Wildlife Program report: Nov. 16-30, 2024

Managing Wildlife Populations

Bighorn Sheep Surveys: Biologists Jeffreys and Eilers completed ground surveys for both the Swakane and Chelan Butte bighorn sheep herds. Ground surveys consist of biologists driving to pre-determined observation points on either side of the Columbia River and glassing for sheep using scopes and binoculars. Once a sheep or group of sheep is located, the biologist records a waypoint as well as the number of sheep in the group. Whenever possible, the biologist identifies sex and approximate age for each sheep in the group. These ground surveys can be used to obtain a minimum count for the herd but are more reliably used to assess herd composition as limited visibility from the road can mean that a significant number of sheep are missed during driving surveys. The most important metrics derived from ground surveys are ram to ewe and lamb to ewe ratios, but biologists also look at age structure of males within the population. These surveys are also useful for gaining a broad overview of each herd’s fall distribution across its home range, at least in so far as these areas are observable from the ground. 

The driving route ground surveys Biologists Eilers and Jeffreys performed in late November follow ground surveys performed by Chelan Wildlife Area Manager Amy Pavelchek and her team in the first half of November. This means that both the Swakane and Chelan Butte sheep herds were surveyed via driving route twice in the 2024 post-hunt season. Biologists reviewed minimum counts and sex and age data from each survey and estimated the following values for each herd, based exclusively on 2024 ground surveys.

The minimum count of 128 sheep for the Chelan Butte herd is encouraging as this represents the highest count for this herd obtained via either ground or aerial survey in five years. Biologists believe this number is very close to the true herd size for Chelan Butte. The very high ram to ewe ratio is typical for this herd, and the lamb to ewe ratio looks great. In contrast, the Swakane herd is likely closer to 180 to 200 individuals based on the last several years of survey data, and it is likely surveyors missed mostly ram groups as the low ram to ewe ratio presented here is not at all typical for this herd, which in recent years has averaged about 1 to 1 rams to ewes. Biologists will be performing aerial surveys for both the Swakane and Chelan Butte bighorn sheep herds in December (as well as the Manson herd on the north shore of Lake Chelan), so it will be very interesting to see how minimum counts and ratios derived from flights compare to the numbers obtained via ground surveys. 

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Waterfowl Habitat and Access Program: Biologists Cook and Morris, and Technician Blanchard completed contracts and posted 11 new properties specifically for upland and waterfowl field hunting opportunities. They all opened Thanksgiving week and are Hunt by Reservation but allow Register to Hunt after 8:30 a.m. to allow for greater hunting opportunities. The properties are grouped but spread out through southern Grant County, three near Mattawa, four near Stratford, and four near Quincy and Ephrata. Most of these fields are corn stubble.

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Depredation Permits Issued: Specialist Heilhecker re-issued antlerless elk kill and damage permits for several landowners. Landowners did not use their original permits that were issued prior to the elk general hunting season. With the close of the hunting season, landowners requested new landowner kill and damage permits. All the permits were issued for GMU 204.

Specialist Heilhecker renewed a damage prevention cooperative agreement for a landowner experiencing elk damage in GMU 204. She issued a kill permit. 

Responding to Racoon Report: Specialist Heilhecker received a call regarding a raccoon in a tree. The reporting party was calling on behalf of another individual. The individual believed the raccoon was stuck in the tree because she had not seen it come down in four days. Specialist Heilhecker provided some options to encourage the raccoon to move. It is likely the raccoon had been coming down after dark. 

Wildlife Conflict Mitigation: Specialist Heilhecker received a call from a legislative staff member who wanted contact information for a wildlife conflict specialist in the Yakima area. The caller was reaching out on behalf of a constituent experiencing a problem with geese. Specialist Heilhecker gave the caller the number of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Wildlife Services in Mose Lake since geese are a migratory bird and handled by USDA Wildlife Services. She also gave the caller the contact information for the wildlife conflict specialist in case WDFW staff members were familiar with the situation.

