Wildlife Program report: Jul. 16-31, 2024

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

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

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.

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.

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.