Wildlife Program report: Jun. 16-30, 2024

Managing Wildlife Populations

Waterfowl: Biologists Lowe and Brinkman conducted waterfowl brood counts on two routes that are surveyed annually. Biologist Brinkman drove the Ewan-Revere route, but most of the potholes along the route were dry or nearly empty so very few waterfowl were observed. Biologist Lowe surveyed the Lincoln Potholes route and observed a wide variety of waterfowl, but fewer broods were observed than expected. 

USGS Breeding Bird Survey: Biologist Brinkman completed a United States Geological Survey (USGS) Breeding Bird Survey on a route near Twin Lakes outside of Inchelium. This route had been surveyed for years by a member of the public, but a request to have someone new pick up the route was passed through Spokane Audubon late last year. This survey consisted of 50 point-counts conducted at approximately one-half mile intervals along a designated route. Each point count lasts for three minutes and follows a specific survey protocol to maintain consistent and comparable results.  

Tucannon Bighorn Sheep: Wildlife Area Manager Dingman located the Tucannon Herd bighorn sheep this week. There are still six lambs alive.

Elk at Smoothing Iron Ridge:  A large group of elk has been hanging out at Smoothing Iron Ridge. They have been highly visible and have been using crops planted in fields and water troughs.   

Providing Recreation Opportunities

WT Wooten Wildlife Area Lakes: Natural Resource Technicians Jensen and Tritt checked the fish screens and adjusted water levels as needed. Jensen cleaned up trash around the lakes and replaced the roll of litter bags at Rainbow Lake. Some individuals decided to drive their UTVs out to the Spring Lake Dam and park near the overflow culvert. Officer Delp responded and ended up writing several citations to them for various things. 

Wildlife Area Manager Dingman and Jensen put the spotting scope back at Rainbow Lake. The scope still does not focus very well and Dingman passed that information along to the Wildlife Watching folks in Olympia. 

Natural Resource Technician Tritt cut trees off the Rainbow Lake inlet pipeline.

Recreational Access Area Maintenance and Management:  Maintenance Mechanic Heimgartner and Natural Resource Technician Nielsen cleaned access sites on the wildlife area from Heller Bar to the Wooten campgrounds and lakes, sprayed weeds, and cleaned up graffiti.  They report Heller Bar is busy with rafting season in full swing.  

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Cooperative Fencing: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Harris ordered fencing materials for a cooperative fencing project in Lincoln County to protect a blueberry field from elk and deer damage. Wildlife Conflict Specialist Harris also met with a producer in Spokane County to discuss details of a cooperative fencing project proposal for next fiscal year. 

Bear Concern: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Kolb responded to a report of a yearling black bear hanging around a popular rural intersection.  It is possible it is the same bear that was previously hanging around the same area in early December. Kolb responded to the area but was unable to locate the bear.  Advice was provided to some local residents and producers. 

Depredation Investigations: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) staff members conducted two depredation investigations this week.  The first was a cow that was found dead on a United States Forest Service (USFS) allotment.  The cow was discovered by loggers and the carcass had been moved from its original location, so they could continue logging.  Staff members conducted a full site investigation and field necropsy, but no signs of predator involvement could be found, and it was determined that the cow died of unknown causes.  

The second investigation was an injured calf that had been pulled off a USFS allotment. Staff members conducted a full injury investigation. After an after action review the determination of the investigation was confirmed wolf. WDFW staff members coordinated with the Asotin County Sheriff on both investigations. 

Juvenile Hawk: Supervisor Earl received an after-hours call regarding a hawk out of its nest. The reporting party stated that the hawk had fallen out of the nest and she was worried that it was vulnerable to neighborhood dogs and cats. The reporting party managed to get it into a cage before calling. The reporting party was instructed to return the hawk to a safe place in hopes that its mother may find it. They called again later and stated that the mother was observed with the juvenile. 

