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  • Update on Mercury Levels in Silver Creek Trout

    As widely reported today, the U.S. Geological Survey issued a press release explaining that the 2007 report that found elevated mercury levels in Silver Creek brown trout was based on a laboratory error and that mercury levels in Silver Creek are not as high as thought.The health advisory for Silver [...]
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    Posted: December 02, 2009, 9:55am EST

  • Journey to Colombia - Free Presentations

    Can monkeys save a village? Can armadillos help a family through years of darkness?Colombia is a country notorious for its violence, but in many parts of the country, that dark past is history.Colombia is also the country with the most bird species, with seemingly endless grasslands and beautiful colonial cities.Join [...]
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    Posted: December 01, 2009, 3:00pm EST

  • Vote John French for Conservationist of the Year

    (left to right: Conservancy director of stewardship Art Talsma, Silver Creek Preserve manager Dayna Gross and Budweiser Conservationist of the Year finalist John French)Silver Creek landowner John French has been named one of four finalists for the Budweiser Conservationist of the Year Award. Winners are now chosen by vote.You can [...]
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    Posted: November 30, 2009, 2:31pm EST

  • Endangered Turkeys?

    Turkeys, turkeys, everywhere. From coast to coast, turkeys trot, strut and scratch in just about every suitable habitat.But at one point, wild turkeys were indeed endangered.How have their populations recovered so successfully?Read the answer--and what it means for wildlife conservation--in my blog at Cool Green Science. --Matt Miller [...]
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    Posted: November 24, 2009, 11:22am EST

  • Sage Grouse News

    Get the latest news on sage grouse conservation around Idaho in fall newsletter. It includes information on the Owyhee juniper control project and a story by the Conservancy's ecologist, Alan Sands.Sage grouse photo by Bob Griffith. [...]
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    Posted: November 18, 2009, 10:48am EST

  • Long Distance Pronghorns

    One of the longest mammal migrations remaining on the continent occurs in southcentral Idaho, a recent study commissioned by the Wildlife Conservation S0ciety and Lava Lake Institute found.The study found that pronghorns annually move from the Pioneer Mountains across Craters of the Moon and the Idaho National Laboratory to the [...]
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    Posted: November 16, 2009, 4:10pm EST

  • Ignite Boise

    Five minutes, 20 slides. What would you say?That's the premise of Ignite Boise, a fun event tomorrow night--Thursday, November 12--at 7 pm at the Egyptian Theatre in downtown Boise.The Nature Conservancy's Matt Miller will be one of the speakers, with his presentation "How Eating Guinea Pigs Can Save the World" [...]
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    Posted: November 11, 2009, 12:28pm EST

  • Fall Fishing at Silver Creek

    For most, fishing season may seem like a distant memory. But the season remains open through November 30 at Silver Creek Preserve.And the fishing has been fantastic.You can still find pods of large trout gulping mayflies and midges. Outdoor reporters David Sikes and Bryan Hendricks recently experienced a fantastic day [...]
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    Posted: November 09, 2009, 12:15pm EST

  • In The News

    Congress yesterday approved funding for a Forest Legacy project that will fund conservation agreements that protect private working forests and wildlife habitat at McArthur Lake, located between Sandpoint and Bonners Ferry.The funding will be used to purchase 3700 acres of permanent conservation agreements with the landowner, Forest Capital Partners, ensuring [...]
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    Posted: November 02, 2009, 11:00am EST

  • Congratulations to Lava Lake Land & Livestock

    The Nature Conservancy extends its congratulations to our conservation partner, Lava Lake Land & Livestock, for recently being awarded the Cecil D. Andrus Leadership Award for Sustainability and Conservation by Sustainable Northwest, as well as national awards from the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management.Mike Stevens, president [...]
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    Posted: October 26, 2009, 2:55pm EDT

  • Caddis Art

    If you fly fish or have ever picked up a rock from an Idaho stream, you probably are well familiar with caddis fly larvae and their cases.Caddis flies--a common aquatic insect in many Idaho rivers and streams--live as larvae on the stream bottom.Caddis larvae use silk to spin protective cases. [...]
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    Posted: October 19, 2009, 1:03pm EDT

  • Juniper Chomp

    Photographs by Ken Miracle.Junipers are a native tree in Idaho. So why is The Nature Conservancy helping to chomp them up? Junipers may be native, but they are still spreading rapidly into sagebrush country--far too rapidly for wildlife. Why?Improper grazing management, fire suppression and possibly climate change have created conditions [...]
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    Posted: October 13, 2009, 2:12pm EDT

