Managing Wildlife Populations

Dusky Canada Goose Surveys Continue: In February, Biologists Wickhem, Ott, Stephens, and Holman continued with their bi-monthly dusky Canada goose surveys in Clark, Cowlitz, 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. Duskies are closed to recreational harvest due to low population levels. The purpose of the surveys is to count dusky geese observed and read alphanumeric codes on any red neck bands on the geese, also called collars. Wildlife managers survey the geese multiple times across their primary wintering grounds and use the data to generate survival estimates. On the first survey of the month, Biologist Wickhem was joined by Conflict Specialist O’Conner and a volunteer local high school student who is interested in becoming a biologist. The team recorded 65 duskies and zero collars for the day. Biologist Ott recorded 96 duskies on the second Clark County survey and observed two collars that were not possible to read thanks to uncooperative weather and geese. Other species observed include cackling and western subspecies of Canada geese, trumpeter and tundra swans, bald eagles (including two perching near their nest), northern harriers, red-tailed hawks, kestrels, numerous species of ducks, several hundred sandhill cranes, and a few released pheasants who have survived the hunting season.

In Cowlitz and Wahkiakum counties, Biologists Stephens and Holman located flocks of dusky, western, Taverner’s, Lesser, and cackling Canada geese along with trumpeter and tundra swans. However, no collared duskies were found. Other wildlife species encountered during the effort included many species of ducks, shorebirds, raptors, gulls, Columbian white-tailed deer, black-tailed deer, elk, coyotes, otters, and marine mammals. 

Deer Fawn Mortalities: Since late December there have been an abnormally large number of reports of dead fawns in Klickitat County. Seventeen separate reports of a dead fawn or fawns were made over two months, with about half of the reports around Goldendale. Many of the reports involved fawns dying in a covered area (barn, carport) or in/near hay. Samples of various internal organs were sent to the WADDL lab at the Washington State University in Pullman from four of these reports, but none of the lab results pointed to a disease outbreak. A disease like AHD may be going undetected, but it is unlikely after testing four animals. These mortalities are a good reminder to not feed deer, especially during the winter. Many people think that they are helping deer by providing artificial feed during the winter, but unfortunately the opposite is true. The best way to help wildlife on your property is to provide quality habitat. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) staff members are happy to help with that and more information about living with wildlife is available on our website. To report sick, injured, or dead wildlife please use our online reporting tool or call your regional office.

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Martin’s Bar Access Area: Access area staff members have been giving special attention to the Martin’s Aar Access Area along the Columbia in Woodland in the last few weeks. There have been recent changes in the shared management agreements with the Port of Woodland and WDFW. The Port had a recent survey that prompted a change in the boundary line between the Port and WDFW property. This change shifted the property boundary owned by WDFW to now include the road. The Port has decided to remove all the trash cans and portable restrooms provided by the Port at the site. This prompted access area staff members to post signage along the entrance of the site, re-grade the entrance and parking area via the Capitol and Asset Management Program (CAMP), and to rent a portable restroom. In addition to CAMP, access area staff members had a delivery of rock for the road and parking lot to help keep the site in good shape for the extensive traffic the moves through day in and day out. 

Cowlitz Wildlife Area Spears Mill Pond Maintenance and Enhancements: Cowlitz Wildlife Area staff members conducted maintenance activities on the access road to the Spears Mill Pond parking area. Staff members used a box scraper to “dig out” the potholes and redistribute existing rock. Staff members then regraded the road using a back blade adding new rock where needed. Wildlife area staff members also finished the installation of the scopes on the Pond’s viewing platform. Currently, visitors to the area might have the opportunity to see lots of waterfowl such as Canada geese, ring-necked ducks, and tundra swans.

Managing Wildlife Populations

District 8 Elk Surveys: District 8 Wildlife Biologist Wampole and Scientific Technician Ogburn completed Yakima Elk surveys and assisted Statewide Ungulate Specialist Moore with bighorn sheep captures. Staff members have begun retrieving trail cameras designed to monitor wolf activity in the region.

Oak Creek Wildlife Area Elk Feeding: Oak Creek staff members continued feeding elk at the Oak Creek and Cowiche feed sites. Peak numbers at Oak Creek this period slightly exceeded 700 animals, and they remain in seasonably fair condition. Peak numbers at Cowiche this period exceeded 2,200 animals and they also remain in seasonably fair condition, although we are seeing slightly more calf mortality this season (in excess of ten), mostly due to previous disturbance by domestic dogs in the area. 

LT Murray Wildlife Area Elk Feeding: The L.T. Murray Wildlife Area crew and a few volunteer members continued feeding elk. The numbers held consistent at just over 1,000 animals between the Robinson and Joe Watt feed sites.

District 4 Pronghorn Survey: District 4 Biologist Fidorra completed the draft of the 2025 south-central pronghorn survey report. After reviewing flight data, plus sightings compiled by ground crews of Safari Club International, the final tally of the survey was 337 animals. This in an increase over the prior high count of 250 animals found in the 2021 survey. The final report will be available next month through the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) website.

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Kittitas County Conflict - Poison Spring Elk: Elk have been seen at Poison Springs and in the upper county crop areas. Little or no damage has been observed.

Kittitas County Conflict – Haystack Tarps: Tarps were requested to protect haystacks in the Nile, Ellensburg, and the Wenas. Tarps were delivered to those landowners that have requested tarps.

Yakima County Conflict – Cowiche Elk: Elk in the Cowiche area have been breaking elk fence and getting into areas east of the fence. Elk have been harboring in the Cowiche Canyon Conservancy and several hundred have been nocturnally visiting adjacent orchards causing significant damage.

Yakima County Conflict – Tampico 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 the orchard further east. The WDFW elk fence gate has been persistently left open, allowing elk into damage areas where they have been removed. Staff members closes the gate, but it is opened again after several days. 

Yakima County Conflict – Cleman Mountain Elk: Several large groups of elk broke out of the south side fence on Cleman Mountain. Over 300 elk have been damaging a cherry orchard in Naches. The hole in the elk fence has been fixed and the elk have crossed through a return gate back to Cleman Mountain.

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Franklin County Habitat: Region 3 Private Lands Biologist Manderbach continued the work of Natural Resource Technician Pizzini at the Neff Jones private lands access property. Three unfarmed draws have already been planted with native shrubs over the past two years, and work has begun on a fourth draw. Weed eating in the fourth draw is nearly done, which will be followed up by herbicide treatment of invasive annual grasses and eventually a planting of native shrubs.

Private Lands Cultural Resources: Region 3 Private Lands Biologist Manderbach submitted cultural resources paperwork for 14 potential habitat projects. The private lands program is able to utilize the cultural resource work of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) using the Voluntary Public Access grant. Planning and prep work will continue while these projects are pending review from NRCS and hopefully in the next couple weeks the green flag will be given to begin work on some or all of them. These projects will begin anytime between this spring and spring of 2026.

Ringold Springs Habitat Plot: Sunnyside/Snake River Wildlife Area Manager Kaelber, Assistant Manager Jahns, Natural Resource Technician Pizzini, and Region 3 Private Lands Biologist Manderbach have been working on planting a native shrub habitat plot near the Ringold Springs Hatchery. The plot will provide valuable cover for native wildlife and help reduce erosion while also serving as a windbreak. 

Oak Creek Tieton River Stream Restoration by Yakama Nation Fisheries: Work commenced within the Oak Creek Wildlife Area boundaries on a Tieton River Stream Restoration Project this period led by Yakama Nation Fisheries. The intent of this project is to seasonably re-water an old channel within the Tieton River floodplain to provide additional opportunity for the development of quality spawning habitat and increase water retention within the system.

