Managing Wildlife Populations

Klickitat Wildlife Area Spring Road Survey: Biologists Wickhem and Bergh, Assistant Wildlife Area Manager Roy, Conflict Specialist Jacobsen, Regional Wildlife Program Manager Jonker, and Volunteer VanLeuven took part in the annual spring road survey. They counted and classified mule deer on and around the Klickitat Wildlife Area. These routes have been surveyed each spring for more than 40 years! This season, the team counted 262 deer and classified 251. These results are on the lower side compared to recent years, but not bad considering the morning routes were plagued by fog and low clouds. The crew recorded 54 fawns for every 100 does, which is slightly above the 10-year average of 50 fawns for every 100 does. This “average” ratio was expected after a relatively mild winter.

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

Klickitat Mule Deer Mortality Investigation: Biologists Wickhem and Ott investigated one mortality (death) signal from a collared female mule deer this week. Unfortunately, the carcass had been heavily scavenged by the time the pair arrived, making it impossible to definitively determine the cause of death. However, the pair did find signs of bear, cougar, and coyote in the surrounding area. 

This deer was part of a 4-year study being conducted throughout Game Management Units (GMU) 388 and 382 to track the annual movements of female mule deer and locate important migration corridors. Staff members are also attempting to determine cause of death when a tracked animal dies, which has proven to be difficult. In winter 2021, 81 collars were deployed for this effort. Twenty-two collars were deployed in the winter of 2022 and 23 were deployed in the winter of 2023. Most of the 2023 deployments were replacing study deer that died over the first two years of the study.  We are nearing the end of the study, so no more collars will be redeployed for this project.

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Improving Private Land Access: Private Lands Biologist Gray worked with a landowner enrolled in the Private Lands Access Program in Klickitat County to improve access over a property fence where a gate wasn’t an option. Volunteers worked to build this staircase to allow for safer access over the barbed wire fence. All properties enrolled in the access program are walk-in access only.

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Photo by WDFW

Conducting Business Operations and Policy

Necropsy Training: Biologists Wickhem, Bergh, Ott, Holman, Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen, and Assistant Wildlife Manager Risley attended necropsy (animal autopsy) training held in Region 5. The class was taught by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Veterinarians Mansfield and Haman and Washington State University Veterinary Pathologist Oliveira. Staff members are often required to conduct necropsies on a variety of wildlife species to determine cause of death, take veterinary samples, and track wildlife disease outbreaks. The class consisted of a lecture portion and hands-on experience.

Staff members from around the state saved carcasses of animals that were either found or euthanized by WDFW. This gave attendees the opportunity to necropsy an elk, cougar, bear, porcupine, river otter, beaver, a few coyotes, several birds, and multiple deer. All of the necropsy specimens were collected opportunistically, and no animals were killed specifically to be used for this training.

The elk and the bear had unknown illnesses that led to their euthanization, so instructors and attendees were tasked with determining what each animal was afflicted with. Numerous samples were taken from the bear for later analysis at the pathology lab. Eventually, they found a huge abscess below one of the elk’s antlers that likely caused the unnatural behavior (walking in circles, disorientation, approaching humans) that led to its euthanization. Thanks to veterinarians Mansfield and Haman as well as pathologist Oliveira for the instruction.

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Photo by WDFW

Firearms Recertification Training: Biologists Holman, Bergh, and Wickhem along with Conflict Specialist Jacobsen completed required firearms recertification training. Policy requires in person demonstration of safe handling, shooting proficiency, and general familiarity with state-issued firearms every three years for non-enforcement Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) staff members who carry firearms. Firearms are used by WDFW biology staff members to euthanize injured animals, haze wildlife away from agricultural or residential areas, and to collect specimens for examination. Thanks to Wildlife Program Firearms Instructor Dazey for running the recertification practicum.

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Photo by WDFW

Managing Wildlife Populations

Cleman Mountain Bighorn Sheep Survey: District 8 Biologist Wampole, Assistant Biologist Moore, Wenas Wildlife Area Natural Resource Technician Frame, and Tulalip Tribal Biologist Collins conducted lamb/ewe counts of the Cleman Mountain bighorn sheep population to inform lamb recruitment. This information is used for the continued population monitoring following the experimental protocols for Test and Remove. 

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

Yakima Canyon Bighorn Sheep Survey: District 8 Wildlife Biologist Wampole, Assistant Biologist Moore, Conflict Technician Leuck, Conflict Specialist Wetzel, and Ungulate Assistant Biologist Kyle, and tribal biologists from the Tulalip and Yakama Tribes collaborated to conduct lamb-ewe counts for the Yakima Canyon bighorn sheep population. These counts are crucial for understanding lamb recruitment and are part of ongoing population monitoring efforts following the experimental protocols for Test and Remove.

Bat Box Installation: District 8 Wildlife Biologist Wampole and Conflict Specialist Wetzel worked to install bat boxes to replace recently disbanded barns. The barns were removed as part of a larger land restoration plan, but they were identified as a summer maternity roost in the previous years. Bat boxes were installed this spring to provide returning bats with opportunity for a secure roost site. Biologists will monitor boxes for activity and work to install additional sites. 

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Photo by WDFW

Motus Tower Installation: District 4 Wildlife Biologist Fidorra assisted with the installation of a new Motus tower in Benton County. Fidorra met with the partner in flight biologist and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff members to install the new tower. The tower is a first in District 4 and one of only two in all of eastern Washington. The Motus system can be used to track wildlife as small as butterflies. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife intends to develop more studies using the system for bats and bird monitoring in the future. 

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Ferruginous Hawk Nest Platforms: District 4 Wildlife Biologist Fidorra checked for occupancy at six nest platforms installed for ferruginous hawks in District 4. Two platforms were removed prior to the breeding season at the request of a wind development project. None of the platforms had signs of use this season.

