Managing Wildlife Populations

Marbled Murrelet Diet Analysis Research: Regional Wildlife Biologists assisted Science Division with murrelet captures for an ongoing diet analysis to help assess factors associated with local population declines. The team found success in the waters near Smith and Minor islands, west of central Whidbey Island, capturing three marbled murrelets and one ancient murrelet in a single evening!

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

Cascades Bobcat Project: Biologist Smith has been helping Wildlife Science Division trap bobcats in King County. The effort aims to develop occupancy modeling tools to provide for periodic population trend assessment in this species.

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Photo by WDFW

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

SeaTac International Airport Wildlife Hazard Management Plan Annual Meeting: Biologist Anderson met with Port of Seattle at their annual overview of the SeaTac International Airport Wildlife Hazard Management Plan. Aspects of the plan discussed involved largely bird airstrike hazard management, state and other jurisdictional legal considerations and needs, how efforts are implemented on the ground/changes/etc., broad assessment of how things are going, and where attention is needed in 2024.

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Providing Education and Outreach

Burien Bird Fest, Bellevue Master Naturalist, King County Native Plant Sale: Biologist Anderson tabled with Watchable Wildlife at the Burien Bird Fest. The event was very birdy and well attended at the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) outreach table. 

Biologist Anderson provided the annual Urban Wildlife Management class for the Bellevue Master Naturalist Program.

Anderson partnered with Habitat at Home to run a table at the King County native plant sale. There were many plants being picked up and many folks visiting the WDFW booth to discuss wildlife and our Habitat at Home Program.

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Managing Wildlife Populations

Deer and Chronic Wasting Disease: At the request of Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Veterinarian Haman, Biologist Tirhi met with a hunter who harvested a deer in Colorado that tested positive for chronic wasting disease. Following protocol, Tirhi collected and disposed of the meat and educated the hunter about decontamination requirements.

Western Pond Turtle: Biologists Butler and Tirhi represented Region 6 at the annual Northwestern Pond Turtle Partners Annual Meeting which was attended by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Region 6, Region 5, and Olympia headquarters staff members, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Woodland Park Zoo, Oregon Zoo, PAWS, Sustainability in Prisons Project, and our citizen scientists. This is the annual opportunity for Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and its partners to discuss and plan the past and upcoming turtle seasons and all things related to turtle recovery.

Oregon Spotted Frog Working Group: Biologists Butler and Tirhi represented District 11 at the annual Washington working group meeting hosted at U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service headquarters. The meeting was well attended by federal, state, county, and non-government organizations, including academia and citizen science partners. This meeting is our annual opportunity to review, discuss, and plan all things related to spotted frog recovery in Washington. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is grateful for the excellent partnerships protecting this most amazing and precious frog (Rana pretiosa, meaning "precious frog").

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Oregon Spotted Frog Hydrology Monitoring: Biologist Tirhi completed the weekly hydrology monitoring at our Salmon Creek frog breeding site. This monitoring provides information on the success of the frog restoration work, including the control of invasive reed canary grass. Fall and winter rains have returned and are filling the wetlands and should provide adequate levels for successful spotted frog breeding. Temperatures suggest that the frog season may start earlier this year.

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Marbled Murrelet: Biologist Tirhi assisted Olympia headquarters staff members with one evening session of murrelet captures on various parts on the Puget Sound. Although they did not capture any murrelets on this outing, one was seen towards the end of the survey but flushed before being caught. Tirhi and Butler will be assisting again in February.

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. The survey effort was completed on Jan. 30.

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 were located at Simpson Mill 5 near Matlock and at the George Adams Hatchery north of Shelton during the entirety of the grouse hunting season and 24 samples were collected. Both barrels were removed after the season ended.

Goose Surveys: Biologists Cent and Novack conducted their bi-monthly dusky Canada goose surveys across Grays Harbor and Pacific counties.

Swan Surveys: Biologist Cent conducted another tundra and trumpeter swan count since, the first survey resulted in a low count total of 52 swans. Sometimes the swans are simply in a location that we are unaware of or do not have visual access. The second count resulted in 104 swans.

Plover Survey: Biologist Cent and Diversity Biologist Anholt surveyed multiple coastal sites for wintering snowy plovers in coordination with surveys across Oregon and California. A total of 38 wintering plovers were recorded at Midway and along the beach north of Ocean Shores. At least four banded plovers were seen. They hope that additional birds will be seen by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services at Leadbetter and the Shoalwater Tribe at Graveyard/Empire spit.

Auklet Reports: Biologist Cent responded to a report of dead auklets along the beach in Ocean Shores. One carcass was retrieved for disease testing.

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Grays Harbor Access Areas Clean up: Access staff members continue to deal with dumping at Grays Harbor Access Areas, specifically: Morley-Humptulips River, Longs Swamp-Wishkah River, and Fuller Bridge-Chehalis River. Pictured below are just a few of the recent illegal dump sites that have occurred on Department of Fish and Wildlife properties in recent weeks.

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

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Reynvaan Bar-Humptulips River: Access staff members with the assistance of the neighboring timber company’s logging equipment and behind the scenes work by Region 6 Enforcement officers were finally able to remove and dispose of an abandoned travel trailer that was forcefully dragged through a jeep trail until it was hung up in between trees in a wooded area of the site and came to rest on the property boundary. The additional help was definitely needed to accomplish this task. The loader was able to dismantle and load the travel trailer in two dump trailers for removal.

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Photo by WDFW

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Lake Tahuya Access Area, Mason County: Access staff members made concrete forms and placed removable bollards at the recently developed Lake Tahuya site. The bollards are located atop of the access trail, the trail and access were designed for hand launching only. The bollards were placed to ensure vehicles do not attempt to access the water. However, they are locking and removable when needed for planting fish or facility maintenance.

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Photo by WDFW

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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 second treponeme-associated hoof disease (TAHD) infected elk.

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Elk River Wetland Planting: District Biologist Novack, Assistant District Biologist Cent and Wildlife Area Manager Bechtold assisted Wildlife Area Technicians Magliaro and Martinez to complete a 2-acre wetland planting project in the Elk River Unit of the Olympic-Willapa Hills Wildlife Area. The project took about two months to complete in total. The project entailed the installation of roughly 200 large willow and cottonwood cuttings, as well as constructing and installing protective cages to prevent damage from beaver, nutria, elk, etc. This project is part of a larger habitat enhancement project at the Elk River Unit, funded by the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office, with upland, wetland, and riparian aspects.

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South Puget Sound Management: Technician Morgan and Wildlife Area Manager Laushman continued weed management activities at the South Puget Sound Wildlife Area in Lakewood, specifically mowing Scotch broom to open up native populations of lupine and pulling patches of spurge laurel.

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Theler Wetlands: The Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group’s Washington Conservation Corps crew removed invasive plants around the Theler Wetlands at the Union River Wildlife Area. These included large swaths of blackberry and hanging sedge around the Theler Community Center buildings.