Providing Education and Outreach

Master Hunter Advisory Group: Region 3 Private Lands Biologist Manderbach met with a member of the Master Hunter Advisory Group (MHAG) on the subcommittee of retaining hunting access. This was an initial introduction meeting for each party and will be followed up with future meetings, as well as a statewide meeting with the MHAG and the private lands section manager. There will be potential for future collaboration and volunteer opportunities between the Region 3 private lands program and the MHAG.

Wenas Wildlife Area - 10 Year Management Plan: The first internal scoping meeting occurred for the Wenas Wildlife Area to provide an outline of the timeline, purpose, and overview of the planning process. Participation from all programs is an important aspect of the plan. Programs including real estate, fish, wildlife, enforcement, habitat, and more will provide input and expertise throughout the entire planning process. A meeting also occurred with the Yakama Nation Wildlife Program staff members to let them know about the planning process, to discuss future coordination, and to receive initial feedback on topics to focus on.

Oak Creek Wildlife Area Visitor’s Center and elk viewing area: Friends of Oak Creek volunteer members continue to staff the Visitor’s Center seven days per week and provide elk tours on the feed site. Below are the most recent visitor statistics. 

Conducting Business Operations and Policy

Wenas Wildlife Area- Prepping of Fence Material: Wenas Wildlife Area Technician Janes and Habitat Specialist Miller began prepping fence posts by cutting them to length and stacking them in organized piles to ensure peak efficiency for fence building. Fences on the wildlife area are essential to conflict management to prevent elk damage on adjacent private properties.

Wenas Wildlife Area- Annual BPA Grant Renewal: Habitat Specialist Miller began the renewal process for the Wenas Wildlife Area Operations and Maintenance grant through Bonneville Power Administration (BPA). BPA funds make up a significant portion of Wenas Wildlife Area funding and is essential to daily operations and maintenance on facilities.

Other

Local Working Group Meetings: Region 3 Private Lands Biologist Manderbach attended the Snake River Local Working Group meeting in Dayton and the South-Central Local Working Group meeting in Goldendale. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), local Conservation Districts, WDFW, the Department of Natural Resources, and various landowners attended these meetings. Local Work Group priorities were discussed for NRCS EQIP projects and current and ongoing projects were discussed.

Pesticide Recertification Training: Region 3 Private Lands Biologist Manderbach, District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand, and Sunnyside Snake River Wildlife Area Manager Kaelber attended the Washington State University’s pesticide recertification training in Kennewick. Credits were received to maintain pesticide licenses and many pesticide topics were covered over the two-day course.

L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Inventory: L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Winegeart completed a picture inventory for items assigned to employees on the wildlife area.

Managing Wildlife Populations

Greater sage-grouse and sharp-tailed grouse: Biologists are prepping for grouse survey season! Back in January, Biologist Eilers mailed out letters to 109 private landowners in Douglas County asking for land access permission to survey grouse on private property. Biologists will be monitoring known leks across Douglas County to get population estimates of both greater sage-grouse and Columbian sharp-tailed grouse, both of which are classified as endangered by the state of Washington. Douglas County has by far the highest abundance of greater sage-grouse in the state of Washington; however, the population is small and has experienced a steep decline over the past several decades. 

Biologist Jeffreys attempted to complete the first lek count of the year in late February; however, roads were impassable due to too much snow. Biologists Jeffreys and Eilers will try again in early March. 

Additionally, biologists and other Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) staff members and agency partners will be conducting an intensive search for previously unknown leks by driving county roads and stopping every half mile to get out and listen for the vocalizations grouse often make while displaying. With this year’s increase in survey effort, biologists hope to find more lek sites for both species and locate leks that were displaced by the Pearl Hill Fire. 

Wolves: Biologist Emily Jeffreys and a volunteer member set out five trail cameras in the known winter range of the Napeequa pack in early January and retrieved them at the end of February. The cameras were placed on side canyons off Chumstick Highway in the hopes of learning how many wolves are in the pack, which was unknown after the collared female’s collar malfunctioned and went offline in summer 2024. Other wildlife captured on camera included snowshoe hares and coyotes. For more information on wolves in Washington and links to annual wolf population monitoring reports, visit: Gray Wolf Conservation and Management. The 2024 Washington Gray Wolf Conservation and Management Annual Report featuring the latest update on Washington’s wolf packs will be finalized and available to the public in April 2025.

Bobcats: Biologists Eilers and Jeffreys have been busy sealing bobcats, a process that includes placing a locking band printed with a unique numeric identifier on each bobcat or pelt brought in by hunters and trappers for examination. This is required under CITES, an international treaty that regulates the trade of plants and animals to prevent over-exploitation and extinction of species. This season marks the start of a new statewide requirement for bobcat hunters and trappers to remove the lower jaws of all harvested bobcats and submit them to WDFW. The canine teeth in the jaw will provide WDFW with data on the age of the bobcat, which will then be used to track harvest trends in age classes over time. Age can be determined by examining the tooth with a microscope and counting layers of cementum, the tissue that covers the tooth root and forms annually, like counting growth rings on a tree trunk. 

Northern Leopard Frogs: The Region 2 diversity team and Northern Leopard Frog Biologist Force have been intensively monitoring the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge to look for leopard frogs emerging from winter brumation. Leopard frogs were reintroduced to the refuge last summer in an effort to establish a second population of leopard frogs in Washington, and detecting overwinter survival would be a big step for this recovery program. Two leopard frogs were detected at the reintroduction pond within the last month; however, persistent surface ice made thorough surveys impossible until the water temperature warmed up over the last week. Since the pond has thawed, two additional leopard frogs have been recorded, bringing the total number of winter survivors to four. 

Biologist Turner has begun drone surveys to locate pygmy rabbit tracks and burrows in Beezley Hills and Sagebrush Flats. Drone imagery is currently being reviewed to study the efficiency of this new method. On-the-ground rabbit burrow surveys from this winter have shown a large increase in the number of active burrows at many of the recovery sites which may lead to a great number of kits being born over the next few months. 

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Wolf Coordination with U.S. Fish and Wildlife: Specialist Heilhecker received a call from U.S. Fish and Wildlife staff member. The staff member was checking in for an update on any recent wolf activity or concerns for the upcoming grazing season. 

Presentation to Students: Private Lands Biologist Cook and Assistant District Biologist Clements presented to six groups of students for McFarland Middle School Career Day. Cook and Clements spoke about the required education, variety of jobs, and mission of the Department.

Conducting Business Operations and Policy

Bobcat Sealing: Specialist Heilhecker spoke with a hunter who needed a bobcat sealed. She coordinated the sealing with Assistant District Biologist Heinlen to learn the new process. She will take over bobcat sealing in the spring when Assistant District Biologist Heinlen is unavailable.

Wolf Advisory Group Communication: Specialist Heilhecker called two wolf advisory group members to see if they would like to continue representing the public on the advisory group. Most members’ terms have expired so the Department needs to know who would like to continue to determine how many vacancies need to be filled.

Bighorn Sheep Survey: Specialist Heilhecker assisted Assistant District Biologist Heinlen with a bighorn sheep survey. They were trying to locate packs and get a count on the sheep prior to the helicopter capture. 

National Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) Local Working Group Meetings: Biologist Cook attended and participated in two local working group annual meetings that cover his work area, the West Palouse and Big Bend Teams. Cook advocated for wildlife habitat practices being included in Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) contracts with the NRCS would increase the likelihood of funding. Both groups, which included Conservation Districts and local producers, were receptive to the idea, but only one group explicitly included it in their priorities. However, both groups gave greater ranking to practices that included native species used to increase plant productivity and health.

