Lewiston

Pheasants Forever banquet April 5

Outdoor enthusiasts looking to make a difference for wildlife habitat and conservation are invited to attend the North Idaho Chapter of Pheasants Forever Banquet scheduled for April 5 at the Elks Club in Lewiston.

One doesn't have to hunt pheasants, train dogs or even own a shotgun to attend the banquet, Jay Roach, North Idaho Pheasants Forever Chapter president said in a prepared statement. The group welcomes anyone who cares about wildlife and enjoys the outdoors.

Doors open at 5:30 with a social hour. A prime rib dinner is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. with a live auction to follow. Tickets for the event are $60 individual or $80 for couples, which includes dinner, chances to win great prizes, raffles, and membership to Pheasants Forever, including a one-year subscription to Pheasants Forever - Journal of Upland Conservation.

Most of the money raised will go toward working with local farmers and landowners to preserve and restore wildlife habitat in this area, Roach said.

For information, contact Mandy Miles at (208) 746-0103; Ken Biery (208) 743-2229; Steve Vassar at (208) 743-5494; or Jay Roach at (208) 285-1636.

_____

Jackson, Wyo. Wyo. Game and Fish captures third orphan cougar kitten

Wildlife managers have captured the last of three kittens that became orphaned when their mother died in northwest Wyoming.

Wyoming Game and Fish Department officials caught the kitten around 3 p.m. Friday after a resident called in to report the cat.

Game and Fish spokesman Mark Gocke said the mountain lion appeared weakened and pretty thin.

The kitten will join its two siblings who were captured earlier in the Jackson Hole area, and all three kittens eventually will go to a zoo in Wahpeton, N.D.

Officials said the kittens are thought to be less than six months old and likely would have died if left to fend for themselves.

Information from: Jackson Hole News And Guide, http://www.jhnewsandguide.com.

____ Yellowstone National Park, Wyo.

Construction of new Old Faithful visitor center set for May

Groundbreaking for a new, $27 million Old Faithful Visitor Education Center at Yellowstone National Park is set for May.

The two-story, 26,000 square foot structure will be built on the site of the small, outdated visitor center that was demolished last summer. A temporary visitor center is in place while construction is under way.

The new facility is expected to open to the public by the fall of 2010 and serve 2.6 million visitors every year.

It will feature new exhibits and host new programs to help visitors understand and appreciate geysers, hot springs, and other hydrothermal features in Yellowstone. The building will also contain an auditorium, research library, multipurpose classroom, and educational bookstore.