Managing Wildlife Populations

District 8 Townsend’s Ground Squirrel Monitoring: District 8 Biologist Wampole and Assistant Biologist Wilson are learning to use AudioMoth devices and developing a protocol to confirm whether historic ground squirrel colonies are inactive. By leaving the acoustic recording units (ARUs) out longer, they can better detect calls. The biologists are also testing how far the devices can capture sound. This technology is already being used to monitor species like grouse and bullfrogs because of its utility to increase detection of a species which is especially critical for managing endangered and threatened, or invasive species.

L.T. Murray Townsend’s Ground Squirrels: L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Manager Morrison and Assistant Manager Winegeart found more Townsend’s ground squirrel sites on the Whiskey Dick Unit. The population seems to be very healthy.

District 4 Amphibian Monitoring: District 4 Biologist Hoffman conducted acoustic surveys for sensitive amphibians on the Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area. Dip-netting and transect surveys will extend through the spring as a part of a larger inventory of reptiles and amphibians on the Wildlife Area.

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Wenas Wildlife Area – Seasonal Road Closure Openings: Gates to seasonal road and area closures are now open as of 6:00 am May 1, 2025.

Oak Creek Wildlife Area – Seasonal Area Closure Openings: Seasonal gates and closure areas were opened on the wildlife area at 6 a.m. May 1. Eager recreationists began filtering into the Oak Creek parking area in anticipation of the opening beginning Monday April 29. Friends of Oak Creek volunteer members were also present to answer questions, oversee logistics for visitor parking, and assist in gate opening and user counts. At Oak Creek, there were 82 vehicles, six motorcycles, 15 ATVs, and 22 hikers through the gate the morning of May 1. There were 29 vehicles, 11 horses, and 48 hikers entering the Cowiche Unit closure area.

L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Road Maintenance: L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Winegeart worked with Archaeologist Davis and Capitol and Asset Management Program Project Supervisor Gallagher with beginning a road maintenance project on a 12-mile section of road on the Whiskey Dick Unit. Natural Resource Technician Blore and Natural Resource Specialist Nass built rock jacks and posted signs at multiple points to direct vehicle traffic to appropriate areas.

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Kittitas County Conflict: Elk are migrating in significant numbers westward following substantial green up in the past two weeks. Elk are hanging up in some private land areas and have been more difficult to move.

Yakima County Conflict: Elk were in an orchard near Cowiche this winter and a damage assessment was completed this week.

An elk fence repair is ongoing in the Tampico area.

A bear found its way into the city of Yakima near Cottonwood Middle School. The bear was relocated to more suitable habitat. 

District 8 Conflict - Depredations: Many lambs have been killed, likely by coyotes, at a large sheep farm. Efforts to reduce depredations are ongoing.

A livestock owner called about depredations on his new piglets. It was determined that common ravens were killing newborn piglets. 

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Wenas Wildlife Area - Shrub Planting: Wenas Wildlife Area Habitat Biologist Miller, Lands and Recreation Specialist Frame, Natural Resource Technician Janes, and Assistant Manager Taylor planted approximately 1,250 plugs of big sagebrush, antelope bitterbrush, and golden currant. These native plants will provide feed and cover for wildlife and support soil health.

Wenas Wildlife Area – Illegal Garbage Dump Clean-Up: Wenas Wildlife Area Lands and Recreation Specialist Frame removed 660 pounds from an illegal garbage dump located on Roza road. The removal totaled to 21 40-gallon bags of garbage, a twin-size mattress, wood material, and a TV. Evidence such as letters, power bills, and magazines with the same address were collected at the scene and turned into enforcement.

Wenas Wildlife Area – Observatory Thinning: Forest health restoration efforts are underway in the Observatory area on the Wenas Wildlife Area. Thinning is projected to be completed by mid-June 2025.

Sunnyside Volunteer Shrub Planting: The Sunnyside/Snake River Wildlife Area Headquarters Unit recently hosted a volunteer event with the Washington chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers planting native shrubs. Even with a smallish turnout (due to coinciding with the turkey hunting opener), they planted around 300 shrubs including juniper, serviceberry, Pacific willow, and mock-orange.

Colockum Judy’s Park Too Proposed Thinning: Colockum Wildlife Area Manager Gray met with the forestry team, District 8 Biologist Wampole, and Habitat Biologist Weekes regarding the proposed thinning project, Judy’s Park Too. The thinning prescription, objectives for the thinning, and additional factors of the project being considered were discussed. The main goal of the project is to benefit wildlife habitat and in turn fire mitigation will also be an outcome of the project. One factor talked about was the potential for northern goshawks to be in the area. Biologists are planning to go out and conduct a survey near a historic nest site towards the end of May.

Oak Creek Wildlife Area - Weed Control and Grazing Monitoring: Oak Creek Wildlife Area staff members began spring weed control operations with backpack spot spray herbicide applications. Along with this comes rangeland evaluation monitoring and utilization monitoring on Oak Creek’s three grazing allotments. Oak Creek Wildlife Area Manager Mackey, Technician Venema, and Worker Floyd assisted Range Ecologist Tawril with evaluation monitoring on the Cowiche Unit.

L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Forest Health: L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Natural Resource Technician Blore and Assistant Manager Winegeart used a backhoe and two water tanks to assist Statewide Forestry Specialist McRae and Lauffer with cooling a Hutchins Forest thinning project slash pile which had begun to burn again after months of being under two feet of snow. All it took was 1,100 gallons of water and moving some ash around.

Providing Education and Outreach

Salmon Summit: Region 3 Private Lands Biologist Manderbach, Sunnyside/Snake River Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Jahns, Natural Resource Technician Pizzini, and regional Fish Program staff members attended the annual Salmon Summit event in Columbia Park. Fourth graders from numerous Benton County elementary schools had the opportunity to release their classroom-reared salmon smolts into the Columbia River and rotate through educational stations throughout the day. WDFW’s booth was a favorite stop! The students learned about the salmon lifecycle, pit-tagging, and native wildlife and habitat before exploring the pelts, skulls, and other interesting materials. It was fun and encouraging to see how excited they were about Washington’s fish and wildlife!

Oak Creek Wildlife Area - Toppenish Garden Club Presentation: Oak Creek Wildlife Area Manager Mackey spoke at a quarterly Garden Club gathering. Toppenish Garden Club hosted the meeting, but there was membership present from all over the Kittitas and Yakima valleys. Mackey spoke about eastside forest ecology, the role of historic wildfire in the area, as well as elk reintroduction and conflict with modern commercial agriculture.

