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NEWS IN BRIEF

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YMCA OFFERS DIGITAL STORYTELLING WORKSHOPS

The Wood River Community YMCA in Ketchum is offering a series of digital storytelling workshops beginning on Tuesday, May 10.

The workshops, geared toward participants of the YMCA’s Chronic Disease Program, start at 6 p.m. and will be held each Tuesday through May 31 in the YMCA’s Community Room.

The workshops are being held in partnership with Ketchum-based SOLU Publishing.

“This is an amazing opportunity for a community partnership that will bring stories to life,” said Mattie Mulick, YMCA Chronic Disease Program coordinator. “Working within our chronic disease programs, such as our Parkinson’s program, Multiple Sclerosis Connection Group and arthritis community, we can offer a guided event that will capture life’s greatest gifts: stories.

“We will be using SOLU’s state-of-the-art software that utilizes an iPad or laptop to create your digital story,” Mulick said. “SOLU inspires you to remember who you are and record your life stories using video, voice, photos and text. Each story you tell is instantly organized and preserved using a friendly book-like fashion. Create interactive memoirs for you and your loved ones to enjoy for generations.”

For more information or to register for the workshop series, contact Mulick at (208) 928-6719 or at mmulick@woodriverymca.org.

YMCA CONTINUES ‘ENHANCEFITNESS’ PROGRAM

The Wood River Community YMCA continues to offer EnhanceFitness, one of its newest programs that the YMCA describes as an “evidence-based program designed for people living with arthritis.”

The YMCA reported in a press release that EnhanceFitness, endorsed by Y-USA, the CDC [Centers for Disease Control] and Senior Services, is a 16-week program, with three 60-minute classes per week, “designed to safely increase participants’ fitness levels through aerobic and strength-training exercises, while building a sense of community and social connectedness. Each 60-minute class includes cardio, strength training, balance, posture and flexibility.”

“We have already seen amazing results with the graduates of our program,” said Mattie Mulick, YMCA Chronic Disease Program coordinator. “These classes will create a strong foundation for someone who is just starting out on their health journey, recovering from setbacks, surgeries or injuries, working on mobility, or living with a chronic disease such as arthritis that may have changed their physical abilities.”

Anyone interested in signing up for a free demo should contact Mulick at (208) 926-6719 or mmulick@woodriverymca.org. New sessions start the first Monday of each month.

WRHS STUDENTS WIN AWARDS AT MUSIC FESTIVAL

Chamber Orchestra Members
Wood River High School music students won numerous awards at the Heritage Music Festival in Anaheim, Calif. Courtesy photo by Kelly Martin

Music students from Wood River High School brought home 10 awards for ensembles and five individual awards from the Heritage Music Festival in March in Anaheim, Calif.

Awards included the Instrumental Sweepstakes for a combination of scores from bands and orchestras.

The school’s Chamber Orchestra received the Outstanding Orchestra award, as well as a gold medal. In addition, the WRHS Orchestra received a silver award.

The Dixie Band won a first place, the Jazz Band a second place and the Concert Band a third place.

Gold medals went to all four choral groups, with Colla Voce and The B-Tones take first places, and Carmina Montis and Spiritus winning second places.

WRHS students received four of the five Maestro Awards presented for exceptional soloists. Awards went to Arika Gourley and Jorgen Lawrence for violin and Olivia Stimac and Beck Vontver for voice.

A special “Magic in You” award, presented by Disneyland to an outstanding student for contributions to the classroom and to the lives of fellow students, went to choral department sophomore Madeline Austin.

“The Magic in You award is a lovely celebration of Madeline’s willingness to be supportive of her fellow choir members and a great affirmation of the impact of our music program,” said WRHS Choral Director Max Stimac. “It is wonderful to witness the positive effects that a vibrant music program can have on our students.”

 

SUN VALLEY RESORT HONORED BY GOLF DIGEST

SV golf
Sun Valley Resort has received the Editor’s Choice Award for Best Resorts in the Americas from Golf Digest. Courtesy photo from Sun Valley Resort

Golf Digest has awarded Sun Valley with its Editor’s Choice Award for Best Resorts in the Americas in 2016, recognizing the resort for its “challenging courses, pristine views and superior product.” The resort announced the award on April 21.

“We are excited to receive this honor from Golf Digest,” said resort General Manager and Vice President Tim Silva. “This award is a testament to our team’s commitment to service and the superior gold experience we provide our guests from the links to the clubhouse to the views.”