  • Tumbling Tumbleweeds

    Story and photos by Ginny Glasscock, Silver Creek Preserve assistant managerDrifting along…Wide open spaces, a coyote howling against a full moon, tumbleweeds rolling across the prairie ….. except this last Western icon is not part of the natural landscape!A tumbleweed may be one of several plant species, mostly introduced as [...]
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    Posted: October 08, 2009, 10:52am EDT

  • Tumbling Tumbleweeds

    Story and photos by Ginny Glasscock, Silver Creek Preserve assistant managerDrifting along…Wide open spaces, a coyote howling against a full moon, tumbleweeds rolling across the prairie ….. except this last Western icon is not part of the natural landscape!A tumbleweed may be one of several plant species, mostly introduced as [...]
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    Posted: October 08, 2009, 10:52am EDT

  • Salmon Back in Big Springs Creek

    Welcome home, salmon.The Nature Conservancy has been working with partners in the Pahsimeroi River to remove barriers to fish migration, increase river flows when salmon are in the river and to reconnect tributary streams with the Pahsimeroi so salmon can access them.The goal, of course, was to allow migrating salmon [...]
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    Posted: October 06, 2009, 4:12pm EDT

  • In Recognition: Laird Noh

    This evening, The Nature Conservancy in Idaho recognizes Laird Noh, who retires from our Board of Trustees after an amazing 23 years of service.A sheep rancher and former state senator, Laird has spent a lifetime looking after the public's interest in land, water and wildlife. Laird was instrumental in the [...]
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    Posted: October 01, 2009, 10:36am EDT

  • Lands Protected on South Fork of the Snake River

    The Teton Regional Land Trust announced today that two of the last unprotected parcels of private land along the canyon stretch of the South Fork Snake River in Bonneville County are now conserved permanently.More than 300,000 people visit the South Fork each year to enjoy world-class fishing and floating, abundant [...]
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    Posted: September 28, 2009, 10:20am EDT

  • Important Bird Areas--Idaho

    Important Bird Areas (IBA's) were created to identify a global network of areas most important for bird conservation.IBA programs focus on monitoring bird populations, installing interpretive signs and developing conservation plans.But they can also point you to great birding.Check out Idaho's Important Bird Areas newsletter to learn more about the' [...]
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    Posted: September 25, 2009, 10:09am EDT

  • Check us out on Facebook

    The Nature Conservancy in Idaho now has a Facebook Fan page, with photos, events, links and more. Become a fan today. [...]
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    Posted: September 24, 2009, 9:49am EDT

  • Dead Salmon: Lifeblood of Rivers

    Salmon leaping up waterfalls and surging into small streams: These are the images we're used to seeing of fish migrations.Salmon are brightly, photgenically red in their final days--and then quickly become less so.The above photo--taken this weekend near Stanley--captures the real end of the journey for spawning salmon. But it's [...]
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    Posted: September 21, 2009, 2:47pm EDT

  • Dead Salmon: Lifeblood of Rivers

    Salmon leaping up waterfalls and surging into small streams: These are the images we're used to seeing of fish migrations.Salmon are brightly, photgenically red in their final days--and then quickly become less so.The above photo--taken this weekend near Stanley--captures the real end of the journey for spawning salmon. But it's [...]
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    Posted: September 21, 2009, 2:47pm EDT

  • Hemingway and Silver Creek

    "You’ll love it here, Schatz…There’s a stream called Silver Creek where we shoot ducks from canoe…Saw more big trout rising than have ever seen…Just like English chalk streams…We’ll fish it together next year."--Ernest Hemingway, 1939Ernest Hemingway wrote the above to his son, Jack, on his first visit to Idaho--a trip [...]
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    Posted: September 17, 2009, 12:57pm EDT

  • Hemingway and Silver Creek

    "You’ll love it here, Schatz…There’s a stream called Silver Creek where we shoot ducks from canoe…Saw more big trout rising than have ever seen…Just like English chalk streams…We’ll fish it together next year."--Ernest Hemingway, 1939Ernest Hemingway wrote the above to his son, Jack, on his first visit to Idaho--a trip [...]
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    Posted: September 17, 2009, 12:57pm EDT

  • Idaho Place Names

    What's in a name? The Nature Conservancy's Idaho conservation staff often work in remote areas with colorful, and sometimes confusing, names. Where did these names originate? What stories do they tell?Lalia Boone's Idaho Place Names: A Geographical History answers these questions for many places around the state.Of course, many names [...]
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    Posted: September 14, 2009, 12:42pm EDT