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McNeil Plantings: The Nisqually Tribe’s planting crew helped wildlife area and Habitat Program staff members replant the Milewa Estuary restoration area on McNeil Island. The estuary was restored in 2022 and new native shrub species were provided by partners at the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service to help restore the disturbed banks. 

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Joint Base Lewis-McChord Integrated Natural Resource Management Plan. Biologist Tirhi spent considerable time reviewing and providing edits to the draft integrated natural resource management plan (INRMP). The INRMP guides natural resource management across the Department of Defense Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) Installation. JBLM contains the majority of remnant south Puget Sound prairie, a habitat that is critical to the recovery of several federally and state listed prairie species including Mazama pocket gopher, streaked horned lark, Oregon vesper sparrow, and Taylor’s checkerspot butterfly. Other priority species also rely on this area, in particular native prairie butterflies. For this reason, the INRMP plays a critical role.  

Providing Education and Outreach

Puyallup Sportsmen’s Show: Biologist Novack and Butler staffed the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife booth at the Puyallup Sportsmen’s show on Jan. 31 and interacted with a large number of hunters. Public inquiries ranged from questions about where to apply for special permits to, what is going to happen with grizzly bears.

Falconry Opportunities: Wildlife Area Manager Laushman met with a local falconer to discuss wildlife areas suitable for hunting with his red-tailed hawk, Ruby.

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General Wildlife Inquiries: Biologist Murphie responded to inquiries received by phone or email related to duck hunting, osprey nest removal, river otters, and bird watching.

Managing Wildlife Populations

Klickitat Mule Deer Aerial Survey Results: During the week of Dec. 11, Biologists Wickhem, Bergh, Holman, Jacobsen and Bundick conducted annual helicopter surveys for mule deer in GMUs 388 and 382. The survey consists of flying transects over 15 randomly selected survey units in Klickitat County between the Klickitat River and the eastern boundary of the county.

When a group of deer is located, they are counted and classified (age, sex, and number of antler points, if present). Several other covariates are also collected including vegetation type, amount of cover, amount of snow, etc.

Since the surveys were completed, Biologist Wickhem has been entering and analyzing data using the Idaho Sightability Model, a statistical model that uses the counts and covariates to estimate a population for the survey area. The model estimated that GMUs 382 and 388 have approximately 7,978 deer. There is considerable error in this estimate since the vegetation types used in the Idaho Sightability Model do not directly translate to the Washington landscape, however it is the closest model that currently exists.

We can still use these estimates along with harvest to monitor trends in the population. After dropping significantly from 2016 to 2017 following an extremely harsh winter, the population estimates have remained relatively stable. Since 2017, managers have removed nearly all anterless hunting opportunities in an attempt to rebound the population. On the upside, the estimated ratios of fawns and bucks for every 100 does were 56 and 23, respectively. Fifty-six fawns for every 100 does is on par with previous surveys and 23 bucks is the highest recorded buck to doe ratio since surveys began in 2016.

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GPS-collared Mule Deer Mortalities: Biologist Bergh and Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen had a snowy adventure to GMU 382 to retrieve the GPS collars from two study deer that had died the previous week during the snow and ice storms. One of the deer was still completely intact and had been covered in snow until recently and the only parts left to the other deer were the spine, some ribs, and two legs. That deer had been scavenged by a coyote and several birds, so a cause of death was unable to be determined. The intact deer had diarrhea on her tail and there was bloody diarrhea nearby. Samples of the organ tissues were sent to the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Lab at WSU to test for evidence of disease.

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Photo by WDFW

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Biologist Wickhem, Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen, and Volunteer Zoller responded to another “mortality signal” from a GPS collared deer later in the same week, this one in GMU 388. This retrieval required an approximately four-mile round trip excursion on snow-covered roads, that Wickhem thoroughly enjoyed on her skis, while Jacobsen and Zoller post-holed. Despite responding to the location as soon as possible, only one small piece of ribcage was found at the mortality location, making it impossible to determine the cause of death. The crew was able to locate the collar using radio telemetry, after a coyote carried it 400 yards from the carcass remains and buried it in the duff under a tree.

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Photo by WDFW

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Injured Owl: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen received a report regarding an injured great horned owl in the Goldendale area that needed transport to a rehabilitation center. Jacobsen responded to the residence and determined the owl was actually a western screech owl, which is substantially smaller than a great horned owl. The owl was in poor condition due to its wing having been wedged between two buildings – the owl dangled there for several days until the homeowner noticed it and freed it. Jacobsen transported the owl to Rowena Wildlife Clinic in Oregon, where it received treatment for its injuries.

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Cascade Red Fox Report: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen was contacted by a member of the public regarding a possible sighting of a Cascade red fox along the Idaho border. Jacobsen confirmed that the fox was a lowlands red fox, not a Cascade red fox. The Cascade red fox only inhabits alpine and subalpine habitat in the south Cascades and has a population size that is estimated to be around 50 individuals.

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Track Survey: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen accompanied Biologist Spence on a wolf track survey in the Gifford Pinchot Forest via snowmobile. Tracks of snowshoe hare, coyote, and cougar were observed, but no wolf tracks were detected.

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Hunter Harvest Checks: Hunting seasons for some species continue. Regional wildlife biologists, wildlife conflict specialists, and customer service specialists continue to make checks of hunter harvested wildlife that have seasons continuing into the winter months. Many species of wildlife, including cougars and bobcats, have various checking requirements to facilitate biological sample collection and assure the legality of harvests. Hunters are reminded to check the Big Game Seasons Pamphlet in order to be clear on checking requirements for various species as well as season dates.

During this reporting period, Biologist Holman and Biologist Wickhem checked two cougars each. Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen checked a sub-adult male cougar from GMU 382 and a male bobcat from GMU 388.

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

District 9 Cougar Sighting Report: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen fielded a report of a cougar sighting in a residential area of Klickitat County. Jacobsen confirmed the sighting after viewing a video of the cougar.

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District 9 Habituated Bear: Over the past two months, Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen responded to multiple complaints in eastern Clark County regarding a large black bear that had been accessing human food sources. Jacobsen worked with multiple landowners to correct improperly secured attractants, but the bear continued to seek out potential sources of food and eventually began ripping apart structures in search of food.

Normally, bears should be hibernating at this point in the season due to the widespread lack of available forage during the winter. Jacobsen determined that this bear had been habituated to accessing human food and attractants such as bird seed, likely over multiple years, based on landowner reports. Given that the bear had decided to “skip” hibernation this year, the lack of available natural forage in the area, the lack of suitable relocation sites in winter, and the level of damage the bear had been causing and degree of habituation he was exhibiting.

Jacobsen eventually trapped and lethally removed the 260 lb. male bear. This was an extremely unfortunate incident that likely could have been prevented if the landowners in the area had responsibly secured their attractants to prevent the bear from accessing them.

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Photo by WDFW

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District 9 Cougar Encounter: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen and Officer Bolton responded to an incident where an antler shed hunter had a close encounter with a cougar and ended up killing the cougar with his sidearm.

