Adopt-A-Species program gives Lincoln kids a chance to learn more about natures engineers

Last Thursday's annual Adopt-a-Species assembly for Lincoln grade schoolers came up short a few feathered friends, but Rebecca Skeldon, the education coordinator with the Montana Discovery Foundation, kept the youngsters engaged with a look at "The Life that Fire Brings" to the landscape.

Every year the Montana Discovery Foundation hosts an adopt-a species assembly, with a visit by native raptors being one of the assembly's highlights. Unfortunately for the kids, the folks with the birds mistakenly went to Lincoln School in Helena.

Nevertheless, the kids remained focused on Skeldon as she talked about this year's theme centering on the native animals that have adapted to deal with, and even take advantage of, wildfire on the landscape.

Skeldon discussed the way animals migrate out of areas during a fire, with animals such as raptors taking advantage of fleeing prey for easy meals. Although it hasn't been seen here , she noted that in Australia, some raptors have been observed carrying flaming branches to spread fire as a way to drive animals out of hiding.

A highlight of the assembly was the unveiling of the animal the school kids will learn about this year. Every year the school receives a trunk with resources for helping them study about a particular species that is incorporated into daily lesson plans.

Although guesses on this year's animal included bear, deer and baby Lynx, the actual animal they'll be studying over the school year is nature's own wetland engineers, the beaver.

Throughout the school year the students will learn about the beaver and it's role in shaping the environment.

Skeldon explained to the kids that beaver, living in ponds and waterways as they do, tend to be less impacted by fire than some other animals. She said they can even benefit from fire as it more readily burns away pine and juniper and helps make way for willows, cottonwood and dogwood, some of the beaver's primary food sources.

The nonprofit Montana Discovery Foundation has been around since 1999 and promotes conservation through stewardship and education.