  • South Fork Work Day

    Each summer, The Nature Conservancy's Idaho staff meets at one of our projects--to camp out, see our conservation work on the ground, discuss future efforts--and to do some field work to benefit the preserve we're visiting. This year, we met at the Conservancy's preserve on the South Fork of the' [...]
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    Posted: September 08, 2009, 1:53pm EDT

  • Egrets and Conservation History

    If you're walking along a river or wetland in southern Idaho this fall, you may notice a very large, white bird stalking along the bank: a great egret.I saw two yesterday along the Boise River. They are never a common sight in Idaho, but you can often find one or' [...]
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    Posted: August 31, 2009, 2:08pm EDT

  • Cowboys and Conservation

    Idaho is blessed with huge tracts of public lands, yet private working lands--like ranches--are disproportionately important for wildlife. They provide migration corridors for big game, spawning habitat for salmon on tributary streams, nesting habitat for grassland birds and many other benefits.That's why the Conservancy has a long tradition of working [...]
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    Posted: August 24, 2009, 4:45pm EDT

  • Silver Creek Twinterns

    Working as summer interns at the Silver Creek Preserve was an amazing experience. During this time, we, Meredith and Alli, came to know and love the area. With 883 acres to tend to, there is a lot of maintenance work and we were never at a loss for something to [...]
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    Posted: August 22, 2009, 2:48pm EDT

  • Herds, Flocks and Swarms

    There are still astounding herds, flocks and swarms of wildlife on Earth--but can we protect them?Read the post at Cool Green Science, The Nature Conservancy's global blog.Above, ten million bats emerge for their nightly feeding at Frio Cave in the Texas Hill Country. Below, macaws gather at a clay lick [...]
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    Posted: August 21, 2009, 1:04pm EDT

  • Don't Move a Mussel

    Zebra and quagga mussels--non-native species that have spread rapidly in other states--are not in Idaho. Yet.The above video gives a good overview of the problem, and what it could cost Idaho if these species were introduced to our state's waters.Non-native mussels were unintentionally introduced into the Great Lakes in the [...]
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    Posted: August 17, 2009, 3:08pm EDT

  • Hummingbird Video

    Hummingbirds are amazing birds to watch as they zip around wildflowers or backyard feeders. These little birds actually are quite diverse--with more than 300 species found in the Americas (they aren't found on other continents).Idaho has three species. But South America is the real haven for hummingbirds. Ecuador is home' [...]
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    Posted: August 13, 2009, 2:43pm EDT

  • Deer Sign

    Idaho has many large mammal species with large home ranges, and increasingly, their migrations and movements put them onto roads at some point during the year.Roads obviously aren't going away. But there are ways we can reduce the number of animals killed on the highways.The ubiquitous "deer signs" around the' [...]
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    Posted: August 10, 2009, 10:56am EDT

  • Bear Beware

    You know the old saying: A fed bear is a dead bear.Whenever bears become acclimated to humans, bears lose. There are a number of educational efforts that teach people how to be "bear aware." But sometimes bears still start hanging around towns, farms or residences.Enter the Karelian bear dog. This [...]
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    Posted: August 06, 2009, 1:28pm EDT

  • Deer With Tusks

    It's the time of year when the males of Idaho's deer species--whitetail, mule deer, elk, moose and caribou--wear impressive, velvet-covered antlers.But there is one deer species in the world that does not carry antlers: the water deer. This strange beast, instead, has tusks. Yes, tusks. The water deer (pictured above) [...]
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    Posted: August 03, 2009, 1:15pm EDT

  • The Search for the Giant Palouse Earthworm

    Photos courtesy the University of Idaho.My dad sends me this story of one of Idaho's most little known (and little seen) creatures, something that seems from the realm of science fiction.The giant Palouse earthworm reportedly grows up to three feet, secretes a lily-like smell and spits at predators.But it's only [...]
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    Posted: July 30, 2009, 10:22am EDT

  • Out-Foxed

    Red fox photo by Phares Book.How could two fox species be so different?This is a tale of two foxes, one that thrives alongside humanity and one that was almost lost forever--and now needs human help to rebound.The red fox is no doubt familiar to most Idahoans. You are quite likely [...]
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    Posted: July 27, 2009, 12:59pm EDT

  • Otters

    This morning while jogging along Boise's Greenbelt, I was lucky enough to see a river otter swimming in the Boise River. (It was just downstream from the Highway 21 bridge if you want to look for it).Otters are one of the most fun animals to observe, as they seem to [...]
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    Posted: July 22, 2009, 4:11pm EDT

