OutdoorSignal
Waterfowl intelligence

Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge

Answers field/weather and mapped habitat context; it does not predict migration or bird presence.

86/100Excellent
Evidence completeness: 100/100. Derived conditions help with planning; official alerts, rules and local conditions always take priority.
THE DECISION

Today and tomorrow are broadly similar

The difference is only 5 points (86/100 today, 91/100 tomorrow), so there is no strong conditions-based reason to postpone solely for the forecast. The main forecast change is that the low changes from 53°F to 44°F.

Today86/100
Tomorrow91/100
ConfidenceMedium

Most important: Mapped wetland habitat: The surrounding area has a substantial mapped wetland footprint. That supports habitat context, but it does not prove birds are present today.

Temperature59°F
Wind3 mph
Rain chance0%
ForecastSunny
INTERPRETATION

What the numbers actually change

Good

Mapped wetland habitat

6,301 acres within 10 mi

The surrounding area has a substantial mapped wetland footprint. That supports habitat context, but it does not prove birds are present today.

Context

Wind / field setup

6 mph max

Very light wind may make some setups feel static, but this does not predict migration.

Official recreation record

Source: Recreation.gov / RIDB. Verify current reservation, closure and facility details on the official service.

 Nestled beside the Selkirk Mountains of northern Idaho, this 2,774 acre refuge provides diverse habitats for a large variety of wildlife including moose, elk, deer, bear, otter, bald eagles, and migratory waterfowl such as mallards, northern pintail, and teal. Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge is located in Idaho's Panhandle approximately 20 miles south of the Canadian border and 5 miles west of Bonners Ferry, Idaho.Established in 1964 as a migratory waterfowl refuge, Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge…

RIDB record1460
ReservableNo

Official directions: The primary entrance to the Refuge can be accessed by Hwy 95 in Bonners Ferry, Idaho.  From Hwy 95, head west on Riverside Rd. for about 6 miles, following the dike along the Kootenai River.  After crossing over Deep Creek, you will see a welcome sign as you enter the Refuge property.  You may continue…

Terrain context

Center elevation1,782 ft
Sampled low1,752 ft
Sampled high3,070 ft
Elevation range1,318 ft

Sampled terrain is planning context, not a survey or route assessment.

Wetland context

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service National Wetlands Inventory. Mapping is not a regulatory wetland determination or property-boundary survey.

6,301 mapped wetland acres were returned within the 10-mile query area.

WHAT THIS PAGE DOESN'T KNOW YET

Important gaps

  • Regional snow/freeze progression, crop/food context and live bird observations are not yet part of this score; do not treat it as a migration forecast.
Condition-aware gear

Gear justified by these conditions

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Waterproof field bag

The mapped wetland footprint makes waterproof storage more relevant than on a dry-land outing.

See options on Amazon →

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