Wolf Pack Information Request: Specialist Heilhecker replied to an information request from the Methow Ranger District regarding the Chewuch and Loup Loup packs. United States Forest Service (USFS) staff members are working on biological assessments and need updated information regarding the two packs.

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Sagebrush Restoration Project: Private Lands Biologists Cook and Braaten, and Private Lands Habitat Technician Blanchard helped Private Lands Biologist Morris plant 2,000 sagebrush plugs using the Region 2 south Private Lands tractor and tree/shrub planter. Shrubs were planted on a previously burned area to aid in recovering shrubsteppe. A previous Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit enclosure is on site and currently used enclosures are on neighboring properties. An additional 240 shrubs of varying species were planted in a low-lying draw to help additional species establish.

Upland Bird Habitat Restoration: Private Lands Biologist Cook, Private Lands Habitat Technician Blanchard, and Water Access Technician Wilson planted 140 potted shrubs in four rows on a three-and-a-half-acre circle corner east of Moses Lake. Three rows were planted about three years ago on the opposite edge with Great Plains native warm season grasses throughout the plot. The newly planted shrubs will give another row of cover and food for upland birds, beneficial insects, and other native wildlife. This plot is supplementally irrigated to aid the grasses and shrubs. However, the species used are drought tolerant and can survive for some time without irrigation. Shrubs were planted using Private Lands hand-held augers and Water Access mini track loader with a mounted auger attachment for the larger pots.

Other

Range Rider Coordination: Specialist Heilhecker coordinated livestock monitoring activities with a contracted range rider. The contracted range rider helped producers round-up and look for livestock as they are moved to private land.

Interview Panel Participation: Specialist Heilhecker participated in an interview panel to select a candidate for the Methow Wildlife Area assistant manager position. 

Training: Specialist Heilhecker attended Personal Safety Training II in Ellensburg and completed Washington State Small Purchasing online training. 

Damage Prevention Cooperative Agreement: Specialist Heilhecker completed cost-share payment paperwork for a livestock producer with a damage prevention cooperative agreement. She submitted the paperwork to the wildlife conflict program. 

Range Rider Support: Specialist Heilhecker completed and submitted payment paperwork for a contracted range rider.

Public Disclosure Request: Specialist Heilhecker, Bridges and Supervisor Rickel all completed a public disclosure request.

Managing Wildlife Populations

Oak Creek Wildlife Area Elk Fence Repairs: Oak Creek Wildlife Area Natural Resource Worker Floyd continues to replace and repair elk fencing along the Hwy 12 corridor that was impacted by the Retreat Fire.

Oak Creek Wildlife Area Elk Fence Check: Oak Creek Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Charlet continues to check for and fix problems with existing elk fence. Elk fence checks will continue through the next week in preparation of the coming winter season.

Wenas Wildlife Area – Elk Fence Check: Wenas Wildlife Area staff members completed scouting the elk fence around the Wenas Wildlife Area and fixing any issues found.

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Wenas Wildlife Area – Tree Removal in the MRT: Wenas Wildlife Area Biologist Miller cut out a tree that was down over a trail in the Manashtash Ridge Trail system. The tree was around 40 inches wide at the base and was suspended over the trail.

Region 3 Pheasant Releases: Natural Resource Technician Pizzini and Region 3 Private Lands Biologist Manderbach completed another pheasant release as part of the Eastern Washington Pheasant Enhancement Program. Big Flat HMU, Lost Island HMU, and the Hope Valley Wildlife Area all received roosters.

Conserving Natural Landscapes

L.T. Murray Restoration: The 2024 planting season in the Whiskey Dick unit was wrapped up with the help of over 20 volunteer members over the course of three weekends. Participants from the Ruffed Grouse Society, local Field and Stream Chapter, Master Hunters, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, Central Washington University’s Geology and Biology Departments, and the Ellensburg High School helped plant over 3,200 native shrubs in the wake of the 2022 Vantage Hwy fire.

