Managing Wildlife Populations

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

Biologists Eilers, Jeffreys, and Turnock, along with Technicians Hara and Force, finished picking up baited camera stations. The stations were deployed in forested areas throughout Chelan County last fall as part of the North Cascades Fisher Monitoring project. Images collected at these baited camera traps will be used to help evaluate the effectiveness of the reintroduction of fishers back into the Cascades Fisher Recovery Area. The images will also inform future recovery actions by assessing the expansion and distribution of fishers. The idea was to draw any fishers inhabiting the vicinity into view of the game camera by placing a dispenser loaded with an extremely potent skunk scent over a bone on a tree approximately 15’-18’ away and in full view of the camera. The scent lure dispenser dripped this pungent liquid onto a bone every 48 hours throughout the deployment window, attracting any nearby carnivores. In addition to fisher, the baited camera stations were expected to capture images of other carnivore species of concern, including gray wolf, wolverine, and lynx. To further assess fisher occupancy and expansion, a hair snare belt was nailed to the tree right below the beef bone. The aim is to snag hairs from visiting animals climbing the tree that can then be used for DNA analysis. All data generated from these baited camera stations will be instrumental in learning more about the distribution of fishers and other carnivore species throughout the Cascades. 

Fisher Monitoring: Technicians Force and Hara retrieved a camera trap and scent dispenser station aimed at attracting fishers. Fishers were reintroduced to the cascades in 2015-2020 after being absent since the mid 1900’s. No fishers were detected at this camera station, however a nearby station collected by the team caught a rare wolverine investigating the stinky skunk lure. 

Lynx Surveys: Biologists Fitkin and Heinlen, with help from Forest Service Technician Barnett and volunteer member Fisher, deployed and 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.

Bat Colony Surveying: Biologist Fitkin along with Headquarters and Regional Diversity staff members, Forest Service staff members, and local volunteer members completed the last of three scheduled bat colony reconnaissance surveys in the Methow Watershed. Results include the monitoring of a colony of more than 300 pallid bats, and the documentation of big brown bat colonies of more than 100 bats and colonies of more than 200 bats. This effort provides valuable information on species distribution and trends in Washington and helps identify possible locations for white-nosed syndrome monitoring and other bat conservation activities.

Lewis’s Woodpeckers: Biologists Eilers and Jeffreys, along with other WDFW and Chelan Public Utilities Department biologists, continue to conduct Lewis’s woodpecker (LEWO) surveys at five project areas in Rocky Reach Wildlife Area (RRWA). So far this year surveyors have completed occupancy surveys at all grids and have identified 20 occupied LEWO cavity nests. All cavity nests received multiple monitoring visits throughout the nesting cycle and many of the nests have fully fledged. Using a camera mounted to a telescoping pole (nest peeper), biologists have observed eggs or young nestlings in many of the nest cavities. Not all nest cavities can be reached with the nest peeper, as some are too high and/or have too many branches in the way. In those cases, biologists use behavioral observations to approximate nesting stage. In August, once all nests have been documented to have either fledged young or have failed, biologists will perform habitat assessment surveys at each nest cavity. 

The goal of this year’s cavity nest surveys is two parts. The first is to learn more about LEWO nesting phenology and ecology of the population within the RRWA. This includes clutch size, number of eggs hatched, and number of hatchlings to reach fledging or late nestling phase. Second is to examine this data, alongside habitat and microhabitat characteristics, for the purpose of drawing inferences regarding nest success of LEWO at both the local scale and microsite scale (breeding territory). These inferences may in turn be useful for informing habitat management considerations at the regional scale (north central Washington). 

Bat Acoustic Monitoring: Biologist Jeffreys and Eilers completed two North American Bat Monitoring (NABat) surveys, one in Chelan County and one in Douglas County. This was done as part of a joint effort between WDFW, Northwestern Bat Hub at Oregon State University, and other regional partners. These surveys consist of deploying four SM4 acoustic detectors throughout a pre-determined plot. SM4 acoustic detectors record the high frequency vocalizations of bats, allowing for call analysis and species identification. This data will be incorporated into the North American Bat Monitoring Program, which seeks to monitor local and regional bat populations across the continent and inform effective bat conservation. 

Bat Emergence Counts: Biologists conducted the second and final rounds of emergence counts at three maternity colonies located in the south Lake Chelan, Entiat River Road, and Lake Wenatchee areas. Maternity colonies are communal roosts where females birth and care for their pups. The species of bats at these four colonies are little brown myotis (Myotis lucifugus), Yuma myotis (Myotis yumanensis), and big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus). The Lake Wenatchee area roost is a new one for 2024. The Entiat and south Lake Chelan roosts have been monitored for several summers now and counts at both were down this year. 

Bat Vaccine Project: Biologist Eilers joined WDFW’s bat specialist Abby Tobin, Ellensburg Wildlife Biologists Erin Wampole and Callie Moore, United States Geological Survey (USGS) researchers, and USFWS staff to assist with a bat vaccination project. The aim of this study led by USGS is to determine if immunization of bats against white nose syndrome (WNS) can improve bat survival and protect bat populations from disease related declines. This barn contains a maternity roost occupied annually by two species of bat: Little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus) and Yuma myotis (Myotis yumanensis). Bats were captured using a harp net and processed to collect data on species, age, and reproductive status. Additionally, bats were given an oral vaccine previously demonstrated to enhance survival upon WNS infection, and outfitted with a PIT tag to allow individual identification over the several years that monitoring will be conducted at this colony. Radio frequency identification (RFID) antennas will be placed at roost entrances to detect individual PIT tags as bats come and go.

Bumble Bees: Biologists Jeffreys and Eilers conducted the second and third bumble bee survey of the year at a site south of Wenatchee. This year’s survey efforts will include four repeated visits to the same site every few weeks to monitor changes in bumble bees and flowering plants throughout the summer season. Habitat data were collected for the grid, including identifying and photographing flowering plant (food source) species. A total of 13 bumble bees of six different species were caught on the second visit, and 12 bumble bees of four species were caught on the third visit. Bees were gently caught in a net, identified to species, and released on site. The data collected from this survey were entered into the Pacific Northwest (PNW) Bumble Bee Atlas online database. The PNW Bumble Bee Atlas is a collaborative effort between the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, WDFW, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, and citizen science volunteer members to track and conserve the bumble bees of Washington, Idaho, and Oregon.

More on Bumble bee Surveys: Biologist Turnock and Technician Force surveyed for Morrison’s and western bumble bees at the Quincy Lakes Wildlife Area. These species are declining and understudied. These surveys are aimed at better understanding their range. Neither species of bumble bees were observed, however the diversity team got some great bee netting practice in. 

Sharp-Tailed Grouse Monitoring: Technician Force investigated the last recorded location of a male grouse that had been fitted with a GPS collar during the translocations from Canada earlier this year. The collar had stopped recording location points and biologists wanted to confirm if there was a mortality. No sign of the bird or a mortality was observed. 

Bullfrog Removal: Biologists Gallie and Turnock, along with Technicians Force and Hara, continue to assist with the bullfrog removal at the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge. There has been a significant decrease in the number of invasive and predatory bullfrogs inside the fenced off pond. It is hoped that this effort will enhance survival of the northern leopard frogs that will be released.

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Hunter Access: Biologist Cook and Technician Blanchard checked hunter access boundary signs to ensure the signs and contact information for hunters are intact and legible. These signs are the manner for which hunters obtain permission for the properties in Hunt by Written Permission, which is the most prevalent in Region 2.

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Depredation Investigation: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Heilhecker, along with enforcement officers, investigated an injured calf within the Sullivan Creek pack territory. They confirmed the injury was caused by a wolf. USFWS was notified of the determination. A WDFW contracted range rider continues to work in the area. 

Responding to Inquiry from Landowner: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Heilhecker received a call about nutria damaging duck habitat on the reporting party’s (RP) property. The RP was confident the animals are nutria and not muskrats. The RP expressed concern the nutria were causing ducklings to die. The nutria arrived two years ago and since then, the mallard and pintail ducklings have all died. Heilhecker and the RP discussed other possibilities as to why the ducklings died.

Responding to Elk Complaints: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Heilhecker received three elk complaints in GMU 204. Elk are damaging livestock fences and eating crops before they can be harvested. She renewed damage prevention cooperative agreements for the landowners and issued kill permits.

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Habitat Plots: Biologist Morris continues checking hunter access signs in preparation for the fall hunting season.

Biologist Cook visited a habitat plot near Moses Lake, where additional shrub row planting is planned for this fall. The site has had an increase in invasive cheatgrass cover, so this planting may be delayed to improve weed control. The shrubs and warm season grasses require supplemental irrigation. Additional native cool season grass species may be seeding in the surrounding area to help compete with weeds especially when supplemental irrigation is not available.

Biologist Morris met with a landowner who has concerns about a gravel mining development permit application. Morris discussed potential impacts the development could have and what WDFW’s role is in reviewing permits. He referred the landowner to habitat Biologist Pentico, who deals with habitat mitigation in development permits.

Conducting Business Operations and Policy

Private Land Team Meeting: The private land team met to discuss safety issues, work through uploading and syncing phones with Garmin Inreach devices, and other relevant issues. 

ATV/UTV Training: Biologist Morris, Biologist Cook and Technician Blanchard took ATV and UTV training and are now certified to operate them for WDFW. Morris was trained on ATVs at a past job and has been driving ATVs for over 20 years but was required to take the ATV training to comply with WDFW safety policies.

Wilderness First Aid: Biologist Morris and Biologist Cook took a two-day wilderness first aid course. This course was very helpful for knowing what to do in an emergency situation where emergency services could take hours or longer to arrive.

Other

F-150 Lightning: Biologist Morris will testing out the F1-50 Lightning, the WDFW fleet's all-electric pickup truck, for two weeks. Morris’ experience driving the Lightning will help WDFW determine how electric vehicles fit the business needs of the agency and private lands biologists.

Training: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Heilhecker completed several mandatory trainings.

Range Rider Payment: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Heilhecker completed paperwork to pay a WDFW contracted range rider for work monitoring livestock.           