Bluebird Nesting Boxes: District 4 Wildlife Biologist Fidorra made a quick check on a volunteer project installed in Benton County. Fidorra checked 20 nest boxes, installed for swallows and bluebirds, for nests from last season. It might take some years for the site to become established by target species. For the second year in a row, one of the boxes appeared to be used by ash-throated flycatchers, an uncommon Washington breeding bird. 

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Photo by WDFW

Ferruginous Hawk Data: District 4 Wildlife Biologist Fidorra was part of a team working to address data collection at historical ferruginous hawk nesting sites. The team worked to develop a method for documenting and differentiating sites where nesting structure was missing, where nests were destroyed or missing, or where habitat within the vicinity had been permanently converted.

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Wenas Wildlife Area Sheep Company Shooting Range: Wenas Wildlife Area staff members chemically treated the Sheep Company Shooting Range. This treatment includes the shooting lanes, berms, walkways, as well as the parking lot. Such treatments help to ensure that fire danger is kept to a minimum while helping to keep noxious weeds at lower levels in disturbed portions of the wildlife area. This has the benefit of providing a well-kept recreation site for the popular practice of target shooting on the wildlife area.

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Wenas Wildlife Area Spring Fence Checks: Wenas Wildlife Area staff members checked over 20 miles of elk fence on the boundary of the wildlife area to look for any winter damage. Damage to the elk fence will be fixed promptly to prevent elk from going onto private lands outside of the fence. This will help prevent wildlife conflict on the wildlife area.

Rattlesnake Hills Elk: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand had contact with landowners on Rattlesnake Mountain concerning elk activity, damage occurrence, and damage permit issuance. Late night hazing activities were employed with a few small groups of bull elk returning back onto the Hanford Monument.

Trail Camera Deployment: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand deployed a trail camera in an area on Rattlesnake Mountain that elk have historically used to leave the Hanford Monument for winter wheat crops. Small groups of young bulls have been showing up on camera during nocturnal hours and retreating back to Hanford prior to sun-up. Information is being relayed to landowners to assist with their hazing activities.

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Photo by WDFW

Plymouth/Paterson Deer Patrols: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand monitored several large wine grape operations along the Columbia River between Paterson and Crow Butte for deer damage. Very minor deer activity is occurring in the vineyards currently.

Silver Dollar Livestock Producer Check-Ins: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand continued to check in with landowners in the Silver Dollar and Blackrock areas concerning predation during calving operations. No major problems or concerns have developed this year and mild winter weather conditions were beneficial.

Kittitas County Conflict: District 8 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 they were following migratory routes and visiting some crop fields. Elk have been hazed away again from I-90 in some locations, however some elk have been struck on I-90.

Conflict Specialist Wetzel tasked an agency range rider to work on wolf issues from the Lauderdale to Kittitas area of the old Naneum Pack territory.

Yakima County Conflict: District 8 Conflict Technician Leuck and Conflict Specialist Wetzel checked for elk in the Tampico and Cowiche areas and inspected fences in those locations. The elk appear to have moved up and away from the winter damage areas.

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Oak Creek Wildlife Area Weed Control: Oak Creek Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Charlet and Natural Resource Technician O’Brien begin control of noxious weeds on the Oak Creek and Cowiche units. Efforts focus on the control of Scotch thistle but also include a wide variety of noxious weed species. 

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Photo by WDFW

Wenas Wildlife Area – Spring Weed Treatment: Wenas Wildlife Area Natural Resource Technicians Stoltenow and Janes sprayed the firebreaks along the southern portion of the wildlife area elk fence. This is in an effort to reduce the fuel load in those areas and help control the spread of potential wildfires. Technicians Janes and Stoltenow also began spot spraying for Scotch thistle in the wildlife area. In addition, wildlife area staff members sprayed around parking lots and kiosks throughout the wildlife area to prevent weeds from growing.

Wenas Wildlife Area – Spring Planting: Wenas Wildlife Area Technicians Stoltenow and Janes finished planting the last of the plugs that will be planted this spring. These plants went in along riparian areas in Black Canyon and McCabe. 

Byron Unit Shrub Planting: Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area Manager Kaelber, Assistant Manager Ferguson, and Natural Resource Technician Cardenas continue to plant shrubs for the Byron Unit fire restoration shrub planting. They are receiving help from Private Lands Biologist Manderbach, a volunteer from the fish program, and occasional other volunteers. The planting should be completed soon. All of the shrubs that have been planted this season look great so far. They will continue to be monitored and possibly watered as the summer heat comes on. 

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Photo by WDFW

Wapato Exit Fire: Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area Manager Kaelber and Natural Resource Technician Cardenas checked the location of a fire near the Wapato exit to monitor the regrowth of cottonwood trees within the area. So far, the cottonwoods are showing great regrowth and will be monitored throughout the year. The cottonwoods that grow in the riparian areas of the Yakima River are important because they provide wildlife habitat and shade the river keeping it cooler for rearing and migrating salmon. Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area staff members will treat the area for Scotch thistle, poison hemlock, and houndstongue in upcoming weeks. 

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Photo by WDFW

Providing Education and Outreach

Presentation to Field and Streams Club: District 8 Wildlife Biologist Wampole presented an update on the Colockum Elk Herd population, current knowledge of the Kittitas mule deer, and the on-going Test & Remove bighorn sheep study.

Salmon Summit: April 15 through April 16 was the annual Salmon Summit at Columbia Park in Kennewick. Approximately 6,000 students, teachers and parents gathered to release fall chinook fry that they have raised from the egg stage to fry. Students released fish into the Columbia River and then spent the remainder of the day learning about many aspects of the salmon life cycle, PIT tagging, and natural resources. 

Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area Manager Kaelber, Region 3 Private Lands Biologist Manderbach, and Fisheries Technician Meehan scooped fish and handed them out each day. Kaelber and Manderbach also worked the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife booth teaching students about the types of animals that live in Washington. The students enjoyed seeing and touching a variety of animal pelts, skulls, horns, and antlers. 

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

Conducting Business Operations and Policy

Firearms Training: District 8 Wildlife Biologist Moore attended and completed a two-day agency-approved firearm safety course as required by the position description under Policy 7011.

Washington Waterfowl Advisory Group (WWAG) Meeting: District 8 Wildlife Biologist Moore assisted the Waterfowl Section in hosting the advisory group meeting at the Yakima Arboretum. The meeting had a focus on onboarding the eight new WWAG members. The section delivered thorough presentations on the many ongoing waterfowl research and monitoring projects. There is more information about the Washington Waterfowl Advisory Group on our website. 

Washington Waterfowl Advisory Field Tour of Sunnyside Unit Wetlands: Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area Manager Kaelber led a field tour with the Washington Waterfowl Advisory Group, regional staff members, and statewide waterfowl specialists. The group toured the Brady Wetland which is the location for a wetland restoration project that is being funded by state duck stamp funds. The group was also shown a short demonstration of the amphibious Marsh Master machine that is used throughout the wetlands for maintenance activities. 

Grandview Wastewater Treatment Facility and Byron Unit Tour: A site tour of the Grandview Wastewater Treatment Plant and Byron Unit of the Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area was attended by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife staff members, Ducks Unlimited, and Yakima Audubon. The tour showed the existing ponds that are pumped from the treatment facility to the Byron Unit. The future operations of the treatment plant may call for these ponds to dry up. There is potential for an alternate out flow of treated water that would keep water flowing through the Byron Unit and create additional wetland and pond acres. This site has historically been very productive for nesting waterfowl and provides habitat for a diverse variety of wildlife. 

Other

L.T. Murray Wildlife Area: L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Winegeart checked all herbicides being used on the L.T. Murray Wildlife Area against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) bulletins for new restrictions related to potential accidental take of endangered species. No new restrictions were found. 

Natural Resource Technicians Blore and Winegeart conducted a survival survey on the 2023 fall Vantage Highway fire restoration sagebrush planting. They counted 296 10ci plugs and 154 40ci plugs. Fifty-five percent of the 10ci plugs counted were alive, but many seem to be missing from known planting locations due to high winds, rodents, or ungulates and many will probably not make it through the dry summer months. Survival of the 10ci plugs will most likely be much lower. Ninety-three percent of the 40ci plugs counted were alive and appeared much healthier than the 10ci plugs and stand a greater chance of surviving the summer. 

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Hay Delivery: L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Natural Resource Technician Blore and Assistant Manager Winegeart helped with the delivery and tarping of 275 tons of new high-quality hay at the Joe Watt elk feed site. 

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L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Automated External Defibrillators: L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Natural Resource Technician Blore and Assistant Manager Winegeart set up two new Automated External Defibrillators (AED). One will be set up at the wildlife area shop and one in the Ellensburg office that can also be checked out for field projects such as remote volunteer events. 

Oak Creek Wildlife Area Automated External Defibrillators: Oak Creek Wildlife Area Natural Resource Worker O’Brien set up a new AED in the Oak Creek shop providing easy access to wildlife area staff members in the case of an emergency.

L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Quilomene Unit Grazing: L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Natural Resource Worker Blore worked with the Quilomene Unit grazing lessee to repair pasture fence ahead of cows coming on the first week of May. 

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Invasive Annual Grass Workshop: Region 3 Private Lands Biologist Manderbach attended an all-day virtual workshop titled ‘Defending and Growing the Core by Breaking the Cycle of Invasive Annual Grasses’ put on by University of Wyoming’s Institute for Managing Annual Grasses Invading Natural Ecosystems (IMAGINE) along with Working Lands for Wildlife and many other agencies and organizations. There were multiple presenters from multiple states and agencies who all provided useful information. Cheatgrass, ventenata, and medusahead were the main topics and landscape wide efforts to prevent or reduce invasion was a main strategy, among others.

Blackrock Greenstrip Fuel Break Pilot Project: Region 3 Private Lands Biologist Manderbach checked out the Blackrock greenstrip planting off of Highway 241 from 2021 ahead of an upcoming meeting with the greenstrip fuel break team. The greenstrip on the west side of the highway is very green right now and will hopefully remain that way throughout the dry summer months. The planting on the east side of the highway unfortunately did not take as well and will likely need to be reseeded.

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Photo by WDFW

Managing Wildlife Populations

Wolf Management: Biologist Heinlen investigated the mortality signal from a Beaver Creek pack female’s radio collar that the wolf crew found while conducting their annual survey/capture flights. The drop off device was activated, but no sign of a carcass was found. The animal is presumed to still be alive. In addition, public reports suggested the Beaver Creek pack was still using their traditional areas over the winter and early spring, and a Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife wolf biologist was able to confirm at least two animals are still in the territory.

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

Spring Mule Deer Surveys: Biologists Fitkin and Heinlen completed spring mule deer surveys classifying over 1500 mule deer. The raw counts yielded a ratio of 44 fawns to 110 adults. This is above both the 5-year and long-term averages and indicates better than average post-winter fawn recruitment this year.

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Photo by WDFW

Rattlesnake Den Monitoring: Biologist Fitkin assisted retired U.S. Forest Service Biologist Rohrer in refining the location of and monitoring a northern Pacific rattlesnake hibernacula on the Methow Wildlife Area. In addition to counting around three dozen snakes, two live pit-tagged snakes were detected that were translocated to the general vicinity of the den last fall. This technique of moving unwanted snakes from private property to known den sites when snakes are entering their hibernacula has proven very successful over the years as an alternative to lethal removal.

