Wildlife in Hells Canyon

• Bighorn Sheep in Hells Canyon

During your visit to the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area (NRA), we invite you to observe the wildlife which live in one of the most varied habitats in the nation. The habitat is so varied because of the extreme differences in elevation within a remarkably short distance: from 7,000 feet at Hat Point in Oregon, down to 1,500 feet on the Snake River, and back up to 9,393 feet in the Seven Devils Mountains in Idaho - all within a 10-mile horizontal distance. These differences in elevation allow varied plant communities to grow close together. Each plant community, in turn, provides a living space or habitat for its own family of wildlife.

Throughout the year, there are about 350 species of wildlife that are part or fulltime residents of the recreation area's habitats. This brochure describes a few of the species of wildlife you may see at different seasons of the year. We hope the brochure helps you recognize and appreciate the habitats and the wildlife that live within them.

Spring - March, April, and May

If you are boating on the Snake River, watch for the mating, nesting, or brood-raising activities of Canada geese. They will be out on some of the river bars such as Roland and Somers by June. Also, you might be fortunate enough to see the courtship antics of the brilliantly-colored male common merganser duck during March and April. The young of these birds are usually out of the nest by early July. They are comical to watch as they skitter along the water surface at the commands of the mother hen.

Some short hikes off the Snake or lmnaha Rivers may reveal a variety of song birds in courtship, or nesting in the brushy side canyons. The lazuli bunting, a particularly beautiful bird, is similar in size to the bluebird. Red-eyed virios, veery thrushes, gray catbirds, yellow breasted chats, and the orange-crowned Nashville and McGillivrays warblers may also be seen. Look also for deer, elk, and bighorn sheep on their way to higher summer ranges.

Spring evenings in the timbered uplands are filled with sounds of many wildlife species rarely observed. The common choruses of Pacific tree frogs, punctuated by the grunts and groans of the boreal toad, provide a background for booming nighthawks, whistling saw-whet owls, fluting flammulated owls, and hooting great gray owls. The great horned owl may he heard along with yapping coyotes; then everything else will be silent.

Summer - June, July, and August

June is a particularly rewarding time to see wildlife from the lowest elevations to as high as receding snow will permit travel. The patient and lucky observer may see river otter in rivers or larger creeks. The small canyon wren flits between rocks in bunchgrass areas, and the powerful badger burrows for smaller rodents. In the early evening, find a comfortable sitting rock overlooking.the rivers and listen for the winnowing of the common snipe and the whizzing boom of the common nighthawk. You may also see the butterfly-like flight of the tiny western pipistrelle bat in search of mosquitoes and no-see-ums.

Be on the lookout for the western rattlesnake, a reptile common to the NRA, particularly in lower elevations. The rattlesnake is beneficial to the wildlife ecosystem; we encourage you to merely watch it and all other species of non-game wildlife. At lower elevations, the visitor may see the unusual rubber boa snake, which appears to have no head.

Numerous elk, many with young calves, maybe seen on the benches above the Imnaha and Snake Rivers. In the steep cliff areas around Dry Diggins Lookout in Idaho, one might also see mountain goats.

If your summer visit takes you high into the timbered areas, you may see or hear the pileated woodpecker, the largest North American woodpecker. Watch out! You may get your hat knocked off by a swooping goshawk if you wander too close to its nest during the month of June. The diligent observer may find tracks or even see the pine marten, a small mammal similar to a mink. Sit quietly in your campground and you might lure the mantled ground squirrel, the yellow-pine chipmunk, or the gray jay with a few bread crumbs.

Winter - December, January, and February

Winter is the best time to watch wandering bands of deer, elk, bighorn sheep, and mountain goats along the rivers and lower trails. Flocks of snow buntings, tree sparrows, and common redpoles may also be seen in lower elevations. Cougar or cougar tracks are fairly common.

The Snake River, and to a lesser extent the Imnaha River, attract large numbers of wintering bald eagles. There is one pair of bald eagles thought to reside and nest in Hells Canyon. The few resident golden eagles and many visiting bald eagles are attracted to Hells Canyon by the abundance of fish and small game.
During this season, the wildlife observer may compete or join forces with the hunter. Whichever activity you choose, this is a good time to see plenty of wildlife activity in the Hells Canyon NRA. Many of the birds are flocking up in preparation for their southward migration. Spend some time at Hat Point, Buckhorn Lookout, Granny View Point, or McGraw Lookout, and watch for raptors, such as sharpshinned and Cooper's hawks taking advantage of the favorable, terrain-commanded wind currents. Many of the shore birds follow the wind currents to Downey Lake, a unique shallow lake which is Oregon's only recorded nesting location for greater yellow legs. Clark's nutcracker is a common sight this time of the year in the upper coniferous areas, as is the blue grouse around timbered ridgetops. Chukars will be bunched up on the lower grassland slopes, and, in rugged and brushy canyons, one might find a black bear harvesting berries.