Wild neighbors: Discovering Lewiston’s unexpected wildlife

Living where the wild things are

When we first moved to Idaho, in the Lewis Clark Valley below the Palouse, we knew the scenery would be different.  Then we bought our house in a quiet neighborhood and looked forward to meeting our new (human) neighbors.  But we didn’t anticipate that we’d be living in close proximity to the local wildlife. 

Even though we’re inside the city limits, our lot is a sort of miniature refuge for an impressive variety of critters, all of whom were probably here long before we arrived. From our own front yard to the parks and sidewalks around town, it seems like everywhere we turn, there’s something new rustling in the bushes—or waddling across the street.

What we see at home

Quail

Some of the first little residents we saw were the quail. A small covey of them live in a large bush out front. They’re shy and incredibly fast—nearly impossible to photograph—but we love catching glimpses of them bobbing through the grass like tiny, feathered bowling pins.

Squirrels

Then there are the squirrels. They are all named Petey, because we can’t tell them apart.  During the winter, Mary started pitching peanuts onto the back patio for them.  That has continued through the spring, and we’ve since added a spike to hold a corncob.  It’s been fun to watch them scamper around the yard and do acrobatics in the trees.  

These Peteys have gotten bold. Several of them now come to our back patio door and peer in, seeming to ask “Hey, lady, where’s the nuts!?”  If we open the door just slightly, at least one of them (maybe two… we can’t tell them apart) will even take peanuts straight from our hands. We get a lot of joy watching their antics.

Mule deer

We had never heard of mule deer before, but that’s because they are only found in western North America.   There’s a small herd of them living somewhere nearby.  During the winter, we would sometimes see them in the park behind our house.  They’d come out at dusk and drink at a low spot where water collected.  We’ve also seen them in other neighborhoods and walking along the railroad tracks west of town. 

But several weeks ago, I looked out our front window and saw one in our driveway.  Then I saw several more, wandering through the front of the lot and munching on tree leaves.  

Since then, they’ve been back a second time.  Who knows when they’ll come again, but they’re welcome any time.  It was startling at first to see such large animals so close to home – but now it feels oddly natural.

Who we haven’t seen

We’ve been told by a neighbor and by our son that they’ve seen a skunk and a raccoon coming out of the bushes in front of our house.  It would be interesting to see the raccoon, but we’re not in any hurry to encounter the skunk.

What we’ve seen around town

Our wildlife encounters haven’t been limited to our yard. Around town, we’ve had some unexpected sightings, besides the mule deer, that still make us smile.

A marmot

For instance, while Mary taking a walk on a path beside the Snake River one day, she saw a marmot.  We’d never seen one before, and she first thought it was an otter.  (Our son corrected her when he saw the photo.)  It sat perched on a rock like it owned the place, totally unbothered by passing the people walking past.  

Pelicans by the dozen

In late April, we read in the local paper that a large flock of pelicans had returned to the valley and were staying in a park alongside the river.  We gathered that they come here every summer to nest, mate, and even fight!  We had never seen pelicans, either, so we had to go looking.  On the day we went to see them, we had to cross the river to Clarkston, Washington and drive a mile or two to Swallows Park.  

There were at least 200 of the big, white birds on a sandbar in the river.  It was late afternoon and maybe they were tired, because none of them took off while we watched.  But it was very relaxing, just watching them glide through the water.

There are some very nice photos of the pelicans on the Lewiston Tribune site. 

Further afield

There’s plenty of this region that we have not yet explored, so there’s no telling what other animals we’ll encounter.  There are bald eagles living in the area, but we haven’t seen one…yet. 

To be honest, there are also some critters we’re not anxious to meet. During a day trip to Palouse Falls State Park in Washington, we saw this sign.

We did, however, see this really big dog in the town of Cottonwood, Idaho, about 60 miles away.

It’s all good

Living in Lewiston has brought us closer to nature in ways we didn’t expect. From the bashful quail under our bushes to the marmots sunning themselves by the walking trail, the wildlife here adds color, curiosity, and a touch of the wild to our daily lives.  It’s all part of the experience —and we’re surprised and delighted by every encounter.

Until next time

Mary and Mike

The Cook and The Writer

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What close encounters have you had with your “wild neighbors”? Tell us your story in the comments below or via the Contact Us form.