grade and make repairs to Rogersburg Road along the lower Grande Ronde River. Several neighboring landowners complimented Steve on his good work!  

Image

Photo by WDFW

Asotin Creek Wildlife Area Shooting Range: Heimgartner and Nielsen used the access program dump trailer and 2025R John Deere tractor to spread gravel at the parking area for the shooting range. One load of gravel was hauled up from the Clarkston Shop and the other two came from a stockpile at the mouth of Dry Gulch. Heimgartner and Nielsen also installed new fire rings at the Black Butte access site and swimming hole site near Joseph Creek Road.  

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

W. T. Wooten Wildlife Area: Natural Resource Technician Tritt checked the elk fence along the Mountain Road for trees over the fence after the severe winds in the area this week.

Reported Wolf Activity: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Kolb responded to a complaint of a wolf being observed in a 200-acre calving pasture in Columbia County. Non-lethal deterrents were deployed and Kolb will check in with the producer and monitor the pasture during calving operations.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Cougar Depredation: Natural Resource Technician Harris and Wildlife Conflict Specialist Samsill responded to a complaint from a landowner that has had a total of six goats go missing over the last two months, three of which had disappeared over the weekend. Harris and Samsill investigated and determined that a cougar was responsible for the most recent disappearances. Harris and Samsill coordinated with Stevens County Sheriff's Office to deploy hounds and removed an adult tom. DNA and tooth samples were collected, and the cougar carcass was donated. 

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Fence Repair: Technicians Hammons and Meisner started the week checking a hot spot in the elk fence where they know trees will soon fall on it and it will need repaired. No trees have fallen yet. On Tuesday, Hammons and Meisner removed about 200 yards of high-tensile fence wire near the Cougar Creek access site that was broken and hanging loose. The wire was replaced with a barbed wire and stretched tight on the existing posts. Access Technician Nielsen assisted at Cougar Creek. They also continued fence work on Bonneville Power Administration funded lands at Stringtown Gulch and Long Gulch.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Conducting Business Operations and Policy

Entry Road Maintenance: This week Wildlife Area Manager Finch graded the 1-mile road coming into the shop area and the short road going to the office. Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Rimmelspacher used the new rock rake to smooth the road surfaces and kick the rocks off to the side of the road after grading. The finish surface turned out extremely smooth with no washboards. 

Image

Photo by WDFW

Dog Training Meeting: Wildlife Area Manager Dingman participated in a meeting with biologists and enforcement to discuss the new program for issuing permits to let hunters with hound dogs run mountain lions to train their dogs. Areas on the wildlife areas in south-east Washington were agreed on where this could take place. 

Equipment Maintenance: With Dziekan’s assistance, Palmer took possession of a Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife internally surplused snowmobile in Spokane on Tuesday. He spent half a day Wednesday conducting maintenance and repairs on the new sled. This is the second newer used sled Palmer has recently picked up. He will be surplusing two much older sleds from their current location at the wildlife area.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Helicopter Capture Tabletop Exercise: Staff members that will be participating in the 2024 Northeast moose captures (including Biologists Turnock and Prince) participated in an exercise designed to prepare staff for potential scenarios during a helicopter capture. The exercise was extremely helpful and identified a few needs for agency training.

Snowmobile Training: Wildlife Biologists Turnock, Prince, and Ungulate Research Scientist DeVivo participated in the Forest Service’s snowmobile training in the Methow Valley. The training was extremely useful and all three feel much more comfortable operating snowmobiles as a result of the training.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Helicopter Capture Tabletop Exercise: Biologists Lowe and Brinkman participated in a tabletop exercise with staff members involved in upcoming moose captures in Districts 1 and 2. The exercise involved working through potential emergency scenarios and responses during an aerial capture and was very helpful. 

Voluntary Public Access – Habitat Incentive Program: Natural Resource Technician Nizer reviewed payable contracts enrolled in Hunt by Reservation or Feel Free to Hunt to see how much is expected to be paid out this year. The total number of payables was sent to Private Lands Section Manager McCanna. Nizer also gave updates on Voluntary Public Access – Habitat Incentive Program (VPA-HIP) new contracts and what habitat work has been done this last year.