The shed hunter inadvertently came across the cougar while hiking through the woods. Unbeknownst to the shed hunter, the adult female cougar was feeding on a deer kill when the shed hunter passed by. The shed hunter looked up and saw the cougar roughly 30 yards away. At that point, the shed hunter stopped walking forward and began to back up, while chambering a round in his sidearm. The cougar, likely trying to scare the shed hunter away from her kill, turned towards the shed hunter and flattened her ears back in a defensive posture. Fearing for his safety, the shed hunter fired a shot at the cougar. The cougar began running towards him while the shed hunter continued firing his sidearm. The cougar eventually ran past the shed hunter and died from multiple gunshot wounds a short distance past the hunter.

This chain of events is extremely uncommon and was likely due to the cougar trying to scare the shed hunter away from her kill. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife encourages outdoor recreationists to be prepared to encounter wildlife such as cougars by carrying bear spray as well as by being familiar with cougar habits and behavior. If a cougar is encountered in the wild, recreationists are encouraged to make loud noises, appear as big as possible, and give the animal its space. More information on encountering cougars in the wild can on the WDFW website.

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District 9 Elk Damage to Hay Field: A landowner contacted Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen regarding elk damage to a hay field. The landowner has had a poor hay crop on the field for the past few years due to persistent elk damage and requested a Master Hunter from the Region 5 elk damage pool to assist in lethally removing the elk from the property. Jacobsen deployed an elk hunter to the property, who harvested a hoof-diseased elk within a short time of his arrival at the field. This particular elk group has had a high prevalence of Treponeme-associated hoof disease (TAHD) among individuals there for several years.

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Conserving Natural Landscapes

Charismatic Mini-fauna on Mount Saint Helen’s Wildlife Area: When we first think of managing wildlife areas, we typically think of managing habitat for large and/or well-known species like elk and waterfowl. However, Wildlife Areas provide important habitat for a variety of species. While working on the Mount Saint Helen’s Wildlife Area, Assistant Manager Risley and Technician Crane observed some of the charismatic mini-fauna that call the wildlife area home.

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Photo by WDFW

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Managing Wildlife Populations

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

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

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

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

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Photo by Elaine Chuang

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

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

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Conducting Business Operations and Policy

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

Managing Wildlife Populations

Bighorn Sheep: Biologist Brinkman received a report from a member of the public that had discovered a collared bighorn sheep that had died in the Lincoln Cliffs area. The sheep was presumed to have been killed and eaten by a cougar, the reporting party observed tracks around the kill site and took pictures that were verified by Biologist Brinkman.

Although the kill looked relatively fresh, the carcass was almost completely consumed. The skull was still intact, as was the collar. The remains were collected by the reporting party and were dropped off at the regional office in Spokane. Upon receiving the collar, Biologist Lowe searched the bighorn collar database for the Lincoln Cliffs herd and determined that this ewe was collared as an adult in 2015.

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Tucannon Bighorn Sheep Herd: A ewe with a GPS collar was sending off a mortality signal and had a cluster of points in one spot. Wildlife Area Manager Dingman and Natural Resource Technician Tritt located her and determined the collar was malfunctioning. The ewe was standing up and feeding and looked healthy. Later in the week Dingman found 12 of the 13 sheep in the Tucannon herd. The one half-curl ram is still missing.

Deer Road Surveys: Biologist Vekasy compiled summaries of post-hunt deer surveys for District 3. District staff members counted and classified 1,353 mule deer for a buck to100 doe ratio of 0.19 and a fawn to100 doe ratio of 0.55. Incidental to mule deer counts, we also counted and classified 406 white-tailed deer for a buck to100 doe ratio of 0.28 and fawn to100 doe ratio of 0.62. Mule deer buck ratios were lower than the previous 5-year mean but within the 95% Confidence Interval (CI), while fawn ratios were higher than the 5-year mean but also within the 95% CI. White-tailed ratios for both buck and fawn were both above the 5-year means but within the 95% CIs.

Bighorn Sheep Capture: Vekasy worked with District Biologist Wik to dart bighorn sheep lambs in the Asotin Creek herd. Lambs are being collared to detect adolescent movements of bighorns, providing new information for risk-management models for contact with domestic sheep and goat herds. In addition, the recent detection of M. ovi. in bighorn sheep from multiple Hells Canyon herds makes disease testing a priority. 

Swan: Biologist Brinkman received a swan carcass that was found by a hunter while waterfowl hunting. This was the only bird carcass found in the area, veterinary staff members decided to not test for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) at this time. However, if additional bird carcasses are discovered in that area, tests will be conducted to determine if a localized HPAI outbreak may have occurred.

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Recreation Access Site Maintenance: Maintenance Mechanic Heimgartner and Natural Resource Technician Nielsen cleaned and serviced access areas across the district. 

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Sportsman Contacts: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Wade spoke with two muzzleloader elk hunters this week and assisted them with identifying a potential area to hunt. One hunter contacted Wade to let him know that he had successfully harvested a cow elk on a Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Register to Hunt area, Wade had recommended. Wade assisted the hunter with contacting the owner of the property to gain vehicle access to the property so that the hunter could retrieve the elk. The hunter thanked Wade and Natural Resource Technician Heitstuman for their information sharing and assistance. 

Hunting Access: Private Lands Biologist Hadley spoke to a gentleman regarding hunting access for next upland bird season. He was looking for properties to hunt with his daughter. Hadley recommended several access sites in Walla Walla and Columbia County and forwarded information of a couple local hunting chapters that have a strong youth program and women program to see if his daughter would be interested. He was very appreciative. 

Sign removal: Private Lands Biologist Hadley began removing access signs on a property that was recently removed from a Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife hunting access program in Columbia County. 

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Wild Game Retrieval: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Samsill picked up a dead buck deer and a dead bull moose calf from two different properties in Ferry County. The carcasses were transported to the Wildlife Health Lab at the Spokane Regional Office and will be used at an upcoming necropsy training. 

Cougar Sighting: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Samsill followed up on a series of cougar sightings in Springdale. Upon speaking to the reporting party, Samsill determined that they had never actually seen a cougar but believed a cougar was frequenting their property based on grainy security camera footage and tracks. Although Samsill was unable to view the videos the reporting party referred to, pictures of tracks indicated that a large dog was frequenting the property instead of a cougar. 

Elk Damage: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Kolb spoke with a Spokane County landowner about on-going elk damage to a haystack. Advice was provided and the producer is considering entering into a Damage Prevention Cooperative Agreement

Wolf Non-Lethals: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Kolb responded to a proactive request for non-lethal support from a Columbia County producer who will start calving soon. The calving pastures are within the Columbia pack territory and the producer has experienced wolf-livestock interactions in previous years. Kolb dropped off foxlights and offered to help set up fladry once calves start hitting the ground. 

