Fort Boise Wildlife and Fish

Shallow water and thick riparian vegetation make Fort Boise WMA a waterfowl haven. Canada geese, mallards, gadwalls, cinnamon teal and wood ducks commonly nest on WMA lands. During spring and fall migrations, white-fronted geese, wigeon and pintails visit the area to rest and replenish spent food reserves.

During spring and summer months, Fort Boise’s waterways and ponds brim with water birds. Great and snowy egrets, black-crowned night herons and greater yellowlegs are but a few of the shorebirds seen in the wetlands, creeks and smaller river channels. Larger water birds including American white pelicans, double-crested cormorants and ring-billed gulls patrol deeper waters in search of food.

Heavy cover interspersed with open areas provides ideal habitat for many upland birds including ring-necked pheasants, California quail and wild turkeys. Mule and white-tailed deer seek shelter in the heavy cover, venturing into open areas at sunup and sundown to feed. Smaller mammals common to the WMA include cottontail rabbits, red foxes, weasels, red squirrels and pocket gophers.

Red-tailed hawks nest in the tall trees at Fort Boise WMA, while ground-nesting Northern harriers find suitable nest sites among WMA wetlands. Great horned and screech owls, ospreys and bald eagles are other raptors often seen or heard on WMA lands.