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

Grouse Area Search Grids and Grouse Lek Surveys: Private Biologist Braaten continues early morning sage and sharp-tailed grouse lek count surveys in Douglas County and is completing grouse area search grids.

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

Sage Grouse Surveys: Biologist Morris will finish sage grouse searches this week. He will be searching grids in Grant and Douglas counties without known sage grouse leks, searching for birds and new leks. Morris saw some great sunrises, picturesque landscapes, and sandhill cranes foraging in fallow wheat fields while doing the surveys.

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Lek Counts: March marks the beginning of lek counts, and wildlife area staff members have started the yearly early morning task of observing grouse lek sites on the Sagebrush Flat and Big Bend wildlife areas. Staff members attended a brief virtual training on data collection and have been using this new information to log survey data in Field Maps.

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Photo by WDFW

Bridgeport Bar Preparation: With spring setting in quickly, wildlife area staff members are working to prepare irrigation infrastructure and equipment in the Bridgeport Bar’s many agricultural fields and shrub rows. Technicians Haney-Williamson and Ruiz have been prepping irrigation, maintaining pivots at Washburn Island, and taking soil samples to prepare for spring seeding. 

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Wolf Non-Lethal Deterrence Outreach: Wildlife Conflict Specialists’ Bridges and Heilhecker, Supervisor Rickel, Regional Program Manager Haug, Regional Director Hoenes and other Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife staff members participated in a meeting with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service staff members to discuss coordination on wolf issues in the federally managed wolf area of Region 2 that is located west of Highway 97. Recent incidents have highlighted the need to be coordinated for future events so management and staff members met to discuss how to coordinate best and identify what and who will be the main points of contact for the various tasks. This timely meeting will facilitate a common approach to wolf related issues in the federally managed wolf area of Region 2.

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Habitat Plots: Biologist Morris evaluated two recently planted habitat plots. The shrubs that he planted this spring are growing well so far. There are some weeds in both plots that he needs to spray, but overall they are doing well.

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Shrub Planting: Technicians Blanchard and Wilson, and Biologist Cook planted 150 shrubs along the base of a small coulee to increase diversity and increase shrub establishment. This site had been previously planted in 2021, but the following spring was very dry and many of the shrubs did not survive. This was another effort to establish more shrubs in this area. The bottom of the coulee was seeding with native bunchgrasses and further weed control and native forb seeding will follow, hopefully in fall of 2024.

Prescribed Burn in Sagebrush Flat: Wildlife area staff members burned Russian thistle that piled up in a fire break on the Sagebrush Flat Wildlife Area. This month, three staff members completed their red card certification and are looking forward to using what they learned to help with future burns.

Providing Education and Outreach

Shrubsteppe Ecology Field Trip: A group of students from a wildlife ecology class at Washington State University came out to the shrubsteppe and learned about local ecosystems. Biologists Peterson and Blake along with Schroeder, Crowell and Gallie spoke to students about shrubsteppe ecology and the sensitive species that live there. Students learned about pygmy rabbits, sharp-tailed grouse, and sage grouse and how they interact with the landscape. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife staff members made sure to highlight the management activities that they focus on in this area and what their efforts accomplish. 

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Photo by WDFW

Wild Turkey Hunters: Private Lands Biologist Braaten fielded many hunter access questions to hunters interested in the upcoming wild turkey seasons.

2024 Private Lands Work Party: Twelve private lands biologists from around the state attended the 2024 Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Private Lands Work Party in Electric City. Supervisors and Private Lands Section Manager McCanna, as well as Region 2 Regional Program Manager Haug also attended. Hosts Braaten and Baarstad designed the three-day event to focus on safety, equipment use training, habitat project initiation and completion, as well as team building. 

The group visited a 16-year-old planting in Douglas County and discussed project objectives, how to work with landowners, and how to plan and execute projects. They also installed a few hundred fence markers around fencing of a habitat plot for a landowner to help reduce bird collision with the fence. On the second day, staff received training on several pieces of agriculture equipment typically used for completing habitat projects. Staff members received training from experienced staff members on how to safely use and operate equipment. All participants were grateful for the opportunity provided through the work party. 

Upon completion of the two-day work party, approximately 500 trees and shrubs were planted, and two acres of food plots were seeded.

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

Conducting Business Operations and Policy

Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Association (WAFWA) Washington Grouse Conference Field Trip Planning: Private Lands Braaten completed the field trip route and tour bus booking for WAFWA Grouse Conference in Wenatchee in August 2024.

Other

Incidental Observations: Spring has sprung, and babies are already on the ground for some critters.

Road Maintenance: This month wildlife area staff members have been tackling various road maintenance tasks. They added material to roads across the wildlife areas that were eroded over the winter months, strengthening them, and making them safer. Other wildlife area staff members have focused on spraying roads on various wildlife areas for annual grasses and broadleaves. 

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

Gopher Snake Release: Gopher snakes that staff members found in hibernacula underneath the floorboards during the headquarters remodeling were released earlier this month. After unearthing these snakes during a reflooring project in the office, Assistant Manager Blake sought council from Beck, a retired herpetologist and professor from Central Washington University. Blake followed his recommendations and kept the snakes contained in the correct conditions through the winter. With the warmer weather and start of spring, wildlife area staff members were happy to release them back outside. 

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

Managing Wildlife Populations

Golden Eagle Mortality: Biologist Brinkman coordinated with the wildlife program manager from the Spokane Tribe that found a deceased golden eagle with a GPS transmitter on the Spokane Reservation. This coordination also included Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Biologist Vekasy, Wildlife Research Scientist Watson, and a biological consulting organization to determine the owner of the transmitter and learn about the history of the bird. They discovered the bird was marked in 2017 and provided five years of location data before the transmitter stopped functioning. Samples will be submitted to examine lead exposure levels.

