Spectacular Wildlife

Idaho is home to spectacular wildlife. We are lucky to enjoy these animals in their natural settings—Idaho's wild mountains, cold streams, untamed sagebrush and diverse landscapes. Idaho's wildlife brings thousands of visitors to our rural communities.

By protecting clean water, restoring and reconnecting habitat, and addressing the causes behind climate change, we hope that future generations can enjoy Idaho's wildlife in healthy environments.

Sage-grouse, wolverine, salmon, grizzly bear, bull trout and mountain caribou all face the threat of extinction. Other species such as bighorn sheep, fisher, and pygmy rabbits may not be listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) as threatened, but they are senstive to changes in their environment. Still other species such as elk, deer, pronghorn, wolves, and mountain lions are critical parts of our wildlife heritage and need to be managed responsibly.  

Special Wildlife Needs

The greater sage-grouse, a heritage game bird, is famous to Idahoans for its spring mating display. Sage-grouse are disappearing throughout the West, and ICL works with ranchers and agencies to protect sage-grouse habitat. Sage-grouse move with the seasons, and they need large landscapes with Idaho native plants to live and reproduce.

Bighorn sheep are one of Idaho's signature wildlife species, prized by both

Larry Jacobs photo. Bighorn sheep.

sportsmen and wildlife watchers. But bighorn are extremely vulnerable to diseases carried by domestic sheep that graze in their core habitat. Over the last 20 years, Idaho's bighorn population in Hells Canyon has crashed due to disease issues. Efforts to ensure separation of these species have been stalled by both the Idaho legislature and Congress because this would mean that four ranching families would have to move operations.  

Special Places for Wildlife

In order to protect wildlife, you have to protect their habitat. China Mountain, south of Twin Falls, is a sage-grouse stronghold. The unique needs of sage-grouse are met on China Mountain year round.

A proposed industrial wind development would bring disturbance, weed invasions and increased risk of wildfire. ICL has joined voices with other national and regional environmental groups to bring special protection to this habitat.

You can read details about the special value of China Mountain to sage-grouse and other wildlife. You can also read about our tough decision to oppose a clean energy project to protect Idaho wildlife.

With regard to bighorn sheep, we remain willing to work with ranchers to ensure a future for both bighorn sheep and domestic sheep, but this will need to be based on a policy of separation.