Naturalist Corner




From insects to elephants, from rocks to redwoods, rivers, deserts, ice or blazing sun, reptiles, birds or mammals, from scat to owl pellets--if it happens outdoors it is fair game for The Naturalist Corner. We are specialists here and our specialty is NATURE, in all its forms and shapes.


Owl Pellet


So join us as we explore, observe and immerse ourselves in the natural world. Let's see what we can learn and share together.


Preparing Skulls for Presentation

Sanitizing_Eggshells_for_Bird_Feeding

Making Plaster Track Casts

Easy Suet Recipe

Nest Box Plans

Roosting Box Plans

Hand-lenses for Exploring Nature

How_to_Sanitize_Owl_Pellets

Nature Collecting

How Strong is that Wind?


TAX DAY is coming! Here is a chance to do something good with a bit of your tax return and make the day less painful.

Donate part of your tax return to support wildlife in Idaho!

On the second page of the Idaho Individual Tax form 40 you have the opportunity to donate to the “Nongame Wildlife Conservation Fund”.

Check-off this box on your next return or ask your tax preparer to mark the Nongame check-off on your behalf. You can donate any amount you wish, it all helps to support the wildlife you love.

If you are not from Idaho, check with your own state wildlife agency about how you can help. Many states have a similar program.


Join Friends of Camas National Wildlife Refuge Here

Become a Master Naturalist! Find out how Here


Wildlife License Plates

Idaho Wildlife license plates provide essential funding that benefits the great diversity of native plants and wildlife that are not hunted, fished or trapped—over 10,000 species or 98% of Idaho’s species diversity. Game species that share the same habitats (such as elk, deer, antelope, sage-grouse, salmon, trout) also benefit from these specialty plates.

No state tax dollars are provided for wildlife diversity, conservation education and recreation programs. Neither are any revenues from the sale of hunting or fishing licenses spent on nongame species. Instead, these species depend on direct donations, federal grants, fundraising initiatives—and the Idaho Wildlife license plates.

Both my vehicles have Bluebird Plates. I prefer the bluebird because the nongame program gets 70 percent of the money from bluebird plates, but only 60 percent of the money from elk and trout plates - 10 percent of the money from elk plates supports wildlife disease monitoring and testing programs (to benefit the livestock industry) and 10 percent from cutthroat plates supports non-motorized boat access.

Incidentally, in 2014, the Idaho Legislature denied the Department of Fish and Game the ability to add new plates or even to change the name of the elk and cutthroat plates (very specific) to wildlife and fish plates, a move that would have allowed for changing images occasionally and generating more revenue. It would seem that they believe that we Idahoans don't want a well funded wildlife program.

I think it is time we let the Legislature know that Idahoan support wildlife funding and that we would like to see these generic plates come to fruition.