Face-to-face with bears ... in Cougar country

By KAYLEE BREWSTER FOR DAYTRIPPING

While many people find grizzly bears cute and cuddly, few want to get up close and personal with one in the wild.

Fortunately, the Washington State University Bear Center lets you do some of that at a safe distance.

The WSU Bear Research, Education and Conservation Center allows biologists the opportunity to study the bears to help understand and manage wild grizzly bears.

That means visitors also have the opportunity to observe the animals.

In the warmer months, bears can be seen from a viewing area in the parking lot.

The area provides space for the bears to forage for food or play with equipment and in the pools.

The facility has six outdoor and indoor runs and dens, along with a 2.2-acre yard.

There are currently no bear viewings inside the building or formal tour of the bear center, but a new facility is being proposed to offer more educational opportunities for the public. n

LOCATION: The Bear Center is located on the east side of Pullman. While traveling on the Pullman Moscow Highway, turn on Terre View Drive. The center is along Terre View Drive, between Grimes Way and Animal Sciences Road.

WHAT YOU’LL DO:

Watch bears being cute.

DIFFICULTY: 1 out of 5. (Unless the mere sight of massive grizzly bears causes you stress.)

DON’T FORGET: Camera.

NEARBY SITES OF INTEREST:

A trip to WSU isn’t be complete without stopping at Ferdinand’s Ice Cream Shoppe for a scoop of ice cream or some Cougar Gold cheese. Located on Ferdinand’s Lane, five minutes from the bear center. There is also an observation room that lets visitors watch the dairy-making process. Not open on weekends.

ABOVE: Three of the nearly dozen grizzlies held at Washington State University’s Bear Center are seen snacking on the other side of a series of wire fencing at the center in Pullman.

LEFT: Megan Forbes, left, of Louisville, Ky., and Laurie Arp, of Dublin, Ohio, gaze in amazement at roaming grizzly bears at Washington State University’s Bear Center in Pullman. Arp and Forbes, who are visiting for work, said they were told they must visit the bears while in town. They both confirmed it was worth the long walk from their hotel up the road.

LOWER LEFT: One of the nearly dozen grizzlies held at the bear center is seen through a series of wire fencing.

Deer

By MATT BANEY FOR DAYTRIPPING

Most of the backwoods gems in Clearwater County require a significant amount of time and effort to visit. But there are a few destinations that are relatively easy to reach.

One such spot is Deer Creek Reservoir, a 65acre body of water created in 2004 for the purpose of giving locals an accessible fishing hole.

The road to the reservoir is all paved highway until the last 1½-mile stretch, which is a well-maintained gravel road. At the site are two large docks, a boat launch, a vault toilet, plenty of parking — and it’s handicap accessible. The lake is stocked with a variety of trout.

The still waters are surrounded by a dense thicket of pine trees. Eagles and hawks glide overhead, and deer can be spotted on the banks of the reservoir. There aren’t hiking trails, but children will find plenty of areas to explore.

The lake is open to fishing year-round, but the access road is closed to motorized traffic from October to early May. And on the water, a no-wake rule is always in effect for boats.

No one would confuse this spot with the well-known and rugged North Fork of the Clearwater River, which is at least another hour of driving away and requires surefooting for anyone planning to wet a line. For seniors or families with children, a Deer Creek Reservoir fishing trip might be a better option.

The reservoir is 11 miles north of Pierce, most of which is traversed on State Highway 11. The lake is even closer to the former Potlatch Corp. company town of Headquarters, which was bustling in the mid-20th century but is now almost a ghost town.

Deer Creek Reservoir was built by the Idaho Fish and Game Department on land donated by Potlatch.

Anglers can also try their luck at another manmade body of water, Deyo Reservoir, which opened to the public in 2013. That spot is near Weippe and also features easy access to fishing, and, unlike at Deer Creek, camping is allowed. A daytrip to either reservoir can also be served with a side dish of Idaho history. The Weippe Prairie is where the Nez Perce Tribe first had contact with the Lewis and Clark expedition in 1805, and gold was discovered near Pierce in 1860, the incident that eventually led to Idaho becoming a state. n

> Deer Creek Reservoir

LOCATION: From Pierce, travel north on State Highway 11, turn right at Fish and Game access sign near historic Townsite 4, travel 1½ miles.

WHAT YOU’LL DO: Fishing, wildlife spotting.

DIFFICULTY: 1 out of 5.

DON’T FORGET: Fishing gear, fishing license, sunscreen, drinks and snacks.

NEARBY SITES OF INTEREST: Deyo Reservoir near Weippe, which also provides easy access to fishing; J. Howard Bradbury Memorial Logging Museum, open seasonally in Pierce.

WATERING HOLE: To judge by its Facebook page, it’s a party most nights at the Flame Bar in Pierce.