Managing Wildlife Populations

L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Fences: L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Natural Resource Technician Nass installed vinyl trim markers to fences on the Quilomene and Whiskey Dick units. This will increase fence visibility to sage grouse and other wildlife. 

Bat White-Nose Syndrome Vaccinations: District 8 Wildlife Biologist Wampole, Assistant District Biologist Moore, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Intern Flores, WDFW Bat specialist Tobin, and United States Geological Survey (USGS) collaborating biologists conducted bat captures and vaccinations at an Ellensburg maternity roost site. Vaccination trials are in their third and final year. Vaccinations are aimed at preventing the spread of white nose syndrome, a fatal fungus spreading across bat populations. 

District 8 Bat Surveys: District 8 Wildlife Biologist Wampole and Assistant District Biologist Moore set acoustic sound recording units to survey for bats in the district. This was done in collaboration with the North American Bat survey, which helps inform status and trends of bats across North America.

District 8 Dove Trapping: District 8 Wildlife Biologist Wampole, Assistant District Biologist Moore and WDFW Intern Flores commenced dove trapping in the district. Dove trapping aims to band individuals to inform trends in the population. 

District 8 Duck Trapping: District 8 Wildlife Biologist Wampole, Assistant District Biologist Moore, Conflict Technician Leuck, and WDFW Intern Flores worked to clear waters to prepare for annual mallard banding efforts in the region. Mallards are trapped and banded annually to inform harvest trends statewide. 

Providing Recreation Opportunities

L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Elk Fence: L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Natural Resource Technician Nass repaired both double gates in the elk fence at the Joe Watt Canyon Wildlife Area access point. The driver of a vehicle with a flat tire and leaking fluid decided to ram one of the double gates and a week later someone rammed the other double gate. Neither gate was locked, so the small chains used for holding the gates closed were the weak links and failed, allowing for minimal damage to the gates. 

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

District 4 Rattlesnake Hills Elk: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand continued to monitor elk activity and conduct late night/early morning hazing of elk out of winter wheat crops near the Hanford National Monument. 

District 4 New DPCA: Hand received a request from a tree fruit and vineyard grower in Corral Canyon for a new Damage Prevention Cooperative Agreement (DPCA) to address elk damage. A new contract has been submitted and damage permits issued. 

District 4 Silver Dollar Elk Damage: Hand prepared and delivered damage prevention permits to a landowner in the Silver Dollar area dealing with elk damage to his alfalfa hay crop.

District 4 Master Hunter Coordination: Hand assisted several master hunters with scouting and hunting information for the upcoming start of the Rattlesnake Hills Master Hunter season.

District 4 Kahlotus Wheat Harvest: Hand monitored wheat harvest at several fields near Kahlotus that experienced deer damage from last winter. Wheat harvest is just wrapping up in this area with below or near average yields in most fields. No deer damage claim will be submitted this year. 

District 4 West Richland Deer Damage: Hand responded to a deer damage complaint from a landowner who has reported damage concerns for the past couple years. This year’s damage, mostly to corn crops, is not as bad as previous years. The landowner has requested hunting effort from youth and master hunters from the Region 3 special permit lists again this year.

District 8 Kittitas County Conflict: District 8 Conflict Technician Leuck night hazed elk this month in the Park Creek and Badger Pocket areas. Helicopter flights were used to herd elk from Park Creek, east Kittitas, and the Badger Pocket areas.

In addition, there have been numerous bear calls received in upper Kittitas County, mostly in USFS campground areas where sanitation practices are inadequate. 

District 8 Yakima County Conflict: District 8 Conflict Specialist Wetzel received several calls from the Wiley City area reporting elk in orchards. Permits and contracts were developed for that area.

Conserving Natural Landscapes

L.T. Murray Grazing Program: L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Winegeart and Natural Resource Technician Nass assembled a virtual fence base station, which will be used for monitoring cattle on the Quilomene Unit.

L.T. Murray Vegetation Monitoring: The L.T. Murray crew performed end of growing season vegetation monitoring in the Vantage pasture. Stubble height looked ok but weeds that had been suppressed in the canyon bottoms due to grazing came back with a vengeance. 

L.T. Murray Weed Control: L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Natural Resource Technician Nass sprayed weeds on the Quilomene and Whiskey Dick units. Natural Resource Technician Blore sprayed the fallow ragland field to keep some broadleaf plants from going to seed. Hopefully the crew will be able to plant this field with native grasses in the fall. 

Wenas Wildlife Area—Weed Control: Wenas Wildlife Area staff have continued spraying for weeds throughout the wildlife area. The primary targets this time of year are Canada thistle, Russian thistle, and Kochia. The Sheep Company Target Shooting Range was sprayed for weeds this past week.

Wenas Wildlife Area- Aerial Weed Control: In addition to ground applications of herbicide performed by staff members, Habitat Specialist Miller coordinated another aerial application of herbicides on targeted restoration sites. Aerial application helps to make treatments of these sites more efficient. These aerial applications are an essential step in restoring sites back to native habitat.

Wenas Wildlife Area – Sheep Company Target Shooting Range Clean-Up: Wenas Wildlife Area staff members removed 900 pounds of target shooting trash and waste from the Sheep Company Target Shooting Range. During this range closure period, the team was able to fully clean the ranges in preparation for the shooting closures to be lifted.

Conducting Business Operations and Policy

Region 3 Hunting Prospects: District 8 Wildlife Biologist Wampole, District 8 Assistant Wildlife Biologist Moore, and District 4 Wildlife Biologist Fidorra completed drafting the 2024 hunting prospects which will be published for the public later this summer. 

Other

Wenas Wildlife Area- Black Canyon Fire: The Black Canyon fire recently burned a portion of the wildlife area. Staff members worked to post road closure signs in the wildlife area to ensure that firefighting operations were not interrupted and public safety was maintained.

Oak Creek Wildlife Area Retreat Fire: The Retreat Fire, just outside of Naches, WA, started on July 23, 2024, and quickly burned a significant section of the Oak Creek Wildlife Area. Wildlife area staff members have posted closure signs and maps along entrance points to closed sections. The most recent fire updates indicate the fire has burnt 41,279 acres, including private, state, and federal land, and is 49% contained.

Oak Creek Wildlife Area First Aid: Oak Creek Wildlife Area Manager Mackey and Assistant Manager Charlet attended a two-day wilderness first aid training. This training aimed to teach advanced first aid skills for employees working in remote environments when help from professional first responders may have delayed or extended response times.

Managing Wildlife Populations

Annual Band-Tailed Pigeon Surveys: Biologists Stephens, Wickhem, and Holman, along with Migratory Bird Specialist Hamer, completed band-tailed pigeon surveys in Region 5 between July 10th and 20th. 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. The results are combined with similar efforts in British Columbia, Oregon, California, and Nevada to monitor the population at the flyway level. Survey results affect the season and bag limits for band-tailed pigeons each year. 

• At the site in Clark County, Hamer counted 142 pigeons which is a slight increase over 2023.
• At the site in Skamania County, Wickhem counted 186 pigeons, which is lower than the historic numbers at this location.
• At one of the Cowlitz County sites, Stephens counted 307 pigeons, which is nearly identical to the results from 2022 and 2023. 
• At the other Cowlitz County site, Holman counted 106 pigeons, which is similar to the results of prior years. New forest management activities near this site now make conducting the survey easier. 
• At the Lewis County site, Stephens counted 313 pigeons, which is a moderate increase from 2023. 
• At the Gray’s Harbor site, Holman and Novack counted 212 pigeons, up slightly from the 2023 survey.

Bat Acoustic Monitoring: In July, Biologists Wickhem, Ott, and Stephens conducted acoustic monitoring for bats at six sites in Region 5. Every site is made up of four grids, with each grid containing an acoustic detector. To monitor the bats, an acoustic detector is left overnight at each grid and records the echolocation signatures of bat species who are feeding within proximity to the detector. This effort is part of the North American Bat Monitoring Program, a multi-agency coordinated effort across North America. This collaborative bat monitoring program is made up of an extensive community of partners across the continent who use standardized protocols to gather data that allows assessment of population status and trends, informs responses to stressors, and sustains viable populations. 

Bat Emergence Counts: In July, Biologist Wickhem conducted four bat emergence counts (three in Clark County and one in Skamania County) with the help of Biologist Ott and volunteers Robinson, Roe, and Weaver. Three of the locations had never been counted before and were either reported by members of the public or other staff members. Two of the locations proved to be thick with bats; a Forest Service bridge and a collection of private bat boxes supporting 788 and 888 bats, respectively. Another residential bat box contained 160 individuals. The landowner invited several friends and neighbors to join in the count. The final count at another residential property where bats were living underneath their raised home only came up with about a dozen individuals, despite finding massive piles of guano near some ideal roosting areas. In this case, the team thinks the pups were volant (able to fly on their own). This allows the colony to easily move and roost in nearby areas if desired. The bats that were still present were exiting through a different area that was not being monitored. An acoustic detector was deployed at each site during the surveys to record echolocation calls, which can be analyzed to determine which species are present. Those files will be analyzed by Statewide Bat Specialist Tobin. These surveys help biologists understand the species distribution and roosting habitats of bats in Washington. 

Bat Captures and White-Nose Syndrome (WNS) Vaccination Study: Biologists Wickhem, Biologist Ott, and Volunteer Flick joined volunteer members and biologists from the U.S. Geological Survey to capture bats on private property as part of a study to test a new vaccine for white-nose syndrome. WNS is a devastating disease caused by a fungus (Pseudogymnoascus destructans or Pd) that causes bats to repeatedly wake up during winter hibernation (which burns a lot of calories), and usually leads to death. WNS has led to massive bat die-offs in the Midwest and eastern United States. Either the disease or the Pd fungus have been detected within ten counties in Washington as of July 2023.

