Photo By Staff Sgt. Karin Sharrai | The IDARNG Environmental Management office manages the natural and cultural resources...... read more read more
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The Idaho National Guard and local biology agencies conduct field trips with Treasure Valley schools through the Idaho Adopt a Scientist Program at the Orchard Combat Training Center throughout the year.
The Idaho Adopt a Scientist program was established in 2014 to promote conservation and management of Idaho wildlife and their habitats by creating an environment where middle and high school students can participate in local research.
“We identified the need to connect students to local ecosystems and the scientists doing work right here in Idaho,” said Zoe Tinkle, Idaho Army National Guard Environmental Management Office biologist. “We want students to interact with our biologists from the Idaho National Guard, along with agencies from Boise State University and Bureau of Land Management.”
Students rotate through stations where they learn about ground squirrel trapping, bat echolocation, vegetation measurement techniques and chemical defense, and animal anatomy and physiology through chukar dissection. Each year students prepare a list of things they expect to see and find. The biologist help them locate these items through guided scavenger hunts. Through these studies, the students learn the importance of protecting Idaho’s National Conservation Area, also known as the NCA.
The NCA is home to the largest and most diverse population of breeding raptors, including hawks, falcons, eagles and owls in North America. The combination of ideal nesting and the abundance of prey provided here creates a unique space for raptors and many other species to thrive.
“We manage the health of keystone species here like the Paiute ground squirrel because this is the raptors primary food source.” Lt. Col. Kyle Carpenter, Idaho National Guard Environmental Engineer and Compliance Branch Manager. “We continue to be good stewards of the land that the public has conserved for the birds of prey in order to maintain our ability to train here.”
The Idaho National Guard biologists conduct studies on birds of prey food sources like snakes, ground squirrels and lizards. They record the health, population, weight and length of each animal they study. In order to maintain a sustainable food and habitat source for these animals, biologist manage the slickspot peppergrass, sagebrush and other native vegetation.
“The NCA is one of the only places where sustainable military training, public land use, extensive research and livestock share the land while replenishing, maintaining and enhancing habitat for raptors and their prey,” said Tinkle.
The collaboration of the Idaho National Guard and local agencies working for a common goal of good land stewardship, through programs like Idaho Adopt a Scientist encourages students to continue research.
“There is a really wonderful and dedicated community of local scientist that work together to preserve and enhance Idaho’s natural resources every day, right outside your back door,” said Tinkle. “Together we can work to understand, protect and enhance the land surrounding us.”
| Date Taken: | 05.09.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 06.20.2019 18:25 |
| Story ID: | 328565 |
| Location: | BOISE, IDAHO, US |
| Web Views: | 154 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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