Team Works with Idaho F&G to Preserve Wildlife Habitat

Idaho Department of Fish and Game is getting some help from an AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps team to improve wildlife habitat in the Boise River area this spring. The team will be serving on various projects until May 10, and will assist Fish and Game staff members at two wildlife management areas - the Boise River and Cecil D. Andrus WMAs - to improve the areas. Near Boise, the team will be helping with fence construction and repair, repairing damaged roads, and planting silver sagebrush, a desirable wildlife forage plant. Fish and Game has 10,000 sagebrush seedlings that need to be planted, and the team plans to get as many done as possible. Fish and Game also needs to have some entrance gates repaired and painted for the upcoming summer. Project work near Cambridge includes construction and repair of fencing, native shrub planting and removal of exotic weeds, installing bluebird boxes, removing downed trees that are blocking roads and trails, and repairing creek crossings. "I'm looking forward to working with the Fish and Game department and learning about the wildlife of Idaho while connecting with the communities of Southern Idaho," corps member Kristen Dyke said. AmeriCorps NCCC is a full-time, residential, national service program in which 1,200 young adults serve nationwide each year. During their 10-month term, corps members - all 18 to 24 years old - work on teams of eight to 12 on projects related to natural and other disasters, infrastructure improvement, environmental stewardship and conservation, energy conservation, and urban and rural development.