| For thousands of years, the people, the Nimiipuu, or Nezperce have lived in the area minimally covered by Nezperce National Historical Park. The park was established as a unit of the national park system on May 15, 1965 and was added to in 1992 to incorporate 38 sites in the states of Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and Montana. The park sites are mostly small pockets of land surrounded by a patchwork of private, local, state, tribal, and other federal ownership.The Nimiipuu lived across three eco-regions, being: the Short grass Prairies of the Palouse Grasslands and Missouri Basin; the Sagebrush Steppe of the Columbia and Snake River Plateaus; and the Mixed Conifer of the Blue Mountains, Salmon River Mountains, basins and ranges of southwestern Montana, and northern Rocky Mountains of Idaho and Montana.These eco-regions provide a rich and varied environment for the natural resources of the park and surrounding lands. Interaction and use of these resources has been the primary factor for the development of the rich culture of the area.The wildlife of Nezperce National Historical Park is as varied as the park's sites. Amphibians, birds, mammals, reptiles, and invertebrates abound at all sites. From the peregrine falcon to the pika, species diversity is of critical importance.The western portion of the park area is bisected by the Snake and Clearwater rivers and many of their reaches. Many of these drainages have been declared critical habitat for the Snake River sockeye salmon and the Snake River fall chinook salmon, in addition to being important habitat for the West Coast steelhead.Gray wolf and bald eagle may be periodically seen in the park, but are not residents. Other sensitive species that may also be found in the park include Montana arctic grayling, mountain plover, swift fox, great gray owl, and boreal owl.Bald eagles are frequent visitors to the reaches of the Columbia, Snake, and Clearwater Rivers. Osprey, red-tailed hawk, and other raptors are common, as well as a wide variety of migratory and resident bird life. The geography of the area supports habitat that is important for many species of migratory waterfowl. Species such as mallard, green-winged teal, pintail, and Canada geese utilize park areas for breeding and resting.In addition, great horned owls, killdeer, western kingbird, mountain bluebird, red-breasted nuthatch, ruby-crowned kinglet, pygmy nuthatch, Stellar's jay, and Clark's Nutcracker are common residents. |
|
