Over the Hill: The great migration

COEUR d’ALENE — Though we are surrounded by wildlife in North Idaho, the chance to see many types of animals for yourself can sometimes feel elusive. Even the most experienced hunters can spend hours in the backcountry without spotting anything, and most wild animals seem to have an instinctual aversion to popular hiking trails.

This isn’t the case with the hundreds of bald eagles that migrate to the shores of eastern Lake Coeur d’Alene, particularly around Wolf Lodge Bay, during the winter months.

In two recent trips to the Mineral Ridge area, I saw about 10 of these majestic birds along the Coeur d’Alene Scenic Byway, and if previous years tell us anything, these numbers will increase as we head into December.

There really isn’t a better place for bald eagles to call home in winter. The lake is abundant with spawning kokanee salmon, which are reportedly larger in size this year, and the dense canopy of evergreens makes for an ideal nesting site.

What makes this migration so special, in my opinion, is that it happens right before our eyes. You don’t need to trek into the backcountry or take a questionable backroad to maybe catch a glimpse of an eagle. This migration is a chance for everyone to see something wild and beautiful right in their own backyard. I can tell you, having lived in other parts of the country — that doesn’t happen everywhere. We are incredibly lucky.

The Bureau of Land Management keeps a close eye on the number of eagles arriving in the area, updating their counts weekly. Though BLM has yet to publish numbers for the early arrivals, last year a record count of 409 eagles was recorded just days before Christmas. Only time will tell if we’ll see numbers like this again this winter, but I’m optimistic.

Though the eagles primarily settle around Wolf Lodge Bay and Higgens Point, it doesn’t hurt to keep an eye out no matter where you are. A few weeks ago, I saw two of them along the bank of the Spokane River right in town.

Even if you don’t consider yourself an outdoorsman, I encourage you to look up as we head into the winter months. Winter can be hard, but there is beauty and perspective to be found all around us — reminders not to take what we have for granted.