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Bureau of Land Management Field Work: This week Wildlife Area Manager Finch and Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Wagner finished spraying herbicide on the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) field. After Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Wagner finished spraying, Finch and Wagner rinsed out the sprayer with water and moved the sprayer and tractor back the Swanson Lake shop location. 

Habitat Maintenance: Private Lands Biologist Nizer and Private Lands Technician Rumiser weed whacked weeds around trees planted this spring and watered trees as a weekly duty.  

Noxious Weed Control (West Lake of Swanson): The previous week, while moving equipment Private Lands Biologist Baarstad and Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Wagner had noticed some St. John's wort patches and Canada thistle along the west lake of Swanson. Wagner took the UTV sprayer out and proceeded to spray those troublesome areas. He went out to assess the location Tuesday, and the Canada thistle looked as though they have been hit hard.

Providing Education and Outreach

Lincoln County Wolf Meeting: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Region 1 Conflict and Enforcement staff members and a wolf biologist participated in an informational meeting on wolves in Davenport, in coordination with the Lincoln County Cattleman’s Association. Staff members discussed current wolf populations, recovery goals and objectives, the rights of community members when it comes to wolves, husbandry practices to discourage wolf depredations on livestock, and answered many questions from meeting attendees. 

Turkey Article: Private Lands Biologist Nizer started reaching out to a turkey hunting property landowner in Whitman County, as well as hunters and conservation districts. They discussed the creation of an article to show how partnerships work and how they can help accomplish habitat development goals for turkeys. Nizer created a rough draft and will send it to Communication Consultant Foster and his colleagues once it is finalized. 

Science Camp: Biologist Lowe provided the first of several weekly programs for the City of Spokane’s Natural Science Camp at the Finch Arboretum. The group of 16 six- and seven-year-olds learned about the importance of pollinators and bats, as well as ecology of local wildlife including turkeys and moose. The highlight of the afternoon was catching and identifying a queen western bumble bee, which is a species currently being considered for federal listing under the Endangered Species Act.  

Conducting Business Operations and Policy

4-O Ranch Wildlife Aree Hay Pile Monitoring and Cleanup:  At the recommendation of Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Wildlife Area Manager Dice made arrangements to rent an excavator from Lewiston and bring it to the 4-O for the purpose of dismantling and scattering a pile of rotten hay.  There is concern the pile will spontaneously combust due to residual moisture and rot in the hay.  There are approximately 1,600 round bails in the pile.  DNR is monitoring the pile for heat signatures using IR equipment.  The rental excavator will be on site July 9.   

Other

Fire Protection: This week, staff members will be preparing for fire restriction posting.  Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Wagner weed trimmed around the 3000-gallon storage water tank at the Swanson Lakes Wildlife Area.  The vegetation was cleared around the water tank to protect the tank from any wildfire. 

Managing Wildlife Populations

Lewis’s Woodpeckers: Biologists Eilers and Jeffreys, along with other Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and Chelan PUD biologists, continue to conduct Lewis’s woodpecker surveys at five project areas in Rocky Reach Wildlife Area. There are two goals for this year’s cavity nest surveys. First is to learn more about Lewis’s woodpecker nesting phenology and ecology of the population within the Rocky Reach Wildlife Area. This will include clutch size, number of eggs hatched, number of hatchlings to reach fledging or late nestling phase, etc. Second, biologists will examine these data alongside habitat and microhabitat characteristics for the purpose of drawing inferences regarding nest success of Lewis’s woodpeckers 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). 

So far this year surveyors have completed occupancy surveys at all grids and have identified 19 occupied Lewis’s woodpecker cavity nests. All cavity nests will receive multiple monitoring visits throughout the nesting cycle, and all have been visited at least twice so far this season. 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, because some are too high and/or have too many branches in the way. For those nests, biologists use behavioral observations to approximate nesting stage. In August, once all nests have been documented to have either fledged young or failed, biologists will perform habitat assessment surveys at each nest cavity. 

Biologist Turnock and Technician Hara have been assisting District 7 biologists with Lewis’s woodpecker surveys to investigate nesting success for this Species of Greatest Conservation Need.

