December 28, 2000 - January 10, 2001

Contact: Madonna Luers, (509) 456-4073

Winter conditions often cause wildlife to concentrate in foraging areas, making them or their tracks more visible. So with holidays free from work or school, this is a perfect time to take a wildlife-watching trip.

One of the easiest, most popular and centrally-located wildlife viewing outings in Washington is a visit to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Oak Creek Wildlife Area just northwest of Yakima, where thousands of elk gather daily at a winter feeding station. The most convenient viewing spot is right at the area headquarters, just off State Route 12 west of Naches, where there's a big, plowed parking lot, a high fence separating viewers from elk, and visitor center.

At 1 p.m. every day, a hay truck rolls through the yard where hundreds of elk hang out nearly round-the-clock, and many more come out of the woods to feed. Daily feeding of of elk continues through the winter, as it has since 1945 to help keep elk off adjacent private land where they cause damage.

School groups and elk viewers and photographers of all ages are always welcome. Senior Environmental Corps volunteers are usually on hand to answer questions about the elk. For more information, call Oak Creek at (509) 653-2390 or WDFW's Yakima office at (509) 575-2740.

Another rewarding wildlife watching trip is to the Fir Island Farms site on WDFW's Skagit Wildlife Area, where thousands of snow geese gather. Up to 20,000 snow geese can be seen at a time now in this area, which lies on Skagit Bay, southwest of Mount Vernon in Skagit County. This delta on Puget Sound is one of the most important and productive waterfowl wintering areas in the western arm of the Pacific Flyway. Goose watchers should use the wildlife area parking lot, as there is no parking on Fir Island Road. For more information, call the Skagit Wildlife Area at (360) 445-4441 or WDFW's Mill Creek office at (425) 775-1311.

Rare, close-up views of Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep are available at a winter feeding station at the south end of Sullivan Lake near Noisy Creek campground in Pend Oreille County. Feed is put out twice a week by volunteers coordinated by WDFW and the U.S. Forest Service's Sullivan Lake District of the Colville National Forest. Visitors are advised to prepare for a quarter-mile hike through snow from the campground parking lot and to dress warmly for standing quietly at a viewing platform. This watchable wildlife spot is worth the 80-mile drive northeast of Spokane. For more information, call WDFW's Spokane office at (509) 892-1001 or the Sullivan Lake Ranger District Office at (509) 446-2681.

Winter wildlife watching combines well with cross-country skiing or snow-shoeing around a local park or natural area. Even if you don't see wild animals themselves, it's fun to look for tracks to find the "stories" of animals that passed by earlier. Take a wildlife tracks field guide along to help identify species. Take binoculars, too, because you'll want to keep your distance from deer, elk, or other wildlife that you might see; winter is hard enough on them without the added stress of humans attempting to get too close. Snowmobilers should be especially cautious about disturbing wildlife with noise and speed.

Wildlife viewing can also be as easy as looking out your own window on backyard feeders. Many birds winter in Washington and can be enjoyed close-up by providing open water, seed and other food. Suet or fat is particularly attractive to many birds in winter and is available in easy-to-handle blocks at many stores. Hang it in rubber-coated wire cages or plastic mesh bags and watch for these suet fans: Downy and hairy woodpeckers, northern flicker, red-breasted and white-breasted nuthatches, Steller's jay, black-capped, chestnut-backed and mountain chickadees, dark-eyed junco, and bushtit.

Whether on your own property or on a wildlife watching outing, keep dogs confined or restrained. In snow-covered areas, dogs can be a problem when they instinctively chase deer or elk. Dogs slide snow-shoe-style across crusted snow while deer and elk sink through, creating the possibility that they will catch and attack wildlife. Here are more recreation opportunities across the state:

North Puget Sound:

• Wildlife viewing: With the arrival of winter, bald eagles are starting to show up in the upper Skagit River Valley in north-central Skagit County, between Concrete and Rockport. This is the area where the annual Upper Skagit Bald Eagle Festival is scheduled Feb. 3 and 4. To track the eagle counts and get festival details check http://www.skagiteagle.org on the Internet. In the lower Skagit River delta, DeBay Slough is a prime spot for winter bird watching.

