SPRING IS A GREAT TIME TO VISIT A WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA

by: Carrie Chalcraft, Regional Wildlife Habitat Biologist It's Springtime! The tundra swans are moving through, the wood ducks are here, and the geese are gabbing at all hours of the night. Baby goslings are swimming and learning the ropes in local wetlands. After a long winter of gray skies, drizzle, and snow, its no wonder you'll see folks out in the spring sunshine with big smiles on their faces! For wildlife enthusiasts, spring is one of the best times of year to see birds courting and nesting, deer fawns, elk calves, and butterflies. The osprey have arrived and will be nesting right in our own backyard! The quiet winter nights are changing to a chorus of frogs and toads. During the day birds are warbling and chatting. And at night the bats are weaving in and out of the beam of streetlights, deftly catching moths and mosquitoes. The Idaho Panhandle is blessed with numerous places where folks can enjoy beautiful scenery and dramatic wildlife viewing. Some of the best places to enjoy local wildlife are Idaho Fish and Game Wildlife Management Areas, or WMAs. Several of these WMAs are within easy driving distance of the Coeur d'Alene area. The Coeur d'Alene River WMA is just east of Harrison and south of Coeur d'Alene about one hour on Highway 97. This area encompasses most of the lateral chain lakes of the Coeur d'Alene River and is a haven for nesting birds, among other wildlife species. The 72-mile long, pavedTrail of the Coeur d'Alene's allows easy access to a landscape of marshes, lakes, and the meandering river. Thousands of waterfowl, such as Canada geese, wood ducks, tundra swans, hooded mergansers, widgeons, pintails, red heads, cinnamon and blue teal, and black crowned night herons; nest and raise their young on this management area. So, get out your old bicycle and pedal along the wetlands in the spring sunshine! Bring your boat, rod, and reel to one of the many access points on Rose Lake, Thompson Lake, Anderson Lake, Bull Run, or Rainy Hill and test your skills or try your luck catching pike, small mouth bass, or crappie. The little burg of Harrison has a bike shop where you can rent a bike for the trail, a locally famous Ice Creamery, and a couple great restaurants where you can refuel after a long day of bird watching, bicycle riding, hiking, boating, or fishing. For more information on this Wildlife Management Area, call (208) 689-3453.