Download the complete management plan PDF Format (306KB) Download the draft management plan PDF Format (735KB) For more information, please write to: WDFW Attn: George Tsukamoto 600 Capitol Way N Olympia, WA 98501-1091 wildthing@dfw.wa.gov Other Elk Herd Plans: Blue Mountains Colockum Hanford Mt. St. Helens North Cascade (Nooksack) North Rainier Olympic Selkirk South Rainier Yakima

THE RATTLESNAKE HILLS (HANFORD) ELK STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT PLAN (February 2000 INTRODUCTION A rapidly expanding population of Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni) on the Fitzner- Eberhardt Arid Lands Ecology (ALE) Reserve of the Hanford Site, resulted in the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's (WDFW) development of this plan. The ALE is a restricted access area with unique habitats and is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). The USFWS is currently developing a Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) for the management of the ALE. Conflicting management issues of the elk resource will be an important component of the plan. The CCP draft should be completed by midsummer 2000, and a step-down plan process will be used to more fully describe elk management and other major issues. The step-down plan, generated through the CCP, will prescribe a coordinated effort between the USFWS, Department of Energy (DOE), Tribes, and WDFW for the long term management of the elk resource, (Jeffrey Haas 2000 personal communications). The risks of elk damages to the ALE Reserve's unique habitats and adverse effects of elk to adjacent private lands with high risk of crop and property damages are key factors that require the development and implementation of this plan as soon as possible. OBJECTIVE This plan will provide the base information, discuss alternative actions and set the imminent direction for the cooperative management of the elk population on ALE and adjacent lands. Specifically, the purposes of this plan are to: Provide background information about the Rattlesnake Hills elk population on the Hanford Site and Game Management Units (GMUs) 371 and 372. Identify the issues associated with the Rattlesnake Hills elk population. Identify, coordinate and cooperate with all parties including Indian tribes as co-managers; federal, state, local governments and agencies; private landowners; and other parties holding an interest in the management of this resource. Discuss various options and alternatives for current and future management of this sub- population of the Yakima Elk Herd. Ensure that actions carried out in this plan do not preclude management options in the CCP currently being developed by the USFWS. Download the complete management plan