The resort further announced nine holes at its Elkhorn course and all nine holes on its White Clouds course will open on Saturday, April 30. The White Clouds course offers 3,600 yards of play, with 360-degree views of the surrounding mountains. The Elkhorn course, a semi-private course, provides a water hazard on every hole except one, making it one of the most challenging golf courses in Idaho.

Sun Valley Resort is offering two early-season golf packages this year. Additional information is available at (800) 786-8259 or www.sunvalley.com.

 

SKI MAGAZINE OPENS ANNUAL READER SURVEY

SKI Magazine invites its readers to participate in its annual reader survey to select the best ski resort in North America.

Last year, SKI Magazine readers ranked Sun Valley Resort as number two, second only to Whistler Blackcomb in British Columbia, Canada.

The magazine is offering survey participants the chance to win a pair of K2 Pinnacle 88 or Alluvit 88 skis.

The survey can be accessed at www.skinet.com.

 

CHARTER SCHOOL CONTINUES PUSH FOR FUNDING

Some 40 parents, faculty and staff from Syringa Mountain School, Blaine County’s only publicly funded charter school, attended the April 19 meeting of the Blaine County School District Board of Trustees to continue the school’s effort to be designated an “Innovative School.”

The designation would allow what Syringa described in a press release as “equalized funding.” Syringa currently spends about $6,500 per year per student, while the school district spends about $16,500 per student. The difference is the result of the district’s ability to collect property taxes, an advantage denied to the state’s charter schools.

The Innovative Schools Act, approved this year by the state Legislature, is an attempt to equalize funding by allowing school districts to designate charter schools within their boundaries as Innovative Schools, offering alternative education methodologies.

Syringa, now in its second year of operation for grades K-6, uses the Waldorf education methodology as opposed to the traditional education model.

“This legislation creates a unique opportunity for the BCSD and Syringa to carve out a new partnership for the benefit of Blaine County families and children seeking public education choices,” educational consultant Mary Gervase, one of the founders of Syringa, told the school board at the April 19 meeting. “It has always been our intention to incubate the Waldorf methodology in a less constrained setting as a public charter school so that it could, at some point, benefit a larger student population.”

Syringa reported further that school authorities plan to attend a work session with the district board of trustees on May 3 to “start talks on achieving an agreement that would be to the benefit of all Blaine County public school children.”

 

 

 

 

 

LAST DAY ON BALDY

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‘MIDNIGHT SPECIAL’

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On the run

JonKane
Courtesy photo. Jonathan Kane is a graduate of the University of Michigan.

BY JONATHAN KANE

Indie filmmaker Jeff Nichols has risen to the top of the heap with such films as “Mud” and “Take Shelter.” Now he has offered up a mysterious sci-fi film called “Midnight Special” that will please fans of the genre and remind audiences of classics like “Starman” and “E.T.”

Part of the charm of the film is that you are thrown into the story headfirst as it already is barreling along. We are given the information that there is an amber alert out for a kidnapped 8-year-old boy and find ourselves in a motel room with the boy and two adult men, one of them his biological father, played by Michael Shannon, and his childhood friend, played by Joel Edgerton.

The 8-year-old, an excellent Jaeden Lieberher (“St. Vincent”), has extraordinary powers, including speaking in tongues and shooting powerful beams of light out of his eyes. He has been taken from his home, a cult-like ranch led by Sam Shepard, where he is considered their savior, and now is being pursued by the cult as well as the FBI. His father is trying to get him to a place for a mysterious rendezvous and has four days to reach their destination while the boy physically deteriorates.

Nichols spins the mysterious plot expertly, but the film does have its ponderous moments and may not be hyped up enough for the average sci-fi fan. It boasts an excellent cast, including Kirsten Dunst as the boy’s mother, who understands that she may be losing him shortly, and Adam Driver as the NSA agent that feels the boy is a risk to national security. Excellent camera work is also provided by Adam Stone. In all, it’s worth checking out, but the film will probably not reach a wide audience.

KB’S SETS ITS SIGHTS ON NEW LOCATIONS & FRANCHISING

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Photo courtesy of Hailey Chamber of Commerce. KB’s owner Rodolfo Serva poses at his location in Hailey.

BY JEFF BACON

Like many of the best life lessons, Rodolfo Serva learned a secret to success from his mother. “Our mother made sure that my brothers and I always treated everyone with respect,” Rodolfo noted during a recent interview. “Of course, her reason for instilling this in us was to help us become productive members of society but it has served all of us very well, especially in our careers in the food service industry.”