Sunnyside/Snake River Mesa Lake Wetland Project: The construction phase of the Mesa Lake Pac-Man wetland development project with Ducks Unlimited is underway. Crews expect to complete the project within the next few weeks. Sunnyside/Snake River Wildlife Area Manager Kaelber and Assistant Manager Jahns have met with the construction crews and Ducks Unlimited engineer several times to finalize the construction plans. Wildlife area staff members are looking forward to the end result and providing more wetland habitat for migratory waterfowl! 

Construction crews beginning work on the Mesa Lake Pacman Wetland Project.

Wenas Wildlife Area – Black Canyon Seeding: Wenas Wildlife Area staff members began seeding the dozer lines put in to control the Black Canyon Fire. There are over 18 miles of dozer lines in the wildlife area, with over half being seeded with native species this week. The hope is that this will speed the return to a natural landscape and help with erosion control.

Seed Collection: Natural Resource Technician Pizzini and Region 3 Private Lands Biologist Manderbach have continued to work on collecting native seeds for future restoration. Sagebrush, rabbitbrush, and juniper are all in seed currently. These seeds will mostly be used to increase wildlife habitat on private lands with public access contracts. 

Region 3 Native Shrubs for Private Lands: Region 3 Private Lands Biologist Manderbach picked up a native shrub order of around 1,100 shrubs. These shrubs will all be planted on private lands in the public access program, increasing native shrub cover in otherwise CRP grass and dryland wheat fields. Late muzzleloader deer and late archery deer seasons continue in the GMU’s of these properties, but many of these plants will be put in the ground soon after.

Providing Education and Outreach

Benton Franklin Pheasants Forever: Private Lands Biologist Manderbach attended the November meeting for the new Benton Franklin chapter of Pheasants Forever. This was just the third meeting of the newly revived chapter and one of the members reached out to get some Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) attendance. Manderbach introduced himself to the group and got a general idea of how this local Pheasants Forever chapter can work together with WDFW. A few different collaboration ideas and volunteer events were discussed for future planning.

Managing Wildlife Populations

Golden Eagle Rehabilitation: Biologist Anderson connected Wildlife Scientist Watson with PAWS Wildlife Rehabilitation Center staff members regarding a juvenile golden eagle that was found wandering around a front porch in the Carnation area. The bird fit as a new candidate of a larger rehabilitation release study examining raptors, such as golden eagles, in which Scientist Watson participates. Once the bird was suited with a solar satellite transmitter, our partners at Carnation Farms provided space for the bird to be released back into the area it was more broadly found in. At times, in the right habitat conditions, this species will nest on the west slope in very rare situations. Individuals of this species are also, rarely, found wintering in western Washington, including the lower Snoqualmie Valley in the past.

Wildlife Health – Bullwinkle Disease: Biologist Anderson received note of a black-tailed deer with a swollen snout. After some back and forth with our veterinarian staff members, they felt the animal likely has Bullwinkle disease. This disease is chronic inflammation of the various tissues of the deer’s head due to a bacterial infection. It is limited to this region of the body and does not affect meat or consumption considerations. The hunter retained the animal and now has a story of a funny looking deer.

Black-tailed deer with what is likely to be Bullwinkle Disease – a bacterial infection in the snout region of the animal’s head.

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Coyote Outreach – Seattle: South Region 4 Conflict Specialist O’Connor and Conflict Technician Inman spent time providing community outreach regarding coyote coexistence to mitigate conflict scenarios. Learn more at our Living with Wildlife pages. 

Managing Wildlife Populations

Dusky Goose Survey: Biologist Stephens conducted goose surveys in Wahkiakum and Cowlitz counties. No dusky geese were observed during the survey efforts. However, several groups of cackling geese were counted, and a group of resident dark geese were seen near the Columbia River. These dark geese look nearly identical to dusky geese; however, this group was able to be distinguished because many had been collared by biologists during a previous summer on nearby islands in the river.

