The Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge

The Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge is in the Bitterroot Valley on the banks of the Bitterroot River just north of Stevensville Montana. To get there leave Stevensville on Highway 203 for about .2 of a mile and turn left onto Waterfowl Lane. Drive for approximately 2 miles and turn left into the trailhead parking area. This is a wildlife refuge and all pets must be on a leash.

Cross over Francois Slough on the paved pathway to the information kiosk and map. Continue to the left on the paved path, Riparian Way. This is an easy trail that is wheelchair accessible. The trail will lead you to the Bitterroot River where there is a covered education shelter. This is where Daisy ran around behind a tree and suddenly there were hornets everywhere. I dropped her leash, grabbed her by the collar, and we ran like heck for about 25 yards. When we stopped and I looked down at her I couldn't believe what I saw; there were hornets all over her. I brushed a dozen or so off of her and when they started buzzing us we ran for another 25 yards. This time when we stopped there weren't quite as many hornets still on her but I still brushed off another half a dozen or so and then we had to run again. I found one trying to dig his way into her thick fur and managed to get him out onto the ground where I stepped on him. Daisy sniffed at him, and growled, she'd been stung a couple of years before.

To the right of the information kiosk and map is the Ponderosa Loop trail. This unpaved trail loops through a meadow and forest to the Bitterroot River. It's on this trail where we've seen most of the wildlife. Once a mother deer and her fawn crossed over this path right in front of us and as Daisy sat there and watched I fumbled around promising myself not to carry the camera inside the daypack ever again. Following the main trail will lead you back to the information kiosk.

Hiking these trails along the Bitterroot River you might get to see all kinds of wildlife and waterfowl. Just be careful about getting to close to the bank of the river. Late in the year it's not so dangerous. But in the spring and early summer the runoff can swell the Bitterroot up to its highest water level.

When the river is this high the banks can give way if you get to close. It's not uncommon for the trails to be closed during this time of year. After the hornet incident we went over to a covered wildlife viewing stand and Daisy collapsed in the shade under one of the wooden benches. I rolled her over to check her out and miraculously neither one of us had been stung. She'd had enough for one day though so she led me right back out the front entrance and over to our Toyota Tundra to head for home.

"Am I really Danger Prone?"

Until Next Time,
Doug