March 11–Idaho Fish and Game seeks volunteers to plant thousands of sagebrush and bitterbrush seedlings during March at locations across southern Idaho.
Volunteer planting projects will take place over three Saturdays: March 15, 22 and 29. The department will provide planting tools and transportation.
For more information regarding the planting project or to learn about other volunteer opportunities with Fish and Game, contact coordinator Michael Young at 327-7095 or [email protected]. Volunteer information is also available online. Link through this column at idahostatesman.com.
Native bitterbrush and sagebrush provide essential food sources for deer, elk and other wildlife. The shrubs provide cover and protection from the elements and predators while providing nesting habitat for birds and small mammals. Even large animals shelter in mature stands of sage and bitterbrush during winter storms. The native plants also stabilize soil with thier deep roots, reducing erosion.
The department said that over the past 24 years, volunteers have planted nearly three quarters of a million seedlings in Southwest Idaho. The volunteer effort has saved the agency hundreds of thousands of dollars in addition to restoring hundreds of acres.