Elk Damage: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Samsill responded to the report of elk consuming and damaging haystacks in Fruitland. Samsill performed a site visit and provided the producer with a landowner kill permit. Samsill offered to erect electric fencing around the haystack, however the producer decided to stack unwanted moldy hay bales around the hay he intends to feed to his livestock.

This acted as a barrier to prevent elk from reaching the quality hay inside. The producer requested additional damage permits. Samsill informed the producer that a Damage Prevention Cooperative Agreement for Crop Damage (DPCA) contract would need to be signed and the producer would need to commit to a hunting access option before additional permits could be issued. The producer agreed to sign a DPCA and asked to be added to the landowner access list for elk and turkey hunting. 

Stuck Deer: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Kolb was contacted by Wildlife Services concerning a deer stuck on a landing at Lower Monumental Dam. Kolb contacted the Corps of Engineers and coordinated dam access. The location of the deer impacted contracted work plans at the dam. Numerous Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and Corps of Engineers staff members assisted with the effort. The deer was removed from the landing and scheduled work was able to be resumed. 

Clarkston Deer Call: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Wade responded to two deer calls this week. The first call was a report of a deer that was deceased in an absentee homeowner’s lawn. When Wade contacted the homeowner, they had already arranged to have the carcass removed. The second call was a report of a deer that was unable to stand. Wade and Natural Resource Technician Heitstuman responded to the area to evaluate the deer. They determined that euthanizing the deer and removing the carcass for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) sampling was the best course of action. Upon further inspection, it was determined that the deer was infested by ticks. Natural Resource Technician Heitstuman collected CWD samples and disposed of the carcass.

Haystack Damage: Natural Resource Technician Harris followed up on a complaint of elk damage to a haystack in Ferry County. The producer reported that they had setup their own electric fence around the haystack to protect it from the elk, but the elk managed to destroy the fence beyond repair. Harris issued a kill permit and loaned the producer an electric fence kit to protect the haystack from further losses. 

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Asotin County Wolf Activity: Natural Resource Technician Heitstuman responded with Supervisor Wade to a potential depredation in the Grande Rhonde area. The Radio Active Guard (RAG) Box was deployed, and Foxlights were put up at several locations. 

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Conserving Natural Landscapes

Lands and Facilities Check: Natural Resource Technicians Meisner and Hammons cut up and cleared some dead trees that had succumbed from the Lick Creek fire and came down in a windstorm. The trees blocked access and made a mess. Wade also checked the Smoothing Iron house and placed a trail camera in Warner Gulch.

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Conducting Business Operations and Policy

Grant Applications: Natural Resource Technician Nizer followed up with Pheasants Forever Spokane Chapter to give them more information about a site that could be a great habitat planting area. Nizer gave pictures of the site as well as a report that was taken during a site evaluation.

Natural Resource Technician Nizer applied for an internal grant for turkey habitat that was applied for last year and requested more funding to continue habitat work for roosting, nesting, and brood rearing habitat. The total amount requested for the project was $5,000. Maps were created through GIS of the updated planting areas. 

General Facilities and Equipment Maintenance and Repairs: Sherman Creek Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Palmer spent a good amount of time plowing snow at the wildlife area headquarters. Between six and ten inches of snow fell between Tuesday and Friday in Spokane and northeastern Washington. North Region 1 Access Area Manager Dziekan spent a fair bit of time removing snow from parking lots at access areas and the Region 1 headquarter facilities, and Dziekan made sure sidewalks were ice-free. 

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Administrative Duties: Dziekan began the process of updating specifications for his career seasonal employee, changing term length from six months to nine months. The change will provide more stability for the Incumbent Natural Resource Technician Brant but it is also beneficial to Research Scientist DeVivo.

Brant will still be working with Dziekan on access areas for six months out of the year, and for the other three months he will be doing Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) surveillance work. With the term change, DeVivo won’t have to worry about recruiting candidates for a three-month position, but will already have an employee onboarded, trained, and ready to sample.

Brant will get some biology work that he can put on his resume to go with his new biology degree. This will help make him more able to meet his career goal of becoming a biologist. So far, Dziekan has created a ticket to change the season length, and he has received approval from Washington Association of Fish & Wildlife Professionals (WAFWP) for the change, which will come with no loss of off-season benefits.

Other

W.T. Wooten Wildlife Area: Natural Resource Technician Jensen found a postcard from 1942 for sale on eBay that is a photo of the W.T. Wooten Wildlife Area taken just north of the headquarters. Wildlife Area Manager Dingman was able to get the postcard photo enlarged and printed on metal to hang in the W.T. Wooten headquarters. 

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Managing Wildlife Populations

Trapped, Sick and Injured Wildlife: Biologists in District 5 have been receiving several phone calls regarding deer that have been stuck in the east-low canal. Biologists have teamed up with the Adams County Irrigation District Office in setting out deer escape ramps in areas where it is most common for deer to be found trapped. Along with the escape ramps, there are a couple of maintenance ramps that are located throughout the canal for irrigation district employees to get equipment into the canal that deer are also able to easily access should they walk along the canal far enough to find it.

Northern Leopard Frogs: Biologists Nason, Dougherty, and Clements are continuing to plan the 2024 northern leopard frog field season. They have also worked with the broader northern leopard frog team to identify priority actions for conservation, including DNA analysis of frogs surveyed in the 2023 season and dedicated bullfrog management.

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Pygmy Rabbits: District 5 staff members, including Biologists Nason and Dougherty, have continued to support the pygmy rabbit team with their winter burrow survey efforts. Despite challenges with staff member turnover and melting snow, the team has successfully completed survey transects, identified active burrows, and collected samples for DNA analysis.

Pygmy Rabbit Survey: Biologists Cook and Morris assisted the pygmy rabbit recovery team with winter surveys looking for active burrows and collecting fecal pellets for DNA sampling. Snow helps with surveys, but the day grew wetter as the warmer temperatures continued to melt the snow. Surveys include walking in a zig-zag pattern through pygmy rabbit habitat and looking for signs of use such as trails, tracks, scat, and burrows. These surveys help determine occupancy and numbers of rabbits in both known and potential pygmy rabbit habitat.

Waterfowl: Biologist Clements spent a handful of days in January organizing a volunteer project reconstructing hen mallard nesting tubes with the Washington Waterfowl Association (WWA), Moses Lake chapter. Clements went out with a Washington Conservation Corps (WCC) crew to collect over 20 nest tubes to disassemble and reassemble with new straw and orchard grass.

With the help of four WWA members plus the WCC crew membrs, they were able to accomplish reassembling 30 tubes. The next day, the WCC crew members and Biologist Clements went out to redeploy the tubes to their appropriate stands. The district team will follow up in the spring to see if the nesting tubes are being utilized by any mallard hens and if any clutches are successful.