In this capture effort, bats were collected from funnel and harp traps that were attached to the openings of occupied bat boxes. Once removed from the trap, a hair sample was collected and the bats were weighed, measured, sexed, aged, given a wing health score, a wing band, a PIT tag, either the vaccine or control (placebo) dose orally, and then released. The team also captured several bats that have been caught, marked, and treated in previous years. Since this effort took place at a maternity colony, most of the bats captured were lactating females. The capture team worked into the wee hours of the night and the next morning to finish processing more than 100 bats. WNS has not been detected within this colony or anywhere nearby yet, but the group still abided by strict decontamination protocols that help prevent the human-spread of the fungus. Also, everyone that directly handled bats has a rabies vaccination. Thanks to our partners for an excellent trapping effort and the landowners for allowing us to work on their property and for assisting with set-up and take-down of our equipment!

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Mineral Lake Access Area: Access area staff members visited Mineral Lake Access Area to find it very clean given the amount of use it normally receives. This was a pleasant surprise, especially since the site was very busy when staff members arrived.

Kalama River Access Areas: Access area staff members worked on vegetation management at multiple sites along the Kalama River. Modrow Access Area and the road to Fisherman’s Loop Access Site had many maples growing low over the road that needed to be pruned back. In addition to work at these sites, staff members worked on pruning the blackberries along the trail at Kress Lake.

Onieda Access Area Boat Ramp: Access area staff members worked at filling a sink hole on the Onieda Access Area boat ramp. Understanding that this is a temporary fix, staff members are still hopefull that it will last throughout the upcoming salmon season. This area gets an extreme amount of use during the month of August. In addition, staff members finished mowing the field and parking area at the Onieda Access Area. Staff members hope with the recent improvements at this site, that it will be respected in the upcoming August fishing season.

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Woodland Park Zoo Field Trip: Biologist Bergh gave a field trip at one of the Skamania County northwestern pond turtle sites to a group of students participating in a class put on by the Woodland Park Zoo. The adult students are spending a few days in the area to do some hands-on learning about conservation topics and had prepared ahead of time by visiting the HeadStart turtle program at the zoo. Biologist Bergh talked about all aspects of the pond turtle recovery and management program. The group hiked around the site to view habitat as well at the pond and painted turtles that inhabit the site.

Managing Wildlife Populations

Grizzly Bear Trapping: Natural Resource Technician Edmondson accompanied Wildlife Conflict Specialist Bennett to a meeting with the United States Fish and Wildlife Services (USFWS) grizzly team. The USFWS is currently running a trapline in Pend Oreille County to document and take samples from grizzlies in the area. One bear was captured on camera that had triggered the trap but was not captured. 

Black Bear: Natural Resource Technician Edmondson and Keeling transported an adult black bear carcass to Spokane Valley for lab testing due to observed odd behavior and physical abnormalities. The bear was dispatched near Northport after being reported as circling nonstop but showed no physical injuries or a limp. Upon inspection, it was noted that the bears eyes were recessed deep into the skull and the hindquarters were severely atrophied despite the rest of the bear having good musculature. This is the second case of a bear being dispatched with similar abnormalities and behavior. The first case was in Newport earlier this month. 

Lynx Monitoring Project: Wildlife Biologists Prince and Johnson checked lynx cameras. Cameras are deployed across the Kettles Range in a cooperative monitoring project. Partners include Washington State University, Conservation Northwest, Colville National Forest, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), and the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. 

CWD Sampling: North Region 1 Water Access Area Manager Dziekan and Natural Resource Technician Brant were notified of a recently deceased deer found in a Spokane neighborhood near where the recently determined Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD)-positive deer carcass was sampled. Brant, who also works as a CWD sampling technician each fall, collected lymph node samples from the deer for testing. 

Monarchs: Biologists Lowe and Brinkman surveyed numerous patches of showy milkweed at the Swanson Lakes Wildlife Area in Lincoln County for monarch larvae and butterflies. Lots of bumble bees, but no monarchs were observed. Monarchs only lay their eggs on milkweed and larvae feed exclusively on this plant. The butterfly has experienced extreme declines and is being considered for federal listing. 

Bats: Biologists Lowe and Brinkman conducted the biennial roost survey of a Townsend’s big-eared bat colony that uses an old cabin on private property near Eloika Lake. The colony has been monitored by WDFW for over a decade. This year the colony was estimated at around 200 bats, which is a decline from previous years, although visibility inside the cabin makes counting fairly difficult. Townsend’s big-eared bats are a candidate species for listing in Washington. 

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Science Camp: Biologist Brinkman provided a weekly program for the City of Spokane’s Natural Science Camp at the Finch Arboretum. After a short walk to find a nice shade tree, 23 students, ages 6-11, learned about identifying tracks of different wildlife species and examined skulls of mammals and birds. 

W.T. Wooten Wildlife Area Campgrounds, Parking Areas, and Shooting Range: Natural Resource Technicians Jensen and Tritt checked the campgrounds, parking areas, shooting range, and cleaned up trash. Tritt and Jensen removed a rock dam from the Tucannon River near Campground 5. They took the ATVs up Cummings Creek and dispersed the rest of the rocks and logs left at the campsite that was constructed by a member of the public. While in Walla Walla County, staff members cleaned up trash at the McDonald Road and Swegle Road parking areas. Wooten staff members used the dump truck and trailer to haul the tractor to Panjab. They placed ecology blocks in the driveway of the old Campground 9 where the public has reopened the road and have been illegally camping. Jensen and Tritt limbed up trees in Campground 1. 

Region 1 South Access Staff Activity: Maintenance Mechanic Heimgartner and Natural Resource Technician Nielsen serviced access sites at the Wooten Wildlife Area, Heller Bar, Shumaker, and Boggans. Heimgartner and Nielsen were unable to service Bezona and Cougar Creek access areas due to the active fire. Heimgartner and Nielsen assisted the Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) program by mowing and chopping down black berry vines at the AIS check station located near Chief Timothy Park. Nielsen installed new fire rings at the Joseph Creek school house and at Christmas camp. Nielsen also installed a litter bag dispenser at Shumaker.  

Rainbow Lake Algal Bloom: Rainbow Lake continues to have an algal bloom. The bluish plaques were absent this week after the cooler temperatures and high winds stirred the lake up. 

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Palouse City Council Meeting: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Harris, Wildlife Conflict Supervisor Earl, and Officer Silver attended the Palouse City council meeting to discuss recent cougar depredations, activity, and sightings within the town of Palouse. Harris discussed ways to coexist with cougars, how to prevent livestock depredations, and the WDFW response protocol to cougar reports. 

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Rustlers Gulch Inholding: Sherman Creek Wildlife Area Manager Anderson drew up and presented a brief slide show to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Trust Land Transfer (TLT) review board. DNR owns a 40-acre parcel located entirely within the boundaries of Rustlers Gulch Wildlife Area. This property is one of ten that are up for review to move from DNR to other agencies. Anderson gave an “elevator pitch” to the volunteer board, showing why the property has little to no timber sale or lease value to DNR. It does have value to WDFW, which actively manages the surrounding lands for forest health, wildlife, and recreation. Final parcel rankings are expected out in August and any actual transfers will require legislative funding. 

Spalding’s Catchfly Silene Surveys: Biologist Woodall and Natural Resource Technician Hammon finished the Silene surveys this year. With the hot temps and seasonal drought, they found fewer plants in a few of the monitoring plots. David has seen this before under similar drought conditions when individual plants may not be present and are just remaining dormant for the year. Wade also had to repair the yard sprinklers.

Amber Lake: Natural Resources Specialist Dziekan and Natural Resources Technician Brant got the new ATV sprayer calibrated and decided to use it on Amber Lake. While they were there, Dziekan sprayed the area for rush skeletonweed. 

Reardan Audubon Noxious Weed Control: This week, Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Wagner made a trip to the Reardan Audubon early in the morning to spray some Canada thistle and St. John’s wort. 

Chief Joseph Wildlife Area 4-O Ranch Fire: The Cougar Creek Fire began July 15th on the 4-O Ranch Wildlife Area. The fire is still burning, with most of the fire activity having moved off the wildlife area and onto higher elevation lands on the national forest. Currently the wildlife area is closed, and evacuation levels remain unchanged. Some areas burned significantly hotter than others. Many trees are dead. The historic Mountain View Cemetery was burned. Some old wood granaries and wood debris left from the Mountain View School were burned and destroyed. At least three gates on the wildlife area were burned and will need new post structures installed to make them useable again. Several interior fences used for grazing cows and some boundary stock fences were burned.  

Aerial Survey of Shrub Plot: This week Wildlife Area Manager Finch flew the drone over the shrub plot that was planted in early May 2024 under an Aquatic Lands Enhancement Account (ALEA) grant to check for trespassing cattle. Recently, a fence contractor working in the Telford Recreation Area took down the fence between the DNR pasture and WDFW, causing approximately 50 head of cattle to trespass within the wildlife area. Most of those cows went right to the shrub plot, but the deer fence was holding them out. The Spokane Chapter of Pheasant Forever participated in this project and entered it into an onX contest, winning the grand prize of $7,500 towards future restoration project. Until the fence-line between the two pastures is secure and solid, periodical checks will be done to protect the shrubs from trespass cattle. 

Revere Wetland Restoration Project: This week Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Wagner went to the Revere Wildlife Area to pull the boards out of the wetland control structure. This drains the wetland for the next phase of the wetland project scheduled to start this fall. 

Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Native Grassland Restoration Work: This week Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Wagner started to plow the BLM field along North Telford Road called the Sandygren parcel. This field work started last year with two full years of chemical fallow before plowing. After plowing, the field will be disced, and the coil packed. This field will be seeded to a native grass/forb mix in mid-October. The BLM Assistant Agreement ends on October 14, 2024.

Providing Education and Outreach

Cougar Creek Fire: The Cougar Creek fire has now consumed over six thousand acres and the east half of the 4-O Ranch, east of Wenatchee Creek. The fire is moving west toward the Grouse Flats Unit. Fire staff members requested use of a wildlife area ATV for scouting and planning purposes. This was delivered and picked up once completed. Biologist Dice and Natural Resource Specialist Whittaker used the dozer to create fire lines around the corral and barn at the 4-O Ranch. The excavator was used to clean out a pond. Whittaker checked on the Humvee and 5-ton to make sure they were ready and filled with water in the event of wildfires on Smoothing Iron.  

