Tex Creek Wildlife

Sharp-tails and their breeding grounds receive special management attention at Tex Creek WMA.

Rocky Mountain elk and mule deer begin moving north toward Tex Creek in the late fall, some migrating more than 50 air miles. More than 3,000 elk, 3,000 mule deer and 50 moose may winter on WMA lands each year.

Sage and sharp-tailed grouse and gray partridge are found in the dry shrublands of Tex Creek WMA. Forest and riparian areas provide food and shelter for blue and ruffed grouse. Beaver ponds and constructed impoundments provide duck and goose nesting and rearing habitat.

Black-capped chickadees, brown creepers, wrens, goldfinches, shrikes and chipping sparrows inhabit Tex Creek WMA's forest, riparian and upland communities. Bald and golden eagles, goshawks and American kestrels also frequent the area.

Dry, hot summers and the WMA’s exposed lava rock outcrops are the perfect combination for reptiles. Great Basin rattlesnakes, yellow-bellied racers, common garter snakes and sagebrush lizards are members of the area’s reptile community.

When water flows are sufficient, the lower reaches of Tex Creek WMA’s streams support native cutthroat trout and introduced brook and German brown trout. These species also inhabit Ririe Reservoir and annually journey up the tributaries of Willow Creek to spawn.