As owner of KB’s restaurant, Rodolfo has found an extremely qualified set of managers, having to look no further than his immediate family – his brothers. “My brothers and I run the restaurants together; one of our brothers is in Ketchum, another is at our Twin Falls location and yet another is in McCall,” Rodolfo notes. “My brother Santos used to work for KB’s but he recently purchased Hailey Coffee Company, so he’s pretty busy with that now.”

When Rodolfo moved from his home in Peru to the Wood River Valley 19 years ago, he came to work with his father as a sheepherder and farmer. Soon he moved to work in construction and that led to him opening his first business. “I remember being approached by several different businesses that asked if I would consider managing their custodial maintenance,” Rodolfo recalls. “I started a commercial cleaning business that I also managed for seven years.”

Saving money, Rodolfo eventually opened his first restaurant, Rinconcito Peruano, a Peruvian restaurant located in the antique train car in Ketchum. “Unfortunately the timing on opening that first restaurant wasn’t good,” Rodolfo notes. “The economy was just starting to drop and after four years I had to close. It was a sad time.”

In 2013, Rodolfo purchased the KB’s location in Hailey and began making some changes. “The first thing we did was to change the menu,” Rodolfo recalls. “We offer both traditional and non-traditional Mexican food. Also, we think it’s good to have choices, so while there are basic items on the menu, we encourage people to tell us how they want it. We’re always happy to customize anything on the menu.”

Since purchasing his first location in Hailey, Rodolfo has now taken over the location in Ketchum and opened additional restaurants in Twin Falls and McCall and the future looks bright for this Hailey-based business. “We’re in the process of opening a second location in Twin Falls in the old downtown district,” Rodolfo notes. “We’re also really excited about our newest location soon to be in Boise.” Additionally, KB’s is looking at the possibility of building franchise restaurants in the future.

Rodolfo notes, “Our formula is pretty simple. Offer fresh, good food that is a healthy option and keep it as local as we can.”

Jeff Bacon is the Hailey Chamber of Commerce’s membership director. For more information, visit haileyidaho.com or call the Chamber at (208) 788-3484.

DO I HAVE CUPCAKES!

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JoEllen Collins—a longtime resident of the Wood River Valley—is a teacher, writer, fabric artist, choir member and unabashedly proud grandma known as “Bibi Jo.”

BY JOELLEN COLLINS

JoEllen Collins—a longtime resident of the Wood River Valley—is a teacher, writer, fabric artist, choir member and unabashedly proud grandma known as “Bibi Jo.”
JoEllen Collins—a longtime resident of the Wood River Valley—is a teacher, writer, fabric artist, choir member and unabashedly proud grandma known as “Bibi Jo.”

My daughter’s refrigerator is a New Yorker cartoon I sent her. When I first saw it, I was in the middle of a later life exploration of some physical problems, which later turned out to be fixable.

The cartoon shows the proprietor of a bakery, an elderly lady, standing at her window by a sign that says something like “Fresh donuts and news about my health problems.” Unfortunately, her white hair was not the only similarity we have. I laughed at how many of my friends and I spend an inordinate amount of time comparing doctors’ visits, age-related aches and pains, and the sad reality that we are reaching a time in our lives when these are subjects of commonality.

I do remember other times in my life when conversations with my women friends revolved around other all-consuming concerns such as babies’ cries or lack of sleep, career events, teaching our kids how to be independent and yet obedient, cheering together at school sporting events, planning for our children’s college experiences, and seeing them through some of the traumas most of us experience in maturity. So I don’t fault us for talking about issues that are important at this exact time in our existence. I also need to emphasize that much of our conversations involve issues beyond our homes, families, or other personal concerns.

You can now breathe a sigh of relief that, unlike the cupcake lady, I won’t chronicle my past two years of unexpected health issues. Now when people say, “How are you?” I can truthfully say, “Fine, thanks!” I awaken every morning with gratitude for the day ahead, relatively few minor ailments, the beauty of my surroundings, and the affection of my dogs, friends and family.

What I do wish to comment on today is the remarkable care I have experienced at St. Luke’s through emergency room visits, a relatively minor surgery and tests in almost every department of the hospital. (I joke about obstetrics being the one place I haven’t visited in the past two years.) Having lived in Third World countries and seen patients in hideous conditions awaiting care in hallways, I am grateful for the facilities I can contact so near to home, even though I hear some neighbors criticize long waiting periods in the emergency room, the costs of medical care, or a particular doctor’s lack of bedside manners.