Moose Mortality Notification: The moose team received a mortality notification for one of the cow moose collared in February. Biologist Brinkman met with three other WDFW biologists from the moose team to investigate the location of the mortality signal. The cow moose carcass was found intact with no evidence of predator activity. The team of biologists conducted a full field necropsy and collected samples that will be sent to the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Lab (WADDL) for analysis and determination of cause of death. 

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Photo by WDFW

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Access Areas: North Region 1 Water Access Area Manager Dziekan and Natural Resource Technician Brant have been busy cleaning access area restrooms in preparation for spring fishing and boating season. The work included picking up litter and cleaning restrooms, and they used backpack blowers to clear the parking areas of pine needles and other debris that accumulated during the winter. Backpack blowing is very much a routine task, but this scale of backpack blowing takes a lot of time. 

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Controlled Burning: Wildlife area staff members conducted controlled burns of agricultural fields on Smoothing Iron Ridge. They burned wheat stubble off food plot fields in preparation for weed control and spring plantings. They also burned off a perennial grass field due to increasing ventenata and to stimulate new perennial grass growth for the elk. This project was not completed due to the rain so staff members will need to finish it up once nicer weather arrives.

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

Weed Control: Biologist Woodall sprayed parking and access sites on Cloverland and Meyers Ridge roads. He also coordinated with a contractor who completed an aerial spray project for Mediterranean sage.

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Photo by WDFW

Tire Cleanup: Wildlife Area Manager Dingman contacted Columbia County Road Department about disposing of approximately 40 tires and a dryer that were picked up along Hartsock Grade by wildlife area staff members. The county covered the transfer station cost to dispose of everything since it is a county road and right-of-way. Tritt hauled the full dump trailer to the Columbia County transfer station and disposed of the tires and dryer.

Noxious Weed Control: Natural Resource Technicians Jensen and Tritt started spraying the field along Oliphant Road for yellow star thistle and houndstongue. They also sprayed weeds in the area of the Rainbow Lake spoils pile and the field by Campground 2. Tritt repaired one of the all-terrain vehicle spray tanks so all three sprayers are now functioning. Wildlife Area Manager Dingman sprayed weeds around the headquarters fields. Dingman set up some monitoring plots in upper Tumalum Creek for future monitoring of noxious weed infestations.

Habitat Planting: Natural Resource Technician Moberg assisted Private Lands Biologist Thorne-Hadley in planting 120 shrubs on private land that is enrolled in an access agreement program. The landowner tagged along and showed us an additional site with a water guzzler that would be an ideal candidate for future habitat work.

Hunting Access Programs: Natural Resource Technician Moberg and Private Lands Biologist Thorne-Hadley investigated a 2,000+ acre property whose owner has expressed interest in joining the private lands access program. Moberg also met with a representative of Puget Sound Energy to learn more about the Columbia County Windfarm Recreation access program. 

Habitat Plots and Plantings: Private Lands Biologist Nizer met with a landowner to mow a food plot with the tractor and prepared another site for a planting. Nizer also led a crew to plant 1,700 trees for turkey roosting habitat. In total, there were five volunteers for the Saturday project. Nizer also met with Private Lands Biologist Baarstad to plant 1,000 shrubs on a Hunt by Written Permission property.

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Photo by WDFW

Providing Education and Outreach

Trent Elementary: Biologist Brinkman gave a presentation to fifth grade students at Trent Elementary School about moose biology and management in Washington.

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Photo by WDFW

Eagle Scout Project: Wildlife Area Access Manager Dziekan worked with a local boy scout troop to complete an eagle scout project. They installed a personal flotation device loaner station at the Williams Lake Water Access Area.

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Photo by WDFW

Conducting Business Operations and Policy

Riparian Shrub Planting Project: This past week a freight company delivered eight rolls of deer fence that the Spokane Audubon Society purchased for the upcoming riparian winter shrub habitat project at Swanson Lakes Wildlife Area. The Spokane Audubon Society will also be purchasing all the shrubs for the project which makes their total donation over $8,200. The Spokane Chapter of Pheasants Forever will also be involved with their volunteers and funding. There will be approximately 780 trees and shrubs planted and then enclosed with deer fence to protect them from deer and possibly trespassing cattle.

Managing Wildlife Populations

Oregon Spotted Frog: Biologist Tirhi completed collecting and entering data for one of three spotted frog breeding sites where habitat restoration is ongoing. Assistant District Biologist Butler collected on the other two. Only those known sites having ongoing habitat restoration were counted in 2023. The balance of this year’s frog time was spent searching for new locations where spotted frogs may be breeding. Water levels were low across all habitats in District 11 this season, which may have affected the number of egg masses that were laid at several sites.

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Sooty Grouse Population Monitoring: Biologists Butler and Tirhi spent a day scouting and establishing their assigned sooty grouse survey routes. District 11 has five routes to establish and monitor for 2023, all of which are on Weyerhaeuser property in GMU 667. Tirhi is working with Weyerhaeuser to complete the necessary permits. Meanwhile, Tirhi spent one day, Butler spent one day, and the two together spent a third day beginning to establish the first four routes beginning at the assigned start point. One difficulty they experienced was the late snow conditions across the Cascades Range. The team brought the district’s tracked all-terrain vehicle (ATV) up one day and used it to successfully get above the snowline and establish one full route. Each route has 15 to 30 listening stations, spread one mile apart.