Conducting Business Operations and Policy

Administrative Duties - Hiring: Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Palmer and Sherman Creek Wildlife Area Manager Anderson reviewed application documents from fifteen candidates referred by human resources for the open Sherman Creek Natural Resource Technician position. They narrowed the list down to four candidates, all of whom agreed to interview for the job online. Palmer, Anderson, and Dziekan will conduct the interviews. Dr. Melia DeVivo was invited to join the panel but has a scheduling conflict. Wildlife area staff members ensured that the Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) sampling part of the job and working for Dr. DeVivo in the fall was adequately reflected in the interview questions, which DeVivo approved. 

Palmer, Dziekan, and Anderson interviewed four candidates for the open Sherman Creek Natural Resource Technician position, on Wednesday and Thursday. Palmer, the supervisor for the position, conducted reference checks on Thursday, August 1, and started the approval process for the most qualified of the four. He hopes to soon be able to extend a job offer to the top candidate. 

Other

Waikiki Spring Access Trail: This week Natural Resource Technician Brant mowed an access trail to make a more defined access to the pond instead of the public having to cross private property. 

Managing Wildlife Populations

Bullfrog Management and Control: Biologists Tirhi and Butler participated in a half day workshop on invasive bullfrog control, removal, and management followed by an evening of training. Their learning included various bullfrog capture and euthanasia techniques and equipment training. District 11 strongly needs to increase their bullfrog management program considering the agency is working hard on listed Oregon spotted frog and Western pond turtle recovery. Both species are predated by non-native bullfrogs and bullfrogs are partially responsible for their demise. The training workshop was organized by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service Lacey office while the field capture and dissection training was hosted by Biologist Munes with the Billy Frank Jr. Wildlife Refuge.

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

North American Bat Acoustic Monitoring: North American Bat Acoustic Monitoring (NABat) is a multi-national, multi-agency coordinated bat monitoring program across North America. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (Department) has been a participating agency in NABat across the state for several years. Several biologists in the Department participate and are assigned a 10-by-10 kilometer sample unit that remains consistent year to year. For one to two evenings per year, the biologists deploy an acoustic monitor capable of recording all bats by species and totals in each of the 5-by-5 quadrants of the unit. Biologists Butler and Tirhi completed their assigned NABat monitoring deployment in District 11. More information on the program can be found here.

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

Western Pond Turtle: Biologist Tirhi and Technician Leopold spent a day at the Woodland Park Zoo processing hatchling pond turtles for the 2023 release to the wild. Pond turtles are a Washington State endangered species and the Woodland Park Zoo has partnered with WDFW for 32 years on the recovery of this important native species. Each year, WDFW brings pond turtle eggs from the Pierce County recovery site to the zoo to hatch and grow for one year. In late July, those hatchlings are weighed, measured, and specially marked in preparation for their release back to the wild (scheduled for August) where they will spend the rest of their lives aiding in the recovery of their population. Over 1,000 zoo visitors visited the event this year. 2023 marks the 32^nd year of this Head Start program and one of the longest ongoing recovery programs at WDFW. Media story here.

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Photo by WDFW

Fisher Monitoring: Biologists Tirhi and Butler along with Volunteers Terry and Cheney spent several days removing scented camera stations deployed in the fall of 2022 for fisher monitoring (Pekania pennanti). The monitoring is occurring across sections of the south Cascades where fishers were released in the past with one camera deployed per area. District 11 had deployed eight cameras. Tribal, city, state, and federal partners were deployed. Each station contains a camera tree positioned across from a tree containing a skunk lure dispenser, a beef bone, and a band for collecting hair samples. Tirhi and Butler have documented fishers in three of the four cameras checked so far and one wolverine! The other four cameras await check. Cameras took between 800-3,000 pictures each. All eight of the district deployed cameras were functional at retrieval and although bears and cougar (and other wildlife) had visited most, none had been destroyed or camera dislodged.

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Photo by WDFW

Bat Maternity Roost Monitoring: Biologists Butler and Tirhi organized a group effort to count bats at the Western State Hospital in Lakewood. This is an annual survey that involves a minimum of seven people to conduct. Staff members and volunteers stage themselves outside the various buildings and count bats as they emerge from their roost locations in the attics and crawl spaces of the hospital. Bats have occupied the attic spaces of these buildings for over 30 years. WDFW has partnered with Washington Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), who runs the hospital, to separate the bats from the staff and patients and manage all facets of the colony occupation. Bats occupy three known roost locations from spring to summer and are comprised of females raising pups. There are likely other smaller unknown locations that non-breeding females and males use on the grounds. This year the count was down from approximately 500 in 2022 to approximately 250 this year. This could be due to observer error, changing flight patterns of the bats, or a true population decline. WDFW focuses on longer term trends rather than year-to-year declines. Regardless, the hospital is one of several colonies that WDFW is annually monitoring trends to determine whether White Nose Syndrome is affecting Washington’s bat colonies as it has on east coast populations. This year also featured a media event to showcase how DSHS and WDFW are working together to conserve bats and run a hospital including the replacement of one of the buildings housing a bat colony. WDFW appreciates the commitment of DSHS in helping conserve Washington’s valuable wildlife species.

Snowy Plovers: Biologist Cent checked on the last of the active plover nests. All known nests have now hatched or failed, though plovers are still in the area. Two nests at Midway were confirmed to have hatched a total of three chicks. All other nest fates were unknown.

Band-tailed Pigeon: Biologists Cent and Novack completed annual counts at known mineral sites. Grays Point, along the Columbia River, was surveyed for the first time with assistance from the Spartina Crew Member Mikkelsen and an airboat. District 10 Biologist Holman brought a boat from Region 5 to assist with the survey at the Cosmopolis site. Moclips mineral site had low numbers this year (45 birds), but Biologist Novack confirmed that some birds use the site further upriver and out of sight of the previous survey location.

Site Name	Total
Cosmopolis	187
Grays Point	36
*Naselle	22
*Moclips	45

Biologist Novack arranged visits to newly discovered mineral sites for confirmation from U. S. Fish and Wildlife Services (USFWS) Biologist Sanders. Waterfowl Section Biologist Hamer assisted with providing boat access to sites in the Willapa River and Clallam Bay. District 16 Biologists Ament and McMillan guided them to three sites within Clallam County.

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Mourning Doves: Biologist Cent began trapping at one of District 17’s mourning dove trapping sites. Ten birds have been trapped and banded since trapping began. The second site where trapping occurs each year has yet to have a significant number of doves show up, though the landowner continues to bait each day. Hopefully, trapping will begin at this second site in the next week or two.

Mariposa Copper Butterflies: Biologist Cent began collection of mariposa copper butterflies at North Bay Bog, a Department of Natural Resources property in Grays Harbor County. She is also scouting the Elk River Unit, which is a site which once had wild cranberry bogs, the habitat of mariposa copper butterflies, to determine if the wildlife area is home to any coppers.

Black River Elk Capture: Biologists Novack and Cent attempted to capture and collar a cow elk at the USFWS Black River site near Littlerock with assistance by USFWS Manager Nakai and the Nisqually Refuge biologist. The objective is to track the movements of these elk that are in close proximity to I-5 and create conflicts with private landowners. A group of 43 elk were found in the open fields and Biologist Novack was able to get into range for placing a tranquilizer dart. Unfortunately, almost every adult cow appeared to be afflicted with Treponeme-associated hoof disease and were not suitable candidates for placement of a telemetry collar. Another effort will occur in winter when migratory elk come to the property that will likely have some healthy elk.

Western Pond Turtle: Biologist Murphie deployed two artificial basking structures at the Western pond turtle recovery site in District 15. A PIT tag (passive integrated transponder) antenna array was also placed at the pond and fitted to one of the platforms. Trail cameras were placed to collect images of turtles using the platform. Over 300 turtles were released in this pond from 2005-2013. All the turtles released are uniquely marked and have PIT implant. The objective of this new effort is to see if the PIT tag antenna array can identify remaining turtles released into the pond. Secondarily, we are looking for turtles that are unmarked and potentially new recruits hatched at the pond. Biologist Murphie has counted 36 turtles basking at various locations around the pond, but so far it doesn’t appear like they are using the platforms. Stay tuned, as adjustments to antenna placement and number of antennas deployed are made.

Bear Hair-Snare Project: Biologist Murphie along with carnivore section and regional staff set up 36 stations in GMU 636 to collect hair samples from bears from May through July. If successful, the project will provide an estimate of bears in GMU 636. Biologist Murphie reports collecting 744 samples (a sample can be an individual hair or a cluster of many hairs) at the conclusion of the sampling phase. On camera, visitors included turkey vulture, deer, squirrel, bobcat, cougar, spotted skunk, grouse, unidentified weasel, raccoon, and bears. More to come, as analysis from this project is completed over the next few months.

Bat Counts: Biologist Murphie participated in bat counts organized by U. S. Forest Service (USFS) biologists at the Snider Work Center and the Intorem Cabin on the Duckabush.

Band-tailed Pigeon Mineral Site Counts: Biologist Murphie conducted counts of band-tailed pigeon at two mineral sites in District 15. He reports count totals were at or below previous years. Additional analysis will generate the final index for these sites.

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Band-tailed Pigeon: Biologist Tirhi conducted the annual band-tail pigeon survey of the Mud Bay mineral site. Tirhi counted 220 band-tails using the site this year compared to 239 in 2022 and 263 in 2021.

Hunting Prospects and Status and Trend Reports: Biologist Murphie completed a first draft of the 2023 District 15 Hunting Prospects. He also completed the first draft of the Olympic goat status and trend report and started the Olympic deer status and trend report. Other data work associated with these write-ups was also completed.

Pierce County, American Lake: Region 6 water access staff have been working around the influx of users at water access areas. While vegetation control is a large part of access staff regular duties, these projects are often difficult to accomplish due to the hazards of navigating around vehicles and pedestrians. The other main consumer of time during the summer season is litter collection. Usually, a handful of water access areas will contribute to 90 percent of the litter collected throughout any county. In recent weeks, the recreational activity and litter collection at American Lake Access Area has been above and beyond the normal seasonal increase. The past three weeks of routine maintenance visits has accumulated over 1100 pounds of litter collected. The most recent visit consisted of 600 pounds and over seven hours logged for collection and disposal. The previous maintenance visit, just one week before, tallied 280 pounds of litter collected. Access staff and Enforcement are looking for ways to help improve this ongoing issue.