Managing Wildlife Populations

Washington Ground Squirrels: Biologists Jeffreys and Eilers and Technician Maynard trapped Washington ground squirrels at the Sagebrush Flats Wildlife Area Unit in Douglas County. The trapping was done to collect DNA samples that will be sent to the University of Idaho as part of a genetic study. Biologists placed baited walk-in traps at active ground squirrel colonies and collected buccal (AKA inside of the cheek) swabs from captured squirrels before releasing them onsite. Washington ground squirrels are designated as a Species of Greatest Conservation Need by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), in addition to being a state-candidate species.

Greater sage-grouse and Columbian sharp-tailed grouse: Biologists are continuing to monitor known leks across Douglas County to inform population estimates of 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. Additionally, biologists and other WDFW staff members and agency partners are 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.

Annual Grouse Surveys: Private Lands Biologist Braaten continue surveying Sage and Sharp-tailed grouse in Douglas County. 

Grouse Surveys: Biologist Morris assisted with sage grouse searches in South Douglas County. Grouse surveys are looking to see if there are grouse in areas where they haven’t been seen recently. To do the surveys, Morris drives public roads within an assigned area and stops every half mile to listen and look for sage grouse. Morris didn’t see any grouse in his surveys but saw plenty of other interesting wildlife, including savannah sparrows, horned larks, and sandhill cranes.

Mountain Goats: Biologist Jeffreys and Wildlife Conflict Specialist Bridges spent a day aerially surveying the south shore of Lake Chelan for mountain goats as part of ongoing efforts to learn more about the distribution, abundance, recruitment, and trends of mountain goat populations in the Lake Chelan Basin. Survey weather was ideal, with very light winds and clear skies. Surveyors observed 25 goats between Devore Creek and Box Canyon, which is in line with recent years’ counts. Surveyors observed 24 mountain goats on the south shore in 2024, and 20 goats in 2022.

Mule Deer: Biologists Emily Jeffreys and Johnna Eilers picked up 18 remote trail cameras on game trails near Blewett Pass. These cameras were used to capture images of the Wenatchee Mountains mule deer herd from October through December 2024 when they were undertaking their annual eastward migration to lower elevation winter range. Biologists will soon analyze the thousands of images collected to determine age and sex of photographed deer and use this information to generate fawn:doe and buck:doe ratios for the herd. Biologists will then compare these ratios with those obtained from aerial surveys that took place in December 2024 to determine whether remote camera placement could be a viable method to assess mule deer herd composition moving forward.

Pygmy rabbit captures and releases: Biologists Crowell and Turner led the first enclosure capture efforts of the year with help from Biologists Gallie and Turnock and Technicians Hara and Maynard, as well as partners and volunteer members from Woodland Park Zoo, Conservation Northwest, Pheasants Forever, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Between two enclosures, eight breeding adults (seven males, one female) and eight kits were captured. Five kits were old enough to be vaccinated for RHDV2 and released into the wild. Three kits that were too young were ear-marked and placed back in the enclosure. Six adults were also vaccinated for RHDV2 and released back into their enclosure.

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Hunter Access: Biologist Morris worked with the Buckrun Landowner Hunting Permits (LHP) landowners to update their permits and contract. Several thousand of their acres were sold and removed from the LHP, and so Morris worked with them, District Wildlife Biologist Dougherty, and Private Lands Section Manager McCanna to update permit numbers and LHP boundaries.

Morris also had several other expiring hunter access contracts that he updated to ensure that public hunting access is maintained on private lands.

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Damage Prevention Cooperative Agreement (DACP): Specialist Heilhecker met with a livestock producer to discuss a Damage Prevention Cooperative Agreement. The producer is interested in signing the agreement to cost-share range riding expenses. Their livestock graze within a known wolf territory. Specialist Heilhecker submitted the agreement to headquarters staff members. Heilhecker is waiting to receive a copy for producer’s signature.

Specialist Heilhecker coordinated livestock monitoring activities with a contracted range rider.

Grazing Permit Management: Specialist Heilhecker attended a meeting with wildlife area managers to discuss nonlethal deterrence measures for wolf-livestock interactions. WDFW grazing permit holders will be required to deploy nonlethal deterrence measures this grazing season. Measures include checking livestock four to five times per week, notifying wildlife area managers of any livestock carcasses and any sick or injured livestock, and avoid denning areas, in addition to other measures.

Cougar Depredation Investigation: Specialist Heilhecker responded to a cougar depredation on a lamb. The livestock producer stated the lamb was alive the previous morning when the sheep were turned out into the pasture for the day. A couple hours later, their livestock guardian dogs herded the sheep to the flats and stayed with the sheep for remainder of the day. Around dusk, the sheep were brought back to the barn for the night. However, the sheep were not counted, and the lamb was not discovered missing until the next day as they were turned out. The livestock producer has several nonlethal deterrence measures in place including the livestock guardian dogs, bringing sheep in at night, motion sensor lights, and no attractants such as a boneyard.

Grazing Permit Revision: Specialist Heilhecker, along with Wildlife Regional Program Manager Haug worked on a grazing risk assessment for the Chiliwist Unit of the Sinlahekin Wildlife Area. The Chiliwist Unit lies with the Sullivan Creek pack territory. The pack has a history of three depredations within a 10-month window dating back to August 2024. Based on the annual operation plans for grazing permits on WDFW lands, the depredations met one of three high risk criteria. Any high-risk criteria trigger a decision by the director as to whether the grazing permit needs modifications. Manager Haug and Specialist Heilhecker developed options and a recommendation for Director Susewind to consider.

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Habitat Restoration Projects: Biologist Morris, Biologist Cook, and Private Lands Technician Blanchard planted over 600 native grass plugs (container-grown grass plants) to enhance cover and forage in recently established habitat plots. Grasses planted included basin wildrye, Indian ricegrass, bottlebrush squirreltail, bluebunch wheatgrass, and Sandberg’s bluegrass.

Habitat Restoration: Private Lands Biologist Braaten planted 400 riparian trees/shrubs this week in Douglas County on private lands. 

Fence Removal: Biologist Morris hauled away old fence materials that the Washington Conservation Corps (WCC) crew members removed from private property near Quincy. WCC crew members removed the old, broken-down fence last fall but didn’t have time to remove it. Morris hauled away approximately 1,000 pounds of old barbed wire. The removal of the fence will facilitate easier wildlife movement and reduce the risk of wildlife entanglement or collisions with the fence. It will also make access easier for the landowner and WDFW wildlife survey crews on the property that is a Community Restoration Program field with mature wildlife habitat that supports Species of Greatest Conservation Need and federally listed endangered species.