Bumble Bees: Biologists Jeffreys and Eilers conducted the first 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 seven bumble bees of four different species were gently caught in a net, identified as to the species, and released on-site. The data collected from this survey were entered into the Pacific Northwest Bumble Bee Atlas online database. The Pacific Northwest Bumble Bee Atlas is a collaborative effort between the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, and citizen science volunteers to track and conserve the bumble bees of Washington, Idaho, and Oregon.

Fishers: Biologists Eilers, Jeffreys, and Turnock and Technicians Hara and Force began picking up baited camera stations 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 fisher reintroduction back into the Cascades Fisher Recovery Area and 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 to 18 feet 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 as well, 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 with the aim of snagging hairs from visiting animals climbing the tree. These hairs 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. 

Biologist Turnock and Technicians Force and Hara have also been busy collecting remote camera stations as part of a Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife fisher study. These stations have been out since last October. 

Bat Emergence Counts: Bat monitoring for the 2024 summer season has begun! Biologists conducted the first round of emergence counts at four maternity colonies (communal roosts where females birth and care for their pups) located in the south Lake Chelan, Entiat River Road, and Lake Wenatchee areas. The species of bats at these four colonies are little brown myotis (Myotis lucifugus), Yuma myotis (Myotis yumanensis), and big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus). These first counts were conducted when only the females are out flying at night, so biologists will return for a second count at each site in mid-July when pups are able to join the females in exiting the roost. 

Bat Probiotic Project: Biologists Eilers, Jeffreys, and Turnock and Technicians Hara and Force joined Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Bat Biologist Tobin and other volunteers at a maternity roost near Lake Chelan. They worked on a project designed to evaluate the efficacy of a cutting-edge White-nose Syndrome (WNS) prohphylaxis technique on Washington’s bats. This maternity colony is a mixed roost of little brown myotis and Yuma myotis, and WNS was first detected among its members in 2021. The Lake Chelan colony is one of the trial sites for a recently developed probiotic cocktail that researchers hope will provide bats protection from the deadly disease. This is the third year of a multi-year study that includes Chelan County and ten other counties in Washington in which bat colonies with WNS have been detected. 

In summer 2022, biologists swabbed some of the Lake Chelan bats’ wings to determine baseline microbiota prior to the application of the probiotic cocktail to the roost. Then the probiotic cocktail was applied to surfaces throughout the bat’s roost in April 2023. The bats captured this year are being swabbed to compare wing microbiomes of the before and after probiotic treatment. 

Bats were weighed and assessed to determine age, sex, reproductive status, and wing condition. Additionally, bats were outfitted with an arm band and PIT tag to allow individual identification over the several years that monitoring will be conducted at this colony.

Pseudogymnaoascus destructans (Pd), the fungus that causes WNS in bats, typically attacks bats when they are most vulnerable- during hibernation, when bats remain largely inactive to conserve energy and survive the cold months of winter when no insect prey is available. 

There is increasing evidence that wing microbiomes can play a substantial role in WNS susceptibility, so Wildlife Conservation Society Canada, McMaster University, and Thompson Rivers University developed a probiotic cocktail of naturally occurring bacteria, Pseudomonas fluorescens complex, a group of bacteria that has been shown effective at treating WNS in hibernating bats. The goal of this effort is to enhance the wing microflora of bats during the summer by applying this anti-Pd bacteria to surfaces within maternity roosts (e.g., walls, wooden beams). As prolific groomers, bats will brush up against these surfaces and then naturally work the probiotics throughout their wings and fur and that of their pups during grooming sessions. 

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

Northern Leopard Frog Translocation: Technicians Force and Hara worked with staff members to set up soft release enclosures for northern leopard frogs at the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge. Eggs were collected from Potholes earlier this year and have been captively reared on the refuge and at the Oregon Zoo and Northwest Trek. Once the frogs are adequately sized, they will be moved to these soft release enclosures to acclimate to their new surroundings before ultimately being released. These protections as they grow are hoped to increase their survival and establish a new population of these state endangered frogs. 

