A pileated woodpecker peers out from its nesting hole! (Keith Hammer photos unless otherwise noted)
Twenty-five Swan Rangers broke into two groups and hiked Krause Basin on Saturday, April 16, 2016!
One group braved deeper snow and came across bear tracks while the other group stayed dry and came across nesting pileated woodpeckers!
While pileated woodpeckers can feed on bugs in younger trees . . .
. . . they need large and preferrably decaying trees to nest inside of!
Either one messy Ranger was hiking barefoot or the bears are out of their dens! (Joel Vignere photo)
Any dry spot will do for lunch! (Norma Linsky photo)
First trillium of the season spotted!
The Swan Rangers meet every Saturday at the Echo Lake Cafe for breakfast at 8:30, leaving at 9:30 for a partial day outing in the northern Swan Mountains and foothills.
They carpool from the Swan River School parking lot next to the Cafe.
Everyone is welcome!