Safety Standup Meeting: Private Land staff members and supervisors all attended the morning Coffee Chats. Staff members also met and dedicated time to discussing all things safety related. The Private Lands team met to discuss safety equipment needs, emergency contact lists (updated as appropriate), job hazards, and the check-in/check-out procedure. Attestations, safety forms, inspections and training were also part of the conversations.

Other

Diversity Advisory Committee: Technician Hara attended the quarterly Diversity Advisory Committee meeting in Olympia.

Non-lethal Deterrence Discussion: Specialist Heilhecker participated in a meeting with staff members from the lands division. They discussed nonlethal deterrence measures for grazing permittees on WDFW lands.

Managing Wildlife Populations

Rustlers Gulch Wildlife Area: Acting Wildlife Area Manager Palmer and Natural Resource Technician Graves spent time at Rustlers Gulch Wildlife Area this week, getting Graves acquainted with the property and ongoing forest restoration work. In the process, Palmer and Graves were regularly encountering wolf tracks but were having difficulty determining how many wolves, until coming upon the site in the photo below. Six wolves had bedded here during that last snow event, with one other wolf bed under another single tree just uphill from this location.

Moose: Biologist Lowe was the flight follower for two days of aerial moose capture effort in District 1. Biologist Brinkman and Lowe were on the schedule to assist with capture efforts later in the week, but due to a shortage of drugs used to sedate moose, the capture effort was cut short after expending the supply of drugs during the first three days of the capture window. A total of 11 cow moose were captured and collared during those three days.

Bald Eagle: Natural Resource Technicians Edmondson and Keeling assisted Wildlife Conflict Specialist Samsill with the capture of a bald eagle that was injured on Highway 25. The eagle was captured, put in a kennel, and left overnight at the District 1 office to warm up before being transferred to the Spokane Audubon Society for rehabilitation. 

Moose: Biologists Lowe and Brinkman, with assistance from Wildlife Health Tech Appel, conducted a mortality investigation on a cow moose that was collared in 2024 as part of an ongoing moose study in the region. The collar began sending a mortality signal on February 9 and was investigated on February 10. Based on tracks and sign visible in the snow, it was determined that the moose was killed by wolves (likely the Mount Spokane pack), and had subsequently been scavenged on by eagles, ravens, and magpies. Although the exact age of the moose is not currently known, it appears to have been an older individual based on gum recession and tooth wear. Two incisor teeth were removed during the mortality investigation and will be sent to a lab for aging. There was a large abscess on one of the hind legs, indicating an injury that had become infected. This injury may have resulted in limited mobility and thus increased the susceptibility of this moose to predation. 

Fairchild Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan (INRMP): Biologist Lowe and Habitat Biologist Westerman met with staff members from Fairchild Air Force Base to discuss resource management activities completed in 2024 and goals for 2025, as identified in their Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan. 

Sherman Creek Wildlife Area Enforcement Patrol: Acting Wildlife Area Manager Palmer and Natural Resource Technician Graves joined Enforcement Sargent Bahrenburg and Officer Thoma on patrol at Sherman Creek Wildlife Area, on the Bisbee Mountain Road, to check for illegal motor vehicle access into the ungulate winter range. No illegal motor vehicle access was detected this year. Wildlife area staff members also use the opportunity for wildlife observations, noting trends in tracks and animal numbers. The snow was quite deep at higher elevations, which likely played a role in decreased wildlife observations. 

Tucannon Bighorn Sheep: Wildlife Area Manager Dingman located all 19 of the sheep this week. Biologist Vekasy, Conflict Specialist Kolb, and Dingman darted and collared two lambs: one male and one female. 

Tucannon Spring Chinook Meeting: Wildlife Area Manager Dingman attended a meeting with Fish Program and Habitat Program to discuss the future of the Tucannon spring chinook and an agreed upon path forward to try to keep them from extinction.

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Deer: Natural Resource Technicians Edmondson and Keeling responded to a call about a deer that had been found dead at the Colville Junior High School. The technicians arrived on scene, removed the deer, and disposed of it at the Roitz Rd Department of Transportation pit. 

Coyote Predations: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Harris received multiple reports of deer being killed in Spokane resident’s yards. Harris investigated one of the dead fawns and confirmed that it had died during a coyote predation event. Carcass remains were removed from the scene to prevent attracting predators to the area. 

Injured Deer: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Harris followed up on a report of two injured deer at a Spokane college campus. Harris identified both deer as fawns from last year with leg injuries. Both deer were still mobile, and Harris advised campus staff members to leave the deer alone and contact us if their condition declines.

Elk Damage: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Harris met with a producer in Spokane County to assess elk haystack damage. The producer is working to setup cattle panels around the haystack to keep elk out.

Turkey Trapping: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Kolb and other conflict staff members from District 3 spent a portion of the week addressing turkey complaints from city of Walla Walla homeowners. Weather conditions fluctuated throughout the week and created challenges to ensure the capture equipment would function correctly. The team was successful in trapping and transporting a group of large toms out of the problem area. All turkeys trapped were uninjured and released without issue.  

Elk Damage: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Harris met with a group of landowners and producers in Spokane County to discuss Damage Prevention Cooperative Agreements (DPCA) and mitigating elk damage. Landowners have been heavily impacted by damage to wheat and garb crops and are interested in enrolling into a DPCA to receive future damage permits.

Moose Conflict: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Harris responded to a report of a moose in distress at a Spokane residence. Harris advised the homeowner that the moose, a yearling bull, appeared to be in good shape and to give it time to leave on its own. The moose received an ear tag in the summer of 2024 when it was immobilized by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) enforcement staff members to remove a roof jack that was stuck on its foot. 

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Brush Piles: Private Lands Biologist Thorne Hadley discussed brush pile construction with Private Lands Biologist Manderbach and emailed job sheets with construction diagrams along with photographs of brush piles being constructed on WDFW contracted access properties in Walla Walla County. 

Private Lands Biologist Thorne Hadley met with the Habitat Chairman of the Blue Mountain Pheasants Forever Chapter to give him several pallets to use for the foundation of two brush piles that the Chapter is planning on constructing this spring. 

Solar and Wind Energy: Biologist Lowe attended a meeting with the Solar and Wind Guidelines focus group to receive updates on the progress of the draft “Guidelines for Utility-scale Solar and Onshore Wind Energy Development in Washington State” document. The group will have a couple of weeks to provide comments during the second review period.

Chapman Lake Access: This week Wildlife Area Manager Finch and Natural Resource Technician Duclos went to Chapman Lake to check the access from the public for trash and target shooting. Finch and Duclos also placed a game camera at the access point where recent damage was caused to the fence, gate, and bracket. Approximately one month ago, someone took down the fence next to the access gate to drive an ATV within the property.

Forest Restoration Grant Revision Approved: Acting Wildlife Area Manager Palmer was notified that the Recreation and Conservation Office approved a revision to the current grant providing for forest restoration prescribed burning at Sherman Creek Wildlife Area. The revision replaces treatment units identified for this grant with other units that were treated before this grant project. The original project units cannot be treated before the grant end date due to partner delays and logistical reasons. The replacement units are due for re-entry with prescribed fire based on natural fire cycles in the ponderosa pine forest habitat type. This revision provides the opportunity to continue meeting prescribed burning treatment objectives and fully expend the grant before the end date on June 30, 2025. 

Revere Wildlife Area Inspection: This weekend with the heavy rains in Whitman County the snow melted off so quickly reports of major flooding occurred. Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Wagner and Natural Resource Technician Duclos went to the Revere Wildlife Area to inspect for any flood damage. While inspecting the wildlife area, driving from the west entrance through the interior, everything looked normal until they approached the county wooden bridge leaving the north side of the property. Once Wagner and Duclos reached the wooden bridge that crosses Imbler Creek, the entire county road on the westside of the bridge had been washed out. There was debris that washed up against the wooden bridge and restricted the flow of Imbler Creek, forcing the channel to divert to the west side of the bridge and down the county road a distance. Now the only road entrance onto the wildlife area is from the westside along Jordan Knot Rd. Wagner contacted the Whitman County Road Supervisor and reported the washout, but was told Whitman County declared a state of emergency therefore it would be at least three weeks to one month before that section of roadway can be repaired.