Grays Harbor County, Black Creek and South Montesano: Region 6 water access staff members worked with Washington Conservation Corp (WCC) crew on expanding the monofilament recycling programs collection bins. This recycling program has proven successful with collections bins at WDFW access areas in Kitsap, Mason, Pierce, and Thurston counties. The collaboration of the water access team and WCC has been favorable to both programs. They have increased recycling efforts and planed an expansion at other water access areas in the remaining Region 6 counties starting in Grays Harbor. Recycling bins were installed at four access areas: Black Creek, South Montesano, Double Bridges and Fuller Bridge. Plans to install additional bins in Grays Harbor, Clallam, Jefferson, Pacific counties will continue in the weeks to come.

Kapowsin Lake: Region 6 access team prepared and arranged for new striping, directional arrows, ADA parking, walkways, and speedbumps at Kapowsin Lake. The previous striping was no longer visible, and the parking structure was all but lost. These improvements should help users navigate the parking areas much easier and once again have areas designated for those with disabilities. This is part of a larger effort by the water access crew to steadily bring this access to better overall condition. A pattern of misuse, vandalism, and vegetation overgrowth had this site in poor condition.

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Rat Island: Wildlife Area Manager Laushman and Biologist Norris put up signage at the Marrowstone Unit of North Olympic Wildlife Area to close Rat Island due to an outbreak of avian influenza.

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Photo by WDFW

Group efforts from the Wildlife Program have helped reduce the viral load of avian influenza at the Marrowstone Unit of North Olympic Wildlife Area. The main part of the unit is closed due to an outbreak of avian influenza in Caspian terns. Biologist Ament, Water Access Team Members McKinlay and Walker, Wildlife Area Manager Laushman, Wildlife Veterinarian Haman, Technician Norris, and Safety Manager Mundy traveled to the island to remove tern carcasses and assess the colony.

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Photo by WDFW

South Puget Sound: A new gate was installed for the South Puget Sound Wildlife Area in Lakewood to reduce trespassing.

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Photo by WDFW

Chehalis Unit Acquisition: Biologist Novack provided some information to Real Estate in preparation for the upcoming Commission meeting when a 40-acre acquisition will be proposed.

Union River: Wildlife Area Manager Laushman, Habitat Engineer Lockwood, Habitat Restoration Coordinator Waldbillig, and Grants Manager Weller conducted a tour of the Theler Wetlands, adjacent to the Union River Wildlife Area Unit to discuss future restoration ideas with partners at the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group. 

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Bell Creek: Wildlife Area Manager Laushman, Assistant Regional Wildlife Program Manager Blankenship, and Assistant Lands Division Manager Lowery met with long-time volunteers and partners with the Department of Natural Resources and other local groups at the Bell Creek Unit, part of the North Olympic Wildlife Area. The group met to discuss next steps for the oak woodland restoration project that has been on-going at the unit for over 20 years, thanks to dedicated volunteer support.

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 Skokomish: Wildlife Area Manager Laushman cleaned up trash at the Skokomish Unit and refreshed signage.

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Providing Education and Outreach

General Wildlife Inquiries: Biologist Murphie responded to inquiries received by phone, email, and in person related to deer, rabbit, bear, and a bat.

Conducting Business Operations and Policy

Aircraft Safety Course Instruction: Biologist Murphie conducted a basic aircraft class in Montesano during the review period. The next one is scheduled for August.

Chemical Immobilization: Biologist Murphie conducted final turn-in and destruction of expired immobilizing drugs for the District 15 station, as the station is being closed. Associated paperwork has been completed.

Meetings Attended: Biologist Murphie participated either in-person or online in meetings discussing cougar, sooty grouse surveys, deer surveys, and the Avian Influenza outbreak on Rat Island.

Other

Drug Coordination: Biologist Novack conducted administrative duties relating to chemical immobilization drugs. He supplied Enforcement with chemical immobilization drugs and destroyed excess drugs that were past their expiration. Inventories and logs have been updated.

Managing Wildlife Populations

Band-tailed Pigeon Surveys: Region 4 biologists conducted annual band-tailed pigeon surveys at select mineral sites from July 10 to July 20. These surveys are essential and influence the annual season and bag-limit frameworks for band-tailed pigeons.

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

North American Bat Monitoring Program Detector Deployments: Region 4 Wildlife staff members deployed overnight bat detectors at multiple sites throughout the region as a part of the North American Bat Monitoring Program. This is an ongoing continent-wide effort to monitor bat distribution and population trends.

White Nose Syndrome Treatment of Bat Maternity Colony: District 13 Wildlife Biologist Licence collaborated with the Diversity division, U. S. Geological Survey researchers, Snohomish County Public Works staff members, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologists, private landowners, and volunteers to capture, measure, mark, and provide an oral white nose syndrome (WNS) vaccine to a mixed colony (predominantly Yuma Myotis) of bats in the Everett area. Over 100 bats were captured and treated and will be monitored by a solar powered pit tag reader system installed on the roost site to help determine efficacy of the treatment.

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

Lopez Island Bat Reconnaissance: District 13 Biologist Licence, joined by a Samish Indian Nation biologist, and a local non-profit research organization (KWIAHT) investigated bat roosts reported by partners and the public on Lopez Island. Information on bats on Lopez Island is limited and filling in these knowledge gaps are a priority for the district. Three new roosts for Townsend’s big-eared bats, big brown bats, and myotis species were documented on this visit. Additionally, guano was collected for myotis species identification.

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

 Bumble Bee Surveys in Snohomish County: District 13, with the help of Diversity staff members, completed two-point count surveys and two habitat surveys at Goat Flats on Three Fingers Mountain. These surveys are associated with Pacific Northwest Bumblebee Atlas and are an effort to monitor bumble bee distribution, population trends, and important pollinator habitat associations.

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Photo by WDFW

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Mountain Goat Surveys: Districts 13 and 14 wildlife biologists conducted mountain goat surveys in the Darrington and Mt. Baker areas. These surveys are typically flown annually to derive population estimates and assist with management by WDFW and tribal co-managers.

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Photo by WDFW

 Fisher Surveys in King County: District 12, with the help of partners, took down cameras from monitoring stations targeting fishers. Learn more about WDFW efforts with fisher here.

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

Common Loon Management Efforts: District 12 put up new outreach signage developed with Communications and Public Engagement (CAPE) staff members and printed by partners at Campbell Global Timber Company.

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Photo by WDFW

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Fall Bear Hunt Opportunities: The Region 4 Private Lands Access Program team prepared a site in Whatcom County for public access during the month of August and early September for behind the gate vehicle access for bear hunters. This private timber land access opportunity relies on good behavior and rule compliance from the public. This bear hunting opportunity is accessed through the Hunt by Reservation system on WDFW’s website.

Summer Mowing: The Region 4 Private Lands Access Program team mowed several sites to reduce the prevalence of reed canary grass and make portions of properties better for waterfowl and waterfowl hunting.

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Photo by WDFW

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Assisting Deer in Distress: Local Conflict Specialist Seitz, Law Enforcement Officer Andrus, and Wildlife Biologist Moore responded to a report of a male deer in distress in Whatcom County. The buck’s antlers were entangled in heavy duty polyester garden netting which was limiting his ability to forage and move about naturally. The team immobilized the deer and removed the netting. Reports of the deer looking much happier have already been received from several residents.

Conducting Business Operations and Policy

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Photo by WDFW

Managing Wildlife Populations

Tucannon Bighorn Sheep Herd: Wildlife Area Manager Dingman located the Tucannon bighorn sheep herd this week and found all 12 sheep, including 3 lambs, that make up the majority of the herd. 

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Chronic Wasting Disease: Dingman sampled a roadkill white-tailed doe along Patit Road on one of her morning commutes this week. Dingman contacted the new owners of the Last Resort Campground regarding collecting Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) samples there again this fall. They are on-board to allow us to collect samples from harvested deer in the cooler, as hunters allow, and to set up a check station during general deer season. 

Chronic Wasting Disease Operations: Natural Resource Technician Heitstuman checked local pits for CWD Samples. Local Department of Transportation (DOT) employees have noticed a drop in numbers of road kills. Heitstuman discussed DOT participation and tag supply with District Biologist Wik. 

Chronic Wasting Disease Sample: Natural Resource Technician Harris collected a CWD sample from a roadkill deer in GMU 117. Natural Resource Technician Janowski collected a CWD sample from a deer in GMU 121. The deer had been struck by a vehicle and survived but was euthanized as a result of the injuries. 

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Trail Clean-up: Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Palmer and Natural Resources Technician Zueger spent the morning of July 20 clearing pinecones off the hiking trail along the Columbia River, between Sherman Creek Headquarters and Haag Cove to the south. They used a motorized “flapper-wheel” attachment on a weed whacker pole, that pushes the cones off the route of travel. 

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Access Program: Acting Private Lands Biologist Nizer corresponded with the Turnbull Wildlife Refuge about the upcoming contract for 1,800 acres on the refuge that would provide turkey hunting in the Hunt by Reservation program. The contract is in the hands of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and should be ready for signatures in the coming weeks. 

Cooperative Road Management Agreement: Natural Resource Technician Harris visited several timber parcels enrolled in the Cooperative Road Management Agreement (CRMA) program and checked for proper signage and recreation activity. 

Recreation Access Closure: Natural Resource Technician Janowski coordinated with Communications Specialist Lehman to relay information to other WDFW staff members regarding private and industrial timber access closures. Several timber companies who typically allow public access had decided to close lands due to the fire danger. A timber company in Stevens County is participating in this closure. 

Grande Ronde River Access Sites: Heimgartner and Nielsen graveled one of the driveways at the Faha access site. They hauled two, three dump trailer loads of rock on the road and smoothed it with their John Deere tractor and land plane. 