Along with the mallard nest tubes, Biologist Clements has been reaching out and connecting with several dark goose hunters that have harvested geese with GPS collars on them. The hunters have been providing extremely helpful information in regards to their harvest as well as being fairly quick to exchange the real GPS collars for replicas that have been provided to WDFW staff members from Alaska Department of Fish and Game. With the exchange of collars and information on the harvest, Alaska Department of Fish and Game biologists are sending hunters certificates and maps of the movements associated with the collars. Clements has collected over ten collars that have been harvested in in the Columbia Basin this season.

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Providing Recreation Opportunities

Hunter Access: Biologist Morris checked fields enrolled in our Waterfowl Habitat and Access Program. Some hunters had success harvesting both waterfowl and upland birds on these sites. Biologist Morris also worked with landowners to start updating two hunter access contracts that expired this year (one Hunt by Written Permission and one Feel Free to Hunt).

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Conserving Natural Landscapes

Habitat Plots: Biologist Cook created an initial habitat improvement plan that would help deal with invasive common reed and Russian olive trees in a wet circle corner. The landowner was excited by the prospects of habitat improvement and Cook shared the plan. If the landowner approves the project and potential permitting is approved, field work can begin this spring.

Biologist Morris checked an established habitat plot to see if there was evidence of wildlife use during the winter. He saw upland game bird and mule deer signs in the area. This habitat plot provides valuable cover and forage for game and non-game species throughout the year.

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Other

Specialist Heilhecker had a busy couple of weeks. She took her vehicle in for service and submitted her fingerprints to Washington State Patrol for her period review. Then she boarded a flight for the annual wolf population survey.

Wildlife Sightings: While out checking local conditions Biologist Morris spotted several great blue herons, swans, bald eagles, and other wildlife along Moses Lake.

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Managing Wildlife Populations

District 8 Bobcat Research: A five year research study has commenced in District 8 to investigate bobcat populations. District 8 Biologist Wampole assisted Science Division Researcher Kerston and Statewide Furbearer & Bear Specialist Welfelt in establishing an active trapline for bobcat to deploy GPS collars. Locational data from GPS collars will help inform bobcat habitat use. So far one healthy male has been captured and collared. However, that individual has been recaptured in other traps along the trap line. The project aims to deploy 12 to 15 collars in the district this winter season.

Kittitas County Deer Collar Collection: District 8 Wildlife Biologists Wampole and Moore have been out collecting dropped deer collars in Kittitas County. These collars were deployed in 2020 as part of the Wenatchee mule deer project investigate migratory movement of mule Deer. The collars have integrated drop off mechanisms which self-release three years after capture before the battery in the collar dies. Collars have a black band, two gray boxes, and a metal label with Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife on them. If you find one, please report it to the Region 3 Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife office in Yakima.

District 8 Fisher Project: District 8 Wildlife staff members have been busy processing trail camera photos for the South Cascades Fisher Project. The project is trying out AI technology from wildlife insights to make the process more efficient.

District 8 Bat Hibernacula Counts: District 8 Biologist Wampole, Statewide Bat Specialist Tobin, and U.S. Forest Service partners conducted bat hibernacula counts at Boulder Cave, Naches to monitor trends in the Townsend big-eared bat population.

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Elk Feed site Counts/Composition: District 8 Biologist Wampole and wildlife area staff members conducted counts and composition of wintering elk at Robinson, Watts, and Oak Creek feedlots. Counts and compositions (for example calf to100 cow ratio) are used to help inform population status and trends.

L.T. Murray Elk Feeding: Natural Resource Scientist Nass and Natural Resource Technician Blore continued feeding elk at the Joe Watt and Robinson Canyon feed sites.

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Oak Creek Wildlife Area Winter Feeding Operations: Oak Creek Wildlife Area staff members continue feeding elk on Cowiche Unit and Oak Creek Unit of the Oak Creek Wildlife Area. Current counts indicate an average total of 2300 elk on the Cowiche feed site and 550 elk on Oak Creek feed site are being fed daily.

District 4 Cougar Sealing: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand sealed a cougar for a hunter who harvested the cat in the Blue Mountains Game Management Unit (GMU) 166.

Rattlesnake Hills Elk Survey: District 4 Wildlife Biologist Fidorra coordinated and started the winter elk survey of the Rattlesnake Hills sub-herd. After one day of flying, weather delayed the survey until February. District 8 Assistant Wildlife Biologist Moore assisted with surveys, and Region 3 staff members conducted flight following.

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District 4 Bobcat Sealed: District 4 Wildlife Biologist Fidorra sealed a bobcat harvested from Rattlesnake Hills GMU 372. While bobcat are occasionally reported from this area, this is the first time that Fidorra had sealed a cat from the Yakima River Valley.

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Providing Recreation Opportunities

Wenas Wildlife Area Sheep Company Target Shooting Area: Wenas Wildlife Area Lands and Recreation Specialist Frame collected 160 pounds of target shooting waste and material. Since recent clean-ups, the target shooting area has significantly less trash than the previous month. Items found were target shooting material, wood, metal, carboard, and a human shaped mannequin.

Wenas Wildlife Area Manastash Ridge Trails / Durr Rd - Kiosk and Trail Conditions Sign: Wenas Wildlife Area Lands and Recreation Specialist Frame has received approval from Kittitas County to install a trails condition sign and an information kiosk. The trails conditions sign will indicate to trail users the current conditions of the trail. The Durr Road kiosk will provide space for Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to display important information regarding the Wenas Wildlife Area. Once weather conditions improve, the sign and kiosk will be installed.

Windmill Ranch Youth Hunt: Youth hunters over the weekend had successful hunts throughout the Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area, including the Windmill Ranch Unit. There was an abundance of waterfowl throughout the wildlife area.

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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. Access to higher elevations were limited by foggy weather and snow and icy road conditions.

District 4 Deer Damage: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand continued working with deer damage issues from wheat producers in the Kahlotus and Paterson area on hazing, damage permit hunting, and possible youth hunting opportunities.

Kittitas County Conflict: District 8 Conflict Specialist Wetzel hazed some elk from agriculture areas in Kittitas County. Elk ventured to areas in Thorp, Vantage, Kittitas, Badger Pocket, and Cle Elum, mostly visiting haystacks and domestic animal feeding areas. No major issues were reported on I-90 though elk were seen crossing the freeway and feeding on both sides of the interstate. Wetzel received calls about a wolf visiting bone piles in the north Kittitas Valley area. No conflict issues were reported regarding the wolf.

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Yakima County Conflict: District 8 Conflict Specialist Wetzel worked on fencing contracts with growers who were having problems with elk in orchards and one crop circle. Elk have been hazed from orchard areas. Elk have been breaching fences and crossing cattle guards in the Cowiche area as well as Tampico, Naches, and Tieton.

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Providing Education and Outreach

Tri-Cities Sportsmen Show: Region 3 wildlife staff members worked the agency booth at the Tri-Cities Sportsmen Show. Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area Manager Kaelber, District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand, Region 3 Private Lands Biologist Manderbach, District 4 Wildlife Biologist Fidorra, and Region 3 Wildlife Program Manager Huffman represented the Wildlife Program among many Fish, Habitat, Enforcement, and administrative staff members throughout the weekend. Many questions were fielded, the trivia wheel was a hit, and lots of agency swag was given out.

