Your Okanogan Country vacation begins here:
Wildlife is abundant for the patient
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Mark Miller photo |
| Bighorn sheep keep watch. |
Visitors to Okanogan Country can find a variety of wildlife to observe if they pull of the beaten trail and watch quietly.
North Okanogan
One good area is Grandview Mountain and Chopaka Mountain on the west side of Palmer Lake. Mountain goats often can be seen from the road.
Another good site is the Sinlahekin Valley south of Loomis. People can view waterfowl, white-tail deer and mule deer.
Bighorn sheep often can be seen on the cliffs on the east side of the valley and along the west face of Mount Hull of Highway 97 north of Tonasket.
Loons congregate on Blue Lake in the Sinlahekin. Another good location for loons is east of Tonasket at Lost and Bonaparte lakes.
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Mark Miller photo |
| A weasel, wearing its winter coat, checks for visitors. |
People can see a variety of critters such as white-tail and mule deer along Highway 20 northwest of Winthrop.
There also is a tremendous diversity of songbirds at that location, one of the few places in the state with nesting redstarts.
People who get close to the Methow River can see mink and otter, an occasional black bear and eagles.
The location has a community trail that runs through and is open to bikers and hikers. It is somewhat wheelchair accessible. Trail pass information is available from Methow Valley Sport Trails Association, www.mvsta.com.
The Hart's Pass area is good for observing many kinds of wildlife including deer, black bear, hairy marmots, picas and a variety of birds including golden eagles and an occasional wolverine.
Other species that call Okanogan Country home include cougars, lynx, hares, elk and a variety of small furred animals.
Grand Coulee
Eagles like to congregate in the Grand Coulee area during winter months.
The area also features a variety of birds, deer and other animals.
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Chronicle photo by Al Camp |
| Butterfly alights on a Chewuch River branch. |
Ferry County is home to numerous birds including Lewis' woodpeckers, eagles and great gray owls. Several rare migrant eastern songbirds such as the bobolink, veery and American redstarts, along with the red-eyed vireo, can be seen in the area.
Another bird attraction is the nesting loons on Swan and Ferry lakes.
More information can be obtained by e-mailing birders@rcabletv.com.
Wildlife festivals
- Grand Coulee Dam Area's "Balde" Eagle Festival. The mid-February festival offers guided tour bus trips to viewing sites, art and poetry contests, entertainment, informational forums and other activities.
Information: (509) 633-3074 or www.grandcouleedam.org.
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Chronicle photo by Al Camp |
| Young owls survey an Okanogan neighborhood. |
More information is available at www.ferrycounty.com or e-mail birders@rcabletv.com for a birding checklist or more information about birding in Ferry County.
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Birding Wildlife NK'Mip Rattlesnake research program Pit-tagging |
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