Managing Wildlife Populations

Rat Island Terns: Wildlife Veterinarian Haman and Wildlife Area Manager Laushman visited Rat Island, part of the North Olympic Wildlife Area’s Marrowstone Unit, to check on the nesting population of Caspian terns.

Wolf Monitoring: Biologist Tirhi and Volunteer Terry spent a half day getting a remote camera deployed at higher elevation off Highway 410 on U.S. Forest Service land bordering Mt. Rainier to the change battery and SD card. Between District 11 and partners at Northwest Trek, 12 cameras are currently deployed around the Carbon and White river drainages for monitoring wolf recolonization in the district. No wolves have been detected on cameras to date since the monitoring began in July 2019 when the first credible report of a suspected wolf was reported near Wilkenson.

Snake Fungal Disease (SFD): At the request of Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (WDFW) Dr. Haman, District 11 staff members are piloting a garter snake collection program to test for SFD following emerging reports of this debilitating snake disease. There were two reports and one confirmation of the fungus that causes SFD at the Billy Frank Jr Wildlife Refuge near Lacey. District 11 has deployed cover boards at South Puget Sound Wildlife Area for snake use and collection. Collection will be attempted at other sections of this wildlife area as well as on Joint Base Lewis McChord (JBLM) and potentially, at other sites in the district. Snakes that are captured are swabbed and any lesions are measured and photographed. Severely infected snakes will be sent to a rehabilitator while dead snakes will be sent to the lab for testing. SFD only affects snakes.

 Bats Emergence Surveys: Biologist Tirhi organized the District 11 annual bat emergence surveys. Of the six bat colonies targeted for long term monitoring of White Nose Syndrome (WNS) in District 11, surveys were conducted at the Elbe colony and Western State Hospital (Steilacoom) colony. The survey showed colony counts were significantly down at both, more with the Western State Hospital colony likely due to impacts other than WNS. Elbe count dropped from 147 bats in 2023 to 56 bats in 2024, the lowest count at the colony in the years of monitoring. There is no known change or disturbance at this colony to explain this significant drop. Tirhi will be visiting neighboring homes to ask if anyone has had an influx of bats this season.

Western State Hospital count dropped from 206 bats in 2023 to 49 bats in 2024. The hospital underwent major demolition this year leading up to the bat season including the removal of the building that housed the largest number of bats roosting at the complex. This undoubtedly was responsible for the major decline in numbers. There is no way to determine where more than 150 female bats went to birth this year, but they did not use the hospital grounds. Tirhi had surveyors encircling the complex who would have counted bats had they moved to a new location. 

Biologist Cent also conducted District 17 pre-emergence exit counts at two colonies in Grays Harbor County.

Northwestern Pond Turtles: Biologist Butler, Biologist Tirhi, Technician Cheney, Volunteer Terry, and JBLM interns finished up the 2024 nest monitoring season. There were 19 breeding size adult females tracked this season at the Pierce County recovery site. A VFH transmitter was attached to each female during the spring trapping session. WDFW staff members and volunteers monitored these turtles every day via visual observations and telemetry from noon until 8 p.m. starting mid-May through mid-July. 

This nesting season started off cooler and wetter than previous years, leading to a later start to nesting. The first nest was found around June 10 and the last was found on June 19. A total of eight nests were found. All but one of the nests went to the Woodland Park Zoo to enter the head-starting program, with one nest remaining in the ground at the Pierce County recovery site. There were an additional four turtles found out of the pond this season with no nest located. These turtles may have nested outside the monitoring time which caused us to miss their nests. Monitoring continued into the second week of July with the hope of increasing the number of nests found, but unfortunately there was no out of pond activity since June 19. The official monitoring season came to an end, but staff members and volunteers will sporadically monitor while conducting other work at the site through July and August.

Snowy Plovers: Biologist Cent continues to assist with plover nest searches and chick banding. Three chicks were captured and banded at Copalis Spit. 

Band-Tailed Pigeon: Biologist Novack and Biologist Cent conducted the annual mineral site survey at the recently discovered Moclips site. This is the third year surveying this site, which will allow for its inclusion into the range wide survey. 34 birds were counted, which is within the typical range for this site. 

District 10 Biologist Holman brought his agency boat and assisted Biologist Novack with the band-tailed pigeon survey at Cosmopolis. This survey requires boating up the Chehalis River from Aberdeen. A total of 212 birds were counted at this site.

Biologist Novack discovered a large group of more than 60 band-tails near Grayland. He contacted the landowner and made tentative arrangements to try and capture a few birds for placement of transmitters. The feeding site is over 19 miles from either of the closest known mineral sites.

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Hunting Season 2024-2025: Biologist Tirhi responded to approximately ten phone calls from hunters seeking input on permit hunts they were successfully drawn for. Tirhi provided information, maps on access, and prospects. Tirhi also randomly spoke to hunters in the field while doing other field work.

Conserving Natural Landscapes

North Olympic Equipment Repair: Assistant Regional Program Manager Blankenship helped Wildlife Area Manager Laushman repair a flat tire on a new zero turn mower at the North Olympic Wildlife Area. 

Potential Acquisition Site Visits: Wildlife Area Manager Laushman and Assistant Regional Program Manager Blankenship visited with a landowner and project partners from the Jefferson Land Trust to look at areas along Chimacum Creek that could be part of a future donation for habitat conservation.

Recreational Conservation Office (RCO) Grant: Biologist Novack finalized the Lands 20/20 application for additional parcels in the Willapa Bay area and revised the RCO riparian grant proposal for lands in Chehalis Valley.

Conducting Business Operations and Policy

Training: Biologist Novack attended the WDFW Wildfire Smoke Safety Training.

Managing Wildlife Populations

Annual Band-Tailed Pigeon Surveys: Biologists Wickhem, Bergh, Holman, and Stephens began conducting their respective band-tailed pigeon surveys in Region 5. Additionally, Holman teamed with Region 6 Biologist Novack to survey a site in the estuary of the Chehalis River that can only be accessed by boat. Nesting birds congregate at natural mineral springs throughout the summer to consume supplemental minerals, primarily sodium and calcium. The same mineral sites are surveyed each year by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) biologists across western Washington and the results are combined with similar efforts in British Columbia, Oregon, and California to monitor the population at the flyway level. Survey results affect the season and bag-limits for band-tailed pigeons each year and will be presented in future weekly reports.