Oak Creek Wildlife Area Public Outreach: Oak Creek Wildlife Area Manager Mackey, Assistant Manager Charlet, and many other Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife staff members have completed a project to redevelop a winter-feeding brochure. The new brochure outlines important information regarding public viewing opportunities for elk and bighorn sheep feeding on the Oak Creek Wildlife Area. It is now available at the Oak Creek Visitor Center and the Region 3 office.

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Conducting Business Operations and Policy

Wenas Wildlife Area Maintenance: Wenas Wildlife Area Natural Resource Technician Janes added a new gate latch to the gate in the elk fence at the Black Canyon access and continued working in the shop building a wire roller while continuing to learn about the winter-feeding operations. He also built a bale spear for the skid steer as a backup in case there is an issue with the tractor that cannot be resolved in a timely manner.

L.T. Murray Funding: L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Manager Morrison and elk feeding staff members met auditors at the Joe Watt and Robison Canyon feed sites to show them how Pittman-Robertson Grant funds (PR funds) are being spent on the L.T. Murray Wildlife Area. They also looked at some equipment that had been purchased using PR dollars. This type of audit takes place once every five years and went really well.

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Other

Sunnyside-Snake River Maintenance: Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area staff members continued to conduct routine maintenance of access sites on the wildlife area, including maintenance of registration kiosks, wetlands, water control structures, and waterways.

Yakima Pesticide Recertification: Region 3 Private Lands Biologist Manderbach attended day one of the Washington State University Pesticide Education Recertification Program at the Yakima Convention Center. Day one topics included Emerging Pests, Washington State Department of Agriculture Compliance, Enforcement Highlights, Pesticide Product Stewardship and Disposal of Unwanted Products, Management Strategies for Common Pathogens of Urban Landscapes in the Inland Pacific Northwest, The Impacts of Pesticides on Pollinators and How to Protect Them, and Ticks and Other Non-Insect Arthropods of Medical and Urban Concern. The topics were informative and useful and the day was worth six pesticide recertification credits.

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Sooty Grouse Surveys: Biologists Tirhi and Butler participated in a planning meeting hosted by Headquarter Section Manager Garrison to conduct sooty grouse surveys across western Washington beginning in 2023.

Access Team Activities in Pierce County: The access team continues vegetation management at Pierce County sites. Mowing, brush cutting, tree trimming, and chipping was the focus at these sites. Wildlife Conservation Corps personnel serviced monofilament recycling bins and assisted with painting the restroom and kiosk at Kapowsin Lake.

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Access Team Activities in Grays Harbor: After much work by Enforcement Officers Dean and Mcomber, Access Team loaded and disposed of an abandoned boat and van left at access areas. Ecology blocks were used to secure the entrance at the South Montesano ramp, which is temporarily closed for use. A reopening date will be determined after the threat of seasonal flooding concerns diminish later in the year.

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Managing Wildlife Populations

Dusky Canada Goose and Snowy Plover: Biologists Novack and completed another round of dusky goose surveys. Biologist Cent along with Science Division Scientist Pearson conducted the winter plover survey at various beaches within the district. Midway beach had a good presence of birds.

Avian Flu: Unfortunately, while surveying for plovers, personnel came across a sick sanderling which was captured and submitted to the animal rehabilitation facility. Samples from this bird confirmed infection by high pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).

Oregon Spotted Frog Annual Partnership Meeting: Biologist Tirhi represented District 11 at the annual meeting of the Oregon Spotted Frog Working Group, comprised of federal, state, county, city, provincial, and volunteer groups working on the recovery of state and federally listed spotted frogs. Tirhi presented survey results, trends, and habitat restoration work conducted by her and Biologist Butler at several drainages occupied by spotted frogs in Thurston County. The working group annual meeting is an excellent opportunity to collaborate on this very important recovery work.

Oregon Spotted Frog Data Collection Meeting: Biologists Tirhi and Butler worked with Headquarter Database Manager Krock to address outstanding data questions regarding past spotted frog surveys to start with a clean database for the beginning of the 2023 frog season in March. Tirhi also met separately with headquarter staff members Krock and Simper and personnel from the USFWS Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program to coordinate collaborative spotted frog data collection and sharing beginning in 2023.

Wolf Monitoring: Biologist Tirhi and Butler spent half a day maintaining and prepping field machinery for 2023 wolf surveys and one full day conducting snow tracking and camera deployment for wolves in the White River drainage. No wolf packs have been confirmed in District 11, but various credible reports continue to be reported by staff members and public.

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Protection Island: Wildlife Area Manager Laushman visited the Protection Island Unit of the North Olympic Wildlife Area with restoration specialist and technician Cook and Morgan to re-visit areas treated in November.

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South Puget Sound: Wildlife Area Manager Laushman and Natural Resource Technician Morgan tackled large infestations of Himalayan blackberries around the Western Pond Turtle habitat at the South Puget Sound Wildlife Area unit. Removal of the blackberry opened an orchard area from when the unit was a homestead and will help reduce the spread of blackberries around the ponds.

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North American Wetlands Conservation Act: Biologist Novack continues coordination and collaboration with Ducks Unlimited on identifying restoration and acquisition projects for a North American Wetlands Conservation Act grant proposal.

Chehalis Unit: Biologist Novack met with a landowner adjacent to our existing Chehalis Unit who is now agreeable to acquisition by WDFW. The parcel is already within an area approved through Lands 2020. Funding is available through Duck Stamp.

Pacific County: Biologist Novack met with USFWS and various land trusts and non-profit groups working in Pacific County. Many land acquisitions for conservation purposes are in the works for this year.

Oregon Spotted Frog Habitat Protection: Biologists Tirhi and Real Estate Specialist Buck met with two landowners on whose property Oregon spotted frogs have bred for many years and for which Biologist Tirhi has received funds to purchase a Conservation Easement. The objective of the meeting was to answer any landowner questions and move the acquisition project forward to the next step of appraisal.

Centralia Mine Acquisition Technical Team: Biologist Tirhi spent time receiving and inputting WDFW Centralia Mine Acquisition Technical Team member edits into the first update to the grassland management sections of the mining permit intended to allow WDFW and Centralia Mine to move forward on the possible conversion of the mine to an eventual WDFW wildlife area.

Violet Prairie Unit of the Scatter Creek Wildlife Area Management Plan: Biologist Tirhi drafted her assigned species overview sections for the new Violet Prairie Management Plan being drafted by the Wildlife Program.

Managing Wildlife Populations

Mule Deer Captures: In Game Management Units (GMU) 388 and 382, a total of 22 mule deer were captured by helicopter using vendor Leading Edge Aviation. These deer are part of a study identifying deer migration corridors as well as summer and winter ranges funded by Secretarial Order 3362. When the GPS-collared deer die, WDFW staff members investigate as soon as possible so that cause of death might be determined. There are currently 80 mule deer with these collars which will drop off just before the batteries die in mid-2024.