A few weeks ago, in the throes of a coughing spell caused by whooping cough, I fell in my kitchen and scraped off a very long stretch of skin on my left arm. The next morning the emergency room cleaned up and dressed the wound and then set me up with the wound care offices in St. Luke’s clinic building. Not only did I not realize that this care was even available, but the tender, relatively pain-free process of repeated dressings was a happy surprise. I couldn’t resist sharing this info with my readers.

Hooray for the doctors and nurses who are close at hand and now included on my gratitude list.

ASPEN CATKINS

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Leslie Rego, “Aspen Catkins,” nib pen and brush, sumi ink, watercolor.

BY LESLIE REGO

Early spring can seem monochromatic, but there are gentle surprises. The aspen catkins are one of these early spring delights.

An aspen tree is either male or female and they usually reproduce through a complex root system generating numerous saplings in an aspen grove. All of these saplings are a clone from the original tree and, therefore, the same gender. If the first tree is a female, then all of the subsequent trees would also be female. In order for a new grove to be established there has to be both a male and female grove of aspen trees fairly close together.

Both the male and the female aspen tree reproduce catkins, but only the male catkins carry pollen. A gentle wind will carry the pollen to the female catkins for germination. Once the female is pollinated, she will release a multitude of seeds. Most seeds do not survive, but if they do, a new grove will be established, either male or female, which can last for hundreds of years.

Putting botany aside, the swaying catkins on an aspen tree are charming. The other evening, driving home from Ketchum, the catkins were backlit with the last of the evening light. They glowed like hundreds of springtime icicles dangling from the aspen trees. The catkins are downy with many tiny wisps of hair along a tubular shape and each wisp caught the light and glimmered. The catkins cluster on the trees, with two to five tubular shapes hanging together. Up close, they look like fuzzy white caterpillars clinging to the branch.

An aspen tree can have thousands of clustered catkins hanging throughout the tree. The male catkins turn pale yellow as they shed their pollen. The female catkins eventually turn green. You can look around and see whether a particular aspen grove is male or female. The flowering and the dispersing of the seeds all happen before the leaves unfurl and it is one of the gentle early spring delights.

Leslie Rego is an artist and Blaine County resident. To view more of Rego’s art, visit www.leslierego.com.

IS YOUR DOG RESPECTFUL?

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Respectful dogs are a joy to live with!Photo by Fran Jewell

BY FRAN JEWELL

True story: I was having a wonderful Sunday morning brunch with some friends at a local restaurant. About halfway through our meal, a young boy about 6 or 7 ran down the aisle between the booths – not once, but several times. While absorbed in conversation, I watched the boy. All of a sudden, he stopped and spit on my breakfast! The owner saw what happened, came running over, grabbed the boy by the arm and took him back to his parents. Quickly, they stood up from their booth about five booths away and said, “He was just being friendly!” Then they went about their business. The boy was not made to come over and apologize to me, nor did the parents, nor did they offer to buy me another meal. I was absolutely horrified and shocked sitting there with a ruined breakfast.

Okay, what part isn’t true? The parents never said, “He was just being friendly!” But, the rest is.

I imagined how this child’s teachers dealt with him. I also imagined how he was going to function in society when he grew up.

Now imagine yourself in the veterinarian’s office. Your dog is sick with a high temperature, vomiting, and you are waiting for a room. Someone opens the door and lets their one-year-old OFF-LEASH chocolate Labrador retriever come running over and jump on your sick dog. Quickly, they reply, “Oh, he’s friendly!”

Or, you are walking up to a cross-country ski trail with new skis, boots, and new pants. A giant mixed-breed dog comes running over and jumps on you, tearing your pants, and breaks a ski. The owner says…..

You got it.

Now, let’s ask the question: Does your dog respect you or others, or is life just a happy game doing whatever they want regardless of how it affects others?

This is NOT fa riendly greeting. Does the OWNER respect you and other dogs? Does the owner have “voice” control of their dog? This is obnoxious, dangerous and absolutely disrespectful to everyone.

Max von Stephanitz’ famous words are, “A dog is a reflection of its owner.” Who is Max? He is founder of the German shepherd breed. There has never a more profound statement about owning a dog.