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

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Elk Monitoring: Biologists Butler and Tirhi along with Nisqually Tribe’s Wildlife Program Manager Borrego completed a 4-hour survey of GMU 654 and part of GMU 653 in the North Rainier Elk Herd. GMU 654 has not been surveyed by air in over 30 years and while it was suspected of having fewer elk than surrounding GMUs, the reality was unknown. GMU 653 is known to support the highest number of elk in the herd. The flight team successfully surveyed the entire planned survey area with the available funds. Only 68 elk were observed during the flight, with the majority of those located in the portion of 653 that was flown. This confirms the suspicion that GMU 654 supports fewer elk compared to surrounding GMUs, regardless of the numbers of animals harvested in the fall. These results will allow Biologist Tirhi to better evaluate hunting season levels, the population target in the herd management plan, and provide a valuable missing piece of information in analyzing the herd population trends in GMU 654. WDFW greatly appreciated the United States Forest Services’ Mt. Baker and Snoqualmie national forests who contributed $2000 towards this survey effort.

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Photo by WDFW

Streaked Horned Lark: Biologist Tirhi represented WDFW at the annual Larks and Airports Working Group meeting hosted by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) at the Portland Airport. The meeting included presentations and discussions from various airports in Oregon and Washington that either contain breeding larks or have the potential habitat to support and attract breeding larks. Tirhi presented on the finalization of a Best Management Practices (BMP) document that Tirhi spearheaded with the working group beginning in 2018. The BMPs contain management recommendations addressing all aspects of airport maintenance and development while minimizing impacts to breeding larks.

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Maintenance and Access Projects: The access team performed a wide variety of maintenance tasks with extra emphasis placed on hazardous tree removal, access area driveways, and parking conditions. Gravel and cold patch asphalt were distributed at several sites across Mason, Pierce, Thurston, Kitsap, and Jefferson counties. The access team has also been preparing seasonal lakes for the trout opener on April 22.

Pierce County, Horseshoe Lake: The paved entrance was severely damaged from rainfall nearly three yards of asphalt was needed to bring the Horseshoe Lake approach back into shape.

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

Pierce County, Jackson Lake: The access team fell two hazardous trees at Jackson Lake, one fir that was heavily leaning over the parking area and a large dead madrone that was a potential hazard over the boat ramp area. Gravel was also placed in washed out areas of the gravel lot.  Firewood from the trees was given to the Kitsap Sportsmans Club. Their clubhouse is also located on Jackson Lake.

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

Kitsap County, Buck Lake: The access team repaired the roadway with gravel, cold patch asphalt, and brushed out the shoulders of the access road.

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

Jefferson County, Triton Cove: Asphalt repairs were made on the entrance and exit approaches at Triton Cove and Pleasant Harbor’s entrance road and parking area.

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Photo by WDFW

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Marrowstone Unit: Technicians Havens and Anderson from the Fish Program assisted Wildlife Area Manager Laushman in installing new signage on Rat Island, part of the North Olympic Wildlife Area, to help discourage summer disturbance of nesting terns and pupping harbor seals.

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Photo by WDFW

Bell Creek Unit: Wildlife Area Manager Laushman attended a volunteer event at the Bell Creek Unit of the North Olympic Wildlife Area where volunteers removed protective caging from a large-scale Garry oak restoration project.

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Photo by WDFW

South Puget Sound Unit: Technician Morgan mowed about 12 acres of scotch broom at the South Puget Sound Unit in Lakewood, clearing trails and fields that were crowded in by older plants.

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

Elk Forage Field Maintenance: With the weather becoming more favorable every week, the Olympic Wildlife Area staff members began the annual task of removing broken limbs and branches from the elk forage fields. Using primarily a tractor and chainsaw, Assistant Manager Gallegos and Technician Martinez spent the past several weeks clearing fields in the Wynoochee Mitigation Sites and Olympic Units. Removing the broken limbs and branches is just the first step in the annual maintenance of these fields and allows for more efficient operations the rest of the year, including their cultivation, mowing, and fertilizing. Several of the fields had an abnormally high amount of material, as this task was kept to a minimum last year due to vacant staff positions.

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

Providing Education and Outreach

Rat Island Volunteer Training: Wildlife Area Manager Laushman coordinated a training for volunteers from the Friends of Fort Flagler, who will serve as docents in the summer months to help educate visitors about nesting Caspian terns and harbor seal haul-outs on the Marrowstone Unit of the North Olympic Wildlife Area. Presentations were given by Research Biologist Pearson, Watchable Wildlife Coordinator Hansen, and Volunteer Coordinator Tilton.

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Photo by WDFW

General Wildlife Inquiries: Biologist Murphie responded to inquiries received by phone, email, or in person related to:

• Missing birds.
• Mountain quail.

Conducting Business Operations and Policy

2023-2024 Work Planning: Biologists Tirhi and Butler participated in the Region 6 Wildlife Program/HQ planning meeting. This meeting is held annually to decide what tasks regional district biologists will be doing, how much time will be allocated to each task, in which months, and which funding source will be used. This is done for both game and diversity species work.

Biologist Murphie completed several tasks related to routine operations:

• Vehicle maintenance and upgrades completed this period.
• Taylor’s checkerspot butterfly survey training and prep.
• Elk plan meeting and prep.
• Puget Sound Ecosystem Monitoring Program (PSEMP) survey data error checks.

Managing Wildlife Populations

Injured Bald Eagle: Biologist Wickhem responded to a report of an injured mature bald eagle along Highway 14 in Skamania County. Wickhem was joined at the location by the reporting party, who happened to be an experienced raptor-catcher. The eagle was not in a great spot. It was on a small patch of land between railroad tracks and the Columbia River. When the pair approached with their “catching gear", the eagle was able to muster a few stealthy hops and fly about 30 feet to perch on a tree branch over-hanging the river. With the eagle being somewhat mobile and in an impossible place to access, the pair decided to leave it be and hope for the best. Hopefully it will recover on its own without human intervention!

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Photo by WDFW

Winter Mudflow Elk Count: Biologist Stephens conducted a count of elk on the Mudflow Unit of the Mount St Helens Wildlife Area. This survey is done each month from December to April. A total of 193 elk were observed on the mudflow which included 60 bulls, 89 cows, 26 calves, and 18 elk that were unable to be classified.