Klickitat Deer Mortality Investigation: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen received a mortality notification from a GPS collar that had been placed on a mule deer doe in east Klickitat County. Jacobsen investigated the mortality scene and determined that a very large bobcat was most likely responsible for the depredation. This doe was part of a four-year study being conducted throughout GMUs 388 and 382 to track the annual movements of female mule deer and locate important migration corridors. Staff members also attempt to determine cause of death when a collared doe dies.

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Bobcat Pelt Sealing: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen sealed two bobcat pelts as required by the Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES). Though bobcats are not endangered in Washington, all harvested bobcats in the state must be officially tagged, as bobcat pelts can be traded or sold internationally.

Dusky Goose Survey: Biologist Stephens conducted a dusky Canada goose survey in Wahkiakum County including the Julia Butler Hansen Refuge which WDFW is covering while the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) fills a vacant biologist position. Dusky Canada geese were observed on the Refuge, seven of which were collared with unique alpha-numeric codes. This subspecies of Canada goose is collared on its breeding grounds in Alaska and the collars are read on their wintering grounds in Washington and Oregon to generate a survival estimate.

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Bat Hibernacula Surveys: Biologists Stephens, Holman, and Wickhem from Region 5 along with statewide Bat Specialist Tobin, Bat Technician Leipold, partners with the U. S. Forest Service, and volunteers conducted bat surveys in hibernacula caves near Mount Saint Helens. A combination of hiking, skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling were employed to access the caves. The purpose of the survey was to count Townsend’s big-eared bats and Myotis spp. in caves that are surveyed annually and to swab bats to sample for Pd (Pseudogymnoascus destructans), the fungus that causes white-nose syndrome. The counts were up slightly from previous years.

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Pronghorn Survey Flights: Biologists Wickhem and Fidorra conducted survey flights for pronghorn antelope in eastern Klickitat, southeastern Yakima, and western Benton counties this month. Yakama Nation Biologist Olney and Technician Heemsah surveyed the adjacent areas within the Yakama Nation Reservation. Pronghorn were extirpated from Washington by the early 1900 but were reintroduced by the Yakama Nation in 2011. Between 2011 and 2019, 198 individuals were successfully relocated from Nevada to the Yakama Reservation and have since dispersed from their release locations and often spend time off-reservation. These surveys are meant to get a minimum count and are conducted with a fixed-wing aircraft. The crews fly north-south transects that are two kilometers apart and when a group of pronghorn are located, the plane circles the group, takes a count and GPS point. A group of volunteers on the ground also drive through the survey area and help locate groups to assist the flight crew. On this survey, 212 pronghorn were counted (98 on-reservation and 114 off-reservation) which is lower than previous surveys in 2019 and 2021, which each counted approximately 250 animals. However, the groups that were located this year were extremely hard to see thanks to poor lighting and fields that were exactly the same color as the antelope. The crew will investigate how the survey can be improved in the future.

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Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Bear Cubs in Trash: Earlier this winter, Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen received a report of two bear cubs that were rummaging through trash daily in a mobile home park. Camera surveillance did suggest that these cubs were by themselves every time they were found at the residences. Jacobsen set up a trap to catch the cubs. On the second day, Jacobsen ended up catching an adult female black bear in the trap. Further investigation indicated that the female bear had been lactating this summer, meaning that she likely had cubs nearby. A trail camera that Jacobsen placed over the trap indicated that the two cubs in question had spent several hours sitting outside the trap after their mother was captured. Jacobsen held the female bear in the trap for another day as a hazing tool to dissuade her from visiting the mobile home park again. Jacobsen, Aubrey, and Kolenberg then released the female bear a short distance down the road. No complaints of bear activity in the area had been received by WDFW after the capture incident.

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Injured Deer: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen responded to a report of an injured or sick deer in Goldendale. Jacobsen found the deer next to a residence. The deer was in extremely poor body condition and had several lumps and contusions on its hind legs, which prevented the deer from standing up straight or walking properly. Jacobsen euthanized the juvenile deer and disposed of the carcass.

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Damage Prevention Cooperative Agreements: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen and Technician Kolenberg met with several different landowners in GMUs 554, 568, 578, and 382 to enroll landowners in Damage Prevention Cooperative Agreements and to discuss methods of preventing deer and elk damage to commercial crops.

Elk Damage to Hay Fields: A landowner in GMU 574 contacted Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen to report extensive elk damage to a newly planted hay seeding. The landowner had been attempting to haze elk with explosives, but the effectiveness of the tool had recently decreased. At the landowner’s request, Jacobsen deployed a youth hunter from the Region 5 Elk Damage Pool to harvest an elk on the property. The youth hunter successfully harvested her first-ever elk with a well-placed, 250-yard shot.

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Deer Damage to Orchards: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen deployed a master hunter from the Region 5 Master Hunter Deer Damage Pool to a crop damage situation in GMU 373 on the edge of Klickitat County. Several deer were causing extensive damage to apple tree buds at a commercial produce orchard. The master hunter was able to successfully harvest a female mule deer on the hunt.

Bear in Chicken Feed: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen received a complaint regarding a bear that had torn into a chicken coop, killed a couple of chickens, and consumed a large quantity of chicken feed. The bear should have been in hibernation but had decided to take advantage of some free and easily accessible calories. Jacobsen arranged to meet the landowner later that week to construct a temporary electric fence around the perimeter of the coop to keep the bear out and hopefully force it to decide to hibernate. However, a large snow event occurred before Jacobsen was able to make it to the residence and the residence became inaccessible to vehicle traffic. The landowner did not report any additional bear damage complaints after the snow event occurred.

Turkey Complaint: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen received an urban turkey complaint in the city of Goldendale. Jacobsen provided advice on methods of deterring turkeys from residences. A few weeks later, Jacobsen counted roughly 60 turkeys amongst the houses in the area where the complaint originated.

Elk Damage to Orchards: An orchard manager in Klickitat County contacted Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen regarding a herd of approximately 30-40 elk that had broken into a pear orchard. The orchard was completely fenced with eight-foot elk fencing but the elk had managed to find their way in somehow. Jacobsen, the landowner, and the landowner’s staff members attempted an elk drive to push the elk out of the orchard, through an open gate, and across a busy highway with local law enforcement staff members providing traffic control. However, the elk had other plans and eventually created their own exit through the orchard fence on the other side of the orchard. The elk continued to access the orchard several times over the next two weeks. The landowner was able to successfully remove an elk with a kill permit and a master hunter with a treponeme-associated hoof disease management tag was able to harvest an elk with hoof disease in the orchard as well. At that point, the snow had mostly melted from the surrounding areas and the elk left the orchard in a hurry. The landowner patched all the known holes and access points in the fence that he was aware the elk used.

