Plants & Animals In Idaho

Thousands of plants and animals make Idaho their home. Big game, birds and other wildlife abound throughout the forests. Dense forest, rolling hills and grassland make up most of the state. However, mountains that exceed 10,000 feet above sea level comprise Idaho's upper region.

Grizzly bears live in Idaho's mountain regions. They enjoy basking in the sun and eating nuts and berries within the forest. The Idaho Fish and Game department keeps a close watch on small grizzly bear populations within the state. Hunting grizzly bears is not allowed.

Big horn sheep reside throughout Idaho. Robust animals, they survive cold winters in the mountains of Idaho. Their horns alone can weight up to 30 lbs. Males typically weight around 300 lbs. females range between 150 to 200 lbs. on average. They enjoy grazing on grasslands and climbing up rugged terrain.

Carex geyeri, also called elk sage, is native Idaho grass. This plant can grow up to 12 inches tall, but the underground root systems can be as deep as 5 feet. This grass enjoys full sun and well-drained soil. The grass is light to dark green depending on the time of year. Elk sage will become yellow in the summer.

The black cottonwood reaches heights of up to 150 feet. The leaf buds contain stuck black substance, and the foliage is deep green. This tree is found throughout Idaho. These trees enjoy full sun and moist soil.