Equipment Maintenance Cross-Program Coordination: Sherman Creek Hatchery staff members used the Sherman Creek Wildlife Area shop for two days, performing boat maintenance and repairs. 

Managing Wildlife Populations

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. 

Image

Photo by WDFW

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 2^nd 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.

Image

Photo by WDFW

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.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

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.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Managing Wildlife Populations

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

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

Image

Photo by WDFW

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

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

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

Image

Photo by WDFW

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

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

Providing Recreation Opportunities

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

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

Image

Photo by WDFW

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

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

Image

Photo by WDFW

Conserving Natural Landscapes

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

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

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

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

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

Other

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

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

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

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

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

Managing Wildlife Populations

Columbian White-tailed Deer Recruitment Surveys: Biologists Stephens, Holman, and Aubrey conducted five surveys for Columbian white-tailed deer on Puget Island from mid-November to the end of December. The purpose of the survey is to get a ratio of does to fawns on the island. As an additional metric, biologists also get a minimum count of deer on the island. Puget Island is one of several areas surveyed for Columbian white-tailed deer during this time frame. This survey effort is coordinated by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service and additional participants include Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Cowlitz Tribe, and volunteers. Biologists counted a high of 189 deer on Puget Island and an average of 46 fawns per 100 does. See graphs below to see how this compares with prior year’s surveys.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Year-Round Bat Acoustic Monitor Installation: Biologists Wickhem and Bergh were joined by Bat Biologist Tobin and Friends of the Columbia River Gorge Stewardship Manager Woods to install a year-round bat acoustic monitoring station on private land in Skamania County. The detector is powered by a solar panel, will only need to be serviced four times per year, and will hopefully be deployed in the same location for at least five years.

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and other partners have additional stations set up across the state in an effort to learn more about our native bats. We have many gaps in knowledge for many bat species including simple life cycle and life history. Acoustic monitoring is one way to help begin to answer some of those questions. For example, we can use these data to look at potential migration patterns and routes, seasonal movements, and active periods. These data can help inform wind energy development or elucidate fall and winter activity patterns. We can also use acoustic recordings as an index of activity to detect changes overtime on the landscape. They can also help us understand which species are susceptible to white-nose syndrome.

Acoustic activity has been shown to mirror changes in white-nosed syndrome affected populations, so this is one metric we use to understand impacts from this disease in the absence of being able to assess hibernacula. Visit our website for more information on Washingtons bats and the threat from white-nose syndrome.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Injured Merlin: Biologists Wickhem and Bergh responded to reports of an injured raptor along a private road in Dallesport. When the pair arrived, they found a small merlin hopping next to the road, unable to fly more than a few feet. Thanks to help from two staff members on site, they were able to catch the bird without incident and transport it to Rowena Wildlife Rehab Center. Upon initial exam and x-ray, the veterinarian reported that the female raptor didn’t have any fractures or obvious bruising and was potentially just sore and disoriented after being hit by a car. She appeared to make a full recovery and was released near where she was captured a week later. This was one of three injured bird calls received by District 9 staff members on the same day. Big thanks to Wildlife Conflict Specialist Aubrey and staff members at The Dalles Dam for responding to the other reports.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Dusky Canada Goose Surveys: Biologist Wickhem conducted two dusky Canada goose surveys on the Shillapoo Wildlife Area and surrounding lowlands of Clark County this month. Biologists Stephens and Holman conducted the twice-monthly surveys in Cowltiz and Wahkiakum counties. Dusky geese are a sub-species of Canada goose that spend summers in Alaska and migrate through and/or overwinter in the lower Columbia River. Duskys are closed to recreational harvest due to low population levels.