Providing Education and Outreach

University of Idaho Career Fair: Private Lands Biologist Nizer attended the University of Idaho College of Natural Resources career fair. Nizer spoke to future graduates about how to get involved and what steps to start a career as a Private Lands Biologist. 

Selkirk Middle School Career Fair: Biologist Brinkman attended a career fair at the Selkirk Middle School in Liberty Lake. Students from sixth to eighth grade visited booths set up from many local businesses and each grade had different questions that the students asked to professionals from different career paths. Enforcement Officer Copenhaver was also at the WDFW booth to answer questions related to enforcement. 

Hunter Education: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Kolb coordinated facility and live-fire locations for four hunter education courses in the Walla Walla Valley this spring. 

4-O Ranch Wildlife Area Buck and Pole Fence: Natural Resource Technicians Peters and Meisner made a template for constructing uprights to hold up buck and pole fence. The plan is to build about 1,000 feet of fence around a pond near the Reynolds place to protect quaking aspen from grazing livestock, deer, and elk. The project is partially funded with Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) money, and we are planning on having RMEF volunteer members construct the fence this spring.

Conducting Business Operations and Policy

Seasonal Access Area Closures: Natural Resource Specialist Dziekan visited access areas in District 2 to shut them down for the season. These included Spokane County Lakes; Badger, Williams, and Clear Lake. The gates are routinely shut and locked after waterfowl season is over. Dziekan will reopen the gates once regular fishing season opens at the end of April.

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD): Natural Resource Technician Edmondson picked up three elk heads that had been harvested using damage permits to collect CWD samples.

Managing Wildlife Populations

Marbled Murrelet Captures: Biologist Murphie assisted the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) marine bird research team with their at-sea murrelet capture efforts. Samples collected at capture will provide information on the diet of these small sea birds. To catch these birds, capture teams drive small, rigid-hull, inflatable boats around at night using spotlights to find marbled or ancient murrelets. Once found, the boat maneuvers close enough to catch them with a salmon-landing net. Working west of Port Angeles, Biologist Murphie reports the team caught two ancient murrelets on the night he participated. Additional efforts continue. 

Harlequin Duck Survey: Annually, WDFW staff members conduct boat-based harlequin duck composition counts in several areas of the inland marine waters of Washington. Biologist Murphie participated in this effort, surveying west of Port Angeles out to Cape Flattery.

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Fence Repairs - Misery Point, Kitsap County: The access team made good use of the dry and cold weather by making fence repairs at several water access sites in the region. At Misery Point Access, the crew replaced a 45-foot section of chain link with wooden privacy slats, repaired several smaller sections, replaced top rail, and straightened fence posts.

Abandoned Vessel Removal and Recycling - Lacey, Thurston County: It has been a long road, but access staff members, with assistance from Lacey Shop staff members and equipment, have finally completed the disposal process of an abandoned 24-foot Cabin Cruiser. After assuming custody, all fluids and contaminants were removed and the vessel was meticulously deconstructed, allowing materials to be separated, sorted, and recycled accordingly. The remaining debris was loaded into a dumpster destined for the refuse station and smashed into smithereens. The resources and cumulative hours spent will be submitted to Department of Natural Resources vessel recovery program for reimbursement. 

Malicious Tree Damage - Clarks Creek Loop Trail, Pierce County: Clarks Creek Loop Trail property is part of the Puyallup Hatchery grounds and shares boundaries with the Puyallup Parks Department who primarily maintains the trails by agreement with WDFW. Access staff members helped coordinate efforts between WDFW, the City of Puyallup Parks Department, and a contracted arborist to safely fall standing danger trees. Several trees had been maliciously damaged beyond survival, many were cut halfway through or more and needed felling to eliminate risk to the public. This is the second time in 11 months trees were damaged or killed at this location. The previous incident included the loss of an old growth Douglas Fir estimated at around 200 years old. Additionally, vandalism to signs and illegal dumping has been documented during the same period. WDFW Communications issued news releases describing these events and has gained quite a bit of attention within the local news outlets.

Beaver Damage – American Lake, Pierce County: Access staff members consulted with an arborist about the condition of trees damaged by ongoing work of beavers at the American Lake access. Beavers have been chewing their way through several cottonwoods on the north side of the parking area, some trees may need to be removed in the weeks to come.

Twin Rivers Gate: Wildlife Area Manager Laushman met with Cultural Resources and Capital and Asset Management Program (CAMP) staff members at the new Twin Rivers Unit to help plan for the installation of a new gate at the parking area of the unit. CAMP staff members installed the gate, and new signs will be on site soon.

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Lake Koeneman: Wildlife Area Manager Laushman, Assistant Regional Program Manager Blankenship, and Forester Nequette visited the Lake Koeneman Unit of the South Puget Sound Wildlife Area to assess the unit for potential future thinning work. 

Lakewood Weed Management: Technician Morgan removed scotch broom, blackberry, and spurge laurel at the South Puget Sound Unit in Lakewood. Wildlife Area Manager Laushman treated poison hemlock throughout the unit.

Providing Education and Outreach

Tree Planting Volunteer Event at the Elk River Unit: Technicians Magliaro and Martinez coordinated and led a volunteer tree planting event on Saturday, Feb. 1 in Westport at the Elk River Unit of the Olympic-Willapa Hills Wildlife Area. Volunteer members planted shore pines and Sitka spruce. The wildlife area staff members have been working to control an extensive scotch broom outbreak at this site through mowing, brush cutting, and spraying. The goal of this planting event is to establish more native plants to hopefully outcompete the scotch broom. 

Biologist Murphie responded to inquiries received by phone or email related to bobcats, river otters, osprey nest removal requests, and ravens.

Conducting Business Operations and Policy

McNeil Island Visit: Wildlife Area Manager Laushman visited McNeil Island with the Cultural Resources Team and Habitat Biologist Erkel to look at upcoming projects that will involve help from the Cultural Resources staff members. 

Safety Stand-up Week: Biologist Murphie participated in several activities associated with the agency-wide safety stand-up effort.

Work-planning: Biologist Murphie participated in work-planning activities with other Regional and Headquarters staff members.

Olympic Peninsula Technical Team Meeting: Biologist Murphie participated in the annual meeting of this group.

DFW Aviation Instruction: Biologist Murphie held an aviation training class in Port Townsend, which covers fundamental aspects of working with and around aircraft, and aspects of helicopter capture work.

Other

Access Manager Reeves worked with the Department of Enterprise Systems and contracted dealerships to begin the replacement process of water access service trucks.

Access Manager Reeves prepared the final PowerPoint presentation for a grant application to Recreation Conservation Office in the Boating Facilities Program category Redevelopment Spencer Lake water access.

Access Manager Reeves is coordinating efforts with volunteer members in the Adopt an Access program to install life jacket loaner sheds at WDFW access sites. 

Access Manager Reeves developed a tentative plan and schedule with Washington Conservation Corps forage fish crew to expand the monofilament recycling bins to additional access areas throughout Region 6.

Managing Wildlife Populations

Great Blue Heron Outreach and Survey: Biologist Anderson gave a presentation to Rainier Audubon Society regarding how WDFW manages great blue heron colonies. The discussion involved how the Rainier Audubon Society can play a role in assisting the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) via reporting and engaging with local communities. Anderson also spent some time in the field examining a few areas great blue heron colonies.

