2025 Idaho Ecosystems WILD and Domestic by Lori Wilson

Nature Walk

destinyturner — 2025-10-13 15:13:08 UTC

I took a walk along a park nature trail in Draper, Utah. Some of the wild animals we saw were mallard ducks, geese, a scrub jay, fish, and various songbirds. The domestic animals we saw were horses, goats, and many different dogs.

Nature Walk

sarateats2 — 2025-10-13 15:13:08 UTC

We visited Deer Flat Refuge in Nampa, Idaho. We saw an osprey nest (but no osprey), several dark spiders that looked like they were simultaneously emerging from hibernation, two bunnies, and several different bird species on a feeder (including a yellow finch). The board announced a bald eagle had recently been spotted but, alas, we missed it. A lot of people were out walking their dogs and we were happy to see that they were keeping them leashed as several areas were roped off due to habitat restoration. They are trying to reestablish bunchgrass and sagebrush in that area.

Walk in the Neighborhood

2025-10-13 15:13:08 UTC

I walked from my house to my neighborhood park. I saw 14 domestic animals, all dogs. I saw 19 wild animals, all birds (robins, crows, starlings and other passerines). It was around twilight. I expected to see some squirrels because there are many in my neighborhood, but I think it was too late in the day. It was also pretty cold out.

A walk in the park

2025-10-13 15:13:08 UTC

I walked out of my neighborhood to the park and then to a common space in another neighborhood. There were many domestic dogs walking with their humans. I saw robins in the trees at the park and in the common areas there is a run off pond that had red winged black birds and European starlings on the powerline. It was 40 degrees with light wind and partial clouds.

-Daisey

A Walk on The Strand in Cascade, ID

2025-10-13 15:13:08 UTC

Cascade, Idaho has a partially-paved walk along the Payette River called "The Strand". This time of year the path is clear and is very easy to walk. I saw seven dogs and their human friends, in addition to the other humans. We are welcoming back our summer visitors already! My list included Geese, ducks, an Eagle, an unkindness of Ravens (5-6), Chickadee, Stellars Jay, Nuthatch, Grossbeaks, a ferral Rabbit, a vole or shrew, Red Tailed Hawk, Red Winged Blackbirds (males only), Robins (males only), and are you ready for this...one mosquito! I actually was thrilled to see a mosquito. There is hope for Spring!

Kristal Kangas-Hanes

Nature Walk

ddwello — 2025-10-13 15:13:08 UTC

We live on an acreage in Nampa. So just walking down our dirt road, we saw a lot of domestic animals - cows, goats, chickens, cats, dogs. The wild animals we saw included mostly birds and squirrels. The birds were robins, ducks, Canadian geese (flying over), hawks, and crows. The squirrels were mostly in our backyard. We have marmot-type animals that live in the pasture/barn, but I didn't see any on this trip, and we see raccoons on a semi-regular basis, but again, none today. We're looking forward to warmer weather when all the birds come back!

Danielle Dwello

Snowy Walk: Mattie Johnson

2025-10-13 15:13:08 UTC

On my cold walk in one of our fields where we feed our cattle, I saw the following...

Domestic: Cattle and their calves, two working dogs, and horses.

Feral: Ranch cats

Wild: one coyote, lots of ravens, two geese, mice under the hay bales

A Stroll Through Nampa...

zdwello — 2025-10-13 15:13:08 UTC

I went on this nature walk with my wife, who is also in this class. As we walked we saw quite a few domestic animals. These domestic animals included: cows, goats, chickens, cats, and dogs. We live in an area of Nampa that has quite a bit of acreage, so I feel it is not super typical of someone who might live in a neighborhood. We also saw some wild animals. These included birds and squirrels. The birds we saw were ducks, geese, robins, and crows. We see other wild animals fairly regularly, but not this time. There are also feral cats roaming around these parts, but again...we didn't see them on this particular walk. It is pretty amazing how many animals you see when you are actually paying attention!

In My Backyard: Mary Charley

chance2mary — 2025-10-13 15:13:08 UTC

I had a cougar stalking me last night while checking the water tank after dark. I woke up to fresh snow and thought that I would take a walk around to see if I could find any tracks. I saw a Wild: herd of elk, turkeys, chickadees, a hawk; Domestic: chickens, guineas, my dog and cat and horses. No fresh sign of the big cat....darn. It's been coming in and getting my chickens.

Neighborhood Walk

2025-10-13 15:13:08 UTC

I took a walk around my neighborhood, and like others, saw MANY domestic dogs. However, that is where the domestic list ends! I saw several deer (both mule deer and whitetail), lots of squirrels, several magpies, tracks from a family of racoons, a flock of geese flying over head, a robin, and several other birds (who's names I don't know). I had hoped to see tracks from the neighborhood mountain lion, but not on this walk.

