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Wildlife 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.
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