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Repair at Icehouse Complete: For the past few months the old Icehouse building at the Mineral Springs Access Area has had a large hole on the side of the building. Recently this hole was repaired with the help and coordination of the Wildlife team in Klickitat, which is very much appreciated! 

Storm Damage: The recent storms that swept through the area have kept the access area staff members busy. As expected, trees and debris littered sites around the region especially at the Kress Lake trail. On two separate occasions (within a couple days) access area staff members cleared the trail of down trees blocking the path.

Managing Wildlife Populations

Mazama Pocket Gopher: Biologists Tirhi and Butler and Technicians Leipold and Troutman completed the last gopher survey for the 2024 season. The annual gopher surveys are conducted to assess both the gopher density and estimated number of gophers on any given site, for recovery purposes. The mazama pocket gopher is a federal and state listed species. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) staff members conducted surveys throughout Thurston and Mason counties this year at a subset of known gopher sites. The data collected will need to be analyzed before each site’s population estimate can be determined. 

Biologists Tirhi and Butler also represented District 11 at the annual Mazama Pocket Gopher Working Group meeting attended by state, federal, county, city, NGO, and land conservancy partners. Presentations and discussions included surveys, habitat management, land acquisition and conservation easements, recovery planning and research needs. 

Shelton Pocket Gopher: Biologist Murphie participated in survey activities associated with Shelton pocket gophers near Shelton.

Acoustic monitor Retrieval: Biologist Butler, along with technician Leopold, retrieved six acoustic monitors located at two Oregon spotted frog (OSF) sites. These monitors were placed at OSF sites in June with the goal of recording any bullfrogs that may be calling in the area. Bullfrogs are an invasive species and a huge threat to OSF populations as well as numerous other native wildlife species. These audio surveys provide one method to survey for the presence of bullfrogs across the landscape. The data will now need to be downloaded and analyzed to determine the presence of bullfrogs.

Oregon spotted frog: Biologist Tirhi participated in a planning meeting organized by Deptartment of Ecology and Chehalis Basin Strategy members to discuss a joint Bureau of Reclamation Watersmart Grant to benefit fish, frogs, and habitat in the Chehalis Basin/Black River. Tirhi presented to the Aquatic Species Restoration Program an overview of surveys, monitoring, habitat management, and research for spotted frogs that has taken place at the Salmon, Allen, and Mima Creek breeding sites. Tirhi also attended the Chehalis Basin Strategy quarterly meeting.  

Black Bear and Cougar Management: Biologist Murphie participated in activities related to drafting the bear and cougar chapters of the new game management plan.

Dusky Canada Goose: Every year, District 17 biologists survey Grays Harbor and Pacific County twice per month from November to April to count dusky Canada geese and identify marked geese. Marked duskies are equipped with collars that have a unique alpha-numeric code (a combination of letters and numbers), allowing biologists to identify the specific bird.

The first round of surveys, which Biologists Cent and Novack completed in the first days of November, revealed low numbers of duskies. This is normal, as many have yet to show up for the winter. By the mid-November survey, the bulk of the duskies seemed to have arrived from Alaska. 

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI): Earlier this month, District 17 biologists received a report of two snowy plovers on the Long Beach Peninsula that were suspect cases for HPAI. Concerned that there could be additional plovers affected by HPAI, Biologist Cent spent two days looking for sick or dead plovers at other sites where plovers frequently spend their time in the winter months. She found none. District 17 biologists and WDFW Diversity biologists plan to regularly patrol the beaches in the coming months to monitor wintering plover flocks for signs of HPAI.

Providing Recreation Opportunities

North Olympic Waterfowl Habitat Improvement: District Biologist Ament and Wildlife Area Manager Laushman met with Waterfowl Section Manager Spragens and U.S. Fish and Wildlife (USFWS) Coastal Program staff members to discuss ideas for improving waterfowl habitat and future hunt opportunities at the Dungeness and Discovery Bay Units. 