Angela

Lily Brown - Through Celebration Park

2025-10-13 15:13:08 UTC

I took a walk around Celebration Park for my nature stroll. I saw some cottontail rabbits, red-winged blackbirds, northern harriers, kestrels, and many little brown birds. The smaller birds were most likely a mix of song sparrows and house finches, but they were far enough away that I could not see too many details. I also saw tons of sagebrush, greasewood, rabbit brush, and rushes along the river's edge. The only domestic animals that I saw were dogs and cattle. We get an occasional domestic cat but none for today.

Nature Hike - Polecat Loop Boise Foothills by Andrew Hostad

2025-10-13 15:13:08 UTC

On my hike I encountered these animals:

Domestic: 4 dogs - all on leash accompanied by humans (I didn't have enough interaction with them to determine if the humans were wild or domestic.)

Wild: 11 mule deer, a red-tailed hawk, one rabbit or hare couldn't get a good look at it. 7 geese flying by and 21 birds including robins, ravens, a couple quail, I think there were also sparrows and a few juncos. There were also 3 beetles that were on the trail.

I had heard a bunch of coyotes the night before but didn't see them, only their scat on the trail.

Neighborhood Walk Moore's Creek Rim Rd.

aricmccullough — 2025-10-13 15:13:08 UTC

Domestic Animals: 10 dogs, 8 goats, 12 chickens, and 4 horses. We have several feral cats, didn't seem them on this walk.

Wild Animals: About 25 elk, lots of birds, hawks of some kind, and heard and owl.

We have a lot of wild animals in this area. The coyotes don't usually shows themselves in the daytime. I have only seem twice in the daytime. Beautiful coats on them. I have seen eagles, we have some nesting platforms for them in our neighborhood. We have some rabbits, that I only see their trails go under the shed. And now we have some field mouse, that our indoor cat thinks she can most certainly capture from the sliding glass window!

Cole Ross: Round Lake Walk

2025-10-13 15:13:08 UTC

Usually once to twice a week I will walk all the way around or partially around Round Lake. It is my most accessible recreational space, since I work there. I am very familiar with the wildlife of the park, but depending on the day and popularity you'll either see a lot of wildlife or barely any.

Domestic: few dogs, cattle at the neighboring farm. Sometimes I will see our resident park cats.

Wild: Ravens, stellar jays, chickadees, robins (just arrived within this last week it seems), few whitetail deer, geese, ducks, rabbits, resident bald eagles.

Dylon Starry - Lake Lowell

2025-10-13 15:13:08 UTC

Was fortunate enough to see several turkeys today. There were also lots of regular little birds, but I don't know them very well. Saw plenty of dogs and a few feral cats. If I'd had more time to walk further across the dam and to the refuge, I imagine I'd have seen more birds.

Neighborhood Walk - Sunset Neighborhood, Boise.

katherinemckenna1 — 2025-10-13 15:13:08 UTC

In our neighborhood we immediately saw racoon tracks crossing our front doorstep as we left on our adventure! There were many domestic cats, wild finches, squirrels, crows, a flock of geese, and we saw the neighborhood wild turkeys that wander about. There were also lots of people walking adorable dogs.

This was a drive instead

mnewby6 — 2025-10-13 15:13:08 UTC

Well I did this lesson while I was driving to a wrestling tournament so I cheated a little. However, I was very lucky to see more than I thought I would. We saw a moose!! I have only seen one other in the six years I have lived here. We saw several "wild" turkeys (not sure how much feeding they get from the neighboring chicken coops). Magpies, crows (or ravens. I've never really learned the difference when they are flying away.) Two feral cats and our own sweet pup.

Neighborhood nature walk

2025-10-13 15:13:08 UTC

I took my nature walk in the common area and around the ponds near where we live in Eagle. The domestic animals I saw on my walk were various dogs and a couple outdoor cats. I did not see them, but I heard the sheep that live down the street. The wild animals I saw included several squirrels, lots of ducks and geese. Robins were also out that day, digging around in the leaves and dirt. Definitely saw some birds of prey flying overhead, didn’t get a great look so I’m not sure which ones they were. Was also able to spot the wild/domestic bunny that we have running around our neighborhood.

Kirsten Evans

A Walk in the Neighborhood

mhengst67 — 2025-10-13 15:13:08 UTC

As I was walking in my neighborhood, I saw multiple squirrels playing in the trees and some yellow songbirds at a bird feeder. There were 2 others out walking their dogs and I came across a brown tabby cat and a black cat. There is an irrigation ditch where I saw a couple of ducks. They seem to show up every spring. When I returned, I discovered some mourning doves in my backyard.