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Conflict Biologist O’Connor recently completed a BearWise Community Hazard Assessment to identify areas of improvement to assist North Bend municipalities and residence in becoming a bear-prepared community. The City of North Bend, Republic Services, Recology, and other community partners have identified educational materials, bear resistant containers, and staffing needs as important infrastructure for reducing human-bear conflict in this area. To find out more about coexisting with these charismatic animals and how to reduce human-bear conflict, please visit Bearwise.org and WDFW Living with Wildlife – Black bear.

Managing Wildlife Populations

Greater Sage-grouse: Biologists Eilers and Jeffreys and Technicians Hara and Force surveyed greater sage-grouse leks (communal display grounds for males). Biologists across Douglas County will be surveying for sage-grouse and Columbian sharp-tailed grouse, both of which are classified as endangered by the State of Washington. They are monitoring known current and historic leks to count birds for the purpose of generating a population estimate. 

Biologists and other Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) staff members and agency partners will be conducting an intensive search for previously unknown leks by driving county roads and stopping every half mile to get out and listen for the vocalizations grouse often make while displaying. Douglas County currently has the greatest abundance of greater sage-grouse in Washington, but populations are declining. With this year’s increase in survey efforts, biologists hope to find more lek sites for both species and locate leks that were displaced by the Pearl Hill Fire. For more information on greater sage-grouse in Washington, visit the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife website at Greater sage-grouse | Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Private Biologist Braaten continues sage grouse lek counts in Douglas County. Biologist Morris started sage grouse searches. He will be searching grids in Douglas County without known sage grouse leks, searching for birds or new leks.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Pronghorn Aerial Survey: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Biologists Jeffreys and Eilers joined Biologist Rushing, a wildlife biologist for the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation (CTCR), in performing an aerial survey for pronghorn across Douglas County. 

Pronghorn were extirpated from Douglas County by the late 1800s. The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation introduced 52 pronghorn to the Colville Reservation in 2016, and 98 in 2017, many of which swam across the Columbia River to Douglas County. The pronghorn they introduced were from Nevada. 

A minimum of 103 individual pronghorn were observed during the aerial survey, predominantly in the Sim’s Corner and Leahy Junction areas. Surveys conducted on the Colville Reservation the week prior found approximately 120 pronghorn. For more information on pronghorn in Washington, visit the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife website at: Pronghorn Antelope | Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Mule Deer Collars: Hunter Education Coordinator Montanari retrieved one additional GPS collar from a mule deer to download the data that was stored onboard. Between 2020 and 2022, more than 60 does were collared in Chelan County as part of an ungulate movement and migration study being conducted in several Washington herds as well as across the western United States. Biologists have used location data gleaned from these GPS collars to learn valuable information about timing and duration of migration, migratory corridors and stopover points, and winter and summer range use for mule deer wintering in the Wenatchee Foothills as well as the Nahahum Canyon, Burch Mountain, and Swakane areas. 

These collars were programmed to drop off in four years after deployment, so the last 12 collared does still standing since the January 2020 capture dropped their collars as scheduled last month. Biologists have recovered four of these collars so far and will continue to go after the other eight in the coming months. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife will continue to receive GPS data from the approximately 13 collars still active on does in Chelan County for two more years. 

Image

Photo by WDFW

Pygmy Rabbit Surveys: Biologist Morris helped with more pygmy rabbit surveys. The lack of snow on the ground made surveys more difficult, but some burrows in a known occupied area showed activity. A lot of cottontails were also seen.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Mule Deer Methow Winter Range Closure: The Methow Wildlife Area winter range closure is still in effect until April 1. Even though it’s been an unseasonably mild winter and early spring, collar data shows migratory mule deer are still on their winter ranges. For example, staff members counted over 85 mule deer at the Golden Doe last week and collar data shows deer congregating in the shrub steppe area that recreationist tend to prefer. Staff members have been counting nearly 50 deer at Lewis Butte on a fairly regular basis, which is a huge increase from years past. Staff members also noticed increased deer use at Rizeor Lake and even saw a cow moose and her calf utilizing the closure area. Deer seem to be moving into the spring green up areas of the Big Buck in larger numbers the last few weeks. In summary, by reducing human disturbance at this critical time of year, the closure is proving beneficial to the Methow’s beloved and iconic herd of mule deer. 

Image

Photo by WDFW

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Hunter Access: Biologist Morris checked fields enrolled in our Waterfowl Habitat and Access Program (WHAP). The late white goose season is currently open and ends at the end of the week. 

Biologist Morris completed two Hunter Access contracts that landowners wanted to renew, one Hunt by Written Permission and one Feel Free to Hunt.

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Wolf Deterrence Outreach: Specialist Heilhecker and Wildlife Regional Program Manager Haug visited with Okanogan Conservation District staff members to discuss nonlethal wolf deterrence measures. They discussed wolf activity in the county and how to get the message of nonlethal deterrence measures out to the local community.

Radio Activated Guard Deployment: Specialist Heilhecker deployed a Radio Activated Guard (RAG) box near cattle feedlots and calving pens. Wolves were coming close to the feedlots due to an open carcass pit. The producer buried the carcass pit. The wolves continued to come to the buried pit for the following eight days before it tapered off to less frequent visits.

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Habitat Plots: The ground is clear and now it is time to start spring habitat management activities. Biologist Morris spent some time planning spring habitat management projects.

Biologist Cook visited two landowners in Grant and Adams counties to discuss options of habitat improvement. Potential projects include irrigated and non-irrigated tree and shrub planting to improve wildlife cover and food sources and stabilize drainage ditch banks. Other projects include no-till native grass seeding to improve stand diversity and Russian olive removal to reduce invasive species and open space for desirable plants. Some shrub replanting may occur this spring depending on nursery stock. Most projects will be implemented this fall or later.

Conservation Reserve Program: Biologist Morris spoke with a landowner about preserving sagebrush that could provide potential pygmy rabbit habitat. The landowner is re-enrolling land in the federally run Conservation Reserve Program and needs to reseed the field. Biologist Morris will recommend leaving portions of the field that contain mature sagebrush since pygmy rabbits occupy fields less than two miles away and could occupy the site in the future. 

Part of the reason for preserving sagebrush areas is that it can take 10 to 20 years to get a stand of sagebrush that is mature, dense enough to support pygmy rabbits. Every time mature sagebrush is destroyed it resets the clock for another 10 to 20 years before the area could provide pygmy rabbit habitat again.

Limebelt Forest Thinning: Scotch Creek staff members resumed thinning small diameter trees in the forested portions of the Limebelt on the Scotch Creek Unit. The goals of the thinning are to eliminate conifer encroachment in and around aspen, reconfigure fuels, and restore historical stand densities.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Shrub Enclosure Removal: Scotch Creek staff members removed approximately 2000 feet of temporary deer fence that was installed back around 2010 to protect newly planted deciduous shrubs. In 2015, the Okanogan Complex Fire burnt a portion of the enclosure. The fence was repaired, and new plants were planted in 2016. The fence has reached its life span and most of the shrubs are tall enough to be out of browsing height of deer. 

Boundary Fence Repair: Scotch Creek staff members repaired approximately one mile of boundary fence on the Similkameen-Chopaka Unit damaged by high water from the Similkameen River and one mile on the Tunk Valley Unit damaged by falling dead trees from the Tunk Block Fire in 2015.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Providing Education and Outreach

Grant Elementary School Science Fair: Administrative Assistant Jones and Biologists Cook, Morris, Nason, and Technician Balderston organized an outreach room for Grant Elementary School students and their families to learn more about wildlife resources. Mammal skulls and skins, amphibian and reptile skeletons, and an insect coloring and cutout activity were provided for the public. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife stickers and pamphlets were also available for families.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Conducting Business Operations and Policy

Natural Resource Conservation Service Local Working Group Meetings: Biologist Cook attended the West Palouse Local Working Group meeting in Ritzville and Biologist Morris attended the North Central Local Working Group meeting in Chelan. During these meetings, local priorities are decided for ranking Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQUIP) proposals for the following fiscal year. Cook and Morris provided feedback and suggestions to include terrestrial wildlife habitat as a priority in the Rangeland Improvements Category.

