WILDLIFE WATCHING -- A special cruise boat is being reserved for veterans, military personnel and their families for a tour on Lake Coeur d'Alene on Nov. 29 to view the annual congregation of bald eagles that come to feast on spawning kokanee.

The yearly event is so popular, two tours will be offered, advance registration is required and priority will be given to veterans, active military personnel and their families who have not previously joined one of the cruises, said Suzanne Endsley, Bureau of Land Management spokeswoman.

The BLM, in cooperation with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, offers the Veteran’s Eagle Watch Cruise on Wolf Lodge Bay free of charge. Registration is required and party size is limited to six persons.   

Reservations will be accepted by telephone starting Friday at 7:45 a.m.

• Call Suzanne Endsley of the BLM at (208) 769-5004 or Connie Curtis, (208) 769-5011. 
• The current status of available seating will be posted on the Coeur d’Alene Field Office’s website.

Reservation can be made for either the morning cruise that departs at 10 a.m. and returns by noon or the afternoon cruise that sails at 1 p.m. and returns by 3 p.m. from the Coeur d’Alene Resort Lake Cruises boat dock located on the east end of the Resort.

The general public can book eagle-watching cruises with Lake Coeur d’Alene Cruises, (208) 765-2300 ext. 5623. The boats will run weekends Dec. 6-28 and Monday-Friday from Dec. 26 to Jan. 4.

The two-hour cruises cost $15-$23, with the cheaper tickets for kids and seniors.