Northwestern Pond Turtle Population Estimate: From June 5 through June 26, Biologists Wickhem, Bergh, and Ott, along with many helpers, deployed 41 turtle hoop traps at a site in Klickitat County and checked traps daily. The traps were spread across four water bodies that are historical northwestern pond turtle locations. Every year, the district staff members perform a mark-recapture trapping effort at one turtle site to generate a population estimate. All captured turtles are individually marked and the number of times each individual turtle is captured is recorded. The number of captures and recaptures is plugged into a model (along with other variables) which will generate an estimated number of turtles present at the site. This season, the crew caught 286 individual pond turtles and two individual painted turtles for a total of 805 captures (including recaptures). We will be anxiously waiting for Science Division staff members to calculate the population estimate. During the last trapping effort at that site (in 2018), there was a total of 511 captures and 207 were pond turtles. It appears that the pond turtle population has increased (HOORAY!). Also of note, the crew captured and marked 69 new wild-born turtles, three times the number of new turtles captured in 2018 (double HOORAY!). This large number of new turtles (indicating natural recruitment) confirms that the removal of invasive bullfrogs from this site is benefitting the pond turtles and many other native species. Special thanks to all the folks (20 people total!!) that assisted with trap setting, checking, and take-down.

Mardon Skipper Surveys: During the first two weeks of July, Biologists Bergh, Wickhem, and Ott, as well as the new District 9 Klickitat Wildlife Area Manager Cass Holman, assisted in modified peak count surveys for state endangered mardon skippers. These surveys are coordinated by the U.S. Forest Service as a part of a 3-year effort to visit sites historically occupied by mardon skippers across their range within the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. 

Mardon skippers require open meadows with ample sun, bunch grasses, and floral resources. Existing populations of mardon skippers are highly isolated and under threat due to habitat loss and/or degradation caused by forest encroachment, invasive plants, and fire suppression. These surveys will help inform appropriate localized and landscape scale habitat management for the species on U. S. Forest Service land. Although no sites assigned to WDFW staff members yielded positive detections of mardon skippers, the staff members thoroughly enjoyed the time spent walking in subalpine meadows identifying butterflies and collaborating with U.S. Forest Service staff members.

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Oneida Access Area: Access staff members have started mowing some of WDFW sites including Onieda Access Area. Staff members mow certain areas to provide additional parking and to also try and keep fire danger down. Hot weather, tall grass, and hot exhaust pipes do not mix well. Onieda Access Area has two field parking areas that will be heavily used starting in August.

Fourth of July Aftermath: As expected, the week after the Fourth of July was busy. Many sites in Washougal, Kalama, and Mineral Lake were used heavily by the public. Unfortunately, many visitors didn’t “pack it in, pack it out.”

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Pacificorps Wildlife Habitat Management Lands: Biologist Holman joined Pacificorps staff members to visit multiple locations in the higher elevation portions of Pacificorps Lewis River Habitat Management Lands to evaluate ongoing enhancement efforts. U.S. Forest Service Supervisory Biologist Rich attended as well.

The group saw forest management projects such as pre-commercial thinning and reforestation, soil augmentations designed to increase pH, elk forage plot establishment, and weed control in wetlands. All projects on the habitat enhancement lands are on schedule. Pacificorp lands include approximately 16,000 acres of enhanced wildlife habitat in the North Fork Lewis River basin to partially balance the impacts of the hydropower system on the river. These lands are open to the public for non-motorized recreation including hunting, fishing, and wildlife viewing. 

Other

New Klickitat Wildlife Area Manager: We are very excited to announce that the Klickitat Wildlife Area has a new manager. Cassandra “Cass” Holman started her role with WDFW on July 1. It took over seven months to find the right person for the job, however Cass was a true standout from all the other candidates. We are very happy to have her as part of the Region 5 Wildlife Program team. 

Cassandra is a wildlife and conservation biologist with a focus on addressing ecological challenges in human-compromised or altered ecosystems. She recently worked in northern California implementing floodplain reconnection and habitat restoration projects in the Trinity River watershed. However, her career has also taken her to Alaska, Colorado, New England, Texas, and North Carolina. Originally from Rhode Island, Cass is excited to call Washington home for the long term. She has a strong background in grant writing, project management, and forming conservation partnerships with stakeholders to make a tangible difference. As the new manager of the Klickitat Wildlife Area, she is dedicated to meeting the state’s objectives for species conservation and habitat protection.

Managing Wildlife Populations

Carnivore Monitoring Program: District 14 biologists have been assisting the National Park Service (NPS) in deploying wolverine monitoring stations under the Woodland Park Zoo Carnivore Monitoring Program. In 2013, the North Cascades wolverine population was estimated to be less than 40 individuals. While they are making a comeback in our region, these elusive creatures have slow reproduction rates and are facing climate change challenges. Their preference for high mountain terrain makes them difficult to study. These stations will aid in defining the current distribution of wolverines and, if detected, to collect genetic samples to better understand their relationships to other populations in the region. 

Loon Surveys: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Biologist Soltysiak and NPS Biologist Christophersen backpacked into the Ross Lake area to monitor common loon activity. While two adult pairs were observed, neither were displaying any signs of nesting. Breeding pairs of loons within District 14 are becoming increasingly rare. At this site, the last known nest was three years ago. Common loons are listed as a Species of Greatest Conservation Need due to their shrinking range, small populations, and vulnerability to development and recreational pressure at sensitive nesting lakes. Fisherman are encouraged to reach out to district staff members for non-lead tackle in efforts to protect this unique bird. 

Fisher Monitoring Continues: District wildlife staff members continue to retrieve cameras and bait stations from many different locations in the North Cascades. Although fishers have been absent from several of the recently collected stations, there have been noteworthy detections of other important forest carnivores including a wolverine and numerous American marten. This effort is an essential part of evaluating fisher reintroduction success that simultaneously provides valuable information on a variety of species of conservation interest. 

Bats – North American Bat (NABat) and other Surveys: District 13 continued Region 4’s effort towards the annual acoustic bat surveys for the international NABat Program. Detectors were deployed in four quadrants of a randomly selected grid cell in Arlington that have been consistently monitored during approximately the same time over many years. Learn more at our Pacific Northwest coordination site from Oregon State University. 

Additionally, Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tag reading devices at two white-nose syndrome (WNS) research sites in District 13 were visited for maintenance, and an emergence count was conducted at a WNS research site in Darrington. At the Darrington site 170 bats were counted, which was a modest increase from previous years. 