  • Trout in the Owyhees

    I recently wrote on this blog about the extensive river and wetland restoration projects underway at the 45 Ranch deep in the Owyhees. Owners Charles Conn and Dennis Fitzpatrick have the goal of providing the best habitat for a variety of desert wildlife.Charles Conn now sends this photo of an [...]
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    Posted: July 20, 2009, 2:50pm EDT

  • Brief Thoughts on Buying Local

    At last night's entertaining Ignite Boise 2, a recurring theme was the importance of thinking and buying local. Several presenters suggested the current economy provides an opportunity to return to a more local economy. They advocated bartering, growing your own food and buying from Idaho businesses.Of course, eating (and buying) [...]
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    Posted: July 17, 2009, 11:20am EDT

  • Summer Reading

    Looking for a good summer read? Here are some great conservation and nature books you may want to pack along on your next outing. When wolves returned to Yellowstone after being absent for decades, how did prey react? Did elk and moose know wolves were dangerous, or did they have [...]
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    Posted: July 13, 2009, 11:17am EDT

  • "Green" Grilling

    It looks to be a beautiful summer weekend throughout much of Idaho--the perfect weather for a backyard barbecue or picnic.Actually, across the country, some 60 million people will barbecue this summer. As Darci Palmquist points out on nature.org, this has considerable environmental consequences: These millions of BBQs release some 225,000 [...]
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    Posted: July 10, 2009, 3:02pm EDT

  • July Activites at Flat Ranch Preserve

    The Nature Conservancy's Flat Ranch Preserve offers a variety of summer activities and lectures at the preserve's visitor center.The preserve is located just off Highway 20 in Macks Inn, about 15 miles west of West Yellowstone.All events are free to the public. For more information, phone (208) 558-7629 or email [...]
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    Posted: July 08, 2009, 2:49pm EDT

  • Silver Creek: A Guide's Perspective

    Fly fishing guide Greg Loomis has spent more than 20 years figuring out the wary trout on Silver Creek. This month on nature.org/Idaho, Greg offers his perspective on the creek and gives an angling primer for those heading to the preserve. Read more. And Greg has done more than fish [...]
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    Posted: July 01, 2009, 2:53pm EDT

  • 45 Ranch: Restoring an Owyhee Wildlife Oasis

    “Wetlands” and “desert”: For most people, these are two words that don't go together.However, wetlands along desert rivers are incredibly important for wildlife: for water, for fresh forage, for a place to escape the often harsh weather on canyon rims.On the 45 Ranch, set deep in one of the most' [...]
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    Posted: June 29, 2009, 11:12am EDT

  • Flat Ranch Flowers

    A dramatic field of wildflowers greets visitors to The Nature Conservancy's Flat Ranch Preserve, near Macks Inn.Flat Ranch makes a perfect stop if you're heading to Yellowstone National Park this summer: The preserve is just 15 miles west of West Yellowstone. It is right off Highway 20 and is well' [...]
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    Posted: June 25, 2009, 2:18pm EDT

  • Fishing and Climate Change

    Is the Big Wood destined to become a bass river? Will salmon conservation efforts in Idaho soon be rendered moot, because rivers are too warm for coldwater fish? Will New Zealand mud snails in Silver Creek--present but not problematic--suddenly erupt and overtake the whole watershed?We don't have the answers to' [...]
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    Posted: June 22, 2009, 2:27pm EDT

  • Owyhee Wildlife

    Nature Conservancy volunteer Ken Miracle sends these photos of sagebrush wildlife from a recent trip to the South Fork of the Owyhee River.The first is a sage grouse protecting her brood. It's an important time of year for sage grouse, as the young are busy consuming protein in the form [...]
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    Posted: June 18, 2009, 10:56am EDT

  • Boise Peregrine Cam

    Many believe that technology, television and computers are leading causes in separating people from nature--undoubtedly true in most cases. But at times, technology also help generate excitement about wildlife.Peregrine falcons have been flying around Boise for years, but never have they generated as much excitement as this year, with the [...]
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    Posted: June 10, 2009, 2:32pm EDT

  • Preserve Opening Day Report

    Submitted by Meredith A. Stewart, Silver Creek intern Such excitement around here as opening day of fishing season arrived!The evening prior to opening day, dozens of trailers were parked and tents popped up. Over the course of the next day, 176 visitors signed in at the Silver Creek Preserve.The barbecue [...]
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    Posted: June 08, 2009, 11:35am EDT

  • Waiting for Brown Drake, 2009

    The brown drake mayfly hatch on Silver Creek is one of the most spectacular hatches you'll ever see--if you're lucky enough to actually be there when they hatch.Brown drakes are large mayflies, and they hatch in numbers that defy description. As with many mayfly species, they live as nymphs underwater, [...]
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    Posted: June 04, 2009, 11:31am EDT