The purpose of these surveys is to count dusky geese observed and read alphanumeric codes on any red-collared duskys. Wildlife managers survey the geese multiple times across their primary wintering grounds and use the data to generate survival estimates. Unfortunately, dusky geese were not observed on any surveys this month. Other notable sightings included the first swans of the season, red-tailed hawks, Northern harriers, bald eagles, great blue herons, egrets, sandhill cranes, snow geese and many species of waterfowl, Columbian white-tailed deer, black-tailed deer, elk, otters, nutria, and coyotes. Early December rain has helped to fill in the wetlands, but the area still needs a significant amount of rain.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Columbian White-tailed Deer Surveys: Biologists Stephens and Holman along with Conflict Specialist Aubrey completed the annual surveys for Columbian white-tailed deer on Puget Island. Surveys consist of driving designated routes and counting all deer and classifying them as doe, fawn, or buck. The primary purpose of the survey is to generate a doe to fawn ratio and therefore monitor the annual productivity of the population. This survey is done in partnership with the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Cowlitz Tribe, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, and with support from volunteers, all of whom survey different white-tail populations. Survey results will be summarized in future reports. Thanks to Customer Service Specialists Kean and Splitgerber as well as Regional Operations Manager Varley and Regional Director Sallee for participating in the surveys.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Collared Deer Mortality: On Christmas Eve morning Biologist Bergh received a message indicating that one of the GPS-collared mule deer in the Klickitat mule deer migration study had died. The collar had detected no movement for nine consecutive hours the day prior. When she arrived Bergh only found the collar and the cut off ears with ear tags attached. This was on private land in GMU 382 which was not currently open to tribal or non-tribal hunting.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Mudflow Elk Count: Assistant Manager Risley and Technician Crane had great visibility when they visited the Forest Learning Center where they conducted the bimonthly winter Mudflow elk count. Despite high snow levels, 108 individual elk were observed using Mudflow. Multiple visitors to the mountain stopped to talk during the survey. All were offered an opportunity to take a closer look using the spotting scope, which was then followed with additional questions about Mt. St. Helens’ most iconic and charismatic residents.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Injured Bald Eagle: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen received a report of an injured bald eagle from Rowena Wildlife Clinic. A photographer was observing eagles along the mouth of the Klickitat River and saw one eagle that appeared to have an injured wing. When approached by the photographer, the eagle swam across the river to the cliffs on the other side. Jacobsen responded to the location and observed the injured eagle hopping on the cliffs across the river but was not able to access the bird’s location at the time. Later in the day, Biologist Wickhem was in the area and observed the eagle flying for a short distance. The eagle will likely recover on its own.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Injured Owl: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen received a report of an injured great horned owl from Rowena Wildlife Clinic as well. A different photographer was observing owls in centeral Klickitat County and was concerned about an owl that appeared to have an eye injury. The photographer sent a video of the owl to Jacobsen. It is unclear what caused the injury to the eye, but Jacobsen determined that the owl was still very mobile and not a candidate for capture and treatment.

Image

Photo by reporting party

Deer Collar Retrieval: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen and Volunteer Ridout collected a GPS collar which had reached the end of its lifespan and automatically fallen off a mule deer in Klickitat County. While driving in to collect the collar, Jacobsen and Volunteer Ridout observed two sets of fairly fresh cougar tracks in the snow.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Kress Lake Access Area: Access staff members have had to clean up multiple fallen trees over the last few weeks due to heavy wind and rains. Shown below is the 4^th tree in the last month that has fallen at Kress Lake Access Area. Other sites have suffered the same but Kress Lake seems to be the hardest hit at this time. This type of clean up is a nice change of pace from the normal garbage dumps and other human caused abuse.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Animal Tracks: A concerned homeowner contacted Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife staff members regarding some odd tracks and markings on a tree in her yard. Jacobsen provided advice to the reporting party and although he was not able to determine the identity of the track-maker. Jacobsen was able to rule out black bear, which was what the homeowner was concerned about.