Bat Maternity Colony Monitoring: Biologists Anderson and Smith initiated annual maternity colony monitoring at the first of multiple sites that are monitored each season.

Deception Crag Peregrine Falcon Climbing Conflict: The active eyrie at Deception Crags in the I-90 corridor is now open. The falcons successfully reared at least two eyasses (had three, one not seen after fledging). Thanks to our partners at Urban Raptor Conservancy, U.S. Forest Service, Mount Baker Snoqualmie – North Bend Ranger District, Washington State Parks, and the broader support of the climbing community in closure of the crag to provide for safety of climbers and successful nesting of the falcons.

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

UW Drumheller Fountain Urban Duck Conflict: Biologists Anderson and Smith met with University of Washington (UW) Environmental Health and Safety specialists and campus maintenance to remove a flighted hen and her unflighted chicks from Drumheller Fountain. The fountain has an urban mallard brood annually, enough that the facilities crew has constructed a number of “fountain ramps” for them.

Unfortunately, the ducks would not leave the entirely dry fountain, which is drained biennially for removal of refuse (wheelchairs, scooters, bikes, cell phones, laptops – you name it) and maintained, then filled again. This can’t be done with mama mallard and her babies! Anderson and Smith quickly removed the ducks and translocated them elsewhere on Lake Washington. Fountain is clean and ready for ducks next season.

Lower Snoqualmie Valley Elk Conflict: Biologist Smith, Anderson, and Wildlife Conflict Specialist O’Connor have been working with a producer at Carnation Farms to fit elk with collars or solar ear tags to examine spatial movements both regarding crops and conflict. The general movements in the area are also examined and how that may change as the former game reserve (Carnation Farms) deploys techniques to deter the elk from their property and crops. A company that makes the solar ear tags has graciously donated a couple to test in the thick and dark western Washington. Luck would have it that a recent quick evening attempt led to successfully darting a bull. He is now bejeweled with an ear tag and is moving about the area – including WDFW Stillwater Wildlife Management Unit.

Conducting Business Operations and Policy

South Fork Tolt Relicensing: Biologist Anderson met with Federal Energy Regulatory Commission representatives, City of Seattle, and partners (non-government organizations, tribal, municipal, and other resource entities such as U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) in ongoing efforts to guide the relicensing needs of the South Fork Tolt Reservoir. Anderson also provided WDFW wildlife representation in a meeting regarding terrestrial wildlife. Anderson discussed local state listed (sensitive) common loon management needs. Anderson also discussed the possibility for data to be captured on the loon prey resource potential of the reservoir, as part of a larger fish population study of the reservoir. The South Fork Tolt Reservoir supplies drinking water to north King County and generates power. These planning meetings and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission process are related to the power generation management and use of the reservoir.

Managing Wildlife Populations

District 8 North American Bat Monitoring Program: District 8 Assistant Wildlife Biologist Moore and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Intern Flores deployed acoustic recording units as part of the annual North American Bat Monitoring Program facilitated by the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The acoustic monitors are deployed in the same location every year and help biologists monitor for changes in species composition and population. 

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Wenas Wildlife Area – Legoman Kiosk Install: Wenas Wildlife Area Biologist Miller along with Natural Resource Technician Stoltenow and Janes installed a kiosk in the Legoman portion of the wildlife area which borders U.S. Forest Service land. The kiosk shows a map of the green dot roads in the area along with other informational signs relating to WDFW regulations.

Wenas Wildlife Area – Shooting Restriction Sign Install: Wenas Wildlife Area Natural Resource Technician Stoltenow and Janes finished making a sign that shows the current restrictions on target shooting in the wildlife area and, with the help of Biologist Miller, installed the sign on Durr Road leading to new shooting range. The sign is a copy of the sign on Sheep Company Road.

Oak Creek Wildlife Area: Oak Creek Wildlife Area staff members posted fire restriction signs across the wildlife area. Fire restrictions went into effect on July 1 and aim to reduce the risk of starting a wildfire by limiting allowed activities, including no discharge of firearms, no chainsaw use, and no campfires.

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

District 4 Rattlesnake Hills Elk: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand continued to monitor elk activity and haze elk out of winter wheat crops near the Hanford National Monument. New damage prevention permits were issued to landowners in Elk Area 3721 and minimal harvest has likely occurred due to nocturnal elk movements and hot weather conditions. Late night-early morning hazing patrols will continue by landowners and Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand.

 District 4 Kahlotus Wheat Harvest: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand checked on harvest activity at several wheatfields where deer damage had occurred from last winter. None of the landowners have started harvesting yet, but likely will in the next week. As of now, no crop damage claims have been initiated, but once harvest starts and access to more remote areas of the fields is available more deer damage could be evident.

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Wenas Wildlife Area – Weed Control: Wenas Wildlife Area staff members continued efforts to control invasive weeds in the wildlife area through the use of backpack sprayers. Canadian thistle continues to be the main target for control this time of year, before it can go to seed.

Oak Creek Wildlife Area Noxious Weed Control: Oak Creek Wildlife Area staff members continue to chemically control noxious weeds across the wildlife area. As summer progresses most plants have matured in lower elevations, so staff members have started to focus efforts on the control of weeds in the Rock Creek Unit. This area is at a higher elevation but still contains a diverse list of noxious weeds, especially in disturbed areas, including Canada thistle, St Johns wort, knapweed, and dalmatian toadflax. 

L.T. Murray Teanaway Unit Weed Control: L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Manager Morrison and Assistant Manager Winegeart treated weeds in the Teanaway Unit meadows. The area had been treated for mainly Canada thistle, Sulphur cinquefoil, and diffuse knapweed by Mid-Columbia Fisheries under grant funding for the past couple years and was looking good. 

L.T. Murray, Yakima River Unit: L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Natural Resource Technician Blore and Assistant Manager Winegeart installed two trail cameras on an illegal creek crossing and have acquired more than ten pictures which include vehicles in the water and other pertinent information. L.T. Murray Wildlife Area crew members first placed ecology blocks to block the trail. When someone pulled one out of the way and continued to use the trial to cross the illegal ford, the crew added boulders to the hill slope and slope toe. The users then cut small trees and brush to create a new trail around the blocks and after only two weeks it has received so much use, the trail appears to have been there for years.

Sunnyside Wetlands: Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area staff members have begun mowing wetlands in the Headquarters Unit in preparation for upcoming duck banding and routine reflooding in the fall.