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Photo by WDFW

Willapa Hills Elk Survey: In March, biologists from Regions 5 and 6 conducted an aerial survey of the Willapa Hills Elk Herd. Given the large size of the herd area, normally the south half and the north half of the herd area are surveyed in alternating years. This year there was funding to survey both the north and south halves. The survey is a stratified random sampling design and a sightability estimate is applied to the data collected. The estimate for the north portion of the Willapa Hills Elk Herd area came to 1,441 and the estimate for the south half was 2,841. Both of these estimates are very similar to previous year’s estimates which indicate a stable population.

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Oregon Spotted Frog Surveys: Biologists Wickhem and Bergh and Technician Motiff have spent many days since mid-March surveying for federally threatened Oregon spotted frogs at two sites in Klickitat County. Throughout the survey period, the trio were assisted by Herpetologist Hallock, Customer Service Specialist Splitgerber, Administrative Assistant Pool, Volunteers Castagnoli and Hanley, and Washington Department of Natural Resources Natural Areas staff members. The survey consists of walking transects through wetlands looking for Oregon spotted frog egg masses. Each egg mass represents two frogs which creates a population estimate for each site. The population count in Trout Lake Valley appears to be similar to last year, however the Glenwood Valley population estimate more than tripled compared to last year! A very welcome outcome after many years of declines in that area.

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Photo by WDFW

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Diversifying the Habitat: Manager Hauswald, Assistant Manager Breitenstein, and Assistant Manager Risley put in a long day to plant 1,100 native trees and shrubs at the Alder Creek Unit of the Mt. St. Helens Wildlife Area. These trees and shrubs were planted in areas that previously hosted dense stands of Douglas fir trees and little else. The Alder Creek Unit was thinned in 2018 to create more open habitat for elk and other wildlife species. Planting cottonwood, bitter cherry, elderberry, and vine maple in these thinned areas will further enhance the habitat by creating a more diverse, mosaic forest type that is more characteristic of a healthy Pacific Northwest temperate forest.

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Photo by WDFW

Providing Education and Outreach

Wild About Nature Presentation: Biologist Wickhem and Mesocarnivore Specialist Lewis presented at the opening night of the tenth Wild About Nature speaker’s series at the White Salmon Library. Wickhem spoke about northwestern pond turtles and Lewis presented about the reintroductions and monitoring efforts of Pacific fishers that have occurred throughout the state. The series is organized by a local artist and nature enthusiast and the White Salmon Library. It usually occurs once a week every April. This is the first series since events were suspended by the COVID-19 pandemic. As usual, the room was packed and attendees asked a lot of great, thoughtful questions. Wickhem is looking forward to upcoming talks by other WDFW staff members including Wolf Biologist Spence, Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen, and Wildlife Conflict Technician Kolenberg.

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by White Salmon Community Library

Managing Wildlife Populations

Ground Squirrel Surveys: Assistant District Biologist Wampole commenced Townsend ground squirrel (Urocitellus townsendii townsendii) surveys in Kittitas and Yakima counties. Surveys conducted in 2020 and 2021 confirmed a significant decline in Townsend ground squirrel occupancy at historic colony sites. Current surveys aim to monitor remaining occupied sites and identify new colony locations.

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Photo by WDFW

Ground Squirrel Surveys: District 4 Wildlife Biologist Fidorra revisited Townsends ground squirrel colonies for the range wide survey of this Washington endemic species. Thus far two of 27 Benton County colonies that were active in 2005 had squirrels detected. There was a sharp decline in occupancy around the year 2018.

Tricolored Blackbird Research: District 4 Wildlife Biologist Fidorra placed sound recorder devices at two known tricolored blackbird colonies for a California researcher. The loggers will be used to analyze vocalizations but also provide remote monitoring for arrival and productivity which is valuable for this rare breeding species in Washington.

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Hardy Canyon Gate Installation: The Wenas Wildlife Area staff members installed a gate near the Hardy Canyon trailhead to allow both users on foot and those on horseback to access the Hoover acquisition. The sale for this property recently went through. The property will be a walk-in only access site for the public. Opportunities for wildlife viewing, hunting, and hiking will be popular throughout the new acquisition. The primary focus of this acquisition is to conserve shrubsteppe and riparian habitat.

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Photo by WDFW

Wenas Wildlife Area Road Maintenance: Manager Hughes and Assistant Manager Taylor have been working closely with Capital Asset Management Program (CAMP) on road maintenance being conducted on the Wenas. The three priority roads being worked on through June are Kelly Hollow leading into Hessler Flats and Bell Tell off Sheep Company and Roza roads. The roadcrew is becoming familiar with the alkali and clay soils throughout the Wenas along with spring runoff issues that occur when there are not proper drainages built into each road. Taylor and Hughes have been working with the roadcrew on getting rolling dips and ditch outs to be angled enough for water to run off the road. If there is not enough angle (aiming for a 45-degree angle) the water will pool at the base of each rolling dip in the road. Another important feature is making the rolling dips wide enough and gradual so you can easily roll through while driving compared to a drastic dip that is difficult to haul a trailer through or get a fire engine through. Certain parts of the road are also being out sloped for water runoff. Almost all the roads throughout the Wenas have severe damage due to spring run-off issues. It is very exciting, there was some funding allowing maintenance work and some issues to be addressed. In the long run, the road maintenance will help keep user groups on the established road and in turn preserve adjacent habitat that was being eroded due to spring run off and from the public driving off the main road in order to get through.

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Photo by WDFW

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Mule Deer and Highways: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife staff members met with Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) to discuss a potential point of collaboration to reduce vehicle collisions with wildlife on major roadways in Kittitas County. Information obtained from GPS collared mule deer highlighted key corridors of movement which will help guide WSDOT project priority and mitigation efforts by establishing hotspots of possible conflict.

