Bigfoot Festival returns to Metaline Falls

By Reader Staff

There have been more than 10,000 Bigfoot sightings in the United States, a third of which have occurred in the Pacific Northwest — more than 2,000 of those in Washington state alone. To celebrate and explore the iconic cryptid, the third annual Metaline Falls Bigfoot Festival will return to Busta Park in Metaline Falls, Wash. — on Saturday, June 17 and Sunday, June 18, featuring local businesses, a variety of vendors and artisans, bigfoot researchers, a

5K race and a pancake breakfast on Sunday morning.

Sponsored by the Pend Oreille Region Tourism Alliance (PORTA), the festival kicks off with the 5K Walk, Run, Race at 8 a.m. More than 90 vendors will be on hand — or foot — selling everything from candles to clothing to Bigfoot-specific items.

Renowned Bigfoot researchers, including Tom Sewid, Mel Skahan, Thom Cantrall, Terrence James, Squatch America and Jesus Payan, will also conduct presentations at the NuVu Showhouse. The pan-

Learn about late-spring birding with Libby Base Camp Hostel

By Reader Staff

Area nature lovers are invited to take part in a late-spring outdoor educational adventure to learn about birding tips and methods, explore different habitats on private land, and learn how to spot and identify local and migrating birdlife.

The expedition takes place Saturday, June 17, starting at the Venture Inn in Libby, Mont. (1015 U.S. Hwy. 2)at 9 a.m. Mountain Time.

Attendees are asked to come prepared for the day with full gas tanks, lunch, water, binoculars, field guidebooks, spotting scopes, good footwear, Earth-toned or camouflage clothing, cameras and a good sense of humor.

The small-group class, sponsored by Libby Base Camp Hostel and led by an experienced instructor, will include vehicle tours with roadside stops and a few short hikes of less than half-mile round trip, wrapping up at approximately 3 p.m. (MST).

Participation is open to adults and teens 16 years or older (the latter with a parent or guardian), and pre-registration is required along with a nominal registration fee.

Private tours will also be available throughout the summer focusing on birds, botany, animal tracking, map and compass orienteering, and combinations of the above.

For more information and to register, call 406-291-2154 or email b_baxter53@yahoo.com.

cake breakfast will take place at American Legion Post and Auxiliary Unit No. 144 on Sunday from 8-10 a.m.

Tickets to the presentations are $15-$25, available mfbigfoot. com/store. Most other activities are free.

PORTA is a 501(c)(3) nonprof it volunteer organization with the mission to promote tourism sensitive to the local lifestyle and environment. Other sponsors of the Metaline Falls Bigfoot Festival include the town of Metaline Falls, the Pend Oreille County Hotel Motel Tax Board, Kalispel Tribe of Indians, State of Washington Tourism and more.

“Whether you believe, disbelieve or are simply Sasquatch-curious, there is something for everyone at the MFBF 2023 festival,” PORTA stated.

Metaline Falls is located about an hour north of Newport, Wash. on the banks of the Pend Oreille River.

For more information, email info@ porta.us or visit mfbigfoot.com.

Local group focused on planting milkweed to boost numbers of monarch butterflies

By Reader Staff

On the first day of June, a team worked together to plant the first grouping of native milkweed at the East Bonner County Library Community Garden.

Gail Bolin of the Kinnikinnick Native Plant Society/Master Naturalist; Perky Smith-Hagadone of the Kinnikinnick Native Plant Society/Master Naturalist; Delia Trenbeath; and Bill Ament, along with technical assistance from East Bonner County Library District Seed Librarian Anna Hebard, teamed up to plant showy and swamp milkweed as a basis for a new pollinator garden at the location.

After a presentation on the decline of the monarch butterfly given at the library earlier this year, a small team of volunteers organized and called themselves the Mighty Monarchs, recognizing the need to plant native milkweed throughout Bonner County.

Native milkweed is the only plant monarch butterfly caterpillars eat. The species (Danaus plexippus) is Idaho’s state insect, yet they are seldom, if ever, seen in Bonner County, although this area is one of their historical ranges. This is due to the lack of native milkweed.

The Mighty Monarchs group has challenged itself to promote the growing of showy, swamp and narrow leaf milkweed throughout the county. Regardless of its name, milkweed is not a weed but a native flower found everywhere in the United States. In the U.S., there are 73 species of milkweed and many of them are becoming rare due to development and pesticide use.

Once enough milkweed is planted, the team will begin to grow monarch butterflies for release into the area.

Those interested in receiving free native milkweed seeds and more information are invited to contact the Mighty Monarchs at TheMightyMonarchs@gmail.com.