Benton City Restoration: Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area Manager Kaelber and Assistant Wildlife Area Manager Jahns met with Benton Conservation District staff members to discuss the initial planning for a potential restoration project at the Benton City boat ramp site. The goal of the project is to restore the area into a native heritage garden for the benefit of pollinators and other wildlife species. The project will be a collaborative effort between wildlife area staff, Benton Conservation District, and the City of Benton. The hope is to engage with local schools and other volunteer groups to implement the project. 

Other

Wenas Wildlife Area – Vehicle Maintenance: Wenas Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Taylor along with Technicians Stoltenow and Janes have been performing maintenance and repairs on various vehicles and equipment. 

Lands 20/20: Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area Manager Kaelber and Assistant Wildlife Area Manager Jahns have been using the hot afternoons to work on two Lands 20/20 applications as the deadline approaches.

Managing Wildlife Populations

Sharp-Tailed Grouse Research Assistance: Private Lands Biologist Braaten assisted with determining nest success of a GPS collared sharp-tailed grouse hen that nested on private land near the Big Bend Wildlife Area in Douglas County. Braaten secured permission for access from the private landowner to collect data. The nests were located, photos of nest and location were collected, and 11 eggshells were gathered for the research effort. The sharp-tailed grouse hen had successfully hatched all 11 eggs and the most current collar data shows she is with her brood at lower elevations.

Lynx Cameras: Biologist Turnock and Technician Hara went on a backcountry trip to deploy remote cameras along hiking trails as part of the multiagency Cascades Carnivore Monitoring Project. These cameras are targeting lynx but will hopefully detect a variety of wildlife species that use high elevation hiking trails in the summer. 

Bullfrog Removal: Biologists Gallie and Turnock along with Technicians Force and Hara have been assisting with nocturnal bullfrog removal efforts on the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge. Bullfrogs are a highly problematic invasive species in Washington because they are voracious predators. These removal efforts will hopefully improve survival of reintroduced northern leopard frogs, a native species.

Fisher Reintroduction Monitoring: Biologist Fitkin and Heinlen, with help from Volunteer Fisher, finished retrieving the remote cameras at sites where they were deployed last fall as part of the North Cascades occupancy monitoring effort following recent reintroduction efforts. Overall, fishers were detected in three different watersheds at 3 of the 21 sites. As always, the cameras are documenting a variety of other species of interest as well. Apparently, fisher scent lure is the trendy new fragrance for chic carnivores in the know.

Bat Colony Surveying: Biologist Fitkin, WDFW headquarters and regional diversity staff members, U.S. Forest Service staff members, and local volunteers completed the last of three scheduled bat colony reconnaissance surveys in the Methow Watershed. Results include monitoring a colony of more than 300 pallid bats, and documenting big brown bat colonies of more than 100 and colonies of more than 200. This effort provides valuable information on species distribution in Washington and helps identify possible locations for white-nosed syndrome monitoring and other bat conservation activities.

Lynx Surveys: Biologists Fitkin and Heinlen, with help from Forest Service Technician Barnett and Volunteer Fisher, deployed an array of remote cameras as part of long-term lynx monitoring strategy. This is part of the initial field season of the Cascades Carnivore Monitoring Project, a coalition of government agencies and non-profit groups seeking to monitor lynx and wolverine occupancy in the Washington Cascades over a 20-year period. The cameras will be retrieved later this summer and fall after a minimum 60-day deployment.

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Recreation and Conservation Office Grants: Area Regional Wildlife Program Manager Troyer is wrapping up Washington Wildlife and Recreation Programs–State Lands grants centered around enhancing recreational opportunities throughout Okanogan County. The first grant is to improve parking and trailhead facilities at the Big Valley Unit of the Methow Wildlife Area. The second grant aims to enhance camping opportunities at the upper Bear Creek Campground by adding fire rings and picnic tables, gravelling parking areas, updating the vault toilet, and increasing ADA camping opportunities. The last grant is located at Silver Nail Lake near the town of Oroville. This lake is open to fishing for youth, seniors, and people with disabilities and the grant is designed to improve the access site to be more user friendly with an emphasis on ADA compliant fishing docks and platforms. 

Hunter Access: Biologist Morris continued checking and posting signs on hunter access properties. Morris maintains signs on several thousand acres, so working on them throughout the summer ensures all properties will be properly signed come hunting season this fall.

Grimes Lake fishing season is still open, and Morris continues to check that everything is going well. The site is nice and clean.

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Chesaw Weed Control: Sinlahekin staff members assisted Scotch Creek staff members with treating musk thistle on the Chesaw Unit. The Washington State Class B weed can be found throughout the unit. Staff members focused on the south dryer slopes with shallow soils and will move to the North slopes later in the season. In total 400 acres of the unit have been treated.

Methow Fencing: Natural Resource Specialist Wottlin worked with contractors to get a section of fence rebuilt in the Ramsey Creek area to help prevent trespassing cows coming off a U.S. Forest Service pasture onto the wildlife area. Additionally, Biologist Repp conducted maintenance on a problem section of fence in the Rendezvous Unit. This fence borders U.S. Forest Service land. There have been complaints in the past from adjacent private property owners about trespassing cows coming off the Forest Service land onto their private property. WDFW does its part in maintaining the fence on the wildlife area border. However, the fence continues onto Department of Natural Resources-owned ground and there has been no maintenance on that section of fence in years.

Irrigating Agricultural Fields: Natural Resource Technicians Haney-Williamson, Garcia and Ruiz have been working hard to irrigate crop fields on the Bridgeport Bar and Washburn Island. This has involved maintenance and repairs, setting up and moving hand lines, clearing debris from pump intake and fish screens, and other irrigation.

Habitat Plots: Biologist Morris set up his game camera on a habitat plot. The game camera serves two purposes: it will hopefully reveal any wildlife use of the habitat plot, and it will also show the plant development and growth throughout the year. There were not many wildlife observations. The site will need some more minor mechanical weed control to ensure it is ready for seeding this fall.

Morris checked a habitat plot that Technician Blanchard sprayed for Canada thistle control in June. It appears that there is a good kill on the Canada thistle. Morris will continue to monitor the thistle infestation.

Water Birch Enclosure Irrigation Set-up: Wildlife area staff members have set up irrigation for water birch enclosures in the Sagebrush Flat Wildlife Area. This involved maintaining drip lines, setting up timers, repairing fencing, repairing pumps, and clearing vegetation. This process was made much simpler by Biologist Haupt’s efforts last year to map each enclosure and record information relevant to irrigation set up in each location. Each enclosure is set up in a specific way, and it made a big difference for wildlife area staff members to go into each enclosure with a clear map of the pumps, timers, shrub rows, emitters, and other information about the set up. The warm weather this month made getting water to the water birch a high priority.