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Depredation Investigation: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen, Biologist Spence, and Officer Bolton conducted a depredation investigation of a young steer in Klickitat County. After performing a necropsy on the carcass, the cause of death was determined to be non-wildlife related, but still unknown.

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Missing and Injured Dogs: A concerned landowner contacted Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen about a dog that was injured and another that went missing inside a fenced-in yard in the Vancouver area of Clark County. Both dogs were small breeds. The landowner suspected that coyotes were to blame. Jacobsen provided advice on living in coyote country and keeping pets safe.

Bear in Bird Feeders: A landowner contacted Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen to complain about a bear getting into their bird feeders. Jacobsen told the landowner to take the bird feeders down and to put them away.

Cougar Concerns: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen was contacted by managerial staff members at a Clark County camping association regarding frequent cougar sightings over the past couple of weeks. The camping association has a long history of deer feeding issues on the premises, which likely drew the cougar into the area. Jacobsen is continuing to work with the staff members and residents at the camping association to resolve the deer feeding and cougar presence issue.

Landowner Site Visit: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen and Conflict Technician Kolenberg met with a landowner in Skamania County regarding deer damage to her produce operation. Jacobsen and Technician Kolenberg discussed various hazing tools as well as fencing options with the landowner.

Elk Complaint: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen was contacted by a landowner in Clark County who utilizes his property for forestry operations. The landowner was concerned about the elk damage to his newly planted cedar and redwood seedlings. Industrial forest operations are not eligible for crop damage claims or landowner permits, but Jacobsen was able to come up with a solution to assist the landowner in hazing elk off his property. Jacobsen contacted several of the master hunters who had been drawn for the Region 5 Master Hunter Hoof Disease hunt to see if they would be interested in removing an elk with hoof disease from the property. Jacobsen was able to reach a master hunter who had not yet filled his hoof disease tag and had been out hunting for a hoof-diseased elk in the eastern part of the region. The hunter was on his way back home and made a detour to the property. Within a couple hours of receiving the call from Jacobsen, the master hunter managed to find and harvest a cow elk with symptoms of hoof disease. Thanks to the master hunter for the quick response time and efficient hunting and hazing.

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Injured Deer: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen and Officer Nelson have received multiple reports of a deer in Klickitat County with a facial malformation. The members of the public reporting the deer have been concerned about possible disease infection, but the deer’s abnormality appears to have been caused by some sort of external injury or trauma. The deer has been observed with this injury for several weeks now, but the facial trauma now appears to be infected, the deer’s behavior is changing, and its body condition is declining. Jacobsen and Officer Nelson will coordinate on an effort to euthanize the deer soon if the deer continues to hang around the area.

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Treponeme-Associated Hoof Disease Elk: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Aubrey responded to a report of an injured elk. The elk had treponeme-associated hoof disease and was no longer mobile. Aubrey euthanized the elk and removed the carcass from the property with the help of a few deputies.

Elk Damage: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Aubrey worked with landowners experiencing elk damage to crops throughout District 10. Damage pool hunters were deployed in several cases to assist landowners, and permits were issued to landowners to address concerns.

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Storm Clean-up at Shillapoo: A warm weather trend provided the perfect opportunity for wildlife area staff members to clean up the many downed trees and other fallen debris resulting from recent high wind events. Assistant Manager Risley and Assistant Manager Breitenstien spent multiple days cutting, stacking, and cleaning up multiple fallen trees at Shillapoo Wildlife Area. A few large trees were salvaged and put aside to be used as turtle logs in the sloughs and waterways at Shillapoo. As the name implies, these logs serve as floating platforms for resident turtles to seek refuge and warm themselves in the sun. The area’s beavers also enjoy these floating wood features.

Unsticking a Stuck Beaver Stick at Shillapoo: A seemingly simple task became a large-scale undertaking when Assistant Manager Breitenstein and Assistant Manager Risley attempted to remove a large stick that had likely been stuffed into a drainpipe by a resident beaver. The stick had gotten stuck in the water control valve, making the valve inoperable. Over multiple days, many improvised contraptions and ropes were used to dislodge the stick. In a last and final attempt, the stick was dislodged renewing staff members spirits.

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Mount Saint Helens Wildlife Area Monitoring: In addition to storm clean up, regular monitoring of remote units is essential to keeping these units accessible to the public. Assistant Manager Risley cleared access roads to the Mudflow Unit, Hoffstadt Unit, Nellie Corser Unit, and cleaned trash from the Hall Road and Canal Road Units. While visiting the Canal Road Unit, a few wild horses were observed grazing close to the Wildlife Area boundary.

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Providing Education and Outreach

Wolf Workshop: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen partnered with Defenders of Wildlife and Strategic Ranching to host a workshop titled “Strategic Ranching on a Landscape with Wolves” in Goldendale. The workshop featured presentations by WDFW, Integrated Grazing Management, and other organizations to help prepare Klickitat County livestock producers for a future of ranching cattle on a landscape where wolves are present. The workshop was well-attended, with over 40 members of the public participating.

Managing Wildlife Populations

North Puget Lowlands Swan Surveys: With the help of numerous partners and volunteers, Districts 14 and 13 wildlife biologists completed annual surveys of wintering populations of swans throughout the lowland areas in Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish, Island, San Juan counties, and the Snoqualmie Valley in King County.

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Puget Sound Ecosystem Monitoring Program Flights: District Wildlife Biologist Licence participated in multiple survey flights as an observer in training with Waterfowl Section and District 15 biologists. These long-term annual surveys provide population trend monitoring for a variety of marine waterfowl, birds, and mammals throughout the Puget Sound.

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Harmful Algal Blooms and Wildlife Meeting: Region 4 wildlife biologists, wildlife health staff members, Whatcom County Health Department, and a Portland State University researcher gathered on Jan. 24 to discuss harmful algal blooms and their impacts to wildlife. Discussions centered on known local wildlife impacts, research priorities, and potential funding opportunities.

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Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Cougar Sightings in Concrete: District Wildlife Biologist Waddell spoke at a Concrete town council meeting about recent cougar sightings in the Concrete area. He provided some basic information on cougar biology and emphasized that cougar attacks on humans are very rare. Additionally, he provided meeting attendees with steps to prevent attracting a cougar (e.g., keeping domestic cats inside, avoid feeding deer, and practicing good husbandry of livestock) and tips if they encounter a cougar or feel that a cougar is a threat to them or their property. Biologist Waddell encouraged residents to visit the WDFW webpage on cougars and to view cougar-related videos on the WDFW YouTube page.

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Little Squalicum Estuary Restoration: District Wildlife Biologist Waddell volunteered to assist with planting vegetation at the Little Squalicum Estuary restoration project in Bellingham. This project will restore almost five acres of habitat, including 2.4 acres of estuary. This project will improve fish passage and provide high quality habitat for fish and other species. The Saturday volunteer project turned out to be a beautiful day.  More than 230 volunteers planted over 4,000 upland and aquatic plants.

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Photo by WDFW