Habitat Project Collaboration: Biologist Morris met with Pheasants Forever, Cascadia Conservation District, and a local landowner near Chelan to discuss possible habitat projects in the area. The landowner is very interested in creating wildlife habitat and helping their land recover from a recent fire. Morris provided technical advice on establishing beneficial wildlife habitat, including re-establishing an old stand of bitterbrush that burned in the fire. While there, the groups involved helped spread seed on a small area disturbed by post-fire cleanup by the landowner.

Habitat Monitoring: Biologist Morris went to check an area where he planted sagebrush and sprayed a pre-emergent herbicide to reduce weed competition last fall. Spring has sprung and there were the early blooming wildflowers displaying their vibrant colors, including sagebrush buttercup, yellowbells, and lomatium. The herbicide seems to be reducing weed pressure, but not affecting the native forbs, which is encouraging.

Community Restoration Program (CRP) Leave Areas: Biologist Morris and Private Lands Technician Blanchard flagged habitat leave areas in CRP fields that were going to be reseeded. Morris worked with the landowner, Natural Resource Conservation Service, and Farm Service Agency to prevent areas of the field with suitable and potentially suitable pygmy rabbit habitat from being disturbed. The areas will be kept intact to provide current and future pygmy rabbit habitat. They also provide beneficial habitat to many other sagebrush-dwelling wildlife species including sage grouse, mule deer, songbirds, other small mammals, and many hawks and owls. 

Providing Education and Outreach

Volunteer Habitat Project: Biologists Morris and Cook, and Private Lands Technicians Blanchard and Wilson, worked with several seniors from Othello High School to plant approximately 400 native grass plugs on private land near Lind Coulee and Potholes Reservoir. Previous work by WDFW Private Lands staff members and the landowner had established mature native grass, shrub, and tress species on the site. The new basin wildrye and Indian ricegrass plants were added adjacent to a wildlife supplemental food plot and tree and shrub rows.

Conducting Business Operations and Policy

Specialist Heilhecker arranged for new tires on her motor pool vehicle.

Wolf Advisory Group Meeting: Specialist Heilhecker participated in wolf advisory group (WAG) coordination meetings where they discussed how to improve member participation. Specialist Heilhecker listened to the WAG meeting where members discussed range riding. WAG members developed a recommendation for Director Susewind to consider regarding changing the range riding criteria as a nonlethal measure for monitoring livestock. She then participated in an internal staff member debriefing as a follow-up to the meeting.

Specialist Heilhecker, Specialist Bridges, and Supervisor Rickel also attended a wolf coordination meeting with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Wenatchee.

Managing Wildlife Populations

Sooty Grouse Surveys: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) biologists are in the third year of testing a survey method for sooty grouse (formerly called blue grouse). The effort involves establishing driving routes in the Cascade and Olympic Mountains as well as the Willapa Hills. The routes include 15 to 30 listening stops where biologists spend time listening for the calling of male sooty grouse during the early morning hours. The survey method is borrowed from Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and Oregon State University, and we thank them for their development of the method and sharing. When fully developed and implemented, the survey will generate sooty grouse population trend estimates that are independent of grouse harvest. Biologists Holman and Stephens, and Conflict Specialist Aubrey, have started their surveys for the year. Thanks to WDFW Law Enforcement Officer Crowell for participating as well. Biologists Wickhem and Ott completed their surveys in mid-April, each recording two hooting males on their respective routes. Biologist Bergh completed her first survey and will do a repeat of that survey in early May.

An additional component of the work is to use listening devices called Acoustic Recording Units (ARUs) to better understand the timing of the sooty grouse breeding season. This is important since the survey methodology was developed at lower latitudes in Oregon where breeding timing could be different. The ARUs are placed near calling sooty grouse and left in place for two or more months. During this time the device records the calling grouse. With several of the units placed throughout western Washington, in aggregate this information can be used to adjust Oregon’s protocol to Washington’s grouse population. Biologist Holman and Conflict Specialist Aubrey placed three units in Cowlitz and Lewis Counties.  

Glenwood Valley Annual Sandhill Crane Survey: Biologists Wickhem, Bergh, and Ott, volunteer members Castagnoli, Steider, L. Robinson, D. Robinson, B. Roe, J. Roe, staff members from Mount Adams Resource Stewards, and staff members from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service joined forces for the annual sandhill crane survey on and around Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge. The Glenwood Valley is one of only a few areas in the state where sandhill cranes nest. Sandhill cranes mate for life and return to the same “territory” each year to mate and raise their young - called colts - before migrating south in the fall. For this survey, the groups split up into teams to drive and hike around different crane territories recording all cranes observed and specifically looking for crane nests. This year, the team confirmed six nests, and in one case, observed courtship behavior which could mean more nests will be imminently laid. Biologists Wickhem and Bergh were treated to an interesting behavioral display when a crane was observed carrying around an egg (not a crane egg), dropping it near its partner and doing some flashy dance moves (small jumps, wing-flapping, and a bit of head-bobbing), then repeating the entire sequence a few times. 

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Water Access Area Spring Cleaning: Water access area team members has been busy working on several spring-cleaning projects including pesticide application at several site as well as pressure washing and striping of parking lots, ADA spots, and ramps. The team has also been working on painting faded ‘No Parking’ zones. Staff members have also had all the vault toilets pumped on each route and completed the pressure washing of the vault toilet exteriors.

Road Maintenance: Water access area staff members have been working on placing large rocks along the La Frambois Road at the Vancouver Lake Unit of the Shillapoo Wildlife Area. There have been issues with the public not staying on the road, causing damage and ruts. Initially, water access area staff members placed T-posts along trouble spots, but that proved to be a hit and miss solution. Staff members sought a more permanent and less tamper-proof solution of large rocks as a more effective deterrent.

Managing Wildlife Populations

Sharp-tailed Grouse Release: This week Wildlife Program staff members from the Swanson Lakes Wildlife Area released sharp-tailed grouse captured in British Columbia and transported to a lek within the Swanson Lakes/Bureau of Land Management areas. The first release was on Tuesday event with 10 males and three females.

Ferruginous Hawks: Biologist Brinkman completed an occupancy survey of a historic ferruginous hawk nesting territory in Lincoln County. The nest was located on a large rocky spire on private land, and an adult ferruginous hawk was observed leaving the nest upon approach. Productivity surveys to determine hatching and fledging success will be conducted at this active nest in June.

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Voluntary Public Access Contracts: Private Lands Biologist Thorne Hadley met with a landowner to review their access contracts and to sign an A-19 form to be able to process for payment. Thorne Hadley worked with Natural Resource Technician Moberg to collect sent out A-19 forms to landowners/managers to attain signatures to process payments for Voluntary Public Access Program. This was followed up with working on contracts with Contracts Specialist Cole to correct several contract amendments.