Deer Fencing: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen met with a Clark County landowner regarding ongoing deer rubbing damage to his Christmas tree operation. Jacobsen has been planning a deer fencing installation with the producer for this coming spring. Jacobsen walked the property with the landowner, identified new deer damage, and marked the boundaries for the proposed fencing project.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Depredation on Chicken: A landowner contacted Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. They requested assistance preventing bobcat depredations on his chickens. Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen met with the landowner and inspected the landowner’s chicken coop. The landowner had one remaining chicken but planned to get more in the spring. Jacobsen provided advice on securing gaps in the existing chicken coop as well as utilizing an electric fence to prevent bobcats and other carnivores from accessing the chickens in their day pen. The landowner was appreciative of the assistance.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Cougar Samples: Officer Nelson responded to a report of a cougar that had killed a miniature pony. The landowner had shot and killed the cougar in the middle of the depredation. Jacobsen assisted Officer Nelson with pulling a tooth for aging purposes and pulling a tissue sample for genetic analysis (PDF). The cougar was a sub-adult male, as evidenced by the distinct black mark between the cougar’s legs (only males have this black penis sheath) and the residual spotting on the cougar’s hide, particularly on the insides of the limbs, known as “banding” at this stage in life.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Garbage-Habituated Black Bear: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen received a report from a Clark County residence regarding a black bear that had been regularly accessing stored garbage. The garbage had been stored in a poorly secured shed and the bear had gotten into the garbage multiple times before the homeowner contacted Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Jacobsen advised the homeowner on how to erect electric fencing around a structure and coordinated with Officer Hughes to loan out an electric fence energizer to the homeowner. After erecting the fence, the bear ceased accessing the garbage.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Seeding and Surveying at Eagle Island: Assistant Regional Program Manager Hauswald and Assistant Manager Risley paid a visit to the Eagle Island Unit of the Mt. St. Helens Wildlife Area to seed wildflowers and native grasses at multiple grassland areas on the 230-acre island. A generous donation of native pollinator seed mix was made available to the wildlife area courtesy of Cowlitz Noxious Weed Control and Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board. A labor of love and patience, the wildflowers are not likely to flower and set new seed for approximately two years, but wildlife area staff members hope that the native plants will eventually fill in the grassland areas where they’ve been introduced and, subsequently, naturally reseed adjacent areas.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Hauswald and Assistant Manager Risley spent the latter part of the day surveying the forested portions of the island for invasive holly and assessing the success of past treatments of Scotch broom and blackberry. It was a beautiful day on the island and many eagles, ducks, and signs of deer presence were observed.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Mowing at Shillapoo Wildlife Area: Assistant Manager Breitenstein and Technician Crane spent the last several weeks mowing at the Shillapoo Wildlife Area. Mowing is completed annually on the wildlife area and is used to maintain green forage availability for overwintering waterfowl, as well as control invasive species such as Himalayan blackberry, reed canary grass, and Canada thistle. Mowing must be timed correctly to be completed before the ground becomes too wet for equipment to drive over but start late enough to avoid destroying too much cover during the pheasant hunt.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

 

Managing Wildlife Populations

Sunnyside Wildlife Area Agricultural Lease Monitoring: District 8 Wildlife Biologists Wampole and Moore are developing methods to gain a better understanding of how wildlife use wildlife area fields that are leased to agricultural producers. The objective of these efforts is to determine if the lease objectives are being met, with particular emphasis on determining if the leased fields are providing a source of fall and winter food and cover for resident and migrating game and non-game wildlife. These efforts will help biologists make more informed land management recommendations that will reduce the negative impacts of agricultural activities and optimize the land's benefit to wildlife.

Avoiding Migratory Bird Conflicts with Wastewater Management: District 4 Wildlife Biologist Fidorra coordinated Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's (WDFW) response to a permit update for a cattle feedlot where several botulism outbreaks have occurred in birds during past summers. The updated permit, issued by Washington Department of Ecology, will require monitoring and response for dead wildlife, WDFW notification, and vegetation management.

Wind and Solar Project Reviews: District 4 Wildlife Biologist Fidorra worked with Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) staff members, developers, and regulatory agencies.  They discussed the impacts of several solar and wind projects proposed in the district.

Pelican Research and Management: District 4 Wildlife Biologist Fidorra attended a WDFW and Yakama Nation meeting to discuss white pelican management and a proposed diet study.

Hanford Elk Survey Preparation: District 4 Wildlife Biologist Fidorra spent considerable time preparing logistics for the upcoming Rattlesnake Hills elk survey. The survey is a winter count of elk conducted last in Jan. 2024 as a joint effort with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

L.T. Murray Elk Feeding: The L.T. Murray crew continued with the elk feeding program.

