Wildlife Needs Your Help

Wildlife habitat in the Magic Valley is getting a helping hand, and you can be part of that effort. The Idaho Department of Fish and Game and the Twin Falls District Bureau of Land Management invite area residents to join them in planting bitterbrush and sagebrush throughout the region. The project is part of the Volunteers for Habitat Restoration program, a cooperative effort to improve upland and riparian wildlife habitat in southern Idaho. According to Regional Wildlife Habitat Manager Mark Fleming, bitterbrush is a preferred food source where it occurs on mule deer winter range. "Fire has impacted much of our deer habitat," Fleming said. "By planting seedlings, we're giving these areas a head start. Without our intervention, it could take a generation before we see bitterbrush begin to thrive again." Sagebrush seedlings are a key component of habitat for the greater sage-grouse, a species of concern in Idaho. In fact, shrub seedlings are important for a variety of game and non-game species alike. The agencies believe that volunteers are a key component in their efforts to preserve fish and wildlife for future generations. "When a person works on the landscape, they've made an investment in that landscape and people tend to protect their investments," said Ed Papenberg, Fish and Game volunteer coordinator. "We're planting seedlings, but we're also cultivating a community which values its natural resources." "Besides, it's just plain fun, you get to spend time in beautiful country, and make new friends," he said. Each planting effort is an all-day affair including driving time, and participants need to prepare for any weather. Planting will take place at various sites on Saturdays from late March through the end of April. Anyone interested in joining should call Papenberg at 324-4359 to sign up.