We took our annual drive Saturday to the “EAGLE TREE,” 120 miles east of Boise at WENDELL. The magnificent birds come every Christmas for about 40 days and roost in a couple of cottonwood trees. We counted 30 on January 8. They leave at dawn to fish in the Snake River and return at sunset each day.

Ask locally for WEST POINT or the eagle tree after you exit I-84 at Wendell.

Bring along a pair of binoculars and a telephoto lens if you want photos.

The added treat is making pictures through the kitchen window. We have Anna’s Hummingbirds visiting two small feeders heated with small light bulbs. Never realized they winter in Boise until last year. Sorry no pictures yet, but we are happy to share those below.

A whopping 84% wanted to leave the venue in its current location at Chinden and Glenwood. The survey offered three choices of suggested use of the 247 acres of public land.

Horse and buggy rides like this at Greenfield Village near Detroit would be a novelty at the Ag Park.

The GUARDIAN has been in favor of an Agricultural Heritage Park to demonstrate and honor our state’s past and current contribution to the farm life.

The (Little) parcel is not within the current Boise City limits but is partially within the designated boundary of Boise’s Area of Impact. And the ballot language did not specify the funds could only be used within the City limits, so funds have already been spent outside of the City limits.

The City website page for Levy Projects shows the following:

$40,000 – Highway 21 Wildlife Overpass
The project proposes construction of a wildlife overpass at Cerivdae Peak, MP 19.3 on State Highway 21. The City is partnering with the Idaho Fish and Wildlife Foundation (IFWF) on behalf of Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG), Idaho Transportation Department D3 (ITD) and many others to fund this project. This will be Idaho’s 1st wildlife overpass project and since 2016, 77 elk and deer have died due to collisions in the area where the wildlife overpass is proposed. The total expected cost of the project is approximately $3 million. The City’s contribution is up to $40,000. The project is currently in the design phase with construction expected to occur in 2022.

Nov. 1, 2018 – OSCWAC recommend approval to Council
Jan. 29, 2019 – Work Session – reviewed project
Feb. 5, 2019 – Work Session – Council approved project

$200,000 – Daylighting of Cottonwood Creek (running the stream above ground)
This project was submitted by the Ted Trueblood Chapter of Trout Unlimited, Inc. It seeks to daylight about 440 feet of Cottonwood Creek near Julia Davis Park. The creek currently flows through a pipe underground. This daylighting project will create more than 1/3 acre of riparian habitat and wetland habitat. The process will enhance fish habitat and improve the ecological function of this tributary of the Boise River. This project is a cooperative effort with the Boise River Enhancement Network (BREN) and the Land Trust of the Treasure Valley. Levy funds will be used to match other grant dollars to complete the project.

$440,270 – Intermountain Bird Observatory trail development
This project, which was submitted by the Boise State University Intermountain Bird Observatory (IBO), proposes improvements to 20 acres of riparian habitat located downstream of the Diversion Dam and between the Boise River and Warm Springs Avenue.
Project managers plan to use levy funding to build bridges and construct pathways that would reduce erosion and sediment loading into the Boise River.

The plan includes restoring a natural side channel of the river to improve fish and wildlife habitat, developing an interpretive trail system, spanning wetlands with raised boardwalks to protect critical habitat, constructing wildlife viewing blinds, restoring upland habitats, and creating pollinator gardens.

Amount of Open Space and Clean Water levy funding approved for this project (with conditions): $440,270

IBO has launched a capital campaign to raise $1.5 million for the overall project.

For both the Creek and Bird projects:
Jan. 4, 2018 – OSCWAC recommend approval of both projects to Council
Feb. 27, 2018 – Regular Council Meeting – Approved both recommendations

The image is included in a series of photos within a PRESS RELEASE sent to Idaho media. While we understand where baby bears come from, we hesitated before publishing this official release from the State of Idaho’s government agency.

The GUARDIAN noticed that news media is considered “essential” and therefore exempt from the lock down order. Using our old day job skills, we visited the Sunny Slope area of Canyon County to record the production of next October’s apple crop. Enjoy!

The GUARDIAN has no political views about wolves or elk, but simple English statements like, “We shot and killed 17 wolves,” would serve to engender more trust in the department and communicate actual events. If the actions were based upon scientific data, there is no reason to obfuscate.

The complete RELEASE.

It has been a while since we visited the area in spring and we were surprised at the way the deer and elk have been trained by Idaho Fish and Game biologists. The two big game species get along better than the Dems and Repubs, sharing dinners on the south and east facing hillsides.

The deer apparently are able to read since they cross the highway at the marked crosswalk. The elk aren’t as good at finding their way. We saw one with a GPS around its neck so it could locate and share the crosswalk with the deer.

If you go, take along some binoculars and at least one co-pilot. It is easy to get distracted as you watch the critters. Be mindful of other motorists and remember your car is the best viewing location.

Historically, ranchers and settlers spent many years and bullets wiping out the predators to insure the safety of their flocks and herds. Then conservationists “reintroduced” wolves and grizzly bears were protected on the endangered species list by well intended conservationists.

Then along came the developers and politicos bent on increasing the population, creating tourist attractions, and instant news reports detailing every encounter in the wilds.

In Pocatello a black BEAR found it so “unbearable” (sorry, we could resist it) he broke into the zoo just to have a place to sleep and some company.

Eastern Idaho has seen two grizzly encounters in the past week, one bear was killed and another TRAPPED and relocated.

Pocatello’s visiting bear.

As Idaho continues to experience rampant growth and claim top rankings as the fastest growing state we can expect to see critters like cougars and coyotes in our back yards while their former habitat is paved over by developers.

F&G officials determined that a single permit was warranted to kill a bear after the grizzly was “delisted” as an endangered species earlier this year.

Friday night, according to a IDF&G news release, a “problem bear” returned to a camp ground area near Island Park after previously being trapped and removed. The department was forced to “lethally remove” the bear. Hunters KILL bears, but conservation officers “LETHALLY REMOVE” them.

After determining that a single bear could be hunted and killed, does this mean that a second bear can face EXECUTION this fall or will the permit be withdrawn?

Police and CIA spooks tend to TERMINATE, NEUTRALIZE, USE DEADLY FORCE, and EXECUTE the bad guys. But LETHALLY REMOVE is a new one for the GUARDIAN.

Here is the official report:

On the evening of July 20th, Idaho Department of Fish and Game officials lethally removed a sub-adult male grizzly bear from near the Forest Service Mill Creek Campground in the Island Park area. Fish and Game staff were assisted by the Fremont County Sheriff’s Department and U.S. Forest Service personnel.

This bear had become habituated to humans and the Mill Creek/Rancho McCrea area over the last month. Department staff attempted to use adverse hazing techniques to encourage the bear to leave the area. On July 11th the bear was captured, radio-marked, and relocated to a new area. The bear immediately returned to the Mill Creek area. Department staff was in the process of setting a trap and capture equipment on the evening on July 20th, but after multiple attempts to haze the bear away, a high public safety concern necessitated the need for lethal removal.