Winter comes to Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge

BONNERS FERRY — Snow changes the landscape of the Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge, smoothing lines and softening the sounds. Winter is peaceful, stark, quiet — yet for those who look closer, it is still bustling with life.

Under the cover of darkness, strange sounds echo across the landscape, as several different owls announce their territory or search for mates.

“They start to get territorial, so there will be times where you might hear them starting to vocalize,” explained Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge Manager Dianna Ellis. “You can tell the different species of owls because they all have different calls.”

Among the owls found in the refuge are the Great Horned Owl, Western Screech-Owl, Northern Saw-whet owl, the Pygmy Owl, and on rare occasions a Snowy Owl may be sighted.

“Snowy owl may come down,” said Ellis. “They come down from the Yukon. They call it an eruption. If there isn’t an ample food supply they will come down into the lower 48 looking for food.”

For photographers, the refuge offers stunning, ever changing landscapes.

“I enjoy the winter season at the Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge because it is covered in a serene blanket of pure white snow,” said photographer Don Bartling. “The wildlife are exposed in the contrast with the white background and are easy to identify, photograph and watch.”

While the moose have moved on to higher elevations, whitetail and mule deer can be seen quite regularly. Elk are still moving about the refuge, seen most recently by snowshoers and cross-country skiers on the north end.

“A lot of times they will be in one big herd,” said Ellis. “In the past when we have seen the whole herd together, there can be over 100 elk here. Other times they will break up into smaller groups.”

The mule deer tend to be in the edges of the forest, often spotted when driving through the refuge along Westside Road, while the whitetails are prevalent in the open fields. The grasslands of the refuge provide a winter food source for the elk and deer.

Although the bears are hibernating now, cougars and coyotes hunt through the winter. There have not been any recent cougar sightings, but tracks may be seen. The coyotes delight evening visitors, yipping and howling, but may also be seen during the day.

Snowshoe hares are in their full white regalia, nearly invisible against the snowy backdrop. Skunks might occasionally be seen as well.

“Skunks are not true hibernators,” explained Ellis. “On warmer days they will come out and forage a little bit.”

Even when the wildlife is not immediately visible, the animals leave their calling card in the form of prints or tracks, in the powdery snow, like a page from a written journal, showing where they had been and what they may have been doing.

Photographer Sue Wilson said, ”What I like is seeing tracks in the snow and across the ice and wondering what made them.”

Although beavers may not be seen, they are active in their homes, with food caches stored underwater to keep them thriving throughout the cold months.

While not to the magnitude of the spring and summer flocks, some waterfowl remain. Hunting season closes soon for ducks and geese, with the last day on Jan. 25. They stay wherever they have open water, and with access to the Kootenai River, many will winter here year round.

Great Blue Herons also stay on through the winter. They are avid hunters and may be seen on the water control structure, or hunting in or near the open water in the culvert located by the second parking lot.

“Blue herons are most often seen ‘fishing’ in streams and wetlands,” said photographer Annie Pflueger. “They hunt rodents in the fields in winter which is pretty cool.”

Some of the smaller, but just as delightful, inhabitants of the refuge during the winter are the songbirds.

“A lot of little birds, songbirds, are coming to the bird feeder,” said Ellis. “The birds at the feeder have been chickadees and nuthatches.”

Although there are many different types to keep avid bird watchers happy, some to look for are the different species of chickadees, nuthatches, Bohemian Waxwing, House sparrow, and Dark-eyed junco.

The refuge offers a magical world during the winter. Although it seems quiet, blanketed by snow, life continues. With the auto tour route closed to vehicles, it invites visitors to slow down, don snowshoes or cross-country skis, and take the time to connect with the wintry world.

Note: Visitors are welcome to snowshoe or ski on the auto tour route or trails, but they are asked to remain on the road or trail.