Private Lands Work Party Planning: Private Biologist Braaten worked on planning an upcoming statewide Private Lands work party in north central Washington March 26 through March 28. 

Region 2 North Community Collaborations: Assistant Regional Wildlife Program Manager Troyer has recently engaged in a variety of community collaborations. For example, Troyer recently attended the Chewuch Canal Company meeting to discuss future infrastructure improvements that would better serve irrigators, but also conserve more water for in-stream flows. Additionally, Troyer ran into a variety of other Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife colleagues at a Natural Resource Conservation Service workshop in Chelan. Lastly, Troyer has been busy as a core planning team member on Okanogan County’s Community Wildfire Protection Plan efforts.

Other

Damage Claim Processing: Specialist Heilhecker gathered notes and documentation for a deer damage crop compensation claim.

Permit Database Development: Specialist Heilhecker provided comments to a draft users’ manual for the new damage permit database system.

Wildlife Observed: While out checking local conditions Biologist Morris spotted several swans and bald and golden eagles, in agricultural fields near Quincy.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Managing Wildlife Populations

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

Olympic Peninsula Technical Elk Meeting: District 17 Biologists Novack and Cent attended a coordination meeting with tribal and non-tribal representatives regarding elk management and monitoring on the Olympic Peninsula.

Marbled Murrelets: Biologist Tirhi assisted with the murrelet captures on four separate occasions and was involved in the capture of 3 of the 5 total marbled murrelets captured for the research project (and one ancient murrelet). Marbled murrelets are a state and federally listed species. This study was designed to capture marbled murrelets for prey diet research and is funded by the U.S. Navy. 

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Oregon Spotted Frog: The frog season is off to a slow but steady start across south Puget Sound. Biologist Tirhi has spent several days conducting early season surveys including at the Salmon Creek breeding site where the first ten egg masses were recorded. Tirhi has also spent time mapping out wetlands across four focal areas of Thurston County and researching land ownership and access permission in order to conduct the 2024 surveys. 

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Protection Island Restoration: Wildlife Area Manager Laushman and Technicians Morgan and Norris visited the Zella Schultz Unit on Protection Island for ongoing restoration work. They seeded native species and applied herbicide to germinating invasive species on the island. 

Image

Photo by WDFW

South Puget Sound Weed Control: Technician Morgan continued mowing of Scotch broom on the northern hillsides at the South Puget Sound Unit in Lakewood and cleared thick areas of Scotch broom near the Lakewood Hatchery. Wildlife Area Manager Laushman treated patches of spurge laurel and poison hemlock. 

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Region 6 Office Wetlands Restoration: Biologists Novack and Cent, along with wildlife area technicians and customer service staff members, planted willow stakes in the wetland area behind the regional office in Montesano. The wetlands are overrun with exotic reed-canary grass and yellow-eyed iris which prevents natural succession. Protective wiring was installed around the planted willows to prevent deer and beaver damage during initial establishment.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Prairie Species and Oregon Spotted Frog land protection: Biologist Tirhi spent considerable time working with Land Protection Lead Frediani on creating a GIS mapping tool to prioritize land acquisition and conservation priorities for Thurston County. Tirhi and Frediani met individually with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services, Thurston County, and Washington Water Trust to showcase the tool and discuss partnerships for implementation. This partnership will continue and will use various funding sources to acquire or otherwise protect lands for these priority species. 

Providing Education and Outreach

Puyallup Sportsman Show: Biologist Tirhi covered one shift at the annual sportsmen show held at the Puyallup fairgrounds. 

Conducting Business Operations and Policy

Capital Project Proposal: Biologist Novack, working in conjunction with Wildlife Area Manager Bechtold and Kronland, submitted a proposal for removing derelict structures on the Chehalis and Davis Creek units concurrent with constructing an ADA accessible observation platform at Davis Creek.

Tracked All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV): Biologists Butler and Tirhi spent several hours cleaning out a donated space at one of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife fish hatcheries for the storage of the district’s tracked ATV used for winter surveys and monitoring. The desire was to move the machine from the open into an enclosed area to prevent rust. District 11 is grateful to the Hatchery Program for allowing the use of the space. 

Image

Photo by WDFW

Managing Wildlife Populations

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 Cowlitz 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 the 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. 

During her second February survey, Wickhem recorded 288 dusky geese and read eight red neck collars. Surprisingly, only two collars were repeats from the previous week and the rest were new records for this season. That makes a total of 20 individual collars recorded so far at Shillapoo Wildlife Area for the 2023-2024 season. 

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, many species of waterfowl, and coyotes. Thanks to retired Biologist Miller for assisting on the Cowlitz County survey during this time period. 

Image

Photo by WDFW

Cougar Pelt Seal: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen sealed the pelt of an adult female cougar for a successful cougar hunter in GMU 388. 

Image

Photo by WDFW

Bobcat Pelt Seals: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen sealed four adult bobcat pelts for a bobcat trapper/hunter. The bobcats were harvested in GMUs 578, 388, and 382. The Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES) regulations require that pelts of certain species legally harvested (such as bobcats and river otters) be tagged with a department-issued federal CITES tag. 

CITES is an international agreement between governments which aims to ensure that trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. Many wildlife species that are subject to trade are not endangered, but the existence of an agreement to ensure the sustainability of the trade is important in order to safeguard these resources for the future. The pelts of the bobcats harvested by this individual will be sold to the fur market in the upcoming months.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Deceased Deer: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen helped a landowner dispose of a dead deer in his yard in an urban area of Klickitat County. It is unknown how the deer died.

Image

Photo by WDFW

First Injured Deer: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen responded to a report of an injured deer on the side of the road in Klickitat County. The deer ended up expiring before Jacobsen arrived at the scene. Jacobsen moved the deceased deer out of the roadway.

Second Injured Deer: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen responded to a report of an injured deer that had been unable to get up for the past 24 hours. Jacobsen assessed the deer and determined that she was unable to use her back legs and needed to be euthanized. Jacobsen euthanized the deer and the landowner disposed of the carcass.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Deceased Bald Eagle: Employees at The Dalles Dam contacted Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen regarding a dead bald eagle near a popular eagle roosting spot on dam property. Jacobsen responded to the scene and took possession of the eagle. Jacobsen will send the eagle in for testing of avian influenza (HPAI) and lead poisoning.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Massey Bar Access Area: Access area staff members were pleased to see that the Capital Asset Management Program (CAMP) promptly started grading Region 5 access areas as soon as they received the road and parking grading list. In the past, Region 5 has been the last region to be visited. This is a much-appreciated change and is great for our staff and anyone who uses these sites. 

Image

Photo by WDFW

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

District 9 Livestock Carcass Disposal: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen received a report of a dead cow at a livestock producer’s operation. To help prevent wolf scavenging on livestock carcasses near active calving operations, Jacobsen hauled the carcass away from the operation and disposed of it at a regional landfill.

District 9 Chicken Depredations: A concerned landowner contacted Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen regarding hawks depredating on his chickens in Clark County. After talking to the landowner, Jacobsen learned that the landowner had several hundred chickens that he allows to free-range on his property. Jacobsen discussed the predation risks of having free-ranging fowl (especially that many) and offered several suggestions of ways to help reduce the chicken losses, though free-ranging chickens will likely always experience some level of raptor or mammalian carnivore predation.