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Horseshoe Lake Jersey Barriers: Earlier this year, someone hit the concrete jersey barriers at the Horseshoe Lake access area with a vehicle. One barrier was dislodged from its position, another was dragged into the driveway that leads to the parking area, creating a hazard for visitors’ vehicles. This week, Sherman Creek Wildlife Area and water access area staff members coordinated to remedy the situation using a mini-excavator, truck, chains, and hand tools. A line of jersey barriers separated the county road from the access area parking lot, but they were originally set haphazardly with large gaps in between. Rather than just moving and turning the dislodged barriers upright, the four employees reinstalled them correctly. Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Palmer used the mini-excavator to move the barriers out of the way so the team could prepare the ground. As Palmer pushed gravel out of the way, Natural Resource Technicians Brant and Zueger used hand shovels to flatten the site. Once the prep work was done, the dislodged barriers were righted and installed properly. With a deft touch, Palmer got all the barriers set back in place, bumped up against each other and straight. This reduced the length the row that stuck out too close to the entrance of the access area by the length of one barrier. The shorter row should help prevent anyone from running into them in the future as they turn into the parking area. Having them linked together will reduce the chances of damage from barriers being pushed into parked cars or being left in the middle of the driveway if they are hit again. This repair is a great example of different work groups joining to get a big job done.

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Bear Trap: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Kolb picked up a new bear trap and capture tarp from the Wenatchee office. 

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Conserving Natural Landscapes

Asotin Creek Wildlife Area Spalding Catchfly Surveys: Woodall and the University of Idaho interns recently completed eight Spalding catchfly surveys for the year. There are two more to go, that they can finish next week. 

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Reardan Audubon Access Work: Access Manager Dziekan and Natural Resource Technician Brant painted the parking areas on the access sites.

Habitat Site Evaluation: Acting Private Lands Biologist Nizer and Natural Resource Technician Rumiser checked a 20-acre site that was seeded in spring as a cover crop to see how it looked. The landowner recently mowed it, but everything looks like it grew at a good rate. Site will be planted again in the fall for a pollinator crop. 

Guzzler Repair: Private Lands Biologist Hadley worked with members from the Richland Rod and Gun Club to rebuild a wildlife watering facility (guzzler) roof and posts. 

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Photo by WDFW

Cultural Review: Private Lands Biologist Hadley worked with WDFW Landscape Conservation Section Manager Gorrell as well as the Walla Walla Conservation District habitat planner regarding obtaining Cultural Reviews of upcoming habitat plantings projects. 

Sourcing Seed and Plants: Natural Resource Technician Heitstuman conducted a field inspection on the Smoothing Iron Wildlife Area to help consider options for field food plots to support deer and elk through the winter as well as to try to keep the elk off surrounding private lands. 

4-O Ranch Wildlife Area Grass Planting: Dice looked at orchard grass seeded on 53 acres on the 4-O Ranch Wildlife Area on Monday. The grass is looking good. Unfortunately, the weeds are thriving as well, and the field needs mowed as soon as possible. We are planning on moving a tractor along with a 15-foot mower from Joseph Creek to the 4-O Wildlife Area soon to mow the fields. 

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

State Lands Restoration - Little Walla Walla River Restoration Project: Wildlife Area Manager Dingman started working on the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACOE) Nationwide Permit application to obtain the necessary permits to complete the habitat restoration project on the Swegle Unit of the W. T. Wooten Wildlife Area. She also started working on the Cultural Resources desktop review request. 

Providing Education and Outreach

Bear Airbnb Pamphlet: Wildlife Conflict Specialist McCarty began discussions of a guidance pamphlet of leaflet to provide Bear Aware information to Airbnb tenants in high tourism areas. This pamphlet can be provided by the property manager or owner in the welcome packet at each Airbnb location. 

Wolf Presentation: Wildlife Conflict Supervisor McCanna and Wolf Biologist Roussin did a public PowerPoint presentation in Greenbluff. Biologists Lowe and Brinkman attended the presentation. The informal program provided information on the ecology and management of wolves in Washington to folks living in the area of the new Mt Spokane wolf pack. Around 80 people attended, and the information was well received. 

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Conducting Business Operations and Policy

Employee Evaluations: Private Lands Supervisor Earl worked on the Region 1 private lands team evaluations this week. Earl also travelled to meet with Biologist Baarstad to complete his evaluation. 

Regional Meeting: Private Lands Biologist Hadley attended the Service and Regional Awards Meeting held at the Region 1 office with updates from directors and program breakout meetings.

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Managing Wildlife Populations

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Bat Acoustic Monitoring: Biologists Stephens, Wickhem, and Holman conducted acoustic monitoring for bats at four sites in Region 5. This effort was part of the North American Bat Monitoring Program, a multi-national, multi-agency coordinated effort across North America. This collaborative bat monitoring program is made up of an extensive community of partners across the continent who use standardized protocols to gather data that allows assessment of population status and trends, informs responses to stressors, and sustains viable populations. For more information on the North American Bat Monitoring Program: North American Bat Monitoring Program | United States | Canada | NABat (nabatmonitoring.org)

To monitor the bats, an acoustic detector is left overnight at each site and records the echolocation signatures of each bat species within proximity to the detector. Thanks to Sierra Pacific Industries who allowed WDFW access to their lands for the purpose of conducting this work. Also, thanks to Sierra Pacific Wildlife Biologist Tweedy for helping with access, navigation, and deploying the equipment.

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Photo by WDFW

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

District 9:

“Cougar” Sighting: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen received a report of a cougar sighting along a popular trail in Vancouver. The reporting party sent photos of the animal to Jacobsen, who confirmed that the photos were of a domestic house cat. The size, coloration, and striped tail were very indicative of a house cat. The reporting party was not convinced and believed the cat to be a very large specimen.

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Photo by Photo by reporting party.

Deer Damage to Christmas Trees: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen was contacted by a landowner who had been incurring damage to his Christmas tree farm from a handful of bucks over the past couple of years. Jacobsen and Conflict Technician Kolenberg met with the landowner and inspected the damage. A hazing plan was developed and Conflict Technician Kolenberg assisted with paintball hazing efforts over multiple days.

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Bear Complaint: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen fielded a complaint about a black bear near a residence after the homeowner caught the bear on their doorbell camera. Jacobsen provided advice on securing any attractants around the residence.

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Photo by Photo by reporting party.

Bear in Blueberry Farm: A blueberry producer with a U-Pick blueberry farm contacted Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen regarding a bear that had been coming into his blueberry farm. The landowner was concerned about the safety of the berry pickers. This could be the same bear that visited the farm multiple times last year that WDFW was unsuccessful in trapping. Jacobsen requested that the landowner contact him promptly if the bear was observed again.

Bear in Garbage: A Klickitat County resident contacted Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen regarding a bear that had been accessing their garbage storage. The landowner kept their garbage in a semi-open shed until garbage day, then moved the garbage out to the curb every week. Unfortunately, a bear caught on to this routine and started visiting the shed. Some lightweight metal reinforcements that the landowners added to the shed did not slow the bear down. Jacobsen responded to the residence and quickly erected an electric fence around the storage shed for the landowners.

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

Sick/Injured Deer 1: A landowner contacted Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen regarding a sick deer in his yard. Based on the description of the deer and the fact that the deer was still mobile, Jacobsen and the landowner agreed to let the deer be to see if it could recover. The deer died the following day. Jacobsen assisted the landowner with the disposal of the carcass using his new headache-mounted winch. Further inspection of the deceased doe indicated that it died as a result of trauma incurred during fawning.

Sick/Injured Deer 2: A Goldendale landowner contacted Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen regarding a deceased buck in her yard. Officer Bolton had been contacted about the same deer the day before when he was a few blocks down the road and still mobile. The landowner was elderly and unable to dispose of the deer, so Jacobsen and Officer Nelson assisted in loading up and disposing of the deer.

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Photo by Photo by reporting party.

Sick/Injured Deer 3: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen received a report of a deer with an injury to its front foot. The reporting party believed something was stuck on it, affecting the deer’s ability to walk. After inspecting the photos, Jacobsen confirmed that a foreign object was indeed wedged down on one of the deer’s hooves. Jacobsen will work with the reporting party to capture and assist the deer in the future, if possible.

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Sick/Injured Deer 4: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen received a report of a sick deer in a residential yard that likely needed to be euthanized. When Jacobsen arrived, the deer was already deceased. Interestingly, the deer had an abscess on its front leg that, according to the landowner, had been there and growing steadily for the past ten years. Jacobsen disposed of the carcass.

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Photo by WDFW

Sick/Injured Deer 5: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen responded to a report of a fawn in a landowner’s front yard that appeared sick. Jacobsen inspected the deer and determined that the fawn was alive but was unresponsive and had labored breathing. Jacobsen euthanized the fawn.

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Photo by WDFW

Elk Damage to Oats: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen met with a landowner in Glenwood regarding elk damage to forage oats. Approximately 30-100 head of elk (depending on the day) visit the various oat fields daily and have caused extensive damage. Jacobsen discussed the use of drones for hazing elk with the landowner. Jacobsen also coordinated with multiple Master Hunters to provide evening, nighttime, and early morning hazing activities to help keep the elk at bay. Thank you to the Master Hunter volunteers for their time, efforts, and support!

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Photo by Photo by Landowner

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Photo by WDFW

Tree Damage: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen met with a landowner in Klickitat County who had been incurring damage to dozens of pine trees on his property from some rodent species. More investigation is necessary to determine if the damage was caused by porcupines or Western gray squirrels.    

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

Depredation Investigation: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen responded to a report of a depredation on a domestic sheep in Clark County. The producer waited several days to report the dead sheep to WDFW, so the carcass was heavily scavenged and partially decomposed when Jacobsen arrived to investigate. After completing the investigation, Jacobsen ruled the mortality as an “unconfirmed cause of death.” Several pieces of evidence were present at the scene which suggested that the sheep died of causes other than depredation by wildlife, but this could not be confirmed.

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Conserving Natural Landscapes

Treating Noxious Weeds in Remote Areas. The Mt. St. Helens Wildlife Area is comprised of 18 different units, each one hosting a unique variety of invasive and noxious weeds. Wildlife area staff members spend much of the spring, summer, and fall traveling to the different units attempting to address and treat the weeds at the various units, but some get little to no attention due to their remote locations and an inability of staff to access them, until now... A new boat was acquired by the Mt. St. Helens Wildlife Area in June 2023. This boat will be immensely valuable in gaining access to units located in the Lewis and Columbia rivers, making it feasible for staff members to start tackling the weeds problems that exist there, as well as conduct regular monitoring and surveying of these sites. Manager Hauswald and Assistant Manager Risley have already visited the Nelson Unit once this summer and treated purple loosestrife.