The new rave about being a dog “parent,” instead of a dog “owner,” is dramatized in this entire story. If you are going to see yourself as a pet “parent,” then you must teach your dog right and wrong, and respect for others. Expecting others to put up with an ill-behaved dog (or child) is not what a good “parent” does.

So many times I am out with the dogs I am training – either service dogs or client dogs – and people wonder why the dog is so calm, yet happy, thinking it is the nature of the dog. Not often is it just the nature of the dog. Dogs that are a joy to be around have had training and leadership.

If you yearn for a dog you are proud of and enjoy, take the time to train, teach manners and respect. Everyone will adore your dog, too!

Fran Jewell is an IAABC-certified dog behavior consultant, NADOI-certified instructor #1096 and the owner of Positive Puppy Dog Training, LLC, in Sun Valley. For more information, visit www.positivepuppy.com or call (208) 578-1565.

FISHING REPORT FOR APRIL 20 – 27

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info@picaboangler.com (208) 788.3536 www.picaboangler.com

There is a lot of water moving through the Valley, the reservoirs are filling, and anglers are anxiously awaiting the May 28th opener. With the winter season ending and a 100 percent-plus snowpack, anglers can expect some of the best conditions we’ve had in a while. In the meantime, the flows are high and dangerous. Please stay away from the banks of these rivers and without question leave your dog at home if you go have a look.

The Lost River remains the best and just about only game in town. It is a great game, though! We have been seeing prolific Baetis hatches in the afternoon hours. This means have a nice selection of dry flies and Pheasant Tail Nymphs.

Reservoir fishing is slower than we would hope, but that is due to all the water getting dumped into them. Not a bad problem to have. Try your best to find clean(ish) water and fish it hard. Magic Reservoir is probably best near East and West Magic, while Mackay Reservoir seems to always have a nice spring fishery near the back of the reservoir where the water comes in. Anglers are doing pretty well with smallmouth bass fishing on Anderson Ranch Reservoir and, of course, Carey Lake is open and a good local spot for bass and bluegill.

With the melting snow, very adventurous anglers can begin looking at the alpine lakes. We are nearing a day when the trails will open, and just enough ice will melt near the inlets of these lakes to produce some of the year’s best mountain fishing. This is all elevation dependent, as some lakes may not ice off until June. Google Earth is a great place to start when making the decision to explore the mountains to our north. If you are interested in fishing alpine lakes, or you’re just looking for a good fishy read, check out Gary Lafontaine’s famous book, “Fly Fishing the Mountain Lakes.” It is an incredible book about fishing alpine lakes, exploring them, goat packing into them and, of course, diving under the ice to see how the fish react to flies dragged across clear-as-a-window ice.

No matter where you decide to go, please be safe this time of the year. High flows, muddy roads and crazy weather all come into play in the spring. Try to fish with a friend and enjoy this awesome time of the season!

Happy fishing, everyone!

TRIAL RESET FOR SEPTEMBER IN BLANKENSHIP MURDER CASE

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Change of venue possible following mistrial ruling

BY TERRY SMITH

The second-degree murder trial for Keith Eric Blankenship has been rescheduled for Sept. 13, following declaration of a mistrial last week in Blaine County 5th District Court in Hailey.

Presiding Judge Jonathan P. Brody ruled for mistrial on Thursday, April 14, during the first day of testimony in the Blankenship trial. The ruling came at the request of defense attorney Keith Roark, who objected when new information not previously known to the defense or prosecution came out during testimony by the state’s first witness.

According to court records, Lauraine Phillips, the widow of murder victim Steven Michael Romanchuk, testified that she observed Blankenship attempt to break into the home of a neighbor in the Deer Creek Road area. Roark argued that the new information was prejudicial to his client and denied him due process of law.

Blankenship, 51, is charged in the shooting death of Romanchuk, a 47-year-old  neighbor, at Blankenship’s residence on Deer Creek Road north of Hailey on or about Jan. 15, 2014. Blankenship allegedly shot Romanchuk multiple times in a dispute over $100 he owed to Romanchuk.

Romanchuk’s partially decomposed body, buried in a pile of leaves, was recovered on May 16, 2014, after Blankenship the previous day reported the shooting to the Blaine County Sheriff’s Office and claimed he killed Romanchuk in self-defense. Blankenship has remained incarcerated in the Blaine County jail on $500,000 bond since his arrest on May 15, 2014.

Jury selection in the trial, that was expected to last up to three weeks, was conducted on April 12 and April 13, with testimony beginning on April 14.