District 9 “Poisoned” Coyotes: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen worked with Officer Bolton to respond to a complaint about someone “poisoning” coyotes in the neighborhood. The reporting party had found three deceased coyotes in her barn and thought she had seen two more that appeared to be in very poor condition. The reporting party believed that a nearby ranch had been poisoning the coyotes. After talking to the reporting party, who described the coyotes’ plight as “looking like Wiley Coyote, the cartoon,” Jacobsen deduced that the reporting party had been seeing coyotes with severe mange infections caused by a microscopic mite. Jacobsen advised the reporting party that the now-hairless coyotes likely died during the sub-zero temperature cold snap due to their inability to stay warm. Jacobsen and Officer Bolton agreed that poisoning was not a likely scenario given the circumstances.

District 9 Cougar Concerns: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen fielded several reports of cougar sightings in GMUs 574 and 578. Jacobsen provided advice on living in cougar country to the reporting parties.

Image

Photo by reporting party.

Image

Photo by reporting party.

Tree Damage from Squirrels: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen received a report of western gray squirrels damaging Douglas fir trees in Klickitat County. Jacobsen provided advice, including advising the reporting party to stop feeding the squirrels in their yard.

Sheep Depredation: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen responded to a report of a cougar depredation on a sheep in Clark County. Jacobsen conducted a necropsy of the carcass and determined that the sheep was killed by coyotes. Jacobsen provided advice to the producer on locking his livestock up at night and purchasing a livestock guardian dog to protect his remaining livestock in the heavily-wooded pasture where they were kept.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Elk Damage to Crops: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen met with a producer who had been incurring elk damage to her commercial organic herb farm. Jacobsen discussed enrolling the producer in a Damage Prevention Cooperative Agreement to help mitigate elk damage to the crops. Jacobsen inspected the damage and documented extensive elk trampling and compaction of the producer’s high-value skullcap crop. While examining the damage, Jacobsen and the producer observed approximately 75 to 80 head of elk in the field. Jacobsen hazed the elk out of the field using 12-gauge cracker shells launched from his shotgun.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

“Bear” Tracks on the Beach: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen responded to a report of bear tracks along a popular Columbia River beach. The reporting party sent photos of the tracks to Jacobsen, who confirmed the tracks to be from a domestic dog or coyote.

Image

Photo by Reporting party.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Deer Hoof Damage: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen was first notified of a deer with a hoof abnormality in early fall of 2023 in the Carson area. Around mid-spring 2023, the deer had stepped on some sort of plastic ring or cap and it had gotten caught on the deer’s hoof. Over time, the ring worked its way up one of the deer’s toes and began to impede the deer’s movement. Jacobsen made several attempts to catch the deer in the fall and winter of 2023 to no avail. 

On March 1, the deer hung around its favorite residence long enough for Jacobsen to make the hour-long trek there, prepare his immobilization equipment, and successfully chemically immobilize the deer. At that point, the deer had ceased to use its rear leg with the plastic ring and its toes had become elongated. The hoof and lower leg tissue also began growing over and encasing the plastic ring to the point where the ring was almost completely concealed. Jacobsen performed field surgery on the deer and carefully removed the ring and some of the necrotic tissue around the lower leg. 

The reporting party confirmed the following day that the deer was back to her normal routine and appeared to be using her leg a little more than before. Due to the extent of the injury, it will be quite some time before the deer recovers enough to bear weight on the rear leg.

Image

Image

Image

Photo by Reporting party.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Conserving Natural Landscapes

A Not-So-Happy Valentine’s Day Balloon: Balloons can be a fun way to celebrate a special occasion with loved ones but are not fun for wildlife! On Feb. 15, Technician Crane found this Valentine’s Day balloon at the Vancouver Lake Unit of the Shillapoo Wildlife Area. Thankfully, this balloon was removed and properly disposed of before it could cause any harm. When a balloon floats away, it must eventually come down, often miles from where it was released, and becomes litter. Littered balloons pose a threat to wildlife either when consumed or when animals become entangled in the balloon string. Properly dispose of all balloons or consider other options for celebrations such as eco-friendly confetti or a banner made from recycled material. 

Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen also found a deceased Valentine’s Day balloon on March 1 along the Lewis River. It appeared to have died without much suffering.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Providing Education and Outreach

Sportsman’s Show: Region 5 staff members from Wildlife, Fish, Habitat, Customer Service, Enforcement, and Hunter Education worked shifts at the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) booth at the Northwest Sportsman’s Show in Portland in mid-February. The crew answered questions from show attendees, handed out WDFW swag and informational pamphlets, and had a spinning wheel of trivia questions and a shooting video game for kids. 

The show was well-attended and had many relevant vendors and programs. Popular questions fielded by WDFW staff members included dates for release of 2024 hunting and fishing pamphlets, cost and license structure for non-residents, the recently held smelt dipping season, 2024 salmon run forecasts, and inquiries regarding the future of hunting season structure in Washington. 

Image

Photo by WDFW

Other

Not the Wildlife We Had in Mind: The annual “fence rip-out and replace” has begun at Shillapoo Wildlife Area which requires many hands and many hours. Unfortunately, work on the first section of fencing had barely begun when it was stalled by a lost visitor. A rather sad looking non-native canine species was found wandering on the wildlife area, presumably dumped by owners that no longer wanted to care for him.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Nicknamed Franklin by wildlife area staff members, this little dog was deaf, blind, and covered from head to toe with a severe case of mange. Franklin was fed some delectable dog biscuits and kept safe by wildlife area staff members until Clark County Animal Control Services could arrive and transport him to the SW Washington Humane Society.

Sadly, finding abandoned pets is NOT an uncommon thing for wildlife area staff members. Franklin is the fifth dog found on the wildlife area this month. There are a variety of options offered in southwest Washington that help owners find new and loving homes for their pets. Dumping pets should never be an option. 

Managing Wildlife Populations

L.T. Murray Winter Vehicle Restricted Area: L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Natural Resource Scientist Nass closed the gate on Cayuse Creek to complete the annual winter closure to vehicles on the Whiskey Dick Unit. On the Feb 1. closure date, Washington State Parks denied wildlife area staff members entry through the lower elevation Washington State Parks gate off Recreation Drive because soft wet roads could lead to resource damage and the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife access roads were blocked by snow drifts.

Image

Photo by WDFW

L.T. Murray Bird Boxes: L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Natural Resource Technician Blore and Assistant Manager Winegeart checked nine kestrel boxes near Parke Creek on the Quilomene Unit. Three boxes contained kestrel feathers, and all the boxes had been used. Most boxes had nesting material added to them indicating use from other species. 

Image

Photo by WDFW

Oak Creek Wildlife Area Elk Feeding Operations: Oak Creek Wildlife Area staff members continue to conduct feeding operations at the Cowiche Unit and Oak Creek Unit feed sites. With mild winter weather and an early spring, elk have started to leave the feed sites and forage elsewhere. Daily elk counts fluctuate based on weather and movement of elk but total counts on the Cowiche Unit have reduced from 2200 in the middle of February to an average of 600 at the end of February. Total elk counts at the Oak Creek feed site have reduced from 600 in the middle of February to an average of 250 at the end of February. Daily monitoring of elk indicates elk are in seasonable good health. 

District 4 Ferruginous Hawk Mitigation Impacted by Proposed Windfarm: District 4 Wildlife Biologist Fidorra removed two nesting platforms from private lands that had been installed as part of a mitigation project. The land is under contract with the Horse Heaven Hills Windfarm and the developer requested the platforms be removed. New sites should be identified to relocate these platforms.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Burrowing Owls Overwinter in Tri-Cities at Habitat Project: District 4 Wildlife Biologist Fidorra and Assistant Wildlife Biologist Hoffman checked and maintained artificial burrows for burrowing owls. Mild weather this winter allowed many owls to overwinter successfully, with a large number of birds already on breeding sites during February maintenance checks. Recapturing these owls provides important data on survival and movements as many were banded individuals from the regional population. 