Chief Joseph Wildlife Area Pine Bar Site: Wildlife Area Manager Dice, Assistant Wildlife Area Manager Woodall, and Natural Resource Technician Peters opened the Pine Bar recreation site on Wednesday. The site had been closed for a month due to vandalism and cutting live trees. The site was cleaned up, kiosk installed, and ecology blocks moved back to the wildlife headquarter buildings.  

Amber Lake Volunteer Project: The access area at Amber Lake, and the lake itself, is well suited for small personal watercraft, especially considering the ramp is closed, and is extremely popular for fly fishing. Local fly-fishing clubs have unofficially adopted the property as their own. The club members spend countless hours fishing, and quite a few hours volunteering to improve the launch area for themselves and others. The Inland Empire Fly Fishing Club and the Spokane Fly Fishers teamed up again this spring to refresh gravel at the launch area. There were eight volunteers registered, four from each club, and a handful of people that just showed up. A local gravel supplier delivered 12 yards of gravel to the access area prior to the project. Natural Resource Specialist Dziekan coordinated the project with the fly fishing clubs, and Natural Resource Technician Brant led the volunteer effort. Brant and the volunteer members spread the gravel in record time and even rented a gas-powered compactor to finish the project. This project will help maintain a smooth launching area for anglers, eliminating ruts from vehicles and tripping hazards. The compacted gravel will hold up for many years to come, before eventually needing to be refreshed again.

Chief Joseph Wildlife Area Food Plots: Food plots planted by Natural Resource Specialist Whittaker are looking great along Joseph Creek on the Chief Joseph Wildlife Area. Elk have especially been using the small winter wheat field.  

Water Access Site Maintenance: The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) water access site at Fan Lake received a new CXT toilet this week. Water Access Manager Dziekan and Natural Resource Technician Brant met Capitol and Asset Management Program (CAMP) staff members at the location on Monday morning. CAMP staff members knocked down the old toilet and had a vac truck scheduled to pump the vault right away. These photos show removal of the old toilet. The new CXT toilet was installed, and the parking lot restriped by the end of the week just ahead of the lowland lake fishing opener. Dziekan and Brant also ensured the rest of the water access sites in District 1 received the attention they needed to be ready for opening weekend. Dziekan came across three windblown trees at Caldwell Lake Water Access. He bucked them up and the trail is now clear of debris. All the other sites were routine maintenance. 

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Moose Hazing: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Harris hazed a moose that had been in a residential area for the past week. WDFW staff members received several additional reports regarding the same moose in the surrounding neighborhoods later in the week.

Elk Fence: Wildlife Area Manager Dingman and Natural Resource Technician Jensen walked the elk fence from the Mountain Road to the Wooten Headquarters. A few small holes and a leaning gate post were found. The holes were repaired, and the gate post will be addressed in May.

Peola Elk: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Wade continued to check the commercial crops that 150 elk had been frequenting for the last several months. It appears that the elk have completely left the crops after Wade worked with the crop owner to deploy a hunter to harvest an elk in the crops with a damage permit.

Couse Pack Territory Monitoring: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Wade checked the Anatone and Cloverland area for signs of wolf activity after receiving reports of possible activity in the areas. Wade did not observe any signs of activity. Wade also checked the snow level and road accessibility on the United States Forest Service (USFS) for potential wolf work on USFS property. Wade forwarded his observations to Wolf Biologist Spence. 

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Habitat Project: Private Lands Biologist Nizer and Natural Resource Technician Itrich completed seeding a property in Albion with a grass mixture to promote habitat for game birds and big game. Natural Resource Technician Itrich learned how to drive the tractor.

Sherman Creek Wildlife Area (SCWA) Prescribed Burning: Control line work was completed and prescribed burning was initiated at Sherman Creek Wildlife Area this week. With favorable conditions on Friday, WDFW Prescribed Burn staff members, SCWA staff members, and contract crews were able to accomplish the entire Bisbee unit (approximately 107 acres) and about a third of the Wilkie Unit (approximately 48 acres). A good amount of rain fell on Friday night, but around noon on Saturday burning conditions were favorable to ignite; so, another approximately 104 acres of the Wilkie Unit completed just before another significant rainfall hit the burn unit.

Noxious Weed Control: Natural Resource Technician Jensen sprayed poison hemlock and houndstongue on the Hartsock Unit and scotch thistle and houndstongue near the Headquarters. He also sprayed weeds at the Big 4 Lake parking area and under the powerline.

Revere Wildlife Area Friendly Fence Project: This week Wildlife Biologist Jennings will start working with the Washington Conservation Corp (WCC) to replace the top wire on the north and west fence line to put the fence to wildlife friendly standard. Funds were received from a grant to promote turkey habitat and hunter access; so, Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Wagner bought six walk-through gates to have installed along those fence lines during the wire replacement. The walk- through gates have been a topic of discussion for quite some time for the hunters that use that wildlife area.

Sherman Creek Control Burn Drone Flight Monitoring: This week Wildlife Area Manager Finch went to the Sherman Creek Wildlife Area for the control burn and monitoring by use of Swanson Lakes Wildlife Area drone. Monitoring the fire behavior is a valuable tool for incident commanders. The prescribed burn includes approximately 94 acres south of the Sherman Creek Wildlife Area office. 

Providing Education and Outreach

Hunting Camp: Natural Resource Technicians Edmondson and Keeling were invited to attend the Human Nature hunting camp and allow for members of the camp to learn more about WDFW and the type of work that the private lands/conflict staff members partake in.

Envirothon 2025: Natural Resource Technician Itrich ran the wildlife station at the 2025 Envirothon event at Klemgard Park where students answered questions regarding birds and medium to large mammals. 

Other

Kids Fishing Day: Private Lands Biologist Thorne Hadley assisted with a kid’s fishing day in Dayton sponsored by City of Dayton with support from Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. It was well attended and lots of fun.

Managing Wildlife Populations

Beaver Rehabilitation – Successful Release and Establishment: A Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife biologist from King County (District 12), worked with PAWS Wildlife Rehabilitation Center to identify potential locations for beaver release. In collaboration with Vashon-Maury Island Land Trust, a site was chosen on Vashon-Maury. The land trust has reported that the beaver released there are hanging around the site and appear to be doing great.  It is rare to be able to release beaver in suburban/rural areas of King County, which makes this site unique. 

Snow Goose Survey: Wildlife Biologists Waddell and Soltysiak conducted the annual snow goose survey. This survey was conducted in a small single engine airplane and encompassed an area from southern British Columbia southward to northern King County. Flocks of snow geese were photographed for later analysis by AI software.

