Redfish and Bats On View at Nature Center

Visitors to the MK Nature Center in Boise have an unusual chance to view seldom-seen Idaho creatures. In the outdoor fish viewing windows, kokanee salmon from Deadwood Reservoir are making redds (fish nests) for their eggs. Spawning began to happen soon after the fish were delivered to the Nature Center September 2. Like the ocean-going sockeye, landlocked kokanee turn bright red during the spawning season. Visitors will also spot kokanee in the pond in the Nature Center. There is no charge to visit the Nature Center, located at 600 South Walnut in Boise. On Sunday, October 25, wildlife educator Brenda Beckley and bat rehabilitator Beki Olson will show live bats in a program presenting Idaho bats and other bats in the world, their role in the ecosystem and how they help balance nature by controlling insect populations, pollinating flowers and dispersing seeds. The program will also deal with myths and legends, the nearly 1,000 different species in the world, where to see bats, and interesting facts (i.e one little brown can consume more than its body weight in insects every day_about 1,200 insects). Cost is $3 per person for this program.