RIVERS -- High river flows have forced closures to any kind of rafting or boating on portions of two Montana rivers -- The Smith and Belt Creek -- plus access restrictions for the Missouri River. Read on for details.
COLUMBIA RIVER -- Concerns about a major Columbia River runoff event that still might come from the headwaters, the Bureau of Reclamation is pushing water through Grand Coulee Dam without signifcantly raising levels from this spring's deep drawdown. The reservoir elevation was down to a…
BIG GAME HUNTING -- Bad news for the growth of southern Idaho mule deer herds: Fish and Game Department big-game managers said last week the overall over-winter fawn survival among 15 study areas is the lowest since the agency began monitoring: 69 percent of radio-collared…
> FISHING -- Idaho Fish and Game will be wheeling out "Take Me Fishing Trailers" packed with fishing rods and tackle for Idaho Panhandle kids to use free at trout-stocked ponds in June. The "Take Me Fishing" trailer debuts this season: June 2, 4 p.m.-7…
PUBLIC LANDS – This is prime time to visit the BLM’s Escure Ranch area south of Sprague. The scabland area is green, Rock Creek is flowing nicely over Towell Falls, wildflowers are blooming and the cheatgrass hasn’t turned brown and full of spears. Read on…
WILDLIFE -- A rattlesnake that slithered near a Kennewick playground on Thursday was quickly dispatched by a police officer and tossed in the Columbia River. According to the Associated Press, a Seattle couple called 911 when they spotted the snake moving in the grass near…
NOT QUITE RAGING REPTILES -- Despite the fear and loathing rattlesnakes provoke, they fight like gentlemen among themselves. Ray Sasser of the Dallas Morning News described; a spring battle between two male western rattlers vying for mating rights to a nearby female. The snakes were…
Rich Landers writes and photographs stories and columns for a wide range of outdoors coverage, including Outdoors feature sections on Sunday and Thursday.