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Photo by WDFW

Purple Martin Colony Maintenance: District 12 collaborated with volunteers to maintain the Seattle waterfront purple martin colonies at Duwamish Waterway and Shilshole Bay. Overall, roughly 100 nest gourds were cleaned and maintained for reuse this season (with the bulk of those also used last season). The purple martin is North America’s largest swallow that is a state Species of Greatest Conservation Need under the State Wildlife Action Plan. It is largely dependent on human nest boxes, nest gourds, and other human structures for nesting. 

The purple martin is a cavity nesting species that needs snags that are over or adjacent to water to build their nests. Snags are dead or dying trees. Snags are a very specialized and limited habitat type that tends to be very patchy in occurrence. For purple martins, removing a group of snags with cavities that they use can take out an entire local martin colony. Snags are often taken down because they can be a safety hazard, and are also removed to preserve views. Simple management of snags, in the appropriate situation where hazards are not of concern, not only provides habitat, but also great wildlife attraction and watching opportunities. 

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Photo by WDFW

Sooty Grouse Survey: Westside district staff are in ongoing monitoring surveys for sooty grouse, a harvestable forest grouse species, this month and next. 

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

Common Loon Platform Maintenance and Launch: District 12 maintained platforms on two separate territorial common loon lakes. Loons were observed at both lakes. The common loon is a state listed species (Sensitive) and a Species of Greatest Conservation Need in the State Wildlife Action Plan. 

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Photo by WDFW

Improving Bat Roosting Habitat in Island and San Juan Counties: Biologist Licence, in collaboration with the Watchable Wildlife Program, Master Hunter Program, Diversity Division, State Parks, Girl Scouts, Bats Northwest, Happy Valley Bats Rehab Center, private citizens/landowners and other partners recently built over 50 multi-chambered bat boxes for distribution to stewards throughout the district. 

This group rallied to install nine boxes at Deception Pass State Park. These boxes will provide additional living space for up to 2,250 bats in an area where bat exclusion has occurred over multiple winters in private dwellings nearby. Journalists from the Washington Post and a reporter from the Whidbey News-Times attended the event and conducted interviews.

Many of the additional boxes were donated to homeowners with bats regularly roosting in or near their property and are currently in the process of installing boxes. Fifteen more bat boxes were donated to the San Juan Island Land Bank for mounting and monitoring across San Juan and Orcas islands. 

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

Beach Clean-up Efforts on Whidbey Island: Biologist Licence and master hunters represented Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to support efforts by the Washington State University Island County Extension Office and Naval Air Station Whidbey to remove litter from beaches with a specific focus on collecting and quantifying plastic shotgun wad debris. 

In the past month two separate events took place, one in early April at Windjammer Park in Oak Harbor and the other at Crescent Beach on Earth Day. Combined, volunteers collected hundreds of pounds of litter and well over 1000 shotgun wads. 

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

Island Marble Butterfly Spring Monitoring on San Juan Island: Biologist Licence and Pollinator Specialist Combs initiated another year of island marble butterfly (IMB) monitoring on San Juan Island. This week of monitoring included adult relative abundance transects, detection/no detection surveys in known IMB occurrence areas, as well as egg and larvae monitoring at the Cattle Point, Department of Natural Resources property. Staff members also value this time to communicate and build relationships with local conservation partners. The IMB season appears to be earlier this year than in the past and staff members counted 34 recently laid eggs where in recent history no eggs were counted during this early season survey.

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

Bat Acoustic Activity Monitoring: Biologist Anderson maintained three solar powered acoustic bat recorders that are running year-round in the district. These are used for various trends in activity – emergence periods, species activity at a site, etc.

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Photo by WDFW

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Bobcat and Wallabies – Conflict Prevention: Wildlife Conflict Specialist O’Connor responded to a call regarding a depredation to captive wallabies. Upon arriving at the site, O’Connor noted a bobcat in the wallaby pen, jumping out as he approached. O’Connor went through exclusionary needs and other conflict reduction management techniques.

Providing Education and Outreach

Protected Wildlife – Trail Building Concerns: Biologist Anderson met with Seattle Parks and Recreation, as well as a citizens group, regarding a local natural area that has a mountain bike trail proposed and in the process of development. A state protected active Cooper’s hawk nest was located right above the trail. They determined currently there is no conflict because the trail building will be well away from the active nest. 

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Photo by WDFW

Conducting Business Operations and Policy

Westside Necropsy Training: Wildlife health staff members provided a necropsy training and refresher for staff members for both west and east of the crest. In the west training, one of the specimens acquired was an elk from North Bend that had been spinning and appeared disoriented. Necropsy participants found an injury to the head/base of antler that created an injury, and infection and an abscess on the brain that likely created all the behavioral issues the animal exhibited.

Other

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Managing Wildlife Populations

Oak Creek Wildlife Area Wildlife Safety Zone: Oak Creek Wildlife Area Natural Resource Worker O’Brien built and installed a new wildlife safety zone signpost. This sign informs hunters of the wildlife safety zone located directly around the Oak Creek Wildlife Area headquarters office and feed yard. 

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White Nose Syndrome Probiotic Bat Captures: District 4 Wildlife Biologists Fidorra and Hoffman, District 8 Wildlife Biologist Moore, and Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area Manager Kaelber assisted Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Bat Biologist Tobin with the capture and sampling of a maternity colony in the Sunnyside area. The team successfully captured approximately 60 new bats and recaptured 20 bats that were marked and sampled during previous efforts. This research effort is a novel approach to utilizing naturally occurring bacteria to reduce impact of the causative agent of white nose syndrome (WNS). One more capture event is planned for later this summer. Additionally, guano samples were collected and will be tested for Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd), the fungus that is known to cause white-nose syndrome in bats.

Providing Recreation Opportunities

L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Opener: It was chilly and windy but a beautiful day on the L.T. Murray Wildlife Area for the May 1 elk closure opener. Around 120 vehicles lined up for the 6 a.m. rush through the gates at Joe Watt and Robinson Canyon, which yielded few antlers, but it was still a great time for people on horseback, all-terrain vehicles, bicycles, cars, and trucks.

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Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Central Washington University (CWU) Students in Taneum Creek: L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Manager Morrison led geology students and members of AWRA (American Water Resources Association) on a field tour in the L.T. Murray’s Taneum Creek system. The field day objective was to learn about riparian projects implemented by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and Yakama Nation Fisheries.

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Whiskey Dick Creek Bird Count: Central Washington University Cultural and Environmental Resource Management graduate student started bird point count data in the Whiskey Dick Creek system for a thesis focused on shrubsteppe songbird response to fire-based vegetation response.

