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Gobbling up a storm: Hundreds of wild turkeys flocking to East Idaho before Thanksgiving – East Idaho News

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Gobbling up a storm: Hundreds of wild turkeys flocking to East Idaho before Thanksgiving – East Idaho News


HENRYS FORK — As I sat watching a flock of wild turkeys fly into some mature cottonwoods to roost for the night, I heard a limb break. I had just taken a picture of three roosting turkey on the limb when a fourth decided to join them – too much weight.

All four regained control of themselves and were able to catch themselves and grab other limbs or fly to a new perch. This had probably happened to them before, and it was probably just part of growing up.

Three turkeys roosting on a branch that broke off after a fourth bird tried to land on it. | Bill Schiess, EastIdahoNews.com

These four birds were part of a loose flock of 200 to 300 located on private property near the confluence of the Henrys Fork and the South Fork of the Snake River.

They spend their fall days feeding in stubble fields during the day and then about dusk, after the sun sets, they fly into the large trees. Most of them will land first about 20 to 30 feet off the ground and then make short flights to get near the tops of the trees to spend the night.

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It is an awesome sight to watch them working their way up the tree, and occasionally, one will fly all the way from a field to land high in the tree. By the time more than 200 birds are in a small grove of trees, most of their talking quits, and it is time to get some sleep.

Part of more than 200 turkeys in an ag field near the Snake River. | Bill Schiess, EastIdahoNews.com
Part of more than 200 turkeys in an ag field near the Snake River. | Bill Schiess, EastIdahoNews.com

While they are feeding during the day, most of the mature gobblers (males) get together into a flock and seriously feed. The “jakes,” immature males, chase each other around while they stay with the hens and this year’s hatchlings.

I have been watching this specific flock of birds for several weeks, and they appear to be in family groups. While feeding, a hen will be with about five or six young ones, indicating that this year was a good survival year for them. The hen will feed with the chicks, but you will often find her standing on a log or a mound of dirt, watching over her brood. If she sees danger or something amiss, she will cackle and take off running or flying into nearby brush. Several hens have become used to my truck and will feed right next to me with their broods following them.

A hen watches for danger as her chicks feed nearby. | Bill Schiess, EastIdahoNews.com
A hen watches for danger as her chicks feed nearby. | Bill Schiess, EastIdahoNews.com

In my recent travels, I have found large flocks of turkeys near Ririe, Plano, Roberts, Moody Creek (east of Rexburg), Chester and Ashton. Most are on private land where they can feed in the stubble fields — with large cottonwoods nearby to spend the night.

Most of these flocks contain at least 50 to 100 birds, indicating a good hatching season for most areas.

Southern Idaho does not have a fall general hunting season for turkeys, but a controlled hunt will be offered in Unit 68A from Sept. 15 to Nov. 30 in 2025. In talking to several people, they think that it is time to get a general hunt scheduled soon.

A young turkey tries to land on a limb to join its Mom and siblings. | Bill Schiess, EastIdahoNews.com
A young turkey tries to land on a limb to join its Mom and siblings. | Bill Schiess, EastIdahoNews.com

Wild turkeys are not native to Idaho and were first stocked in 1961 in Northern Idaho with Merriam turkeys. In 1982, some Rio Grande turkeys were stocked, followed by a few Eastern turkeys near Dworshak Reservoir.

Since these original stockings, the turkeys have hybridized together and with domestic white turkeys. In the large flock that I have been watching, I have not noticed any hybrids, but in the flocks near Ashton and Ririe, I have seen several hybrids.

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If you go looking for flocks of turkeys, you will need to get permission to go on private property, but they can be exciting to watch. This winter, many of them will be coming to the highways and roads to feed. If you see them, slow down, because a 10-pound bird hitting your car is not a pleasant surprise.

Have a great week, and hopefully by Thanksgiving, we will have ice on Henrys Lake and/or Island Park Reservoir for a little ice fishing.

Just a few of more than 200 turkeys roosting in a grove of trees after dusk last week. | Bill Schiess, EastIdahoNews.com
Just a few of more than 200 turkeys roosting in a grove of trees after dusk last week. | Bill Schiess, EastIdahoNews.com

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Idaho

Plow strike in North Idaho leaves car damaged, drivers were not injured

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Plow strike in North Idaho leaves car damaged, drivers were not injured


BOISE, Idaho — The Idaho Transportation Department reports that a plow strike occurred in North Idaho this morning, marking the region’s first winter season.

According to a release, the drivers were left unharmed. However, both vehicles sustained significant damage.

All the snow and mixed precipitation in recent weeks has Idaho Transportation Department crews working hard to make our roads safe. They would like to use this particular incident to remind Idaho drivers to take it slow in icy or slippery conditions.





