Arrival at Camas NWR in Idaho

During the last half of our journey from Nebraska to Idaho we followed Interstate 80 west through most of Wyoming. We turned north at Rock Springs, Wyoming, and followed a scenic shortcut through the mountains, bypassing Salt Lake City, to enter Idaho. Since leaving the Rio Grande Valley, we have traveled around 2300 miles to our Summer home.

Rain clouds forming on Elk Mountain, west of Laramie.
Thankfully we were always a day ahead of the storms.

First good view of the Teton Range
from US 191 north of Pinedale, WY.

Arriving at this high desert refuge shortly after lunch on May 6, the friendly refuge maintenance man was waiting on the drive to show us where to park and help with any problems. After getting settled we met with the manager and biologist, the other two members of this staff of three. The biologist, Pam, was a familiar face since we worked with her in the summer of 2011 at Arapho NWR.

They took us out into the field to show us how to set the small mammal traps for the mouse and vole survey that is being conducted. We are also training for bat activity tracking, gathering water depth data from the ponds and water flow readings from the six wells that maintain the wetlands. We will also be responsible for a weekly elk survey in which we drive specific roads through the refuge looking for changes in wildlife and counting the elk, nesting trumpeter swan, mule and white-tail deer, sage grouse, long-billed curlew, prong-horn antelope, American white pelicans and any young ones that may have arrived. There are a large variety of waterfowl on the refuge. Also, close to our trailer is a bald eagle nest and two families of great horned owls, which look very cute in their downy coats.



Our covered RV pad is big enough to house our
truck and car.

 The Refuge area is becoming more arid as the aquifer
levels decline due to over use by farming.
Old cottonwood trees are dying off without replacement.

The refuge office is one of several 1930's era buildings
in this complex. The shop building also contains a
laundry room, shower and bathroom.