Bridgeport Bar Agricultural Fields: Technicians Haney-Williamson and Ruiz have been seeding spring wheat, corn, and buckwheat in agricultural fields on the Bridgeport Bar. Irrigating these fields and mowing cereal rye has also been keeping them busy. Technician Haney-Williamson has seen geese, doves, sandhill cranes and mule deer enjoying the wheat and corn. 

Spraying Efforts: Spraying broadleaves along roadsides has continued this month, and wildlife area staff members are already seeing the impacts of their spraying on the weeds. Technicians treated white top in the Sagebrush Flat Wildlife Area. They have also focused spray efforts on a ventenata patch and a few phragmites occurrences in Big Bend.

Water Birch Enclosures Irrigation Set-up: Wildlife area staff members have begun the yearly task of setting up irrigation to water birch enclosures within the Sagebrush Flat Wildlife Area. This has involved maintaining drip irrigation, repairing pumps, clearing vegetation, and other maintenance. Some of the enclosures are seeing significant and healthy new growth coming up around old trees that were impacted by fire. These water birch enclosures are significant as they provide critical winter shelter and food for Columbian sharp-tailed grouse.

Biocontrol Wasps: Blake and Haupt released biocontrol wasps for Russian knapweed across wildlife area units. The wasps, Aulacidea acroptilonica, were provided by Washington State University extension. 

Providing Education and Outreach

Beebe Springs Education Days: Third grade students from Eastmont School District had the opportunity to learn from several organizations and agencies during the Wild Washington Outdoor Classroom event at the Beebe Springs Wildlife Area. Balderston and Chelan Wildlife Area Manager Pavelchek co-led a station focused on local biodiversity. At this station, students learned about wildlife that spend time at Beebe Springs, learned about animal skulls, saw game camera photos, observed fish, birds, and frogs, and drew what they saw.

Managing Wildlife Populations

District 8 Fisher Monitoring: District 8 Wildlife Biologist Wampole, with assistance from Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Intern Flores and Habitat Biologist Bucher, retrieved fisher monitoring stations set in fall 2023. Six of approximately 140 camera stations were collected. A wolverine was detected at one of six sites and marten at two of six sites, no fishers were detected.

District 8 Wildlife Population Monitoring Using Camera Traps: District 8 wildlife biologists have been deploying summer camera traps in remote areas across the district. Biologists will retrieve these cameras before the snow returns. 

Region 3 Monarch Butterflies Returning: In the past week, Sunnyside Snake River staff members have observed monarch butterflies returning to areas of the wildlife area that have milkweed. Monarchs have been observed in the Windmill and Hope Valley units. 

District 4 Unusual Milkweed Variety: During monarch surveys, District 4 Wildlife Biologist Fidorra located a patch of showy milkweed of an unusual color on the Windmill Unit. Photos were sent to Olympia staff members who consulted with the collections manager of the University of Washington Herbarium who had never seen this color variety. A specimen will be collected and prepared next week.

District 4 Burrowing Owls Give It a Second Go: District 4 Wildlife Biologist Fidorra thought the owl project was wrapping up as the team went to check the final two nests of the year. However, one of the nests failed and the owl pair had re-nested, which is uncommon this late in the year! Perhaps an indication of good food supply, or encouraged by the unseasonably cool temperatures, this owl nest is one of two that will not be ready for banding until late July. Good luck owlets!

District 4 Goose Banding: District 4 Wildlife Biologist Fidorra, along with help from Sunnyside Snake River Wildlife Area Manager Kaelber, District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand, Private Lands Biologist Manderbach, volunteers from District 4 Fish Program, volunteers from the Wildlife Program in neighboring districts, and many volunteers from the public trapped and banded geese in District 4. In total, 155 geese were banded between Columbia Park and Hood Park and many previously banded geese were recaptured and released. 

