Message from the Board

July 2020

By Sue Braastad

All gardens are a work in progress.  The Camas National Wildlife Refuge Pollinator Garden is no exception.  But the goal of any garden is to fulfil the original purpose – look pretty, feed the birds or provide resources for pollinators.  And the Camas garden is definitely fulfilling its’ purpose.  If you explore the garden you will find the flowers crawling/flying with insects.  For the most part that is a good thing!  The bumblebees have been there in force, and that is excellent as they are native bees.

Other improvements are benches in the gazebo and benches in the garden area.  The tree snag near the gazebo has been carved with a chainsaw!  Check out the critters carved into it!  And please check out the garden continually as it progresses.

Refuge Manager's Notes

Brian Wehausen, 

Camas National Wildlife Refuge July 16, 2020

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The hot dry weather has finally made it to Eastern Idaho and it is starting to take its toll on Refuge wetlands and vegetation.  Wetland levels are now beginning to drop and more vegetation is starting to turn brown.  On a positive note Camas Creek is still reaching the Refuge today but just barely.  The abundant summer rains has keep the creek flowing, however those rains have subsided and the creek will stop flowing into the Refuge in the next day or two.

As always July is the best month to see all the waterbird broods that have hatched on the Refuge.  Still plenty of water in the wetlands around the auto-tour route where hatchlings will be visible.  We do have a number of Trumpeter Swans using Refuge wetlands however none of them nested this year.

Our biology staff, along with help from the Master Naturalist program, have been conducting vegetation surveys the last week on the Refuge.  The Master Naturalist program has been a huge help to us in getting many tasks completed.   To get all the things done we want to accomplish, we also have a temporary Biological Technician on board along with two intern that are employed by the Great Basin Institute. 

If you pay a visit to the Refuge keep an eye out for a moose that has had two calves with her.  They spend a good majority of their time in the willows along the creek channel.  With things drying out on the Refuge she may move a more desirable location at any time.  If you are lucky you can also see elk calves and deer fawns if you are in the right spot.  As always mornings and evenings are the best time for this.