Carney Lake, Kitsap County: Natural Resource Specialist Reeves and Water Access staff members contracted with a local arborist to address needs at Carney Lake. A large fir tree’s limbs were skirted several feet up to ensure adequate space to operate a crane. This coming spring, a new restroom will be installed by way of crane to replace the existing fiberglass toilet. The upgrade is designed to accommodate all users and will meet ADA standards. The CXT restroom will drastically improve the site cosmetically, requires less maintenance, has an estimated service life of more than 50 years, and will include a designated ADA parking stall.

Wye Lake, Kitsap County: The same crew and arborist from Carney Lake addressed problematic trees at Wye Lake. Several large conifers were limbed, and branches were removed from a neighboring property’s roof, gutters, and satellite dish. One unhealthy Alder, choked with ivy and heavily leaning towards the neighbor’s house, was topped down several feet, leaving roughly15 feet remaining to minimize impact of closely rooted trees. Cut limbs and branches were chipped by access staff members. A health assessment of other trees in the area was made and will be used to strategize for future projects that will benefit tree health, neighboring properties, and the overall appearance of the site. 

Hunting Season Recommendations: Biologist Novack submitted his recommendations for potential changes to next year’s hunting seasons.

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Beaver damage response: Biologist Tirhi assisted Conflict Specialist McNiff and Hatchery Manager Aiken with relocating an adult female beaver that was blocking culverts and building dams at the water delivery system at Lakewood Hatchery. Two juveniles were trapped and relocated the week earlier followed by the continued damage and the need to trap and relocate the adult female. All three were released at a remote wetland on Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) with the cooperation of JBLM staff members.

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Bell Creek Oaks Volunteer Work Party: Wildlife Area Manager Manager Laushman helped coordinate a volunteer work party for the Garry Oak restoration project in Sequim, within the Bell Creek Unit of the North Olympic Wildlife Area. Volunteer members helped remove protective cages from Garry Oaks that had outgrown them. These trees were planted around 20 years ago in a long-term volunteer effort to restore oak habitat in Sequim.

Lakewood Turtle Pond Habitat Restoration: WDFW staff members and volunteer members spent the week of November 18 undertaking a large planting and restoration project at the Lakewood Turtle Pond habitat. Wildlife Area Manager Laushman, District Biologist Tirhi, Assistant District Biologist Butler, Assistant Wildlife Program Manager Blankenship, and Technicians Norris, Leipold and Trautmann, along with two Northwest Youth Corps (NYC) crews and local volunteers planted over 700 native shrubs and over 2,000 native flower and grass plugs in areas cleared from invasive scotch broom, reed canary grass, and blackberry. These efforts will help improve habitat for native turtles and frogs as well as local biodiversity and ecosystem services.

Providing Education and Outreach

Discovery Bay Field Trip: Wildlife Area Manager Laushman helped facilitate a Chimacum Middle School field trip to the Discovery Bay Unit of the North Olympic Wildlife Area where students learned about healthy salmon habitats and restoration actions.

Invasive Species Working Group: District Biologist Ament, Wildlife Area Manager Laushman, and Noxious Weed Coordinator Heimer attended the Olympic Invasive Working Group meeting in Blyn. Biologist Ament gave a presentation on Taylor Checkerspot work in the North Olympic region.

General Wildlife Inquiries: Biologist Murphie responded to inquiries received by phone or email related to deer and elk hunting, sick deer, Canada goose, and osprey nest removal permits.

Conducting Business Operations and Policy

Bear Management Plan: Biologist Novack submitted his comments and review of the draft black bear chapter of the new game management plan.

Other

Aircraft Safety Class Instruction: Biologist Murphie prepared and held an aircraft safety class in Port Townsend.

Wetland Management Training: Wildlife Area Managers Bechtold and Laushman attended a Wetland Management Training program hosted at Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge to learn about moist-soil habitat management techniques.