Over-wintering owls is a unique phenomenon in the Columbia Basin as most of the western subspecies are migratory. In most years, most females and juvenile birds migrate south to California and Mexico, but some hardy adult males tend to overwinter. It appears females and some younger birds skipped migration this season!

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

City of Pasco Installs Artificial Burrows for Burrowing Owls as Mitigation: District 4 Wildlife Biologist Fidorra worked with City of Pasco staff members and contractors to finalize installation of 21 artificial burrows on property where construction was impacting known breeding sites. These new burrows should provide breeding sites for seven pairs of owls, which would be a potential net positive outcome for the local owl population! Fidorra and City of Pasco staff members will monitor the burrows for success.

Image

Photo by WDFW

District 8 Bighorn Sheep Collaring: District 8 Wildlife Biologists Wampole and Moore alongside Ungulate Specialist Moore work together with a contractor Quicksilver to capture and collar, bighorn sheep in the Yakima Canyon and Clemen Mountain herds. Captures took place Feb. 16 through Feb. 18. Data entry and shipment of biological swab and blood samples also occurred.

District 8 Kittitas County Deer Collars: In Kittitas County, District 8 Wildlife Biologists Wampole and Moore continue to pick up dropped deer collars from Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife 2020 mule deer project.

District 8 Trail Cameras: Biologists Wampole and Moore have been picking up trail cameras used for winter wildlife monitoring. This project helps species specialists monitor wildlife populations, growth, and movement.

District 8 Grouse Wing Bee: Assistant District Wildlife Biologist Moore joined other district biologists, and other Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife staff members in Spokane for the department’s annual grouse “Wing Bee”. Biologists are able to determine the species, age, and sex from the plumage characteristics on the wings and tail fans that were collected via the grouse wing and tail collection barrel program.

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Wenas Wildlife Area Manastash Ridge Trails – Trail Conditions Sign Install: Wenas Wildlife Area Lands and Recreation Specialist Frame created, designed, and installed an interactive sign that displays current trail conditions in the area. This sign has an adjustable arrow that indicates if the trails are in good, fair, icy, or poor condition. The arrow is held in place with a lock and pin configuration to prevent unwanted movement of the arrow. This sign idea was suggested by the Manastash Ridge Trails Committee.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Rattlesnake Hills Elk: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand monitored elk activity on the Hanford National Monument and adjoining private lands. Large numbers of elk continue to occupy low elevation areas near Highway 240 on the Hanford Monument and were hazed away from the roadway. 

Image

Photo by WDFW

District 4 Pasco Nuisance Deer: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand received and responded to a complaint from a homeowner along the Columbia River in Pasco concerning a small group of deer that have browsed on fruit and ornamental trees and shrubs. Advice on protection measures and hazing strategies were discussed and will be employed to hopefully reduce any damage impacts.

District 4 Kahlotus Deer: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand continued to coordinate deployed youth from the Region 3 special permit roster to landowner’s experiencing deer damage in the Kahlotus area. 

Image

Photo by WDFW

District 4 West Richland Deer Complaint: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand continued to work with a landowner along the Yakima River to address an increasing number of deer causing damage. Two master hunters have been deployed to the property for hazing and removal operations.

District 4 Vehicle Collision with Pronghorn: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand responded to a call of a vehicle collision with a pronghorn antelope along Highway 221 south of Prosser. Biological information was captured and entered in Survey 123.

Image

Photo by WDFW

District 8 Kittitas County: Conflict Technician Leuck and Conflict Specialist Wetzel hazed some elk from 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. Elk have been hazed away again from Interstate 90 in some locations. Wetzel also tasked an agency range rider to work on wolf issues in the Lauderdale to Kittitas area of the old Naneum Pack territory.

District 8 Yakima County: Conflict Technician Leuck and Conflict Specialist Wetzel repaired elk fence at the return gate and another location in the Cowiche area where elk were in orchards outside the elk fence. Elk were hazed from Tampico and the Tieton areas as well. 

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Quilomene Watershed: Natural Resource Technician Blore continued working with Assistant Area Habitat Biologist Shaffer to either replace a Parke Creek tributary culvert or convert the site to a ford. 

Image

Photo by WDFW

Wenas Wildlife Area Bull Pasture Rd / Bell Tell Rd – Illegal Trash Dump Clean Up: Wenas Wildlife Area Lands and Recreation Specialist Frame and Wenas Wildlife Area Natural Resource Technician Janes cleaned up an illegal trash dump on the Wenas Wildlife Area. The trash was partially burned and spread over the ground. Frame and Janes discovered multiple pieces of trash with names and addresses that may lead to who dumped the trash. Those pieces of evidence were submitted to Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Enforcement. A total of 210 pounds of trash was removed from the site.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Wenas Wildlife Area Grazing: Wenas Wildlife Area Manager Gray met with a grazing lessee to review how last season’s grazing went throughout the unit. The lease was designed to help improve habitat and maintain positive relationships within the community. Gray discussed the need for a future lease with the lessee and will be working on doing another lease this coming season.

Neff Jones Road Hunt By Reservation Site Shrub Monitoring: Private Lands Biologist Manderbach checked on a shrub planting done about a year ago by then Natural Resource Technician Manderbach and former Private Lands Biologist Hulett on the Neff Jones Private Lands Access site. The sagebrush that was planted is doing well and growing, but the antelope bitterbrush had a very low success rate. Notes were taken on what went well and what could be improved upon for future habitat work at that site.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area Byron Unit Sagebrush Planting: Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area staff members and District 4 Assistant Biologist Hoffman planted sagebrush plugs using hand drills with auger attachments in late February. This is a new technique and seems very efficient. The sagebrush is being planted as part of a restoration effort to replace sagebrush lost to a fire that occurred there in 2022. 

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Providing Education and Outreach

L.T Murray Hunter Education: The Kittitas County Field and Stream Club held two Hunter Education classes at the Green Gate subunit of the Quilomene Unit on the L.T. Murray Wildlife Area. More than 40 students participated and earned their Hunter Education Certificate.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Rosalind Franklin Elementary STEM Night: Private Lands Biologist Manderbach setup a pelts and skulls table for the Rosalind Franklin Elementary STEM Night in Pasco. Students and parents both were intrigued by all of the pelts and skulls and had many questions. The elk antlers were a big hit.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Central Washington Sportsmen Show: Private Lands Biologist Manderbach worked the booth at the Central Washington Sportsmen Show for the first time. There were many questions answered about all things fish and wildlife, but not many that were specific to private lands access.

Conducting Business Operations and Policy

Wenas Wildlife Area Bonneville Power Contract: Wenas Wildlife Area Habitat Specialist Miller started the process of renewing the Bonneville Power Administration contract for the wildlife area. This contract is essential to the wildlife area for maintaining an operating budget. Bonneville Power Administration funds comprise a majority of the Operations and Maintenance Budget for the wildlife area.

Other

L.T. Murray New Spray Tanks: Natural Resource Technician Blore assembled a couple 45-gallon spray tanks on small trailers to be used to transport as extra water to water planted shrubs or refill spray tanks. 

Image

Photo by WDFW

Oak Creek Wildlife Area Elk Fence Repair: Oak Creek Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Charlet, Natural Resource Technician Stoltenow, and Natural Resource Worker O’Brien repaired a section of elk fence that was damaged by a Utility Terrain Vehicle (UTV) that lost control. Damage included multiple leaning or broken posts and a large hole in the fence that elk could easily pass through. 

Image

Photo by WDFW