Fire Break Russian Thistle: Wildlife area staff members treated Russian thistle along firebreaks in the Sagebrush Flat Wildlife Area.

Releasing Biocontrols: Biocontrol weevils, Mecinus janthinus, were released in the Big Bend area to control dalmatian toadflax. Around 4,000 Mecinus janthinus were released with the intention that they will reduce toadflax flowering and seed production. 

Mowing Efforts: Wildlife area staff members have been mowing roads across Wells, Sagebrush Flat, and Big Bend wildlife areas.

Restoration Fields: Efforts to control weeds were marginal due to multiple tractor and mower repair delays, and cattle interference. With the limited equipment available, Technician Rios arranged to borrow the Colockum Wildlife Area tractor, which developed issues that also required service. Meanwhile, Technicians Chouinard, Garcia, and Balderston mowed annual grass across Magers, Bissell Flat, and a Bridgeport Bar restoration field at Big Bend and Wells Wildlife Area. Biologist Blake coordinated assistance with Washington Shrubsteppe Restoration and Resiliency Initiative Environmental Planner Merg to assist with broadleaf weed control at the Bissell Flat field of Big Bend. Manager Peterson arranged for a second helicopter chemical fallow treatment at the new Barclay Crane field of Wells Wildlife Area. Biologist Blake worked with Big Bend Wildlife Area grazing permittee to spray bindweed on an Environmental Quality Incentives Program restoration field at Barry field, only to find cattle had intruded and interfered with the foliage surface available to spray. 

Barclay Crane Phase 2 Acquisition: The Barclay Crane parcel (672 acres) closed and became an official part of Central Ferry Canyon, a unit of Wells Wildlife Area.

Conducting Business Operations and Policy

Acquisitions: Assistant Regional Wildlife Area Manager Troyer is compiling upwards of eight Lands 20/20 applications for potential acquisitions throughout Okanogan County. Several potential acquisition properties are in the Methow Valley, but the majority for this round are near the Scotch Creek Wildlife Area, which has a strong emphasis on sharp-tailed grouse recovery.

Other

Wilderness First Aid Training: Biologist Blake and Natural Resource Technician Garcia attended Wilderness First Aid training in Wenatchee this month. Both successfully completed the course. 

 

Managing Wildlife Populations

Elk Calf Study: Wildlife Area Manager Dingman responded to a collar mortality from the elk calf study and found a dropped collar in a brush pile. 

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Providing Education and Outreach

Conducting Business Operations and Policy

Managing Wildlife Populations

Northwestern Pond Turtle Population Estimate: From June 8 through June 28, Biologists Wickhem and Bergh and Technicians Motiff and Leipold deployed 35 turtle hoop traps at a site in Skamania County and checked traps daily. The traps were spread across three water bodies that are known to contain both Northwestern pond turtles and Western painted turtles. Every year, the district performs a mark-recapture trapping effort at one turtle site to generate a population estimate. All captured turtles are individually marked and the number of times each individual is captured is recorded. The number of captures and recaptures is plugged into a model (along with other variables) which will generate an estimated number of turtles present at the site. This season, the crew caught 35 individual pond turtles and 193 individual painted turtles with a total of 482 captures (including recaptures). We will be anxiously waiting for Science Division staff members to give us the population estimate. During the last trapping effort at that site, we captured 52 pond turtles and 111 painted turtles. It appears that the pond turtle population has declined, and the painted turtle population has increased. The crew also euthanized six bullfrogs and numerous non-native fish, such as bullhead, pumpkinseed, and one giant common carp, that were incidentally caught in traps, and they opportunistically removed seven bullfrog egg masses. Bullfrogs are also non-native and are known for eating anything they can fit in their mouths, including turtle hatchlings. Some other interesting observations from the season include a gravid female pond turtle caught on the first day who weighed 60 grams less the next time she was captured, catching a turtle who had not been captured since 2010 when he was released at a site approximately 2.7 miles away, the capture of a wild-born hatchling for the first time at this site, several turtles who were missing legs, including two painted turtles that were each missing two legs, but otherwise seemed to be getting along just fine, and a painted turtle that was naturally shedding its scutes. Special thanks to all the folks that assisted with trap setting, checking and take-down, including Research Scientist Amburgey, staff members and volunteers from the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and staff members from the Cowlitz Tribe.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Bat Survey Grids: Biologists Bergh and Wickhem conducted bat acoustic surveys at two grid cells as part of a larger national effort to document bat populations known as NABat. Acoustic detectors are set out in areas within the grid cells that are likely to have high bat usage (near water, in forest openings, etc.) and record the echolocation calls of bats during their active flying period between dusk and dawn. The calls are used to identify species and are used with other survey data to help to track bat populations at both the local and national scale.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Klickitat Mule Deer Mortality Investigation: Biologists Wickhem and Bergh investigated a collared mule deer mortality this week. The deer had died on the eastern slope of Mount Adams on the Yakama Reservation. They were joined by several staff members from the Yakama Nation Department of Natural Resources. The team was treated to blue skies and excellent views on their drive and hike into the deer’s final GPS point. The carcass had been dragged a short distance and a majority of the internal organs were consumed. After skinning the neck of the deer, the crew found significant trauma to the neck, puncture wounds and internal bleeding, that indicate the deer was likely killed by a cougar. As they were packing up, Bergh even found what looked like the “shed” of a cougar claw! Thanks to the Yakama Nation staff members who assisted with access and retrieval of the deer collar and samples from the carcass.

These deer are part of a four year study being conducted throughout GMUs 388 and 382 to track the annual movements of female mule deer and locate important migration corridors. Staff members are also attempting to determine cause of death when an animal dies, which has proven to be difficult. In the winter of 2021, 81 collars were deployed throughout GMUs for this effort. Twenty-two collars were deployed in the winter of 2022 through 2023. In the winter of 2023, most of the deployments were redeployments that replaced study deer that died over the first two years of the study. We are nearing the end of the study, so these collars will not be redeployed for this project.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

South Cascades Fisher Survey: In June and July, Biologists Stephens and Holman removed 15 fisher monitoring stations that were deployed in the fall of 2022. Habitat Biologists Salter and Adams, Fisheries Biologist Olk, and Customer Service Specialist Kean assisted with the work as well. The stations feature a lure and bait combination set opposite to a motion-detection camera. They are placed ten-feet off the ground to allow for snow accumulation. In total, 107 of these stations deployed in the Southern Cascades between the Columbia River and Interstate 90, by staff members and partners from WDFW, Department of Natural Resources (DNR), U. S. Forest Service, U. S. National Park Service, Woodland Park Zoo, Conservation Northwest, and the Muckleshoot and Puyallup tribes.

