Eagle Watch Week begins Dec. 27 at BLM’s Mineral Ridge recreation area
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COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho – Looking for a family activity during the holidays? Come out to the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Mineral Ridge recreation area and take in the migration of bald eagles to the Lake Coeur d’Alene area.
The BLM, in partnership with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, will have interpretive stations and high-powered spotting scopes available for the public to use at both the Mineral Ridge boat launch parking area and the Mineral Ridge trailhead parking lot. The five-day event begins Friday, Dec. 27, and runs through Tuesday, Dec. 31. Staff will be on-site at each location from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day, except for an early 2 p.m. closing on Dec. 31.
Each week throughout the eagle migration season, BLM biologists conduct a weekly count along the east side of the lake. In 2017, a record 383 eagles were counted the week of Dec. 20, as they fed on the spawning kokanee salmon on Lake Coeur d’Alene. The weekly counts, along with other interesting facts regarding bald eagles, can be found on the BLM website at www.blm.gov/idaho/
If you plan to visit either of the Eagle Watch locations, please use the designated parking areas and do not park on the shoulder of Hwy. 97. Normal vehicle travel is not restricted on the highway, and both drivers and pedestrians should be respectful of traffic by not walking in the way of travel or utilizing the shoulder to scout for eagles.
There are rare cases when severe weather does not permit setting up equipment or staffing the viewing sites, so the BLM has set up an Eagle Watch Hotline to provide a daily status update. Information is available by calling (208) 769-5029 after 9 a.m.
The Mineral Ridge trail is open year-round and the 3.3 mile loop is family friendly with outstanding views of Lake Coeur d’Alene. The Mineral Ridge boat launch is also open year-round, providing anglers and sportsmen access to hunting and fishing on the Lake. For more information on these sites, please visit: https://www.blm.gov/visit/
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.