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

Technician Crane and Assistant Manager Risley got an early start and sprayed Scotch broom at the Mudflow Unit, covering approximately 200 acres by foot. The area traveled had been treated by Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) volunteers in 2022, but diligent survey of previously treated areas is necessary if the Scotch broom is to be kept suppressed. While treating the Scotch broom, this tansy ragwort was observed with several cinnabar moth caterpillars actively eating on the foliage. Tansy ragwort is another noxious weed present on the Mudflow and is particularly aggressive if left untreated. The cinnabar moth caterpillars are one of two biological control agents that are used in Washington State to control tansy ragwort. The help was much appreciated by wildlife area staff!

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Photo by WDFW

Providing Education and Outreach

Forest Youth Success Presentation: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen and Captain Wickersham delivered a presentation to a group of youths involved in the Forest Youth Success Program regarding working in carnivore country. Forest Youth Success is a program run through the WSU Extension in Skamania County that employs young adults (ages 14-18) to assist with infrastructure and ecosystem management objectives on the south half of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest.

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Underwood “Bear Aware” Presentation: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen and Conflict Technician Kolenberg delivered a presentation to the community of Underwood in Skamania County regarding living with black bears. Roughly 30 people were in attendance.

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Other

New Region 5 Assistant Wildlife Program Manager: We are very happy to welcome Daren Hauswald as the new Region 5 Assistant Wildlife Program Manager! Daren will be based out of the Ridgefield office and will start in his new role on Aug. 16, 2023.

Daren has a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and Environmental Science from Washington State University as well as completing several courses in Biology and Horticulture at Clark College. Daren has worked as the assistant manager (2006) and then the manager (2012) of the Mt. St. Helens and Shillapoo Wildlife Area Complex. His tenure at WDFW has been one of excellence as he has led his team and enhanced his wildlife areas with dedication and a very strong work ethic. Daren brings a comprehensive background to his new position and his extensive knowledge and experience will strongly benefit the Region 5 wildlife team. We look forward to partnering with Daren in his new role to provide leadership, support, and inspiration to our team. Daren enjoys the outdoors immensely whether its scaling Mt. St. Helens or spending early morning hours or late afternoons hunting and fishing. He is also a great cook and willingly shares the fruits of his harvest with his team.

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Managing Wildlife Populations

White Pelican Counts: District Wildlife Biologist Fidorra analyzed colony photos from Badger Island taken this spring in peak breeding season. The raw count which was nearly 3000 will be compared to partner survey data and finalized prior to an official estimate being published.

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Ferruginous Hawk Management: District Wildlife Biologist Fidorra provided feedback on internal draft document related to management recommendations for ferruginous hawks.

Sunnyside Bats: Sunnyside Snake River Wildlife Area Manager Kaelber assisted other WDFW staff members and partners to sample bats at the Sunnyside headquarters. Bats were collected using a harp trap as they exited their roost box. Once trapped, bats were sampled and banded.

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Providing Recreation Opportunities

Manastash Ridge Trail Washington Trails Association Meeting: Wenas Wildlife Area Manger Hughes and Natural Resource Scientist Frame met with members of the Washington Trails Association (WTA) to discuss possible re-routes of certain trails in the Manastash Ridges Trails area. Possible reroutes would mean better/proper grading and erosion prevention. There are several spots specifically on the Westberg Trail that are extremely steep and are eroding. The WTA had previously partnered with WDFW by conducting an assessment of the Westerberg Trail. They rerouted one section of the trail a few years ago that is holding up very well. There is still a need for future routes to be assessed to make the trails more sustainable and user friendly.

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Photo by WDFW

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Wenas Wildlife Area Gates: Wenas Wildlife Area Natural Resource Technicians Stoltenow and Janes completed the fabrication of three gates that will be hung around the wildlife area. One gate was installed at the entrance to Hessler Flats and one was installed near Newlands Road. The final gate will be installed at the entrance to the Mellotte office.

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. Late night-early morning hazing patrols will continue by landowners and Hand. Wheat harvest is in full swing, and with added human presence and disturbance from heavy harvesting equipment, elk have been less frequent in crops during daylight hours.

Corral Canyon Wheat Harvest: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand worked with wheat harvest operations to document crop damage impacts from Hanford elk. Many of the fields are yielding near or above average bushels per acre. Heavy elk damage was observed in fields adjacent to the Hanford National Monument or areas where access to hazing was difficult.

Silver Dollar Elk Damage: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand received a new complaint of elk damage at a alfalfa hay operation in north Benton County. Damage Prevention permits were issued and will be utilized after Landowner Permit holders have either had an opportunity or harvested an elk.

Franklin County Hawk: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand received and responded to a report of a hawk that was entangled in some twine on a pole near Ice Harbor Dam. Fortunately, before arriving on scene, the hawk was able to free itself and flew away uninjured.

Kittitas County Conflict: Conflict Specialist Wetzel worked with several hay growers who were having problems with elk in crops. Elk complaints were reported in Badger Pocket, Kittitas, Peoh Point, Parke Creek, and the Teanaway area. Two light plants were installed at one field to deter elk. Suncadia residents reported some bear issues. A dumpster in the area was not in compliance.

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

Yakima County Conflict: Conflict Specialist Wetzel worked with several hay and orchard growers who were having problems with elk in crops. Elk complaints have come from the Cowiche Road area, as well as the Naches River, and the Nile.

District 8 Depredations: Conflict Specialist Wetzel investigated several goats and sheep that had been killed by unknown predators. In another instance, two small dogs were killed by an unknown predator.

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

Conserving Natural Landscapes

L.T. Murray Grazing: LT Murray Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Winegeart and Wildlife Area Manager Morrison completed the first round of 2023 “landscape appearance” monitoring for the Martinez sheep crossing permit. A few hundred domestic sheep are expected to cross the L.T. Murray Unit on their way to a Forest Service grazing allotment the first week in August and come back through in late September. Very little browse or grazing activity was noted. In another grazing area, Winegeart had the Quilomene Unit cattle grazer remove cattle from the wildlife area because the available AUMs had been used for the 2023 grazing year.

Wenas Wildlife Area Lands 20/20 Application: Wenas Wildlife Area Manager Hughes and Lands and Habitat Specialist Miller worked together on completing an application for the Lands 20/20 Process within the agency. The application submitted was for 150 acres of a future acquisition within Wenas Valley. The owner of the property reached out to the Department about wanting to sell their property. The acquisition would be focused on conserving shrubsteppe habitat, support connectivity to the wildlife area, and provide recreational opportunities.

Oak Creek Wildlife Area Aspen Exclosure: Oak Creek Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Charlet assessed the current status of the Teepee Creek quaking aspen exclosure on the Oak Creek Wildlife Area. This exclosure helps quaking aspen to establish and grow to heights above the wildlife browse line before being subjected to elk and deer browsing. Current conditions show healthy aspen trees with a significant amount of regeneration within the exclosure.

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

Oak Creek Wildlife Area Grazing Monitoring: Oak Creek Wildlife Area Manager Mackey and Assistant Manager Charlet completed cattle grazing monitoring surveys for one lease in the Rock Creek Unit and two allotments in the Cowiche Unit of the Oak Creek Wildlife Area. All three survey locations showed cattle grazing was within the range of expectations and permit requirements.

Sunnyside/Snake River Wetland Management: Sunnyside Snake River Wildlife Area Manager Kaelber and Assistant Manager Jahns have begun the process of prepping the Windmill Ranch wetlands for fall reflooding. The Phase 1 wetland was mowed and sprayed to treat noxious weeds and reduce the cover of aquatic vegetation that was reducing open water. The wetland was then seeded with buckwheat to provide forage for migratory waterfowl.

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Photo by WDFW

Conducting Business Operations and Policy

Oak Creek PR Reports: Oak Creek Wildlife Area Manager Mackey and Assistant Manager Charlet completed the United States Fish and Wildlife Service annual performance (PR) report. This report includes all planned and completed activities on the wildlife area that were funded by PR contract funding from July 2022 to June 2023.

Other

Region 3 Awards Ceremony: The entire L.T. Murray team attended the 2023 Region 3 awards ceremony. The meeting was informative and just a good time with a wildlife area highlight of Amy Windrope and Wildlife Area Manager Morrison emerging victorious in the cornhole tournament.

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Photo by WDFW

Wenas Wildlife Area Temporary Cattle Crossing: Earlier this spring, Wildlife Area Manager Hughes worked with a neighboring landowner on issuing a temporary cattle crossing permit on the Wenas Wildlife Area. The crossing went from Bull Pasture out through Hessler Flats. The lessee was allowed to cross cattle in one day within a designated timeframe of late spring and early fall/summer. Each crossing allowed has occurred and there were no issues with the permit. The lessee worked with Hughes on keeping her up to date when he wanted to cross cattle and the two crossings went well. The permit was beneficial for building and supporting relationships throughout the community. Hughes is looking forward to working with the permittee in future years.

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Photo by WDFW

Wenas Wildlife Area Gates: Wenas Wildlife Area Natural Resource Technicians Stoltenow and Janes completed fabrication of three gates to be hung around the wildlife area. One gate was installed at the entrance to Hessler Flats and one was installed near Newlands Road. The final gate will be installed at the entrance to the Mellotte office.

Pasco Parking Lot Repair: District 4 staff members worked together to fill in a trench and potholes in the Pasco office parking lot with gravel. The tilt trailer worked great to haul and spread gravel!

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Photo by WDFW

Region 3 Graffiti Increase: Access Manager Garcia and Natural Resource Worker Wolff have been dealing with an increase in vandalism and graffiti through out the region.

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

Matoon Lake Graffiti: Access Manager Garcia and Natural Resource Worker Wolff used a sand blaster to remove graffiti from inside and outside outhouse walls.

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

Teanaway Tree Removal: Access Manager Garcia removed a fallen tree at Teanaway Junction.