Amphibian Monitoring on Sunnyside Wildlife Area: District 4 Wildlife Biologists Fidorra and Hoffman received training from Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Herpetologist Hallock on amphibian trapping and tadpole identification. Several Species of Greatest Conservation Need were detected. Surveys will be conducted these next few weeks to begin cataloging sites important for these amphibians on WDFW land.

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Region 3 Harder Springs Blackbirds: Region 3 Private Lands Biologist Manderbach was checking the parking area and registration box at the Harder Springs Register to View site in Kahlotus. Volunteers from goose trapping earlier in the month mentioned that they had stopped and seen the tricolored blackbirds there recently on their way into town, so Manderbach took a look and found a few amongst the yellow-headed blackbirds and red-winged blackbirds. Manderbach will work with the landowners to continue to maintain the site and extend the access contract.

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

District 4 Corral Canyon Elk Area Damage Prevention and Kill Permits: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand delivered the next round of damage prevention permits and kill permits to landowners in elk area 3721. Meetings with landowners were held to discuss changes in crop damage compensation, permit coordination, and hazing strategies.

District 4 Injured Richland Deer: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand responded to a call concerning a possible injured deer at the Columbia Point Golf Course in Richland. The deer was located and showed signs of injury to a lower rear leg and a broken antler, possibly from a vehicle collision. The deer was mobile and was actively feeding, so no further action was necessary.

District 4 Bird in Chimney: District 4 Wildlife Conflict Specialist Hand received a report of a possible squirrel in a fireplace in Finley. The squirrel noises were actually a starling that was trapped in the chimney which was captured and released unharmed.

Wenas Wildlife Area – Tree Removal and Elk Fence Repair: Wenas Wildlife Area Specialist Frame, Habitat Biologist Miller, and Natural Resource Technicians Stoltenow and Janes removed trees that had fallen on the fence along North Wenas Road and removed trees that could potentially fall on the fence in the future. The fence in that section was repaired to prevent wildlife from leaving the wildlife area.

Wenas Wildlife Area – Roza Cable Installation: Wenas Wildlife Area Natural Resource Technicians Janes and Stoltenow installed an additional cable extending from the gate at the entrance to the Roza restoration area. There has been issues in this area with people leaving the green dot road to drive around the locked gate in order to access this area. This will hopefully prevent people from doing this in the future.

L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Elk Fence: L.T Murray Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Winegeart and Natural Resource Technician Blore worked with a master hunter to install an elk return gate in a section of elk fence that routinely receives damage from elk. The elk seem to get in around the Kittitas Reclamation District Road and possibly the creek, but this gate should eliminate future fence damage once the elk find and get used to using it. 

Kittitas County Conflict: District 8 Conflict Technician Leuck night hazed elk this month in the Park Creek and Badger Pocket areas. Conflict Specialist Wetzel trapped one bear and immobilized another. Both were relocated to approved areas. 

Yakima County Conflict: District 8 Conflict Specialist Wetzel checked for elk in the Tampico and Cowiche areas and inspected fences in those locations. Elk have been reported near orchards and some hay areas but have been easily hazed and have not returned.

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Colockum Wildlife Area Forestry: Colockum Wildlife Area Manager Lopushinsky and Assistant Manager Hagan toured the Clara Lake area with Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Forester Pfeifle to assess the area for possible forest health thinning work. This is a pristine, high elevation area with no active timber management in the past. After looking at access limitations, habitat conditions, and recent fire events it was decided to not pursue thinning work there in the near future.

Wenas Wildlife Area – Weed Control: Wenas Wildlife Area Natural Resource Technician Stoltenow sprayed Scotch thistle growing in the lower portion of the Black Canyon Trail and some Russian thistle growing around the Wenas Wildlife Area headquarters.

Oak Creek Wildlife Area Weed Control: Oak Creek Wildlife Area staff members continue to chemically control weeds across the wildlife area. Focus continues to be placed on the control of Scotch thistle but other species being controlled include Russian thistle, knapweed, Canada thistle, yellow star thistle, and poison hemlock. 

