TRAILS – Coyotes are reportedly menacing dogs – mostly unleashed dogs – along the South Hill bluff trails below High Drive.

It’s late in the season for wild canines to be associated with a den, as was the case in 2012 when several dogs were attacked by coyotes apparently defending a den on the bluff above Hangman Creek. But coyotes can be aggressive to domestic pets any time of year, wildlife managers say.

On Saturday, a South Hill resident and frequent bluff trails visitor contacted The Spokesman-Review and said, “Today we encountered four different individuals with dogs who had encounters with coyotes beneath and between Manito trailhead area and the burn area.

“Two coyotes lure one dog away and then pick on the vulnerable other dog.”

The reader said one man has had consistent issues, “but he has his dogs off leash while he bikes. My husband ran down to help him retrieve his dogs.

“I guess leashes would be effective for all involved, although the coyotes paralleled us and our leashed dog with a stalking type of behavior.”

For the record, Spokane County Code 5.04.070 prohibits running dogs off leash except in designated off-leash dog parks.

Hunter education loses ‘cornerstone’ instructor

HUNTING – Marlin “Red” Nierstheimer, 61, died on July 22, leaving a big hole in Spokane-area hunter education programs.

“We have a lot of great and devoted instructors, but Red was a cornerstone guy in Spokane,” said Mike Whorton, area Hunter Education coordinator for the Washington Fish and Wildlife Department.

“For 20 years he taught classes – a lot of classes. The values and lessons of wildlife conservation, sportsmanship, ethics, firearm safety and citizenship were imparted to thousands of Spokane’s youth over the years from Red’s teaching team, which included his wife, Andrea.”

Washington, like most other states, requires a person to complete a hunter education course in order to be eligible to purchase regular hunting licenses and permits.

The owners of the White Elephant provided their Spokane Valley Outpost facility for Nierstheimer and his team to teach Hunter Education classes. Appropriately, his memorial service was held at the Outpost on Saturday.

“He was an amazing man with a big heart who truly loved the program and the new hunters,” said Jan Ulijohn, the state’s Hunter Education administrative assistant in Olympia.

“He considered hunter education one of his life’s callings,” Whorton said.

Glacier Park sets record for visitation

PARKS – Publicity about the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service may have contributed to Glacier National Park having its busiest month on record in July, with more than 818,000 people visiting the Montana gem.

Park officials say that the previous single-month record was set in July 2014, when nearly 700,000 people visited the park.

More than 1.5 million people have visited Glacier so far this year. That compares to 1.3 million over the same period last year.

Cabela’s has programs for hunters, kids

ACTIVITIES – Programs for hunters and some special water-related activities for kids are being organized for the weekend at Cabela’s in Post Falls.

Cabela’s Big Game Classic is set for Saturday and Sunday, including free presentations related to the upcoming hunting season. Among the offerings:

• Adventure Hunting with Steve West, celebrity host of The Adventure Series on the Outdoor Channel.
• Field Dressing 101 with Idaho Fish and Game staff.
• Back Country Elk Hunting with Pro-Staff Sara Lamson.

The kids’ water-related events are on Saturday only. They include fish identification and fishing games, paddling obstacle course and a family boating safety and life-jacket fitting session at 11:30 a.m. with Kootenai County Sheriff’s Marine Patrol.