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District 4 Rattlesnake Hills Elk: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand had continued to conduct hazing activities near the border of the Hanford National Monument. Increasing numbers of animals are being observed entering wheatfields along the southern border of the monument.

District 4 Corral Canyon Elk Area Summer Bull Permits: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand prepared damage prevention permits (DPP) to be delivered to landowners in elk area 3721. These permits assist with pressuring elk away from valuable wheat crops during critical plant development. These permits were the first to be developed and issued from the new Damage Permit System platform.

District 4 Master Hunter and Special Permit Points Restoration: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand worked with Headquarters staff members on identifying which master hunters or special permit holders were not deployed on damage hunts, so their special hunting permit points could be restored. 

District 4 Deceased Pronghorn: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand received and responded to a report of a car/pronghorn antelope collision on Highway 221. No collar or ear tag was observed on the animal and biological information was collected and entered in Survey 123.

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Wenas Wildlife Area Spring Weed Treatments: Wenas Wildlife Area staff members continue to treat the wildlife area for noxious weeds. This time of year, a common pest is the Scotch thistle. Preventing the encroachment of these noxious weeds is an essential aspect to maintaining the natural landscapes of the wildlife area. 

Oak Creek Wildlife Area Noxious Weed Control: Noxious weed control continues on the Cowiche Unit of the Oak Creek Wildlife Area. Oak Creek Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Charlet and Natural Resource Worker O’Brien continue spot spraying efforts to reduce the presence of Scotch thistle and other noxious weeds on Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife lands. 

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Oak Creek Wildlife Area Parking Area Maintenance: Oak Creek Wildlife Area Natural Resource Worker O’Brien filled potholes and raked gravel in parking lots on the Oak Creek Unit to improve parking areas. Assistant Manager Charlet sprayed parking lots on the Oak Creek Unit and Cowiche Unit for a wide variety of nonnative plant species. This effort reduces the risk of noxious weeds spreading onto Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife lands and reduces wildfire risk by eliminating vegetation where vehicles commonly park. 

Wenas Wildlife Area Future Conservation Easements/Acquisitions: Wenas Wildlife Area Manager Gray continued to work with two landowners who are interested in conserving their private property to prevent future development and protect the current habitat. Gray and Region 3 Lands Agent Carbary met with a landowner off Umptanum Road to discuss potential options for conserving their property and to conduct a site visit. The property is approximately 3400 acres of shrubsteppe and riparian habitat. Gray and Wenas Wildlife Area Habitat Specialist Miller will be submitting this project area through the internal Lands 20/20 process for review this year. 

The second project area is approximately 440 acres of shrubsteppe, ponderosa pine woodland, and riparian habitat. Gray and Miller have been working on a RCO (Recreation and Conservation Office) WWRP (Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program) – Critical Habitat grant to receive funding for a conservation easement and life estate for this property. This past week Gray met with a professional photographer and the landowners to take photos of the property to be used in the grant application. Both of these projects will protect crucial areas of habitat for wildlife including a significant number of species listed as Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN).

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Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area / Region 3 Private Lands collaboration with Benton Conservation District: Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area Manager Kaelber and Private Lands Biologist Manderbach had a meeting and followed up on a field trip with the Benton Conservation District staff members to the Thornton Unit. They discussed future collaborative efforts to harvest sagebrush and native seeds from plants that can be used to create seed balls to spread throughout Benton and Franklin counties on private lands and portions of the Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area. Other habitat enhancement projects were also discussed. 

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Franklin County Shrub Planting: Private Lands Biologist Manderbach along with help from District 4 Wildlife Biologist Fidorra expanded on a shrub planting from 2023 on the Neff-Jones Hunt by Reservation site in Franklin County. In 2023 sagebrush and antelope bitterbrush were planted in three draws on the property. The sagebrush has survived well, but the bitterbrush had a very low survival rate likely due to deer damage soon after planting. Manderbach and Fidorra planted more sagebrush as well as winterfat and a few patches of Rocky Mountain juniper in two of the draws to expand on the project. Manderbach will continue to monitor the plantings and provide water occasionally throughout the spring and summer.

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Other

Kittitas County Corner Crossing: Region 3 Private Lands Biologist Manderbach met with a landowner in Kittitas County who called about issues with corner crossing that them and a neighbor are having. Both landowners border state land and there is a fence at the corner being crossed. The landowner gave Manderbach a tour of their land, their neighbors’ land that they work on, as well as some of the state land bordering them. 

They discussed many issues and the potential for future collaboration in ways of first-time pheasant hunter opportunities, habitat work potential, and the possibility of allowing public access. The landowner has worked with many Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife staff members on different projects and issues. Manderbach will continue diving into the corner crossing topic.

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Managing Wildlife Populations

Greater Sage-grouse: Biologists across Douglas County are finishing up monitoring known greater sage-grouse lek sites. Sage-grouse numbers recorded so far this spring represent an increase over the previous several years. This is very encouraging to see because this species is classified as Endangered in Washington and has been experiencing a dramatic population decline for many years now. For more information on greater sage-grouse in Washington, visit the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife website.

Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse Translocation: Biologists Eilers joined other biologists to trap and relocate 60 sharp-tailed grouse from British Columbia, Canada into Washington. This will help supplement the species abundance and genetic diversity in Washington. Sharp-tailed grouse are State Endangered and are a Species of Greatest Conservation Need due to their low and declining numbers in Washington. 

The translocation effort involved finding leks (breeding display grounds where males dance to attract females) in British Columbia, setting up walk-in traps, and then returning each morning to watch from a blind as the birds performed their daily displays. Once a bird found itself in a trap, biologists quickly left the blind and captured the bird to bring it to a processing site. All 60 grouse (30 males and 30 females) were banded, and half of them were outfitted with a radio collar to allow biologists to track their movements. Half of the birds were released in northern Douglas County and the other half were released in Lincoln County. For more information about this species visit the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife website.

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Sharp-tailed Grouse Management: Biologist Heinlen traveled to 70 Mile House, British Columbia and participated in trapping Columbia sharp-tailed grouse for augmentation back into Washington. After much planning, logistical coordination, and field work by many staff members, everything aligned perfectly, and 60 (30 males and 30 females) sharp-tailed grouse were captured and successfully released in Washington in six trapping days. The goal is to bolster the Washington population by increasing genetic diversity.   

Biologist Heinlen also conducted annual surveys for Columbia sharp-tailed grouse within District 6. Relocating leks (breeding grounds) that have moved, and a mild winter has led to a better survey effort and an increase in sharp-tailed grouse numbers over the 2023 surveys. 