  • Mercury & Fish Consumption

    Since elevated levels of mercury were found in Silver Creek brown trout last year, we have received many inquiries about the safety of eating fish in Idaho. (It should be noted that Silver Creek Preserve is managed under catch-and-release regulations, so you may not keep trout there).Many Idaho rivers and [...]
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    Posted: June 03, 2009, 4:46pm EDT

  • Mountain Bikers: Respect Ewe Turns

    By Bas Hargrove, The Nature ConservancyThis is my favorite time of year in Boise.The flowers are blooming, trees are leafing out, and the trails are drying up enough to ride. So I was in a fine mood on this evening in May, pedaling out the Watchman Trail, one of Ridge [...]
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    Posted: May 29, 2009, 4:04pm EDT

  • Amphibians in Idaho

    Idaho conservationists don't often talk about amphibians. That's probably because the state has only fifteen species (and one of them, the bullfrog, is not native).Compared to some areas of the tropics this is a paltry number: Colombia, for instance, has 754 amphibian species, with ten new species found just this' [...]
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    Posted: May 26, 2009, 10:57am EDT

  • Fishing Season Opens at Silver Creek

    The fishing season opens on Silver Creek Preserve tomorrow, May 23, with a free barbeque, a nature walk and of course, world-class fishing.It also starts the summer season at the preserve, with the visitor center open 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. daily, and free nature walks every Saturday at 9:30 [...]
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    Posted: May 22, 2009, 3:33pm EDT

  • Rubber Boa

    The Conservancy's North Idaho land steward, Justin Petty, was recently lucky enough to find this creature--a rubber boa--while hiking in the Selkirk Mountains, near Boundary Creek Wildlife Management Area.Boas in Idaho? It may seem strange to find a boa, a snake in the same family as the boa constrictor and' [...]
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    Posted: May 18, 2009, 12:21pm EDT

  • Imbalance, or In Balance?

    Walk along any Idaho stream or river this spring, and you may catch a glimpse of the creature above: the American mink. Mink are common in Idaho, but never occur at very high densities.They roam along streams, feasting on frogs, muskrats, crayfish and fish. They're a small predator, but quite' [...]
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    Posted: May 11, 2009, 3:26pm EDT

  • Planting the 'Nature Fire'

    Planting Day in the Burn AreaVisitors coming to the Silver Creek Preserve this spring will certainly notice some changes since last summer’s wildfire. The Nature Fire burned a total of 14,869 acres in and around the Picabo Hills in late August, including about 20 acres on The Nature Conservancy property. [...]
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    Posted: May 04, 2009, 4:09pm EDT

  • Counting Birds at Silver Creek

    Blog by Ginny Glasscock. Willet photo by Dave Glasscock.April 15 may have been the tax deadline, but it was also the date for the monthly bird survey at The Nature Conservancy’s Silver Creek Preserve.So, having submitted my “extension of time to file” form, I rose early and headed out on [...]
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    Posted: April 27, 2009, 4:35pm EDT

  • Visit an Idaho Preserve

    Does the recent warm spell have you itching for some summer fun?Now's the time to start planning a trip to one of The Nature Conservancy's Idaho preserves.The Idaho Statesman last weekend featured an excellent overview of the outdoor opportunities at our preserves, written by Natalie Bartley.Our preserves offer a variety [...]
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    Posted: April 22, 2009, 1:57pm EDT

  • Gobbler

    Across much of the country, the woods and forests now echo with the booming gobble-gobble-gobble of the male wild turkey.Late April marks the peak of the gobbling season for turkeys. Male turkeys gobble and strut to attract females, much as sage grouse strut and snipe winnow.At the peak of their [...]
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    Posted: April 20, 2009, 1:30pm EDT

  • Leave It (Mostly) To Beaver

    Story by Ginny Glasscock; photo by Dayna Gross. Now that spring has arrived at the Silver Creek Preserve, we are starting to get “as busy as beavers."And one of the matters we have turned our attention to is...beavers!The beaver, Castor canadensis, is listed in my Peterson Field Guide under “Some" [...]
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    Posted: April 15, 2009, 3:09pm EDT

  • Drummer in the Woods

    THUMP. Thump. Thump-thump-thump-thumpthumpthumpthump. The ruffed grouse's spring-time drumming is something you almost feel before you hear. It's a low thumping sound, almost like an engine starting. (Listen)This is the male grouse's way of attracting females. While the sound is often incorrectly described as the feather's hitting the grouse's chest, the [...]
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    Posted: April 13, 2009, 12:36pm EDT