Five of the 15 stations set and retrieved by Stephens and Holman captured fishers. Data for the project overall will be summarized by Wildlife Diversity Biologist Lewis and will provide insight into the success of the South Cascades fisher reintroduction effort. Specifically, the project will demonstrate how much of the landscape is now occupied by fishers, six years post-reintroduction. The cameras also collected images of many additional wildlife species. Enjoy some examples below.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

 

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Bears in Dumpsters: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen, Officer Nelson, and Officer Myers responded to multiple reports of bears accessing attractants and in close proximity to humans in an Appleton neighborhood. One resident, who had been having issues with bears climbing in her large dumpster, attempted to chain the lid closed. Unfortunately, the bear had other ideas and crushed the lid and tipped over the dumpster. Jacobsen tried multiple times, unsuccessfully, to reach the garbage disposal company to discuss potential solutions. In the meantime, Jacobsen and Officer Nelson erected an electric fence around the dumpster to prevent access by bears.

Bear Concerns: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen met with a landowner who had been having issues with a bear climbing in her dumpster. After providing advice on securing the dumpster, Jacobsen provided advice to the homeowner regarding several different attractants on her property. While there, Jacobsen noticed a bin of unsecured chicken feed next to an unsecured chicken coop. Jacobsen provided advice to the homeowner on properly securing the chicken coop with electric fencing and he offered assistance with installing the fence. The homeowner declined the offer for help but indicated she would put up a fence promptly. Two weeks later, a neighbor reported to Jacobsen that a bear had destroyed the unsecured chicken coop and killed several chickens.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Bear-Proof Garbage Can Update: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen and Biologist Bergh have been working with the U. S. Forest Service (USFS) on bear-trash issues at local campgrounds within the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Recently, USFS staff members installed bear-proof containers at multiple sites where bear conflicts have historically occurred.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Bear Sighting: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen fielded a report of a young black bear caught on Ring camera on a resident’s porch.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen responded to a report of an injured yearling black bear in a neighborhood in Carson. Based on the situation, Jacobsen set a live trap in order to capture and assess the bear. However, the homeowner also had a large industrial dumpster on-site which was filled with household garbage and attracting the bear to the area. Jacobsen addressed this issue with the homeowner.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Cougar Concerns: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen responded to a request for information regarding a cougar that was observed near the requestor’s house. Advice was provided.

Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen was contacted by a concerned landlord regarding a dead deer his renters had found on his property. Based on the photographs of the deer, Jacobsen determined that the deer was likely killed by a cougar. Jacobsen provided information on cougar biology and advice on living in cougar country to the landlord.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Depredation on Sheep: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen, Wildlife Conflict Technician Kolenberg, and Officer Tippets responded to a report of a sheep depredation in La Center. The landowner believed that a cougar was responsible for the depredations on two sheep. Jacobsen conducted a field necropsy and determined that the sheep were killed by coyotes. Jacobsen provided information to the landowner on how to secure the sheep at night when they are most vulnerable to depredations, just like Jacobsen did last summer when the same thing happened to a couple of sheep at the same residence.

Deer Damage to Christmas Trees: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen was contacted by a commercial Christmas tree producer who had been having ongoing issues with bucks destroying his trees. Based on the amount of damage incurred, Jacobsen planned to enroll the producer in a Damage Prevention Cooperative Agreement, pursue fencing options, and utilize public hunters to help address the deer damage.

Haystack Protection: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen met with a landowner who has been incurring damage from elk in his alfalfa and forage wheat fields. Unfortunately, the landowner waited until harvest was almost complete to report the ongoing damage. With the hay baled, the landowner was concerned that the elk would come down out of the hills and start consuming the stacked hay as they have in past years. Jacobsen toured the remaining damage and decreased yield in the fields and then installed fladry and a propane cannon around the landowner’s primary haystack to help deter the elk.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Grazing Season Producer Meeting: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen held a meeting one evening with over a dozen livestock producers and land managers regarding wolf updates as they pertain to the current grazing season.

Depredation on Domestic Duck: A concerned landowner contacted Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen regarding a bobcat that she observed attacking her free-range ducks. Jacobsen provided advice on securing all fowl in a pen or run to protect them from the variety of animals that often prey on free-range domestic chickens and ducks.

Elk Damage to Hay: A livestock producer contacted Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen regarding elk damage to their hay crop. The producer had been frequented by several dozen head in the Amboy area and they were causing considerable damage to the growing hay as well as cut hay. Wildlife Conflict Technician Kolenberg deployed a propane cannon at the field where the damage was occurring until the hay can be baled and stacked, and Jacobsen will renew their Damage Prevention Cooperative Agreement. The elk have not been back in the field since the cannon was deployed.

Deer Damage to Vineyard: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen was contacted by a landowner who has been incurring deer damage to her commercial vineyard. Jacobsen plans to work on some cooperative fencing options for the producer and enroll the producer on a Damage Prevention Cooperative Agreement.

Deer Damage to Residential Landscaping: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen fielded a complaint from a homeowner in the Ridgefield area regarding the number of deer congregating on his property. The Ridgefield area is experiencing an exponential degree of land conversion from farmland to housing developments, and deer are being forced into smaller and smaller areas of marginal habitat. Jacobsen advised the landowner that WDFW does not trap and relocate deer out of populated areas and advised the landowner that neither lethal removal nor non-lethal hazing with explosives or projectiles was an option due to local ordinances. Advice on scaring the deer away with coyote howls and coyote urine was provided.

Picking up and Painting new Bear Trailer: A few weeks ago, Wildlife Conflict Technician Kolenberg picked up a new bear trailer from Carnivore Specialist Beausoleil in Wenatchee and transported it back to Region 5. Conflict Technician Kolenberg spent time this past week painting the new trailer.

