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The Pine Creek/Babb Road Fire Rehabilitation Project
Highlighting the importance of habitat restoration work
By Dean Nizer/WDFW
Pine Creek Hunt by Reservation is an important wildlife corridor for big game species, including a historical elk migratory corridor from Rock Lake to the Idaho Border (as well as historical migrations from Turnbull to the Snake River), as well as a travel corridor for our declining, disease-hampered white-tailed deer and one of our few Whitman County wild turkey population corridors. The Babb Road fire of 2020 destroyed a major portion of this corridor as well as the towns of Pine City and Malden. This property lies between the two small communities and is enrolled in the WDFW Private Lands Access Program through the Hunt by Reservation Only program. The property is intended for big game hunting although it does also allow small game hunting for pheasants, quail, and potentially Hungarian partridge as well. Turkeys have begun to move back into the area, as some of the largest and oldest trees survived the fire. This property received a grant in 2021 through the Pine Creek Conservation District for a fire restoration due to weed invasion on the property following the fire. Grasses were seeded and some trees were planted although funding was focused primarily to seeding of grasses and weed suppression on 204 acres. Since funded, WDFW did a re-seeding of forb plantings, consisting of alfalfa, small burnet, vetch, and blue flax, will assist with brood rearing habitat by providing broad leaf plants to increase insect abundance. According to Schmutz et al. 1990, wild turkey poults will change from the invertebrate to primarily a vegetative diet at 2-4 weeks of age, so the broadleaf plants will be advantageous at providing food for adult turkeys as well. Also, if funded, the re-establishment of the ponderosa pine trees will aid the turkeys with providing additional roosting habitat, especially as the remaining standing dead trees begin to fall. With previous planting’s occurring on the established planting sites, follow up plantings which in total was 3,545 so far will help with survivability of the planted tree stand. In addition, shrubs will be planted to assist with lateral cover which is studied to support 73% of nesting habitat in similar ecosystems (Porter, W.F, 1992). The re-establishment of this wildlife corridor is also an important aspect of the two human communities which have lost much due to fire and the deer disease outbreaks. The opportunity to view wildlife in abundance again will provide an aesthetic value, especially as people continue to traverse along the Palouse-to-Cascades Trail that goes through the area and the property.
Grant funded through game bird-WDFW grant
This grant was funded through Sarah Garrison the small game specialist for the state and a turkey habitat grant. The money was used to purchase 3,545 trees and shrubs in the spring of 2024 and 1,042 for the fall of 2024. In combination with this grant, other funding was secured to provide additional grass and forbes mixture for poults and adult turkeys and put more money towards tree and shrub purchases. This grant through the turkey habitat grant with Sarah Garrison has been secured twice and has made a difference developing habitat on the Pine Creek Hunt by Reservation property.
Stakeholders involved
This property received a grant through the state conservation commission through the fire recovery grant program in 2021 with the Pine Creek Conservation District for a fire restoration due to weed invasion on the property following the fire. Grasses were seeded and some trees were planted although funding was focused primarily to seed and plant to help with disturbance of salvaging/logging practices and other disturbance due to the fire.
Jessiann Loomis, the landowner of the property, said, “After the devastation done by the fire that tore through the area, it was very important to us to work to restore the habitat. The hours, effort, and energy that our local WDFW has and continues to put in creates a hopeful scene for the future.”
importance of habitat for turkey and hunters being successful while hunting
Since last years (2023) turkey season through this year there have been 16+ hunters on the property to have there shot at harvesting a turkey. One hunter whose name is John Kuhlman harvested a turkey on the property being one of many to enjoy the success. John said this about hunting on the property: “As a new Washington resident and a novice turkey hunter, I’ve become a big fan of the WDFW’s private reservation system. It has allowed me to explore new areas and terrains that would be otherwise inaccessible since I have no connections to property owners. I had the opportunity to hunt on three different properties for spring turkey. Each was beautiful and well-maintained. Fortunately, I was able to call in and harvest a tom on one of them. I’m eagerly looking forward to reserving more dates for turkey and upland birds this fall.”
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Volunteers helping plant ponderosa pines. 5 volunteers helping and more than 1,500 plants were put into the ground in 3 hours. (Dean Nizer, WDFW)
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Weed infested area before planting (Dean Nizer, WDFW)
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Site prepped and weeds pulled out to provide better planting conditions. (Dean Nizer, WDFW)
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Another planting site at Pine Creek Hunt by Reservation to establish ground cover and roosting habitat for turkeys. (Dean Nizer, WDFW)
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Ponderosa Pine and shrubs planted next to field to provide transitionary habitat between covered areas. (Dean Nizer, WDFW)
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Gas powered auger is used to help dig holes for plants. (Dean Nizer, WDFW)
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A successful turkey harvest on Pine Creek Hunt by Reservation. (John Kuhlman)
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A successful turkey harvest on Pine Creek Hunt by Reservation. (John Kuhlman)