  • On Curlews and the Coming of Spring

    Essay by Virginia Glasscock, assistant manager, Silver Creek Preserve. Photo by Dave Glasscock.In this part of Idaho, where cold temperatures, snow, and short daylight hours are the “default mode” of winter, we look forward to spring with an enthusiasm unequaled by our friends in more moderate climes.The powers that be [...]
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    Posted: April 08, 2009, 12:36pm EDT

  • Snipe Hunt

    If you attended summer camp as a youth, you may well be familiar with the "snipe hunt," a popular prank. New campers are taken into the woods and hold flashlights up to bags, waiting for the elusive snipe--a bird that allegedly is attracted to light and thus will fly into [...]
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    Posted: April 06, 2009, 12:39pm EDT

  • April: What's Happening

    Mark Your Calendar:The Land Trust of the Treasure Valley presents the Patagonia Wild and Scenic Film Festival. Saturday, April 4. 1: 30 pm matinee and 6:30 pm evening show, Boise Centre on the Grove. Award-winning environmental films in a spirit of inspiration and education. Tickets are $10; order on-line, by [...]
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    Posted: April 02, 2009, 10:00am EDT

  • Welcome Home, Salmon

    Welcome home, salmon.For the first time in sixty years, salmon will be able to return to a stretch of the Pahsimeroi River, thanks to a conservation easement and restoration projects by The Nature Conservancy and our partners.The conservation easement protects 1214 acres of important wetlands, wildlife habitat and agricultural land [...]
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    Posted: March 30, 2009, 2:29pm EDT

  • Owyhee Legislation

    Stunning canyons, bighorn sheep and sage grouse, ranching traditions and world-class outdoor recreation: All typify the Owyhees, that huge expanse of sagebrush located in Idaho's southwestern corner.Owyhee legislation that addresses issues facing both people and the land recently passed the Senate and is scheduled for a vote in the House. [...]
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    Posted: March 24, 2009, 1:53pm EDT

  • More than Big Fish

    We need your help to protect a ranch adjacent to Silver Creek Preserve. Every donation helps!People come from all over the world to visit Silver Creek. What draws them here?An easy answer might be: Big trout.And certainly Silver Creek has plenty of big trout. But is that why people really [...]
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    Posted: March 23, 2009, 10:49am EDT

  • State of the Birds

    How are birds doing in the United States?For the first time, federal agencies and conservation organizations including The Nature Conservancy have produced a comprehensive State of the Birds, which examines population trends of all U.S. bird species and the health of their habitats.The results are sobering. Many birds are in [...]
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    Posted: March 19, 2009, 2:38pm EDT

  • In the Picabo Hills

    There are so many great views at Silver Creek, but my favorite is one high above the preserve, in the Picabo Hills.Looking down, you can see the creek as it meanders through the valley, and you can see all that beautiful open space--the farms and ranches that are going to [...]
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    Posted: March 16, 2009, 2:34pm EDT

  • Rep. Simpson Secures Funding for Henry's Lake Conservation

    The Nature Conservancy would like to take this opportunity to extend a big thanks to U.S. Representative Mike Simpson for his role in securing funding for Henry's Lake conservation in the 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act.Senator Mike Crapo has also long been supportive of the Henry's Lake area and helped make [...]
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    Posted: March 11, 2009, 4:30pm EDT

  • 70,000 Geese

    Now is the perfect time to catch one of Idaho's great bird spectacles: Thousands of migrating white-fronted and snow geese resting at the Fort Boise Wildlife Management Area south of Parma. How to get there.The Golden Eagle Audubon Society last week estimated 50,000 snow geese and 20,000 white-fronted geese on [...]
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    Posted: March 09, 2009, 12:19pm EDT

  • Hells Canyon, Oregon

    The Nature Conservancy has been working in Hells Canyon in Idaho since 1987, when it acquired approximately 15,000 acres of land. Since that time, the Conservancy has been working to detect and control weeds in this stunning landscape, which includes the deepest canyon in North America.Across the river in Oregon, [...]
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    Posted: March 02, 2009, 4:36pm EST

  • Green Tech Review: Will the Kindle Save Trees?

