Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Help IDFG Improve Habitat

Volunteers from the Moscow Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation helped the Idaho Department of Fish and Game plant 1000 Hawthorn seedlings to improve wildlife habitat on the Craig Mountain Wildlife Management Area recently. Pausing briefly to enjoy the spectacular views of the Snake River canyon, the nine volunteers divided into pairs and used hand tools to plant the bare-root seedlings in the rocky ground high above the river. While one volunteer used a planting bar to create small holes, the other member planted the seedlings, making sure they were planted at the appropriate depth and the soil was compacted around the roots. "Projects like this require more hands than the Department has," said Sam McNeill, Idaho Department of Fish and Game habitat manager. "RMEF does a great job providing those much needed, extra hands." Hawthorns usually grow in small groves and can occupy harsh environments where other small trees cannot survive. Once established, it is hoped the seedings will provide habitat structure and diversity for a variety of wildlife, including big game species as well as chukar, gray partridge and pheasant. Last fall, RMEF also donated $30,000 for grass seed to help IDFG re-establish native vegetation in burned areas of the Maloney Creek Fire. The newly seeded areas, which were previously infested with yellow starthistle, a noxious weed undesirable by most wildlife, are now green with native grasses and forbs. Later this summer, Elk Foundation volunteers are planning to help install wildlife guzzlers that provide water in areas where it is normally scarce. The volunteers will also be involved in planting additional shrub and tree seedlings in selected areas. Located 25 miles south of Lewiston, the 76,000-acre Craig Mountain WMA provides a year-round home to a wide variety of big game species as well as wild turkey, forest grouse and upland game birds. The WMA contains important wildlife habitat components, including big game summer and winter ranges as well as spring calving and fawning areas.