10
Country Life
The CO-OP Country Round Up November / December 2020 Volume 21 Issue 1
Boundary County Field Trips By Deborah Crain, Pend Oreille Chapter, Sandpoint
On a crisp Thursday in June a fledgling group of Idaho Master Naturalists from the Pend Oreille Chapter migrated north to visit two field sites. Due to covid19, our class of 2020 has been meeting online and the field trips are a welcome outlet to get to know one another, learn in the field, and breathe fresh air. The first stop was to the Slow Cheetah Skeleton Museum, 18 miles north of Bonners Ferry, a unique and extensive collection of mammal skeletons passionately curated by its founder, Nate Hart. The first question for Nate voiced by our education chair, Pat Meyers (and on all of our minds) was “why name it Slow Cheetah”? Nate answered slyly that it is a tongue-in-cheek nod to Darwinism, and the result that the slowest cheetah winds up as a skeleton in a museum. Nate then introduced us to his life’s work of assembling an impressive display of mammalian osteology, the study of bones. He has been collecting bones since he was ten years old and conveyed a deep respect and appreciation for the stories told by the remains of animals that once roamed the earth. He showed how bones reveal cancer, injuries, deformities as well as the age and size of each animal. The remains can also reveal suffering inflicted by other animals and man, such as a coyote that starved to death after it endured losing its lower jaw to the errant shot of a hunter. The collection includes a variety of full skeletons including grizzly bear, caribou, lemur, monkey, bat, of course a cheetah, and many, many more. There are skulls galore with comparisons made between polar, grizzly, and black bears. Nate’s specimens come from several continents, obtaining donations from poached animals allowing one to experience beyond North Idaho. Touch the leg of an elephant crafted into an umbrella stand or experience the wonder of a fullsized giraffe skeleton. The museum is located at 23 Ursus Lane, Bonners Ferry, Idaho. Call for hours or tours: 208-9200890 www.slowcheetahskeletons.org
Charitable donation tax receipts provided to Donors.
Unique supplies, tools and furnishings at discount prices! • Tools • Doors • Flooring
• Cabinets • Windows • Furniture
• Plumbing • Appliances • Light Fixtures
NEW! PRICING BY THE POUND!
Most warehouse items $1 per pound (Thursdays Only)
Open Wednesday - Saturday
(208) 265-5313 restore@iphfh.org
To schedule a donation pick-up call
(208) 610-7737
1519 Baldy Park Rd. Sandpoint, ID 83864
Think Remodel • Think
Slow Cheetah Skeleton Museum – courtesy Deborah Crain
The Master Naturalist Class then headed northwest to the Boundary-Smith Creek Wildlife Management Area to view the progress of the “Bees to Bears” climate adaptation project. Norm Merz from Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) explained the history and process of this massive project. Sarah Lanthier, from IDFG, and Kristina Boyd, formerly Citizen Science Coordinator for the project, were also available to answer questions. Bees to Bears is a project to restore 250 acres of, lowland habitat to improve the climate for six species of greatest conservation need. These species are western toads, leopard frogs, two types of bumblebees, pale-jumping slugs and grizzly bears. These species have been compromised by the combination of reduction in wetlands and hotter temperatures. The major goal is to provide a cooler environment through land contouring, development of ponds, and adding shaded areas by topography and planting trees, as well as planting wildflowers and milkweed for bees and monarch butterflies. Viewing the scale of the project in person is awe-inspiring. More than 250 volunteers, many from our Master Naturalist Chapter, have planted over 47,000 trees and shrubs. Forty-seven species of native wildflower seeds have been collected and spread over the preserve. This project in conjunction with IDFG, Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative, Ducks Unlimited, and Selkirk Outdoor Leadership and Education groups began in 2018 and is expected to be completed this year. This project shows that with environmental knowledge and hard work people can help restore our natural world for the better. More information can be viewed on the website: www.idfg.idaho.gov/ bees2bears
Log Home Restoration and Maintenance Whether custom home construction, restoration of an older home or maintenance of your current log home, we are here to serve you! Family owned and operated. We enjoy working directly with our customers. 100% customer satisfaction is our goal!
Licensed and Insured
Cell (406) 529-7664 Office (406) 847-2316 mtspecialty@gmail.com
www.RestoreMyLogHome.com