Walk in Moscow

2025-10-13 15:13:08 UTC

I saw several quail and rabbits on my walk. We have a covey of quail that lives next to our house and it is always fun to see. I also saw a slug on my walk. I thought this seemed really early to see a slug, but it has been a strange winter. I also saw several birds flying and on the bird feeder I still have hanging in my front yard. As for domestic animals, I saw a few dogs being walked and a cat.

Nicole Weygint - Troy, ID

2025-10-13 15:13:08 UTC

I did not see much wildlife on my walk in Troy. I thought that this prompt would be fun to use with my students, so I brought my class outside and asked them to keep track of the wildlife they observed as we walked to our outdoor classroom space for a lesson. We observed crows and ravens, saw signs of deer and moose, and heard black-capped chickadees and domestic dogs barking.

It is not uncommon for us to see moose, deer, elk, owls, and many other different bird species. It was a quiet day for wildlife, which could be attributed to the fact that 8th graders are still learning how the number of animals we see might depend on their volume...Nonetheless, it was very fun to include them in this activity!

Nature Walk - Savanna Caballero

2025-10-13 15:13:08 UTC

I took a walk around my neighborhood in town in the Treasure Valley, and also around my parents house that live in the country in the Treasure Valley. Most of the animals listed are ones that I saw while on my walk, however, I did add some that I have seen on other occasions in the area as well.

Domesticated

dogs

cats

horses

sheep

goats

cows

chickens

Wild

ducks

squirrels

birds

bunnies

chipmunks

skunk

coyote

pheasant

falcon

It would be fun to go on a walk with students during different times of the year and see how the animals they see differ over time.

Foothills trail hike Boise, ID

2025-10-13 15:13:08 UTC

I walked along the Dry Creek trail in Boise.

In the past there I've seen many humans and dogs (domestic), although today it was empty, so all the rest of the animals I saw were wild!

Birds (what kind?!) in the rosehip bushed by the creek, bees (nestled in the bark of a large tree), a deer (?) skull on the ground, and many little macroinvertebrates in the water when I picked up the rocks and looked underneath!

OH and I didn't see them but I saw a beaver dam on the creek!!

Christa Howarth

Mineral Ridge Trail overlooking Wolf Lodge Bay, Lake Coeur d'Alene

2025-10-15 05:02:45 UTC

Actually did this hike during our zoom meeting this evening and ended up in the dark. I heard an owl, but did not see it. I had my 2 dogs with me and saw another hiker with her dog. 2 other dogs were barking at us from the homes in the draw that are below the trail. 3 deer on the drove home and a few mergansers, I think, in the lake at Beauty Bay. Many smaller birds on the hike. My 2 horses and 8 cats greeted us on our return home.

Avimor walk

2025-10-16 23:22:55 UTC

On this beautiful fall day I saw many of our residents out walking their dogs. I saw a stray cow on the hillside and the neighbors cat for the domestic animals.

The wild ones were a pair of hawks soaring over the hillside, Ravens in the big willow trees, quail along the hillside and Mud Swallows skimming over the pond.

Morning Reflections at Round Lake

2025-10-20 02:19:39 UTC

I love starting the day with a quiet walk around Round Lake. The early morning calm never gets old—the mist on the water, a woodpecker tapping in the trees, and deer moving softly through the brush.

It’s easy to spot a few regulars: eagles in their usual perch, ducks cruising near the dock, and squirrels squabbling over pinecones. Depending on the light or season, the view always feels a little different.

Sometimes I’ll see one of the park cats or an early camper walking their dog, both enjoying the same peaceful start.

Round Lake always seems to remind me to slow down, breathe, and appreciate this beautiful place we get to call home.

Walking the Canal Banks

2025-10-22 22:38:50 UTC

I live in Greenleaf which is just outside of Caldwell and I took a walk along the canal banks around my house. I did not see as many animals as I always do but I always enjoy getting out to get some fresh air and exercise. The water is draining out of the canal right now and its pretty common this time of year to see Carp stranded in the small 'puddles' of water left in the bottom. I didn't get to see any today but it's always so interesting when you see them splashing around. I did see some poop from what I would guess was a Coyote because I know they hang out in that area. There are also a lot of plum trees along the canal and it looked like the Coyote had eaten his share of them!

Wild: Red Tail Hawk, King Bird, Swallows, Sea Gulls, Mice (getting exposed from harvest and then eaten by the birds above)

Domestic: Horses, Goats, Cat (our cat followed us without us knowing)

-Sarah Dixon

School Yard Walk

2025-10-29 00:55:52 UTC

As I walked around the school grounds during lunch duty, I mostly saw wild animals. Every once in a while, I see a stray cat or a loose dog. Sad to say, there are not many wild animals (besides middle-schoolers) on the school grounds. I do see birds randomly, maybe a sparrow or starling. Insects are easier to find. This makes me rethink doing this wild activity on the school grounds. I need to find better places to take students.