Oak Creek Volunteers and Visitor’s Center Banquet: Oak Creek Manager Mackey and Assistant Manager Charlet attended the annual volunteer awards dinner in Yakima. Two 20-year service awards, one 10-year service award, one 5-year service award, one “Smooth Talker” award, and one “Busy Bee” award were handed out to honor our dedicated volunteers for the year.

Conserving Natural Landscapes

2022 Vantage Highway Fire: Assistant Manager Winegeart and Natural Resource Specialist Nass established photo points in a 100 acre section of the Vantage Highway Fire footprint which is planned for drill seeding in the fall. Later, they joined a Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife archaeologist and volunteering foresters in performing a pedestrian cultural survey of the same area. The entire 100 acres was also aerially treated with Laramie 25DF to control cheatgrass for fall seeding in some areas and to control cheatgrass to reduce native grass competition as the plants recover from fire in others.

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

Roza Fence Posts and Cable: Assistant Manager Taylor and Natural Resource Technician Stoltenow pounded metal posts with a cable strung across to prevent unauthorized vehicle access in the Roza portion of the wildlife area. An area was left open adjacent to the gate for the public to be able to walk in or ride a horse in. The following weekend someone from the public went even further off the Green Dot Road to cut a fence the wildlife area installed behind the cable and drove their motorized vehicles through. This has been an ongoing challenge for the Wenas Wildlife Area. The surrounding landscape of the area is difficult to block off where the Green Dot Road ends. Below the Green Dot Road goes into a riparian area along with heavier fuels. This is a popular area for hunting, wildlife viewing, and hiking. It also holds valuable habitat for elk, upland birds, mule deer, and more. Manager Hughes is going to continue to work with enforcement on the illegal offroad use past the gate and fenced area.

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

Wenas Kelly Hollow Reseeding: Habitat Specialist Miller seeded old, decommissioned sections of Kelly Hollow Road, as well as new ditch-outs on the Kelly Hollow and Hessler Flat roads. This seeding will be the start to recovering habitat from an outdated and unusable roadbed.

Wenas Sheep Company Spraying: Habitat Specialist Miller made a spray application at the Shooting Range off of Sheep Company Road. This spray will help to ensure the berms are acting as sufficient fire breaks as well as making the shooting area a pleasant and accessible place to recreate for the public. This will help to limit dispersed shooting on the wildlife area, benefiting public safety as well as limiting distribution of refuse.

Sunnyside/Snake River Spraying: Approximately 480 acres of the recently burned Byron Unit was sprayed for annual grasses by helicopter in preparation for seeding of native vegetation in the fall.

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Photo by WDFW

Solar Energy Project Reviews: District 4 Wildlife Biologist Fidorra attended meetings and reviews of several solar projects in District 4. The scope and size of projects overall will have unmitigated impacts to many wildlife species.

Providing Education and Outreach

Arbor Day Event: Assistant Manager Winegeart assisted with Arbor Fest at the Yakima Arboretum.

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Photo by WDFW

Other

Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area: With the weather improving slightly in recent days, Natural Resource Technician Wascisin and Assistant Manager Ferguson spent several days pulling up and burning last year’s bumper crop of kochia and Russian thistle from around the shop and office area at the Sunnyside Unit. They also put pre-emergent herbicide down to hopefully curb growth of the weeds this year.

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Photo by WDFW

Assistant Manager Ferguson has been busy installing the new gate for the driveway to the Sunnyside Unit office. The gate structure is made of heavy-gauge steel and composed of a swinging gateway and a frame situated underground and embedded in ten yards of concrete. The hope is to prevent any further forced entries into the compound by burglars.

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

Sunnyside Unit Front Gate: Assistant Manager Ferguson completed installation of the new front gate at the Sunnyside Unit.

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

Region 3 Chainsaw Training: Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area Manager Kaelber, Sunnyside Assistant Manager Jahns, Sunnyside Natural Resource Technician Manderbach, Oak Creek Wildlife Area Manager Mackey, L.T. Murray Assistant Manager Winegeart, Natural Resource Specialists Blore, Nass, Frame, and Stoltenow attended chainsaw training in Yakima. The training was provided by members of the Department of Natural Resources Ahtanum Wild Land Fire Hand Crew. It was a fun training, and we learned a ton of valuable information!

Clark Pond Fire: On Wednesday, Mar. 22, there was a fire in the Clark Pond Unit of the Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area. The fire began on neighboring private property and spread into the wildlife area, burning an estimated 87 acres. Unfortunately, all the native shrub plots in the unit were destroyed.

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

Region 3 Fall Protection Training: Sunnyside Manager Kaelber, Sunnyside Assistant Manager Jahns, all L.T. Murray Wildlife Area staff members, and all Oak Creek Wildlife Area staff members attended Fall Protection Awareness training at the regional office in Yakima.

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Coordination With Tribes: Lands Division staff members worked with representatives of Tulalip and Swinomish Tribes to develop an America the Beautiful Challenge pre-proposal for submittal to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. Funding would support collaborative work with tribes across the state to address the impacts of recreation on wildlife, habitat, and treaty resources.

Ambassador Program: A contract has been awarded to the Washington Trails Association to work with Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) staff to develop an ambassador program to pilot at six sites.

Travel Management: An internal working group is hard at work developing a Travel Management Program that will establish policies and procedures for managing roads and trails on WDFW managed lands. Early efforts will focus on rulemaking to discourage the creation of user-built trails.

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Skagit Wildlife Area Plan: A draft of the Skagit Wildlife Area Plan has been completed and shared with the Skagit Wildlife Area Advisory Committee (WAAC). The WAAC met April 12 to receive a briefing on the plan. The WAAC will have until April 21 to submit comments on the draft.