The trial may now be moved to a new location, possibly to Rupert, where Brody is presiding district court judge in Minidoka County.

A change of venue hearing is scheduled before Brody on May 3 to determine if the trial will be moved and to where.

FINDING INJURED ANIMALS IN THE WILD

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Regulations sometimes lead to tough decisions

This fox, suffering from mange, was trapped in the Warm Springs area. While attempts were made to save the animal, it was ultimately euthanized by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. Courtesy photo by Michael Kane
This fox, suffering from mange, was trapped in the Warm Springs area. While attempts were made to save the animal, it was ultimately euthanized by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. Courtesy photo by Michael Kane

One thing most people will agree on is that the Wood River Valley is partial to animals. Many residents have not just one pet, but multiple pets. Some might even argue that some pets are treated better than humans in the Valley. But what happens when we come across an animal in the wild – more specifically, an injured animal in the wild? What should we do? And what resources are out there?

“When you find an injured animal, the protocol is to call Idaho Fish and Game,” said Josh Royce, regional conservation officer for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game office in the Magic Valley. “It depends on the circumstances, and each situation is different and fact-dependent. Our staff will do what’s most appropriate for the animal and the situation.”

While Fish and Game protocol was initially followed by a Ketchum resident, who found an injured fox in the Warm Springs area in late February, he took matters into his own hands when he didn’t think the department was moving as quickly as it should to help the animal.

Michael Kane initially emailed Fish and Game headquarters through the department’s website. He had not received a response for over a week and a half, and when a reply came, he was told to contact the Fish and Game regional office.

By the time the response came, though, Kane had already gotten in touch with Stephanie Hendrix through postings about the fox on social media. Hendrix, who lives in the Wendell area, is an animal “rehabber.” She used to rehabilitate fur animals in California, and is now licensed to rehabilitate raptors in Idaho.

Working together, Kane and Hendrix trapped the fox in a metal cage, transported it to the Wendell area and began treating it. The fox was suffering from mange, a parasitic infection that is often fatal to an untreated, infected animal.

Mange, which can infect foxes, coyotes and other canines, is caused by a mite that burrows into the skin. It is highly contagious but can be treated with various medicines that kill the mites.

While treatment was underway, Hendrix contacted Fish and Game and spoke to an officer who told her that there were no fur animal rehabbers the area. However, Hendrix searched online and found Toni Hicks, who has been licensed by Fish and Game since 1987 as a wildlife rehabber  from Boise. Hendrix contacted Hicks, who agreed to help with the fox, but before Hicks had the opportunity, Hendrix was contacted by Fish and Game’s Royce who told her that they were sending someone to her home to get the fox.

Hendrix reported that an officer came out and took the animal, evaluated it, and then had it put to death.

Royce offered an explanation of Fish and Game’s perspective of the situation.

“When this fox was trapped and picked up, it was in violation of Idaho law,” Royce said. “The decision to euthanize the fox was based on expediency and the nature of the ailment. In general, we just don’t treat fox with mange. It’s extremely difficult to treat in the long run and the fox population in the Wood River Valley is about 10 percent of what it used to be because of mange.

“The population gets high and then the population crashes, and mange is the reason for the crash,” Royce said. “Our primary objective is to manage the species to protect the population as a whole. And we certainly don’t want to move mange to another area. Mange comes and goes and ebbs and flows.While you may have some improvement in the short-term, you can’t guarantee you’ve removed it in the long-term. You re-release the animal, return it to the population from which it came, and when you do that with an animal that still could have this disease.”

When asked why Royce told Hendrix that there were no fur rehabbers in the area, Royce said that Hicks is in the Boise region of Fish and Game, not the Magic Valley region, and that they don’t like to move sick animals to other regions for fear of spreading mange to other areas that might not be affected.

Hendrix said the fact that the fox was put to death was upsetting.

“If an animal is sick and needs to be killed, I understand. It was just heartbreaking because the fox was getting better,” she said. “I wish there were more resources out there to help out with these types of situations.”

Royce said that people may “see a baby animal alone and think we need to help, but many times the animal’s parents are trying to draw the predators away from their young. The best thing in the world is leave the critters be. It’s the best thing we can do for these animals, sick or otherwise.”

INJURED WILDLIFE

Injured wildlife found in the Magic Valley or Wood River Valley areas should be reported to the Idaho Department of Fish and Game regional office in Jerome at (208) 324-4359. Assistance might also be available at www.idahowildliferescue.org.

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