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Controlling Invasives and Mowing Meadows at Cedar Creek Wildlife Area: As part of her initiation to the Wildlife and Land Management team, Technician Crane worked with Assistant Manager Risley to treat invasive weeds species on over 39 acres of meadow at the Cedar Creek Wildlife Area. Weed species on the target list were dalmatian toadflax, meadow knapweed, Scotch broom, and blackberry. Following herbicide treatments, Technician Crane and Assistant Manager Risley mowed the meadows to increase and enhance available fall forage for deer and elk at utilize the wildlife area. While onsite, several band-tailed pigeons were observed roosting in the trees that surround a natural spring water source that the migratory pigeons frequent during their time in the area.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Other

New Access Area Technician: We are excited that Brandon Celaya joined the Region 5 Access Area program. Brandon has a background in forestry and worked for California State Parks. Brandon recently moved to Western Washington with his family, and they are looking forward to exploring our local areas. He enjoys hiking and gardening and he is excited to be a member of our team and is very familiar with the type of work we do at our access areas. We are very happy to have him working with us.

New Mt. St. Helens and Shillapoo Wildlife Area Technician: We are excited that Madison Crane recently joined the Region 5 Wildlife Program team as the new natural resource technician for the Mount St. Helens and Shillapoo Wildlife Areas. Madison is originally from Connecticut and received her bachelor’s degree in wildlife biology from Unity College in Maine. She is currently in the process of finishing her master’s degree from the University of Montana, where her thesis focuses on the resource selection and habitat delineation of pronghorn in Montana. Before starting her master’s degree, Madison worked in several temporary positions for the Bureau of Land Management in Montana, US Forest Service in Oregon and New Hampshire, and Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks where her duties included surveying of greater sage grouse, sharp-tailed grouse, short-eared and burrowing owls, songbirds, bats, woodpeckers, raptors, and many vegetation and habitat surveys. She has also assisted in the trapping and marking of mourning doves, bears, and pronghorns. Some of her habitat management work has included collecting and mapping vegetation data, control of invasive species, maintenance of trucks and UTV’s, assisting with National Enviromental Policy Act (NEPA) reports and recommending habitat and wildlife management actions. Madison enjoys spending time outdoors with her dog Aldo. We are very happy to have her working with us.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Managing Wildlife Populations

Remote Fisher Cameras: The L.T. Murray Wildlife Area crew retrieved four remote trail cameras and scent dispensers from the Wenatchee National Forest west of Naches. The cameras were deployed by District 8 Wildlife Biologist Wampole last fall, to gather more information on Cascade Mountain Range fisher populations. No fisher presence has been detected yet, but there have been a few interesting pics.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Wenas Recreational Use Monitoring: Wenas Wildlife Area Natural Resource Specialist Frame deployed serval pieces of road monitoring equipment throughout the wildlife area. This data will show how much use our roads receive during specific times of the year.

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Rattlesnake Hills Elk: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand continued to monitor elk activity and haze elk out of winter wheat crops near the Hanford National Monument. New Damage Prevention Permits were issued to landowners in Elk Area 3721 and minimal harvest has occurred likely due to nocturnal elk movements and hot weather conditions. Late night/early morning hazing patrols will continue by landowners and Hand. Fox lights have been employed along heavily used trails used by elk leaving Hanford to enter crop fields.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Cold Creek Elk Damage: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand received and responded to a complaint that a small herd of elk knocked over a section of elk fence and entered a large tree fruit and wine grape operation near Cold Creek. Most of the animals were hazed back out of the area and the fence has been repaired. A couple of Damage Prevention Permits have been issued to remove any remaining culprits.

Horn Rapids Deer Complaint: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand responded to a complaint from a wine grape vineyard near Horn Rapids concerning deer damage in a newer block of young grape plants. Several non-lethal hazing techniques are currently being employed with diminishing results. Damage permits were issued as well as planning for youth hunting opportunities.

Kittitas County Conflict: District 8 Conflict Specialist Wetzel worked with several hay growers who were having problems with elk in crops. Elk were reported in Badger Pocket, Kittitas, Peoh Point, and the Teanaway areas.

Yakima County Conflict: District 8 Conflict Specialist Wetzel worked with several hay and orchard growers who were having problems with elk in crops. Elk have been observed in the Cowiche Road area as well as the Naches River area.

District 8 Goat Depredation: District 8 Conflict Specialist Wetzel investigated several goats that had been killed by unknown predators. In two instances, a cougar trap was set after two goats were killed on separate nights.

Image

Photo by WDFW

District 8 Bear Issues: Upper Kittitas County campgrounds are experiencing many bear issues. All US Forest Services (USFS) campgrounds have reported bears in camps, in dumpsters, and wandering around campsites during daylight and nighttime hours. Bears were hazed and materials were provided to camp hosts to help reduce food attractants.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Conserving Natural Landscapes

L.T. Murray Weed Control: LT Murray Wildlife Area Natural Resource Technician Blore and Natural Resource Specialist Nass continued weed control efforts, but hot dry weather is slowing weed growth, so the crew is able to focus on other tasks.

Emergency Fire Restrictions: The L.T. Murray crew posted emergency fire restriction signs at wildlife area access points.

Mesa Lake Beaver Deceiver: Sunnyside Snake River Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Jahns and Natural Resource Technician Manderbach cleared a water control structure in the Mesa Lake Unit that was completely blocked by beaver debris. The blockage had resulted in flooding within the unit. Once the water flow was restored, Wildlife Area Manager Kaelber, Jahns, and Manderbach installed a beaver deceiver structure at the outflow of the 7-acre pond. Similar structures have proven to be successful in preventing unwanted blockage and flooding from beaver activity within the wildlife area.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Mesa Lake Russian Olive Removal: Sunnyside Snake River Wildlife Area staff members used an excavator to remove Russian olive trees along the 7-acre pond of the Mesa Lake Unit.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Conducting Business Operations and Policy

New Oak Flats Gate: Oak Creek Wildlife Area Natural Resource Technician Boggs installed a new gate at Oak Flats with the assistance of Natural Resource Worker Close.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Oak Creek Wildlife Area Gates: Close worked on painting and updating signage on gates throughout the Oak Creek Wildlife Area.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Other

L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Grazing: LT Murray Wildlife Area Natural Resource Worker Schneider and Assistant Manager Winegeart completed vegetation monitoring and pasture evaluation for the Quilomene Unit Lower Parke pasture.

Donald Wapato Fire: A July 2023 wildfire burned approximately 78 acres of the I-82 Ponds Unit of the Sunnyside/Snake River Wildlife Area along the Yakima River. Wildlife Area Manager Kaelber and Assistant Manager Jahns walked the perimeter of the fire to assess the habitat damage and calculate approximate acreage impacted.