    Note: As a book fanatic, I've been somewhat ambivalent about devices like the Kindle. But my collegue and fellow bibliophile Megan Grover makes a strong case that the Kindle has some very real benefits for the environment. Megan will now be blogging at Idaho Nature Notes on green technology and' [...]
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    Posted: February 26, 2009, 1:05pm EST

  • Pack Rats

    Thump, thump, thump, thump: Throughout the night on Saturday, I was awakened by the sound of a critter running around the walls and ceilings. I was staying at a cabin in the Boise National Forest near Lowman, and it was easy to figure out the culprit: the bushy-tailed woodrat.Woodrats are [...]
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    Posted: February 23, 2009, 3:24pm EST

  • Non-Native Birds at the Feeder

    Photos courtesy of Tom Grey of Tom Grey's Bird Photos.Looking at results from this year's Great Backyard Bird Count, it's easy to see that some of the most reported birds are non-native species. In Idaho, chances are that a number of non-native species could make an appearance in your backyard, [...]
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    Posted: February 19, 2009, 10:44am EST

  • Close Encounters of the Bird Kind

    The Great Backyard Bird Count, held last weekend, helps researchers determine long-term trends in bird populations by having thousands of people across the country record what birds they are seeing.Together, it can help determine bird population trends.I think it can also help people appreciate the surprising wildlife that can be [...]
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    Posted: February 17, 2009, 10:53am EST

  • East Idaho Wolverine

    Photos courtesy Idaho Department of Fish and Game.Wolverines are one of the most secretive animals of Idaho; little is known about their numbers or travels. Known as an animal of the wilderness, they nonetheless ocassionally turn up in some unexpected places.That's the case for this wolverine, which was caught by' [...]
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    Posted: February 09, 2009, 1:17pm EST

  • Yips and Howls

    Coyotes are vocal animals, and never more so than this time of year. It's their mating season, and at night the canyons and valleys echo with their yips, barks, howls and yelps.Howling appears to serve a variety of purposes for coyotoes. A pack of coyotes will howl to inform other' [...]
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    Posted: February 06, 2009, 11:31am EST

  • Idaho Round-Up

    Conservation news and stories from around the state (and beyond).From Idaho to Colombia: Journey with Idaho Nature Notes editor Matt Miller to a ranch called hope, where landowners are shaping a new future after decades of violence. (Colombian round-up pictured above).Be Outside!: A new effort launced by First Lady Lori [...]
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    Posted: February 02, 2009, 4:21pm EST

  • The Elk Zone

    Last night, KTVB-Channel 7 reported on people feeding elk right in their backyards in Garden Valley. Apparently, some elk will eat right out of human hands.It's hard to believe these are the same animals that so successfully elude hunters in the high country. But elk are opportunistic animals, and they're [...]
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    Posted: January 26, 2009, 12:13pm EST

  • Bud Burst

    Is climate change affecting when flowers bloom, when fruit appears, when trees bud?You can help researchers answer that question. Project BudBurst is asking you to report when buds and flowers first appear on trees, shrubs and wildflowers.While the plants in your own backyard by themselves won't determine long-term trends, when' [...]
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    Posted: January 20, 2009, 12:10pm EST

  • Robins Return

    Yesterday I saw the first robin of the year, singing cheerily at the Ted Trueblood Wildlife Area near Grand View.I recall the first robin once being a sure sign of spring's imminent arrival. But lately, it seems as if robins are arriving earlier each year. Are they really? And if' [...]
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    Posted: January 12, 2009, 1:53pm EST

  • Wildlife Adventure...At the Dump

    Where do the wild things roam? If you look to nature shows and nature books, the answer is clear: Far, far away. Nature, we learn, is some place out there, free from human influence. The otherwise excellent Planet Earth series, for instance, features almost no footage of humans in its [...]
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    Posted: January 05, 2009, 2:46pm EST

  • Silver Creek in the Winter

    Photo: Swans in winter, taken by Sam Stronach near the Hemingway MonumentMost people visit Silver Creek Preserve during the summer to fish, hike, bird, or just look around. Not too many people think about coming during the winter months but winter is actually a great time to visit the Preserve. [...]
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    Posted: December 29, 2008, 10:23am EST

  • Summer Dreams for North Idaho

    With much of the Idaho Panhandle receiving 34 inches of snow in 34 hours, summer vacation there seems a long, long way away. But this just-released video celebrates North Idaho in the summer, specifically The Nature Conservancy's Ball Creek Ranch Preserve. Jeff Wilson, of HGTV's Regular Guy series, visited the [...]
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    Posted: December 19, 2008, 10:18am EST

  • Holiday Gifts, Part IV: Good Conservation Books

    For me, the holiday season without some good books under the tree would be like Thanksgiving without the turkey. For the book-loving naturalist on your list--or if you're looking for something to pack along on your holiday travels-- here are some of my favorite recent releases.Take away large predators from' [...]
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    Posted: December 15, 2008, 12:59pm EST