Biologist Heinlen and Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation Wildlife Biologist Laspa toured a property in Tunk Valley that the tribe acquired a couple years ago. Before the tribe acquired the property, Biologist Heinlen conducted the sharp-tailed grouse surveys on it. During the tour Biologists Heinlen and Laspa were fortunate enough to relocate a lek that hasn’t been active in over 20 years. 

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Sage Grouse Surveys: Biologist Morris completed grid searches for sage grouse in Grant and Douglas counties. Morris saw some great sunrises, picturesque landscapes, and lots of upland birds while surveying.

Bighorn Sheep Management: Biologist Heinlen investigated a bighorn sheep mortality in the Mt. Hull herd. Not enough was left to determine a definitive cause of death. However, disease and parasite samples were taken and sent to Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory at Washington State University for analysis. The radio collar was also retrieved. 

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Mule Deer Management: Biologist Heinlen and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Volunteer Fischer investigated a mule deer mortality. They found it to be predated by a cougar. The radio collar was recovered.

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) Sealing: Biologist Heinlen sealed several bobcat pelts from Okanogan County with CITES tags this period. CITES is an international agreement that aims to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. Because the trade in wild animals and plants crosses borders between countries, the effort to regulate it requires international cooperation to safeguard certain species from over-exploitation. The deadline for sealing has now passed. All bobcat and river otter pelts harvested this season were required to be sealed by April 20.

Lek Searches: Biologist Turnock and Technician Hara continued searching for new sage and sharp-tailed grouse leks in northern Douglas County. High winds have made surveying difficult, but they were able to cover four grids. This will help inform our understanding of these species’ distributions in Region 2.

Sharp-tailed Grouse Translocations: Technician Force assisted staff members in translocating 60 sharp-tailed grouse from British Columbia to Dyer Hill and Swanson Lakes Wildlife Areas.

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Northern Leopard Frog Surveys: Biologist Turnock and Technician Hara conducted northern leopard frog breeding surveys in District 5, including at Potholes off road vehicle (ORV) park. They did not detect any leopard frogs, but these surveys resulted in some exciting incidental observations such as a badger with three young and breeding Great Basin spadefoot toads.

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Pygmy Rabbit Trapping: Biologist Turnock and Technician Hara assisted Biologist Crowell with pygmy rabbit trapping at the B3 enclosure near Beezley Hills. They were able to capture the enclosure’s lone resident, an adult male rabbit, to confirm his survival.

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Providing Recreation Opportunities

Hunter Access: Biologist Morris checked and posted signs on hunter access properties.

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Deer Issues: Specialist Heilhecker spoke with a landowner regarding acclimated deer in his yard. A group of seventeen deer have been eating flower gardens and walking across the porch. Specialist Heilhecker provided recommendations on how to nonlethally haze the deer. 

Cost-Share Fencing: Specialist Heilhecker ordered fencing materials for an orchard experiencing deer damage. The orchardist signed a cost-share fencing agreement. Subsequently, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife orders materials and arranges for the materials to be delivered onsite. Then, the orchardist installs the fence.

Range Rider Information Sharing: Specialist Heilhecker answered questions from an individual interested in becoming a contracted range rider. She met with wildlife conflict section staff members to discuss the individual’s application and funding availability.

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Habitat Plots: Biologists Cook and Morris pulled cheatgrass weeds from around 200 recently planted shrubs, from this spring and last year. Plastic mulch was used but the weeds were aggressively growing through the holes cut for the planted shrubs. Machine cutting the grass was unfeasible due to the small size of some shrubs and the thickness of weeds. Pre-emergent herbicide will be used to prevent regrowth of weeds.

Habitat Plots: Biologist Morris sprayed weeds at one of the habitat plots he has been working on. By controlling weeds, it allows the native plants to get established with less competition for available soil moisture and nutrients. Around 200 of the native trees and shrubs were planted in plastic mulch to prevent weed competition, but cheatgrass was growing through the holes where the shrubs were planted. Biologist Morris and Biologist Cook spent some time removing the cheatgrass manually from these holes.

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Providing Education and Outreach

Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Day in the Field: Biologist Cook participated in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) day in the field at the Desert Unit of Columbia Basin Wildlife Area. Cook participated in providing instruction for groups of 6th graders around wildlife resources and their effect and interaction with the environment.

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Turkey Hunting Information: Specialist Heilhecker provided feedback to a hunter who called looking for places to hunt turkeys. 

Conducting Business Operations and Policy

Wolf Advisory Group Meeting: Specialist Heilhecker participated in the Wolf Advisory Group (WAG) meeting and participated in the WAG coordination meetings.

Firearm Certification: Specialists Heilhecker and Bridges, and Supervisor Rickel all completed annual firearms qualifications.

Other

CPR Training: Specialist Heilhecker, Supervisor Rickel and Private Lands Biologists Braaten, Morris and Cook attended CPR training in Ephrata.

Managing Wildlife Populations

Sooty Grouse Surveys: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) wildlife biologists in western Washington are in the second year of testing a survey method for sooty grouse (formerly called blue grouse). The effort involves establishing driving routes in the Cascade and Olympic mountains as well as the Willapa Hills. 

The routes include 15 to 30 listening stops where biologists spend time listening for the calling of male sooty grouse during the early morning hours. The survey method is borrowed from Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife as well as Oregon State University and we thank them for their development of the method and sharing. When fully developed and implemented, the survey will generate sooty grouse population trend estimates that are independent of grouse harvest. To date, Biologists Stephens, Holman, Wickhem, and Bergh, along with Conflict Specialist Aubrey and Cowlitz Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Steveson have conducted eight surveys. 

An additional component of the work is to use listening devices called Acoustic Recording Units (ARUs) to better understand the timing of the sooty grouse breeding season. This is important since the survey methodology was developed at lower latitudes in Oregon where breeding timing could be different. The ARUs are placed near calling sooty grouse and left in place for approximately two months. During this time, the device records the calling grouse. With several of the units placed throughout western Washington, in aggregate this information can be used to adjust Oregon’s protocol to Washington’s grouse population. Biologist Holman, Conflict Specialist Aubrey, and Enforcement Officer Tippets placed three units in Cowlitz and Lewis counties.

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Glenwood Valley Annual Sandhill Crane Survey: Biologists Wickhem, Bergh, and Ott; Data Manager Blatz, Volunteers Castagnoli, Flick, Steider, L. Robinson, D. Robinson, B. Roe, and J. Roe; staff members from Mount Adams Resource Stewards, and staff members from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service joined forces for the annual sandhill crane survey on and around Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge. 

The Glenwood Valley is one of only a few areas in the state where sandhill cranes nest. Sandhill cranes mate for life and return to the same “territory” each year to mate and raise their colts before migrating south in the fall. For this survey, the groups split up into teams to drive and hike around different crane territories recording all cranes observed and specifically looking for crane nests. Wickhem and her survey partners confirmed three nests and observed a nest exchange (males and females take turns sitting on the nest)! 

