The Alpine Examiner July 12th, 2026 Naturalist Blog Getting to the heart of what matters in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area The Ground Squirrel Forecast Within my first week of moving into the SIHA bunkhouse in Obsidian, I developed an odd fascination with Columbian ground squirrels. Every morning before heading to work, a crew member […]
sawtooths
Woodpeckers: The Sawtooths’ Noisiest Neighbors
The Alpine Examiner July 5th, 2026 Naturalist Blog Getting to the heart of what matters in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area Woodpeckers: The Sawtooths’ Noisiest Neighbors With their distinctive drumming and unique nests, woodpeckers are some of the most ubiquitous feathered friends spread around the World. The US houses twenty-two different species, ten of which […]
No Place Like Home
The Alpine Examiner June 28, 2026 Naturalist Blog Getting to the heart of what matters in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area No Place Like Home “There’s no place like home,” Dorothy says as she returns to Kansas in The Wizard of Oz. I have a similar sentiment whenever I come back to a place I’ve […]
Don’t Eat the Watermelon Snow!
The Alpine Examiner March 2, 2026 Naturalist Blog Getting to the heart of what matters in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area Don’t Eat the Watermelon Snow! Watermelon snow may sound like a refreshing, summertime treat, but it is actually a super interesting phenomenon. Watermelon snow is characterized as red/pink snow commonly found during the summer […]
Winter Tracks Tell Tales
The Alpine Examiner December 2025 Naturalist Blog Getting to the heart of what matters in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area Winter Tracks Tell Tales Finding tracks any time of the year is fun, but winter is always my favorite time to track. Tracks that might be invisible in summer suddenly stand out clearly, and you […]
SIHA begins next steps in Center for the Sawtooths planning
SIHA News and Events SIHA begins next steps in Center for the Sawtooths planning We are excited to announce that SIHA is seeking proposals for architectural and engineering services for the Center for the Sawtooths’ Master Plan! The Request for Proposals (RFP) and related documents are now available for review. Complete proposals must be postmarked […]
Which is Which? Mule Deer vs Elk – 5 ID Tips
The Alpine Examiner October 15, 2025 Naturalist Blog Getting to the heart of what matters in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area Which is Which? Mule Deer vs Elk – 5 ID tips Have you ever spotted a wild ungulate (a hoofed animal) up on a hillside or in the trees and found yourself wondering “Is […]
Bird of the Burn: The Black-backed Woodpecker
The Alpine Examiner September 21, 2025 Naturalist Blog Getting to the heart of what matters in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area Bird of the Burn: Black-backed Woodpecker Following last summer’s fires, our forests look quite a bit different than they used to, but some animal species actually prefer these charred landscapes. The Blackbacked Woodpecker (Picoides […]
Who’s Who? Squirrel look-alikes in the SNRA!
The Alpine Examiner September 9, 2025 Naturalist Blog Getting to the heart of what matters in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area Who’s Who? Squirrel Look-alikes in the SNRA! This may sound nuts, but this blog post will be all about squirrels! Puns aside, I decided to write a blog post about squirrels because they can […]
Osprey Worldwide Sensation
The Alpine Examiner August 24, 2025 Naturalist Blog Getting to the heart of what matters in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area Osprey Worldwide Sensation When hanging out at Redfish Lake or driving down the highway you may have noticed a large brown and white bird making large circles over a body of water. This is […]