WILDLIFE WATCHING -- Military veterans and active duty personnel are invited to sign up for free bald eagle viewing cruises on Lake Coeur d'Alene set for Dec. 5.

If the past is an indication, the cruises to view the annual gathering of eagles will fill within hours of the reservations sign-up this week.  Registration will begin at 9 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 13. Call the U.S. Bureau of Land Management at (208) 769-5004 or (208) 769-5011 to reserve seating. 

The event is limited to veterans, active duty personnel and their families who have not participated on previous cruises.  Registration is required and party size is limited to 6 persons.   

A morning cruise is offered from 10 a.m. to noon followed by an afternoon cruise from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.  Both cruises offer participants birds-eye views of our national symbol, the bald eagle, in flight above Lake Coeur d’Alene and perched on public lands near Mineral Ridge. 

The event is organized by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management in cooperation with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game and Lake Coeur d’Alene Cruises. 

Status of available seating will be updated Friday on the BLM’s Coeur d’Alene District website at http://www.blm.gov/id/st/en/Districts-Idaho/CDA.html as well as BLM's Idaho Facebook page.