Smokey Bear was created to educate the US public about the danger of forest fires, and he is actively watching over the National Forests since 1944.
"Bonners Ferry Ranger District lies within the Kaniksu National Forest. The word "Kaniksu" means "black robes" in the language use by the Kalispell Indians. They were referring to the habits worn by the Jesuit Priests that helped settle this area of Idaho.
The Bonners Ferry Ranger District is heavily timbered land, including western red cedar, hemlock, larch, whitepine and subalpine fir, with an understory of serviceberry, huckleberry, dogwood, bunchberry, ninebark, oceanspray, twinflower, and fairybells.
Big game species are white-tailed deer, mule deer, and black bear. Elk, moose, mountain goat, big horned sheep, cougar, lynx and bobcat are also found. The area is also the home of two very special species; the woodland caribou and the grizzly bear. These two animals have very special status under law, The Endangered Species Act. The Selkirk Mountains are the last home in the Continental United States of the Endangered woodland caribou. The Threatened grizzly bear also finds refuge in the high peaks there, as well as other areas of the district.
There are a multitude of varied bird species for the bird watcher including osprey, hawk, eagle, piliated woodpecker and many varieties of owl. The principal upland game birds are blue grouse, Franklin grouse and ruffed grouse, duck, and geese. There are 271 miles of streams and 297 acres of lakes in the district, furnishing habitat for considerable fish and waterfowl, including rainbow and brook trout, sturgeon, whitefish, bass and salmon."
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