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Managing Wildlife Populations

Western Grebes: Biologists Lowe and Brinkman conducted western grebe surveys on two lakes to document nesting activity and count the total number of western grebes observed on each lake. The grebe nesting colony on Long Lake has grown again since the last survey was conducted in 2021. Sprague Lake was surveyed for nesting western grebes for the first time this year, and although no nests were discovered there were unusually large numbers of grebes observed which is what prompted this initial survey. The emergent vegetation looks too dense for grebe nests so this lake may just provide suitable summer habitat for non-breeding birds. 

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Chronic Wasting Disease: Natural Resource Technician Janowski collected a Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) sample from a roadkill deer in GMU 121.

Grizzly Bear Hair Corral: Wildlife Biologists Prince and Turnock took advantage of the cooler weather and deployed a hair corral in Pend Oreille County for grizzly bear monitoring. They also checked an established rub tree and were delayed by road destruction and maintenance. 

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Hunt By Reservation Only: Natural Resource Technicians Nizer and Rumiser created hunting calendars for the Whitman County landowners. These calendars will be given to the landowners with the dates blocked out marking the agreed days which can be hunted throughout the upcoming hunting season. These dates can be viewed on the WDFW Private Lands Hunting website. 

Natural Resource Technician Nizer created a draft Hunt by Reservation Only contract for Mica Peak and sent it to the Director of Spokane County Parks Chase for reviewal. Once Spokane County Parks reviews and agrees with the draft contract, it will be signed off by both parties and deer and turkey hunting access will be allowed for 2023-2028 hunting seasons. 

Loon Lake Dock Repair: Water Access Area taff members Dziekan and Brant fixed the broken section of the gangway adjacent to the WDFW boat ramp at Loon Lake. Dziekan had stashed some old boards at his office after an earlier project. He and Brant cut some to size and replaced the broken plastic tread area of the dock. Ingenuity in action!

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Image

Photo by WDFW

Master Hunter Selection Letters: Wildlife Conflict Specialist McCarty sent out letters of success and expectations documents to selected Master Hunters in Region 1.

Turnbull Turkey Access: Interim Private Lands Biologist Nizer coordinated with the Turnbull Wildlife Refuge to allow turkey hunting access for fall of 2023. Nizer coordinated with WDFW staff members to create a memorandum of agreement. Nizer created the maps for the turkey site and wrote up the legal description of the property.

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Livestock Direct Loss Claims: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Wade met with one producer this week to assist with completing their direct loss claims packet for a confirmed wolf depredation. Wade also assisted a producer with initiating a direct loss claim for a confirmed cougar depredation that occurred this week. Wade also followed up with Statewide Wildlife Conflict Analyst Todd on the claims. 

Bear Damage: Natural Resource Technician Harris picked up an electric fence deployed at a property to prevent a black bear from getting into a porch freezer. Harris discussed permanent solutions for preventing future bear damage with the landowner and provided them with informational materials to build their own electric fence. 

Wildlife Conflict Specialist Kolb has been working with a Walla Walla County producer the last couple of years to address black bear damage in mountain commercial strawberry fields. Last year was especially bad in terms of crop damage, and with the elimination of spring black bear season, there was essentially no pressure on the bears. Furthermore, a producer cannot submit a commercial crop damage claim for black bear damage since compensation for crop damage caused by black bears is not covered in existing rules, laws, and regulations (i.e., WACs & RCWs). This year, the producer installed a carnivore specific 5-wire electric fence incurring a significant out-of-pocket-cost to the producer. WDFW provided some material support, specifically a high-powered energizer. Last year the field yielded 15 flats of strawberries (due to extensive bear damage), and this year the field yielded 450 flats of strawberries. The producer is very happy with the result of this year’s yield, the effectiveness of the fence design, and they are appreciative of the limited support WDFW was able to provide. 

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Revere Wildlife Area: Natural Resource Technician Wagner finished spot spraying Scotch thistle and Rush skeleton weed at the Revere Wildlife Area. The Scotch thistle was dying slowly but was already beginning to flower, so Wagner decided to spray it again to prevent the weeds from going to seed. 

Image

Photo by WDFW

Eloika Lake: After performing routine field work at the Eloika Lake access site, Brant noticed that the ADA paint of the concrete parking area was faded beyond recognition and needed to be addressed. Brant was able to round up the supplies he needed, and he painted ADA parking spots. 

Image

Photo by WDFW

Providing Education and Outreach

Seasonal Fire Restrictions: Sherman Creek Wildlife Area and North Region 1 Water Access Area staff members posted new seasonal fire restriction posters at entry points to our lands on Thursday, July 6. Activity restrictions started on Friday, July 7. 

Spokatopia: Access Manager Dziekan worked a booth at Spokatopia, an outdoor activity focused event held on the banks of the Spokane River. Dziekan set up the booth on Friday and staffed it on Saturday. Spokatopia is geared towards mountain bikers and paddle boarders, but the WDFW booth stayed busy. It was very popular with the kiddos, who enjoyed touching the pelts and skulls. Dziekan had some good conversations with attendees, even though the group was a bit different from our usual shows where WDFW has a presence. Overall, a good show. 

Image

Photo by WDFW

Swanson Lakes Wildlife Area Kiosk: Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Rimmelspacher and Natural Resource Technician Wagner worked on the renovation of the kiosk located on Swanson Lakes. The kiosk and the signs that were hung on it were in poor shape. After a new layer of paint, new signs, and clean plexiglass the kiosk looks brand new. 

Image

Photo by WDFW

Conducting Business Operations and Policy

Annual Evaluations: Wildlife Conflict Supervisor McCanna spent three days meeting with Private Lands Supervisor Earl, Wildlife Conflict Specialists Kolb, McCarty, and Wade at their offices to perform annual evaluations. McCanna worked with staff members on expectations for the upcoming year. 

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Browning and Andersen have been crafting a request for a proposal for a Trails Conditions Assessment Contract with Methow Valley Trails Collaborative in the Methow Valley. Browning and Andersen continue to manage the Trails Conditions Assessment Contract for Quincy Lakes with TREAD (Trails Recreation Education Advocacy and Development).

Providing Education and Outreach

The Ambassador Program is entering its third week of programming. Volunteers and Washington Trails Association staff members are making meaningful outreach connections with visitors.