• Hunting: Stormy weather has been a boon for waterfowl hunters. On one weekend in mid-December, "hunting was probably the best it's been in years" at the Skagit Wildlife Area, according to WDFW Waterfowl Manager Don Kraege. Hunters are finding particularly good success on the area's Island segment, between Skagit Bay and Port Susan. Other prime spots are the Welts Unit on Padilla Bay, and Skagit Valley hunting areas planted in grain. Hunters should look for WDFW "Feel Free to Hunt" signs or triangular duck stamp program logos. New land added to the Samish Unit of the Skagit Wildlife Area also is open for hunting, says Lora Leschner, WDFW regional wildlife manager. This week marks the last few days of snow goose hunting, which ends Jan. 1, but the waning weeks of the season are typically the best, Kraege notes. Meanwhile, brant enthusiasts will know in about a week whether a hunt will be held in 2001– the decision depends on the results of an aerial survey scheduled to take place the first week of January, weather permitting. If the aerial count tops 6,000 birds, then a hunt can be held.

• Fishing: With winter rains increasing, rivers are rising and hatchery steelhead fishing is heating up around the region. "The recent heavy rains definitely help– they get the fish moving into the rivers," says Steve Foley, WDFW fish biologist. Anglers are reminded that wild release rules are in effect on most of the river systems, except for the Green.

Olympic Peninsula/South Sound:

• Wildlife viewing: Two snowy owls have been spotted in the region – one on the Nisqually Delta and another on the Ocean Shores Peninsula. This is a rare, but not unprecedented, occurrence. "Every few years, we'll get these reports of sightings," said Jack Smith, regional WDFW wildlife manager. "Sometimes, people have spotted up to 20 or more." Even so, Washington is on the southern frontier for these nomadic birds, which generally breed in northern latitudes from the Aleutian Islands to Labrador. Also known as the Arctic Owl and the Tundra Ghost, the snowy owl has a white head and a wingspan of up to five feet. "These things are big," Smith said. In short, you'll know one if you see one. If, however, it's returning steelhead you want to see – and you don't particularly want to catch one – take a trip out to the Aberdeen Lake Hatchery and you'll see plenty in the next few weeks. To get there, turn north off Highway 12 (two miles east of Aberdeen onto Aberdeen Lake Road. In a half a mile, turn left and follow the sign to Lake Aberdeen and Trout Hatchery. When you get to a fork in the road, go right and you'll arrive at the parking lot.

• Hunting: Ducks and geese continue to be in short supply on most lands open to hunting, although geese are making a nuisance of themselves at the Ocean Shores Airport and other properties. Jack Smith, regional WDFW wildlife manager, said a recent survey of the Chehalis Valley turned up only 700 geese, about a dozen of which were duskies. Willapa Bay and Grays Harbor offer better prospects for hunters who don't mind hunting on salt water, although Smith notes that things could pick up at any time. "We could still get birds from the north or from the Columbia River, so I wouldn't get discouraged," Smith said. The WDFW office in Montesano plans to conduct its annual mid-winter waterfowl count for the entire region during the first week of January, which will give a better idea of the true status of the regional waterfowl population.

• Fishing: Rain has finally come to the north coast of the Olympic Peninsula, just in time for the traditional peak of the hatchery steelhead season. "Some people are limiting on the Bogachiel and the Quillayute system is really starting to pick up," said Bob Leland, WDFW steelhead manager. "The next two or three weeks should be prime time for steelhead." During creel checks conducted on the Bogachiel/Quillayute system during the week before Christmas, 140 anglers had 83 steelhead in their possession. Checks on the Calawah, Sol Duc and Hoh found far fewer anglers and fish. The daily bag limit for steelhead is two fish – only one of which can be wild, although hatchery fish represent the bulk of the fishery. Leland noted that WDFW released 56,000 steelhead smolts into the Bogachiel and 95,000 into the Calawah in 1999. "Those two-salt fish are coming back now and should support a good fishery this year," he said. To catch them, try salmon roe or sand shrimp pinned below a winged bobber or some other foam float, such as a cheater or corky. Big plugs are also popular – particularly in purple. Steelhead are also running in the Puyallup and Carbon rivers, although anglers are reminded that wild fish must be released under emergency order.

