Idaho Department of Fish and Game is looking for volunteers to assist in planting sagebrush and bitterbrush seedlings this spring in three locations in the Magic Valley. These native shrub communities provide food and shelter to a variety of wildlife including mule deer, elk, sage grouse and other upland birds, as well as song birds and small mammals.
These plantings are an effort to restore wildlife habitat that has burned during recent wildfires. Native shrub communities at lower elevations provide critical wintering habitat for big game; unfortunately, wildfires have burned thousands of acres of winter range.
Planting dates and locations:
March 16: Walker Reservoir north of King Hill
March 23: Connor Fire south of Malta
April 6: Dog Creek Fire north of Gooding
Planting tools and materials will be provided at the site. To sign up as a volunteer or get more information, contact Brandon Tycz or TanaRae Alberti at (208) 324-4359 or brandon.tycz@idfg.idaho.gov or tanarae.alberti@idfg.idaho.gov. Maps showing the gathering site will be emailed to each volunteer after signing up to help plant. Over the past nine years, volunteers have planted 300,000 seedlings during restoration efforts in the Magic Valley region.