L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Weed Control: A local vegetation management crew was hired to treat weeds along and within 30 feet of green dot roads in the 2022 Vantage Highway Fire area which includes most of the Whiskey Dick Unit and some of the Quilomene Unit. The crew covered all the roads and found yellow star thistle and rush skeleton weed which are two weeds that have potential for serious landscape harm and the wildlife area crew were unaware of their presence.

L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Cultural Resource Surveying: L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Manager Morrison worked with Westland Archaeology which was contracted to do an extensive cultural survey project on the Whiskey Dick and Quilomene units. The information provided from this project will allow the L.T. Murray Wildlife Area management team to better plan and implement restoration activities post 2022 Vantage Highway Fire while protecting sensitive and significant cultural resources. 

L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Roads: L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Winegeart and Natural Resource Technician Blore added barrier rocks to a road that led to an illegal crossing through Cole Creek on the Yakima River Unit near Easton. A new road was quickly created around the barrier so Winegeart and Blore placed two cameras on the crossing hoping to identify the individuals making the new roads over the holiday weekend. 

Sunnyside Snake River Wildlife Area Weed Control: Sunnyside Snake River Wildlife Area staff members have been spraying near access sites and roadways to reduce many species of broadleaf weeds. Staff members will be transitioning to mowing interior roadways to reduce fire hazards and then begin wetland mowing activities in a few weeks. 

Seed Collection Efforts at Thornton: Sunnyside Snake River Wildlife Area Manager Kaelber, Natural Resource Technician Edwards, and Private Lands Biologist Manderbach joined staff members from the Benton/Franklin Conservation District in a seed collection effort of slender hawksbeard on the Thornton Unit. The collected seed will be used in seedball making events and spread out over other units of the wildlife area. Spiny hopsage and lupine seeds were collected as well.

Antelope Bitterbrush Seed Collection: Sunnyside Snake River Wildlife Area Manager Kaelber and Private Lands Biologist Manderbach collected antelope bitterbrush seed from the Thompson Seeps Unit. The amount and size of bitterbush plants in multiple areas of the unit is promising for seed collection events far into the future. The seed will be used to restore bitterbrush on other wildlife area units and private lands access sites.

Providing Education and Outreach

Wenas Wildlife Area – Durr Road Kiosk: Wenas Wildlife Area Lands and Recreation Specialist Frame and Natural Resource Technicians Stoltenow and Janes installed a kiosk and repositioned a green dot road management sign on the north Durr Road entry to the wildlife area. The green dot road management sign shows information regarding the proper usage of green dot roads and includes the new 2024 Green Dot Road Map. The kiosk has signage that provides information on regulations for recreational use, emergency restrictions, and as well as information about the wildlife area.

Wenas Wildlife Area – New Green Dot Road Maps for 2024: Wenas Wildlife Area Lands and Recreation Specialist Frame has ordered and installed new for 2024, Green Dot Road Maps on all the informational kiosks that are within the Wenas Wildlife Area. These new maps have updated information about the wildlife area and are printed in full color, making it easy for members of the public to read.

Conducting Business Operations and Policy

Region 3 Wildlife Program Safety Training – ATV and UTV classes: Over two days, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Safety Staff Members Mundy and Culican held an ATV and UTV Operator Training class at Oak Creek Wildlife Area. More than 15 Region 3 staff members are now trained and certified to safely operate and maintain these machines, which are important for the off trail and often remote nature of some of WDFW’s work. 

Supervisor Training: Private Lands Biologist Manderbach attended a three-day supervisor training in Spokane. The three days were packed full of great information and interaction with the class on leadership and supervisory strategies as well as general Human Resource information. The training is intended for new supervisors, but it is also a great refresher course for any supervisor and a great informative training for those who do not supervise.

Other

Sunnyside Snake River Wildlife Area Byron Wetland Tour: Sunnyside Snake River Wildlife Area Manager Kaelber toured the Byron Unit with partners from Ducks Unlimited to deploy data loggers to record water data from multiple ponds located in the eastern portion of the Byron Unit. Data collected will help with possible future wetland development and management. While touring many waterfowl broods were observed along with many species of shorebirds and turtles. 