Southwest Washington:

• Wildlife viewing: Wilson Cady of the Vancouver Audubon Society reports that 106 species of birds were found on the Washington side of the Sauvie Island Christmas Bird Count, held Dec. 17. The Vancouver Audubon Chapter's 25th anniversary count brought out 22 people to participate. The tri-colored blackbird and the northern saw-whet owl were new to the Washington side of the count circle. Both the tundra swan and the sandhill crane numbers were higher than past years' counts. Two red-shouldered hawks also were a bonus as they are a review species in the state. Two species of yellowlegs were seen side by side, providing an excellent comparison. The hybrid red-breasted/red-naped sapsucker was in the same tree where it was found last year. Independently reported were sightings of large numbers of bald eagles in the Klickitat Wildlife Area during the past couple of weeks. Some were reportedly feeding on spawned-out salmon on the Klickitat River near the Liedl campground. The Vancouver lowlands area continues to be popular for birding, with the first Clark County sighting of the American tree sparrow. A visitor to the Shillapoo Lake area early in the month reported six of these, as well as 60 savannah sparrows, 12 short-eared owls (flying), a barn owl roosting in a shed, both species of jays and five evening grosbeaks.

• Hunting: The Area 2 goose season continues. More than halfway through the regular part of the season, 19 geese classified as duskies have been harvested, with a season quota of 80. So far, 993 hunters have checked 2,131 geese at Region 5 check stations. Special restrictions and a required hunting test are part of the program to protect the dusky Canada geese. Scheduled goose identification testing is over for the season.

• Fishing: Early-December trout plants in four lakes that are easily accessible to children continues a traditional fishing opportunity. WDFW Fish Biologist John Weinheimer reports that catchable rainbow trout of an average half-pound weight were planted Dec. 11 in four lakes -- 5,000 in Klineline Pond right in Vancouver; 5,000 in Battle Ground Lake; and 2,000 each in Icehouse Lake and Little Ash Lake in Skamania County, right off Highway 14. The lakes are open year-round for fishing but probably receive the most fishing pressure during the holidays, when kids are out of school. "I call these lakes -- especially Klineline and Battle Ground, bicycle lakes," says Weinheimer. "They're accessible to kids from their neighborhoods, and there's a high catch rate." Sport dip-net smelt fishing is set to open at 6 a.m., Jan. 6, on the Cowlitz River. Due to lower stocks the past few years, restrictions have been placed on this popular fishery. This season, it's open Saturdays only, instead of the traditional Friday and Saturday. Hours are 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. only. And the bag limit is 10 pounds per person– that's a change from 20 pounds in past years. What does 10 pounds of smelt look like? About one quarter of a five-gallon bucket or approximately 160 fish. Fishers are reminded to respect private property – whether walking or parking a vehicle. Meanwhile, catch-and-keep sturgeon fishing opens Jan. 1 between Bonneville and McNary dams. The bag limit is one fish per day, between 42 and 60 inches in length, (with a limit of 10 fish per year, per person); barbless hooks are required. Fishers may catch and release fish after catching their daily limit, but the practice of tethering live fish to exchange for a bigger keeper later in the day is prohibited. On the steelhead front, there have been recent reports of steelhead fishing success on the east fork and north fork of the Lewis River.

Eastern Washington:

• Wildlife viewing: Good wildlife tracking is available from eight miles of cross-country ski trails on Boulder Pass near Curlew on the Forest Service's Republic Ranger District in Ferry County. Sandy Lembcke, WDFW habitat biologist, reports seeing snowshoe hare, ermine, red squirrel, bobcat, coyote, cougar, deer and even occasional moose tracks. The area also hosts woodpeckers and mountain chickadees, Sandy says, with big old-growth subalpine fir and spruce in places, and clearcuts affording great views of the Curlew Valley in others. WDFW Wildlife Biologist Jerry Hickman reports that elk are being seen during daylight hours near Mt. Spokane High School on the Peone Prairie, near Mt. Saint Michael's Convent, and on parts of Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge in Spokane County. Jerry also suggests looking for snow buntings, snowy owls, gyrfalcons and northern shrikes in south Spokane, Lincoln and Whitman counties.

• Hunting: Snow cover has pheasants and quail holding tighter for bird dog hunters. Pheasant hunting closes at the end of the year, while quail hunting continues through Jan. 15. Goose hunters have been successful in the Rock Lake area of Whitman County.

• Fishing: The ice is good on both Hatch and Williams lakes in Stevens County, reports WDFW Fish Biologist Curt Vail. Both lakes are open to winter rainbow trout fishing through March, and with recent warmer air temperatures, an ice-fishing outing may be more comfortable. Fourth-of-July Lake on the Adams-Lincoln county line continues to produce rainbows over 14 inches through the ice; anglers are reminded they can only keep two of that length or greater. Year-round Rock Lake in Whitman County remains ice-free, and WDFW Fish Biologist Larry Phillips reports a recent survey of the lake showed abundant brown trout and rainbows from 12 to 15 inches. Larry talked to Rock Lake anglers with limits and found they were using large (3- to 4-inch) Rapala lures in bright colors. The most recent creel checks of Snake River drainage steelhead fishers by WDFW scientific technician Jerry Dedloff show fishing rates averaging just over 11 hours of effort per caught fish and 21 hours per (hatchery) fish kept. Although sample sizes were small, the best steelheading has been in the Snake's tributaries, with a little over seven hours of effort for both caught and kept fish in the Walla Walla River, five-and-a-half hours per kept fish in the Tucannon River, and four-and-a-half hours per kept fish in the Touchet River.