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Townsend’s Ground Squirrel Surveys: In 2023, District 9 staff members visited 130 historic locations of Townsend’s ground squirrels in eastern Klickitat County to determine how many of these sites were still occupied. At a small number of those sites, occupancy was unconfirmed, meaning the surveyors found some signs of squirrels, but could not determine how fresh the signs were and did not see or hear any actual squirrels. 

In April 2024, District 9 staff members revisited these sites to confirm if they were occupied or unoccupied. Unfortunately, each of these locations was determined to be unoccupied, but staff members were able to find squirrel colonies in a few new locations that had not been recorded in the past. Townsend’s ground squirrels are a Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SCGN) in Washington and are considered a candidate for state listing.

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Mount St. Helens Elk Herd Population Survey: In late March, biologists from Region 5 conducted an aerial survey of the Mount St. Helens elk herd. In addition to the “core” herd area which consists of GMUs 520, 522, 524, 550, and 556 that has historically been surveyed annually or biannually, biologists also surveyed portions of the herd area to the south. The expanded survey area includes portions of GMUs 554, 560, 568, and 572. These areas are generally more difficult to survey because they have fewer clear cuts or other openings that allow observers to detect elk that are present. 

Within the “core” GMUs, the same survey units are surveyed from year to year and a sight ability estimate is applied to the data collected. The estimate for the core area was 2,097 elk. This is a 38% increase from the last time this area was surveyed in March 2022 with a total of 1,522 elk. A big thanks to JL Aviation’s Pilot Pete Emmerson for his safe and skillful flying. 

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Providing Recreation Opportunities

Vandalism in Klickitat County: The restroom at the Turkey Hole Access Area was severely vandalized with graffiti in early April. Vandalism to this extent is unusual and very disappointing for Klickitat County. With two trips and multiple coats of paint, Natural Resources Specialist Celaya was able to make the restroom look respectable again. 

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Conserving Natural Landscapes

English Ivy Removal: Cowlitz Wildlife Area staff members, with the help of master hunters and Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation volunteers who donated approximately 700 hours of their time over the four days of the project, removed over 26,000 pounds of vegetation (mostly English ivy) from the Mossyrock Unit. 

The ivy is well established within the area and surgically removing the ivy without impacting the desirable vegetation is not an option. The first weekend the sun was shining, the temperature was perfect, and the crew removed 11,000 pounds of vegetation. The second week, the weather turned vengeful and kept the crew wet and cold. However, the crew rallied and removed 15,000 pounds of vegetation.

This was tough work, and the wildlife area staff members could not have done this without the volunteer help. Also essential to the success of the project were Rodger and Ramona Wallace. Rodger and Ramona not only saw the possibilities and encouraged wildlife area staff members to embrace the use of volunteers, but they also reached out to their network of volunteers and single handedly organized an army of individuals. Then, to keep morale high, they organized a potluck lunch every day of the project. With the food provided by the volunteers, you can’t beat a meal of elk burgers, German sausages, elk stew, chili, and all of the sides one could want.

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Conducting Business Operations and Policy

Chemical Immobilization Training: District biologists, conflict specialists, and enforcement staff members attended chemical immobilization training in Ridgefield. The training is required every five years for staff members who use chemical immobilization drugs. 

Chemical immobilization is used when marking or collaring wildlife for research and in conflict situations when an animal may need to be removed from a dangerous situation. The training covered the types of immobilization drugs, the equipment used in immobilizations, different capture situations, and human and animal safety, among other topics. The class was capped off with dart gun practice and immobilizing domestic goats. All of the goats responded well to the drugs, maintained healthy vital signs throughout, and woke up without a problem. 

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Managing Wildlife Populations

Skagit Wildlife Area Management Plan: The SEPA 30-day public review on the draft Skagit Wildlife Area Management Plan ended on April 22. The department received 14 sets of comments including letters from Skagit Audubon, Washington Trails Association, and Washington State Senate Republican Caucus. Lands Division and regional staff members are working on the comment responses at this time. Lands Division expects the final plan internal review by the end of May, with the final document being delivered to the Director in June for his signature. 

Managing Wildlife Populations

Prairie Grouse: Biologist Lowe was in British Columbia trapping sharp-tailed grouse that were subsequently transported and released in either Lincoln or Douglas county as part of a translocation effort to augment existing local populations. 

Biologist Brinkman assisted Swanson Lakes Wildlife Area Manager Finch setting up release boxes for sharp-tailed grouse on an existing lek in Lincoln County. Translocated birds get placed into the release boxes for 15 to 20 minutes to settle before being released into their new home. 

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Prairie Grouse: Biologist Lowe was in 70 Mile House, British Columbia trapping the remaining four sharp-tailed grouse needed to complete the translocation effort for this year. The remaining four grouse were released in Lincoln County on the Swanson Lakes Wildlife Area at an existing lek. In total, 60 birds (30 males and 30 females) were captured, transported, and released over six days during this year’s translocation. On the final day of capture, Photojournalist Joel Sartore from National Geographic met the trapping crew to photograph the birds for his Photo Ark project. 

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Conserving Natural Landscapes

Prescribed Burn Preparation: Fire Planner Lionberger and Sherman Creek Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Palmer performed fire control line preparation at Rustlers Gulch Wildlife Area. The pair dragged small pasture harrows pulled by an All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) and a Utility Terrain Vehicle (UTV) to prepare lines for any needed bulldozer use during burning. These lines are essentially fire boundaries. 

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Columbia Plateau Wildlife Management Association (CPWMA) Work Party: Private Lands Biologist Nizer worked with CPWMA on a hunt by written permission property. They seeded between two and three acres of an unproductive field into alfalfa strips, clover, and barley. Nizer helped seed with the ATV and with clearing out debris and fencing on the property. 

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Providing Education and Outreach

Dayton Kid’s Fishing Event: Wildlife Area Manager Dingman and Natural Resource Technician Tritt helped with two kids' fishing events in Dayton. Both events were held on the same day, the first event included the kids from The Boys & Girls Club in Dayton and the second event was sponsored by the city of Dayton. There were approximately 100 kids total who attended and fished the Kid’s Pond in Dayton. 

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Conducting Business Operations and Policy

South Fork Hayshed Repairs: Wildlife area staff members improved the South Fork hayshed by installing metal siding over the gable ends. The metal covers exposed wood and closes holes that were allowing birds to enter the building. A rental snorkel lift made the job much easier and safer. New bat boxes were also installed on each end of the building. 

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