Managing Wildlife Populations

Band-Tailed Pigeon: Biologist Murphie assisted Biologist Novack in setting and maintaining a trap for band-tailed pigeons. Unfortunately, it does not appear to be getting any use and the trap will be pulled.

Northwestern Pond Turtle: Biologist Murphie conducted work related to northwestern pond turtle recovery at the site he manages in District 15 for turtles.

Black Bear: Biologist Murphie assisted Lower Elwha Tribal biologists in checking bear hair snare stations. This work is part of a joint Lower Elwha Tribe and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife project to estimate bear abundance in GMU 603.

Bats: Biologist Murphie participated in bat count activities in the Hamma Hamma, Quilcene, and Hoodsport areas as part of routine surveillance. He reported counts of 306 bats for Hamma Hamma cabin, 40 for the Quilcene Shop, and 39 at a private cabin near Hoodsport.

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Vegetation Maintenance at Access Sites: The water access team has been in its annual race against the elements, trying to compete with perfect grass growing weather to keep vegetation at the region’s access sites at a reasonable level. This year the elements had a great start with the access team taking the role of the tortoise and slowly gaining ground. The elevated temperatures in July should help staff members gain some headway on the many access areas that require vegetation maintenance. 

Pre-Holiday Access Site Cleanup Activities: Access staff members removed abandoned vessels from Lake Isabella and Rapjohn Lake. The vessel at Rapjohn Lake had been dumped, filled with trash, and pushed out into the lake. It had to be pulled back to shore before it could be removed. In preparation for the upcoming 4th of July holiday, access staff members removed or painted over graffiti and posted firework restrictions at several of the region’s access areas.

Nisqually River Disabled Access Redevelopment: The Nisqually River disabled access has reopened after site redevelopment. Access staff members assisted with the project which included tree felling, parking lot grading, paving, and striping, restroom replacement, fishing shed upgrades, and vegetation planting.

Leyendecker Park Redevelopment: Access staff members assisted with the Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) funded redevelopment project at Leyendecker Park in Clallam County which includes a new restroom, ADA loading platform, and boat launch. The redevelopment of this access area has been supported and long awaited by the Forks community including the Quileute Tribe, local fishers, and many guides who utilize this access at the confluence of the Bogacheil and Sol Duc rivers which become the Quilayute River at this point. Logs from trees felled at the site were donated to the Quileute Tribe.

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Orange Hawkweed, Class B Noxious Weed: Access staff members took measures to remove orange hawkweed, a class B designated noxious weed, from Lake Sutherland in Clallam County. The access staff members hand pulled the plants with visible orange hawkweed flowers at the Lake Sutherland access site and mowed the entire area that was in near bloom. Eradication at this site has been an on-and-off-again issue due to seed drift from a neighboring property. The team will continue to monitor the area.

North Olympic Wildlife Area Management: Wildlife Area Manager Laushman and Technician Morgan treated hairy willowherb and other invasive weeds at the Bell Creek Unit, and Morgan mowed and maintained vegetation at several North Olympic units.

Irondale Beach: Natural Resource Specialist McKinlay mowed the paths and parking area at Irondale Beach, part of the Chimacum Wildlife Area Unit, in preparation for increased use around the 4th of July holiday.

Providing Education and Outreach

McNeil Island: Wildlife Program Staff Members Blankenship, Mire, and Laushman gave a tour of restoration sites at the McNeil Island Wildlife Area to South Sound documentary filmmakers.

Tacoma Ocean Fest: Wildlife Area Manager Laushman, Communications Specialist Mire, and Hunter Education Specialist Montgomery, along with Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) volunteers, staffed a booth at the Tacoma Ocean Fest and talked with the public about WDFW information. 
WDFW staff members providing outreach at the Tacoma Ocean Fest.

General Wildlife Inquiries: Biologist Murphie responded to inquiries received by phone or email related to deer and elk hunting, band-tailed pigeons, gray squirrels, bats, and other birds.