North Central Washington:

• Wildlife viewing: WDFW Wildlife Area Manager Robert Kent reports that cross-country skiers and wildlife viewers can find lots of elbow room in the Quincy Lakes Wildlife Area where the main and interior roads will be closed to vehicles through the end of the year. The Seep Lakes Wildlife Area is also a good spot to ski and watch wildlife, Robert says, because there's lots of open pasture land that only needs about 10 inches of snow to be skiable. No snowmobiles are allowed on either area. Waterfowl and the gyrfalcons that prey on them are seen regularly. Cottontail rabbits, short-tailed weasels, mink, a rare jackrabbit or two, dark-eyed juncos, white crown sparrows and deer are all viewing possibilities, Robert says, and much easier to see with snow on the ground. Remember your access decal when you use the WDFW parking areas for these sites.

• Hunting: Goose hunters should do well at the Desert Wildlife Area when its waters freeze over. WDFW wildlife area manager Robert Kent explains that geese seem to like the fields and frozen lakes in and around that area. Chelan County chukars are now at lower elevations driven down by deep snow, so it might be good time to hunt them.

• Fishing: The Wenatchee River remains iced up and fishing for whitefish is very slow, reports WDFW fish biologist Art Viola. Ice cover at Chelan County's Fish and Roses lakes, which are open year-round, is still unsafe, Viola says, so anglers itching to pull some of those perch and trout through the ice should be patient and cautious. If freezing weather stays around in the Columbia Basin, the Lind Coulee arm of Potholes Wildlife Area should be in shape for ice fishing for perch.

South Central Washington:

• Wildlife viewing: Bald eagles can be seen wintering in the Yakima area and they take advantage of the salmon carcass nutrient enhancement program in the upper Naches River drainage. Just two weeks ago, for the third consecutive year, over 13 tons of salmon carcasses were distributed in the upper Naches River tributary streams including the American River downstream from Morse Creek, the Bumping River downstream from Goose Prairie, and the Little Naches River downstream from Crow Creek. The main goal is to enhance nutrients in the waterways for future salmon populations, explains WDFW fish biologist Jim Cummins, but a bonus benefit is the bald eagles that show up in force to feed on the dead fish. The Little Naches is the best viewing area for this eagle bonanza. WDFW Habitat Biologist Ken Bevis reports that another wintering raptor readily seen at this time of year is the rough-legged hawk. This species is a winter visitor from the arctic tundra where it breeds. Roughlegs are large birds with striking, whitish heads that Ken says sometimes fool viewers into thinking they're "little bald eagles".

• Hunting: The recently extended season for damage-causing antlerless elk in Game Management units (GMU) 372 Kiona in Benton County and 382 East Klickitat in Klickitat County ends Sunday (Dec. 31). Only modern firearm hunters with an eastern Washington elk tag (EF) are eligible to hunt this extended season. End-of-season pheasant hunting in the snow means those wily old roosters are holding slightly better than a few weeks ago when they flushed wild and never gave hunters a shot, says WDFW Habitat Biologist Ken Bevis. Late-season quail and partridge usually sit even tighter in the snow and present better opportunities, says fellow habitat biologist Perry Harvester. Ducks are now on the big water, Perry notes, and shelf ice along shorelines complicates decoy-setting and make retrievals dangerous. Be careful out there.

• Fishing: Yakima County's I-82 ponds 4 and 6, open to fishing year-round, received excess rainbow trout broodstock from the Goldendale and Naches fish hatcheries in mid-December. WDFW Fish Biologist Eric Anderson reports that each pond was stocked with 86 10-pound fish. Myron and Rotary lakes were also scheduled for broodstock planting this month. Thin ice cover will make fishing difficult on local lakes, however, including North Elton Pond, which has plenty of fish for its winter-only season. Many waters are iced over, but the ice is not with thick enough to allow safe fishing. Whitefish are being caught in the Yakima River Canyon, but no recent reports from the Naches River.