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Photo by WDFW

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Partnership Coordinator Browning and Recreation Planner Andersen continue to manage the TREAD (Trails, Recreation, Education, Advocacy, and Development) contract. All re-routes have been completed and are ready to be sent off for Cultural Resource review. TREAD will now write a report detailing findings, methods, and recommendations for Quincy Lakes trails.

Browning and Andersen continue to support two interns, one in the Methow Wildlife Area and one in the LT Murray Wildlife Area, as they conduct trail inventories using the Field Maps App.

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Skagit Wildlife Area: The draft wildlife area management plan was submitted to the tribes and the Wildlife Area Advisory Committee separately on July 24. The Washington State Department Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) 30-day process is expected to begin by early September. A public workshop has been tentatively scheduled for Sep. 5 at Padilla Bay. Staff members received comments from the Wildlife Diversity Advisory Committee in July.

L.T. Murray Wildlife Area: The final draft wildlife area management plan was submitted for SEPA review in mid-June, which ended on July 14. Planning team staff members are responding to comments prior to final internal review. The plan will undergo final graphic design by Communications and Public Engagement (CAPE) prior to signature by Director Susewind in August.

Cowlitz Wildlife Area: A public scoping open house and field trip was conducted in early July for the draft wildlife area management plan. The planning team is working with CAPE and our social scientists to develop a recreational survey to gather data on use preferences and demographics on the wildlife area.

Violet Prairie Section 6 Management Plan: The draft Violet Prairie Section 6 Management Plan (unit of the Scatter Creek Wildlife Area) was submitted to the United States Forest Service (USFS) on July 20 for their initial review and feedback. This plan includes measures for the Mazama pocket gopher, Taylor’s checkerspot butterfly, western gray squirrel, Oregon vesper sparrow, and streaked horn lark.

Kiosks: Browning is working with CAPE to design and order kiosks for regions 2, 4, and 6. Kiosks will include regulatory and warning signs intended to protect visitors and wildlife.

Teanaway Community Forest: Range Ecologist Burnham conducted periodic monitoring, similar to the monitoring conducted for the last several years, and notified the grazing technical team of the results. This season is the first under a new Department of Natural Resouces (DNR) lessee and adjusted grazing plan, so it will be interesting to observe any differences.

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Photo by WDFW

LT Murray and Asotin Creek Wildlife Areas: Range Ecologist Burnham conducted ecological integrity monitoring at permits areas located on the LT Murray and Asotin Creek wildlife areas.

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Photo by WDFW

WSU Stocking Rate Tool: Burnham helped beta-test and comment on a dynamic stocking rate tool being developed by Washington State University Extension.

Weed Control:

• Spartina (0.021 acres treated, 32.5 acres surveyed)
• Yellow flag iris (0.025 acres treated, 14.5 acres surveyed)
• Japanese knotweed (0.03 acres treated, 3.66 acres surveyed)
• Invasive cattail (0.03 acres treated 3.8 acres surveyed)
• Blackberry and Scotch broom treatment at Grayland site
• Surveys throughout Willapa Bay area, showing good control, with very little found
• Treatment of knotweed at Grays Harbor Public Utility District site, under contract

 

Controlled Burns in Western Washington Wildlife Areas in July 2023: The drier than normal winter and spring in Western Washington inspired Scatter Creek Wildlife Area managers to consider early summer controlled burns. They reached out to district biologists and the prescribed fire team to discuss the feasibility. In years past, prescribed fire was used in the fall, but with forecasted El Nino conditions, there is a worry that the fall burning period will be quite short.

“There is a window of opportunity between too dry and too wet to complete prescribed burns,” says Prescribed Fire Planner Edwards. “Add on top of that, crew availability and an extensive amount of pre-burn work and there is not much time in hot years like this one to use fire as a restoration tool.” The consensus from the group was that burning in July was a good goal.

In July, WDFW and Ecostudies Institute burned three units in two days, two units at West Rocky Prairie and one unit at Scatter Creek. West Rocky Prairie burns targeted Taylor’s checkerspot butterfly habitat. The Scatter Creek burn was an oak site, which was logged after the 2017 wildfire. The intended ecological effects were achieved, the fire cleared out logging debris under the oaks and Scotch broom and other invasive species on the prairie.

The burn was a collaboration with input from multiple groups. The Scatter Creek Wildlife Area managers developed the plan and organized pre-burn planning, unit prep work, provided funding, and gathered the crew. District biologists assessed the site for impacts to wildlife and the prescribed fire team provided insight into fireline development and tactics to produce desired fire effects. The Chehalis Tribe added cultural insight and support for fire returning to the landscape and the Ecostudies Institute provided resources and equipment. Department of Natural Resouces enthusiastically permitted the process during a regional burn ban. The burns were met with support from the surrounding communities.

The burns provided training for WDFW and Ecostudies personnel, including Burn Boss Trainee Edwards. Prescribed fire is becoming a more commonplace and necessary tool in our state and providing a safely trained, highly capable workforce is a huge aspect of returning fire to the landscape. These skills can be applied during wildfire response, making prescribed burning a useful tool for all wildland firefighters.

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Photo by WDFW

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For future South Sound planning, there are only two units left at Scatter Creek Wildlife Area that can be burned in these dry conditions, neither of which are Taylor’s checkerspot units. This makes the two units we burned at West Rocky Prairie earlier this month even more impressive and will hopefully relieve some of the pressure for the post-rain burn lineup.

Other areas across the state are also in the planning phases for prescribed burns to reduce hazardous natural fuel loading and improve habitat. This includes a small burn in the Long Beach area to help rebuild the Oregon silver spot butterfly habitat by reducing vegetation that is restricting native plants that help feed and support the butterfly population. In Eastern Washington, burns are being planned for implementation this fall and next year to reduce natural fuel loading created from timber harvests and decades of natural vegetation buildup that would add to wildfire devastation but will improve big game habitat.

Prescribed fires are conducted when weather and fuel moisture conditions allow fire specialists to conduct the needed operations at low fire intensities and reduce the vegetation buildup. When burns are conducted in conjunction with timber thinning operations, forests are restored by removing crowded and unhealthy trees. This helps them survive wildfires much better. Burning will reduce the thinning debris and replace nutrients back into the soil allowing needed forage to grow such as grasses and shrubs that support wildlife.

Forest Thinning:

Work in Colockum Phase 1, 863 acres, has started. Because of potential safety issues with a bridge in LT Murray Wildlife Area, the contractor has turned both of their crews to Colockum Wildlife Area and has been proceeding with work there at an increased pace. Work is anticipated to stretch into 2024.

Thinning in LT Murray Wildlife Area, approximately 588 acres, is delayed due to the safety inspection of a bridge, which would be used by trucks hauling logs. The Forest Health Program has been working with Capital and Asset Management Program (CAMP) and others to resolve the issue. As of end of the month, Scientist Tveten reached out to colleagues in the Department of Transportation and obtained steel plates for the bridge that will allow the project to proceed. The work is anticipated to start the second week of August. Tveten’s knowledge and contacts saved the Department at least $5,000 and resolved this issue quickly. Longer-term, we need to determine who “owns” the bridge, when it may need to be life cycled, and potentially get it on the capital budget list. This work will be happening over time.

Thinning in West Rocky Prairie, approximately 95 acres, was initiated and completed by the end of July. This work supports cultural resources, where tribes burned and managed the area for oaks and camas for thousands of years. The project also supports oaks and a variety of Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) species. Whereas West Rocky area is a difficult spot with all the competing resources and conflicts, the forest health team has worked with Diversity and through the restoration pathway to advance this project and mitigate, where necessary.

Providing Education and Outreach

The Ambassador Program just completed its fifth week of programming this past weekend. Teanaway Junction is seeing the highest number of visitors at about 50 each weekend. Ambassadors are continuing the educate visitors on how to recreate responsibly.

Conducting Business Operations and Policy

Recruitment:

• Range Ecologist Burnham worked with Human Resources (HR) and cross-program staff members to evaluate the referred candidates and interviewed them for a Fish and Wildlife biologist position.
• Biologist Zimmerman worked with HR to recruit for crew and also for the (somewhat) recently reallocated Natural Resource Scientist.
• Forest Health Scientist Tveten and team recruited for the vacant forester position. Three offers were refused by candidates. Given the time of year, the team decided to wait until after field season before reposting. Reasons for turning down the position included location and pay.
• Section Manager Walls completed the position description for the natural resources scientist for the Ecological Assessment project. The description is currently in HR review.

State Noxious Weed Control Board: Biologist Heimer prepared and gave an overview presentation to the State Noxious Weed Control Board in Olympia about what WDFW has been doing over the last couple of years.

Oregon Spotted Frog Project: Biologist Heimer received the imazapyr soil and litter residue results from Washington State Department of Agriculture’s (WSDA) Hop & Chemical Lab. The samples were taken from plots where reed canary grass (RCG) was treated at different rates to determine efficacy. The RCG control is important in maintaining Oregon spotted frog breeding habitat. The residue sampling was done to give researchers an idea of what imazapyr concentrations had on developing embryos that may be exposed to in the treatment sites. Soil sample results were all “No Detects”. Litter samples showed an increasing concentration of imazapyr residue associated with higher application rates 242 days after treatment.

Stewardship Section Budget: Section Manager Walls completed the Public Lands supplemental package for Forest Health. This will restore $2 million in funding to bring it back to total of $6 million. Walls also completed support on spending plans for the section, as well as the Ecological Assessment project proviso that was funding in this session.

Ecological Assessment project: Section Manager Walls has worked closely with Lands Division Manager Wilkerson, Lands Planning and Recreation Manager Sisolak, and Science Division Manager Martorello on developing the needs, questions, and first steps for the Department side of the Ecological Assessment work. They will determine, and their work feeds into, and is part of discussion with Department of Natural Resorces, Parks, and tribes on recreational impacts. The key first steps are getting a handle on the existing tools to evaluate ecological integrity, such as the Natural Heritage Program’s Ecological Integrity Assessment, and also to outline WDFW’s needs for measuring both integrity and stressors, and how that information would affect things, like planning, operational, and stewardship activities.