Week Count: 01/10/2024	Watt	Robinson	Total
Cow/Calf	645	281	926
Spike Bulls	20	5	25
Branched Bulls	37	4	41
Total	702	290	992

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Oak Creek Wildlife Area: The winter elk feeding program continues on the Oak Creek Unit and Cowiche Unit of the Oak Creek Wildlife Area. Elk are in seasonally good health and are monitored daily throughout the feed season. With an increase in winter weather and an accumulation of snow, Oak Creek staff members are currently feeding an average of 2200 elk on the Cowiche Unit and 600 elk on the Oak Creek Unit daily.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

District 4 Bobcat Sealing: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand sealed a bobcat for a hunter who harvested the cat in Game Management Unit (GMU) 382.

District 8 Cougar Sealing: District 8 Wildlife Biologist Moore sealed a young cougar for a GMU 382 hunter.

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Manastash Ridge Trails Committee Meeting: Wenas Wildlife Area Manager Hughes and Lands and Recreation Specialist Frame met with the Manastash Ridge Trails Committee (MRTC) to discuss current and future projects and events for the Manastash Ridge trails. The MRTC is composed of representatives from each user group that frequently use the Manastash Ridge trails. These groups include hikers, runners, horseback riders, and mountain bike riders. Priorities for 2024 are working on getting cultural clearance and coming to an agreement as a group on the best reroutes for eroding sections of approved trails such as the Westberg trail. Hughes and Frame will be working with statewide recreational planning staff members and the MRTC to decide which reroutes will be the best to address environmental concerns and to provide a better opportunity for the public to recreate.

Sheep Company Target Shooting Area: Lands and Recreation Specialist Frame collected 650 pounds of target shooting material. More than normal amounts of trash had built up over the holiday season. Items found were target shooting material, coolers, pallets, food waste, and cardboard.

Colockum Winter Recreation: Colockum Wildlife Area staff members continued the development of a new winter non-motorized snow park at Orr Creek Road in the Stemilt Basin. WDFW acquired signs from Washington State Parks and posted them on the new gate at Orr Creek. This gate is still open due to the lack of snow this winter.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Sunnyside-Snake River Waterfowl Hunting Opportunities: There has been a large number of waterfowl moving into the Windmill Ranch, Mesa Lake, and Bailie Units of the Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area with the recent winter weather. Although most wetlands are now frozen, hunters have been successful hunting in the corn fields.

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Rattlesnake Hills Elk: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand monitored elk activity on Rattlesnake Mountain including the Hanford National Monument and surrounding private lands. There were no reports of elk outside of Hanford.

Kahlotus Deer Damage: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand continued working wheat producers in the Kahlotus area with deer damage issues. He educated them on hazing strategies, damage permit hunting, and possible youth hunting opportunities. Additional damage permits were requested by two landowners and three youth from the Region 3 special permit pool were deployed.

Plymouth/Paterson Deer: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand conducted hazing and monitoring of deer activity near orchards and wine grape crops in south Benton County near the Columbia River.

District 8 Kittitas County Conflict: Conflict Specialist Wetzel hazed some elk from agriculture areas in Kittitas County. One row crop area was surveyed for a fencing contract. Wetzel and a houndsman removed a cougar from a neighborhood near Cle Elum. The cougar had been involved in a series of depredations.

District 8 Yakima County Conflict: Conflict Wetzel worked on fencing contracts with growers who were having problems with elk in orchards and one crop circle. Elk have been hazed from the orchard areas.

Providing Education and Outreach

Burrowing Owl Outreach: District 4 Wildlife Biologist Fidorra presented to the Spokane Audubon Society on the topic of Washington’s Burrowing Owl ecology and conservation. The 45-minute presentation was well received and attended by approximately 30 participants over Zoom.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Conducting Business Operations and Policy

Criminal Justice Information System Certification: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand completed the required background check, fingerprints, training, and exam to obtain his Criminal Justice Information Service certification as required for Spillman users.