Volunteers sought for habitat projects

The Idaho Department of Fish and Game is looking for volunteers to assist in planting sagebrush and bitterbrush seedlings this spring. "These native shrub communities provide food and shelter to a variety of wildlife including mule deer, elk, sage grouse and other upland birds, as well as song birds and small mammals," said Eric Freeman, Fish and Game Habitat Biologist. "Unfortunately, many native shrub communities have been degraded as fires have increased in size and frequency. These plantings are an effort to restore habitat that has been impacted by wildfires over the past several years. "In particular, we are currently working to restore mule deer winter-range that was burned in the Blair Fire (North of King Hill) and the Preacher Fire (South of Carey)," he continued. Over the past eight years, volunteers have planted 240,000 seedlings in the Magic Valley region. These efforts have helped to restore hundreds of acres of important mule deer winter range. Planting dates and locations are below. March 5th - 2100 South 1200 East, Bliss, ID March 12th - 1.5 miles North of King Hill on BLM road March 19th (if necessary) - 12.5 miles Northeast of Richfield on hwy 93 at Preach Bridge turn-off. Volunteers will meet at the planting sites at 9 a.m., planting tools and materials will be provided. For more information regarding the planting projects or to get signed up as a volunteer, please contact Eric Freeman or TanaRae Alberti at 208-324-4359 or eric.freeman@idfg.idaho.gov or tanarae.alberti@idfg.idaho.gov. Alternatively, go to the web address below to sign up and we will send you meeting information: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1praCUwujC6jcziAYn4waf8Zw6OkilVTLeSt65g…