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Mother Discovers Raccoon Attacking Her Infant Son in Carrier at Home During ‘Extremely Rare’ Encounter in Idaho

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Mother Discovers Raccoon Attacking Her Infant Son in Carrier at Home During ‘Extremely Rare’ Encounter in Idaho


An Idaho mother rescued her infant son from a raccoon attack inside of their home before the baby’s father and a sheriff’s deputy killed the animal.

On Monday, Dec. 23, officers from the Idaho Fish and Game (IDFG) and the Cassia County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call involving a mother who heard “a loud noise in the home” and discovered a raccoon attacking her baby boy, Idaho Fish and Game shared in a release on Dec. 27.

The unnamed mom grabbed the animal to stop the attack, and her son was transported to the Cassia Regional Hospital in Burley for “undisclosed injuries” before being transferred to a hospital in Salt Lake City.

Cassia County Sheriff’s Office vehicle.
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Cassia County Sheriff’s Office/Facebook


According to officials, a a sheriff’s deputy returned to the home with the baby’s father, located the animal and they killed it. IDFG noted that it is unclear how the raccoon gained access to the home. No other raccoons were found inside and the department is “confident’ that the animal killed was the same one that attacked the baby.

The animal’s carcass has since been tested for rabies by the Idaho Bureau of Laboratories with tests coming back negative.

“Once notified of the incident, staff from the Magic Valley Region activated their Wildlife Human Attack Response Team,” the IDFG wrote in the release. “This specially trained team of department staff has the responsibility to act to protect the safety of the public and incident responders; attempt to identify, locate, and control the animal(s) involved in a human-wildlife incident; and conduct, document and report investigative findings.”

Per the IDFG, reports of raccoon attacks on humans in the state are “extremely rare” and “only one case of raccoon rabies” has been documented in Idaho. They are “generally shy,” mostly avoid humans and can become aggressive if feeling “threatened.”

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The IDFG encouraged Idahoans to “never purposely feed a raccoon.”

“As with all wildlife that can be found around homes in Idaho, the best course of action to avoid raccoon encounters is to take preventative actions before a problem starts,” the department wrote. “Raccoons can live in a variety of habitats, but an area with access to water and food will attract them.”

“A homeowner can limit food sources by securing residential garbage, removing any fallen fruit or rotten produce from your yard or garden, feeding pets indoors, keeping pet food securely stored, and removing or securing bird feeders,” IDFG added. “Blocking raccoon access to hiding places in sheds and outbuildings and sealing off potential entryways and exits in and around a home will also discourage raccoon use.”

Idaho Fish and Game.

Idaho Fish and Game/Facebook

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The raccoon attack comes several months after another raccoon apparently attacked people waiting in line for a ride at Hersheypark in Pennsylvania. On April 3, TMZ shared footage of guests waiting to board the SooperDooperLooper days earlier at the theme park as they attempted to avoid the animal.

The person recording the clip could be heard off-camera saying that the raccoon ran off with a girl’s shoe, with two guests reportedly bitten. In a statement to CBS 21, park officials said the animal encounter was not a common occurrence and that they had “extensive fencing to help prevent this type of incident from occurring.”

“Guest safety is and will always be our top priority at Hersheypark. As such, we have a full complement of public safety and health professionals on property who responded quickly to render necessary care to the two people impacted,” the officials added.

Biologist Tom Keller, who works for the Pennsylvania Game Commission, told the outlet that officials at the park handled the situation correctly and that the animal appeared to be “really frightened” and felt “trapped” around the “screaming humans.” 

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Numerica to sponsor North Idaho activities through Jan. 4

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Numerica to sponsor North Idaho activities through Jan. 4



Numerica is sponsoring Five Days of Family Fun for families to enjoy at no cost over winter break. The events tie into the credit union’s Numerica CARES for Kids program.

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“The holiday season can be a magical time, but it also comes with financial challenges,” Carla Cicero, Numerica’s president and CEO, said in a Dec. 18 news release. 

Free North Idaho events:

• Tuesday | Hayden Cinema, 9:30 a.m., Hayden. “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” | 2 p.m. “Mufasa: The Lion King” 

• Wednesday | Triple Play Family Fun Park. 10 a.m. Raptor Reef Indoor Waterpark

• Thursday | Coeur d’Alene on Ice, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Skate rentals included. 

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• Friday | Make It Messy! 1857 W. Hayden Ave., 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Open play.

• Jan. 4 | Spokane Chiefs Hockey, 6:05 p.m. Up to four tickets per family. Reservations required. 

Visit Numerica’s Facebook page for details.

Headquartered in Spokane Valley, Numerica serves more than 170,000 members in the Inland Northwest.

    From left, Phineas, Zoee, Delilah, Sean and Atticus Burgett get ready to watch the Spokane Chiefs during Numerica’s Five Days of Family Fun.
 
 



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