75th Celebration: 2010 - Exploring a New World in Northern Idaho

As we celebrate Columbus Day and the "Age of Discovery," let's not forget how much there is still to discover in our own backyard. The Multi-Species Baseline Initiative, or MBI, was created in 2010 to do just this - discover and assess species across the Idaho Panhandle and adjoining mountain ranges. "We're still describing the biodiversity of the region," said Michael Lucid, who oversees the project for Idaho Fish and Game. This is especially true of the region's less studied fauna, such as amphibians, slugs, snails and seldom-seen forest carnivores like wolverines, fishers and lynx. Lead by Idaho Fish and Game, MBI is a collaborative of organizations made up of professional and citizen scientists who are conducting standardized surveys for wildlife species and their microclimate requirements. The main focus of MBI is the inventory of 20 species classified as "Species of Greatest Conservation Need" in Idaho's State Wildlife Action Plan. These species are of special concern because they 'lack essential information' pertaining to their status - something MBI hopes to change. Why is this kind of information important? There are several reasons, said Lucid. "Having baseline data creates an early warning system, allowing managers to react if a population starts to trend downward. That can keep animals off the federal endangered species list and under state management." For more on MBI and other 75th Celebration stories, go to: https://fishandgame.idaho.gov/75th