  • Holiday Gifts, Part III: Wooden Toys, Jewelry and More

    A few weeks ago, I walked up a trail in the Kootenai Valley of northern Idaho, looking for deer. In the mud and snow patches, I saw all the creatures that had also passed this way: deer, elk, moose, grizzly, pine squirrel, turkey, grouse. I wasn't on public land, but' [...]
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    Posted: December 12, 2008, 11:12am EST

  • Holiday Gift Ideas, Part II: Plant a Billion Trees

    This holiday season, you can buy that conservationist a gift that will benefit millions of people: A tree. Not just any tree, but a tree in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil.Each dollar donated to the Plant A Billion Trees Campaign plants a tree in Brazil. Consider planting one--or a whole [...]
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    Posted: December 08, 2008, 3:31pm EST

  • Holiday Gift Ideas, Part I: Mochilas for Monkeys

    For the next several weeks, Idaho Nature Notes will feature some special gift ideas for the conservationist on your list this season. Cotton-top tamarin monkeys (above) are found in the tropical dry forest of Colombia, but they face major challenges to their survival.You can help cotton-top tamarins, also known as [...]
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    Posted: December 04, 2008, 1:56pm EST

  • Owl Courtship

    When you think of birds courting, displaying and breeding, you most likely start thinking about spring. It's when sage grouse strut, turkeys gobble, ducks pair off and robins build nests.But great horned owls begin calling to potential mates as early as October. They will pair off this month. They can' [...]
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    Posted: December 01, 2008, 2:39pm EST

  • A Hooray for Flat Ranch Volunteers

    A fun way to help the wildlife and nature of your local area is to volunteer at your local nature preserve. There are lists upon lists of projects to be completed every year, and many call for more hands than we have on our staff. These volunteer days are fun [...]
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    Posted: November 25, 2008, 2:48pm EST

  • Here Come The Deer

    At first, the signs are subtle: A hoof print in your backyard, a small herd of deer moving into the foothills, a solitary animal crossing the road. But, soon, places absent of deer for the past five months will suddenly be alive with them. The deer are on the move, [...]
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    Posted: November 17, 2008, 1:51pm EST

  • Snow Geese Overhead

    For the past several nights, I've heard overhead the sound of geese: Not the familiar Canada geese so common on our golf courses and farm fields. This is a higher-pitched call, yet still unmistakably emanating from geese. Early in the morning, I've seen them flying, their white forms and black [...]
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    Posted: November 10, 2008, 4:26pm EST

  • The Dragonfly Migration

    Autumn is a time in Idaho when the wonders of migration are everywhere to be seen: Dark-eyed juncos, after spending a winter in Canada, start showing up at birdfeeders. Large flocks of ducks and geese can be seen swimming in ponds, wetlands and rivers. Look closely in the mountains and [...]
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    Posted: November 03, 2008, 12:13pm EST

  • Steelhead in Hells Canyon

    Before reaching their spawning redds in the Upper Salmon River basin, some 900 miles from the Pacific Ocean, wild Chinook salmon and steelhead travel up the Snake River past The Nature Conservancy’s Garden Creek Ranch. Last week Nature Conservancy staff members Steve Grourke and Justin Petty led a field trip [...]
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    Posted: October 27, 2008, 1:47pm EDT

  • Wolverine!

    Photo by Michael Feiger, District Biologist, Idaho City Ranger District, Boise National Forest.Most of us will never see a wolverine in the wild. But it's enough just to know that they're out there, roaming the Idaho backcountry.The above photo was taken by a "camera trap" in the Boise National Forest. [...]
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    Posted: October 20, 2008, 2:35pm EDT

  • Dogs and Goats: Conservation Allies

    It's no secret that humans are seriously lacking in our sense of smell, but not so our best friends. Anyone who has seen their dog checking out the backyard knows that the canine scenting capabilities can tell a lot about who--or what--has been in the area.The dog's nose has been [...]
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    Posted: October 14, 2008, 4:24pm EDT

  • Emus in Idaho...

    It's quite common to see unusual birds at the Conservancy's Ball Creek Ranch Preserve, located near Bonners Ferry in the Idaho Panhandle. With its restored wetlands, the preserve is heavily used by migrating waterfowl, and a variety of rare birds reported. But, until yesterday, there's never been an emu sighting.The' [...]
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    Posted: October 06, 2008, 1:32pm EDT

  • Mayfly Nation

    If you want to find the most species of wildlife, go to the tropics, a fact well known among conservation biologists for years. Tropical habitats favor diversity more so than temperate climates. To give one example: Colombia, where I just spent a month, may not be the largest country on [...]
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    Posted: September 22, 2008, 12:22pm EDT
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