Local Boy Scouts help make wildlife sanctuary safer

A local Boy Scout troop is helping to make a bird sanctuary safer for animals and drivers this Earth Day weekend. Photographer Christopher Flicker caught up with Troop 1701 on Saturday as its members worked together to protect the community’s land.

“This is a 5-acre refuge for indigenous desert animals,” said Kitty Pallsen, owner of Kitty’s Wildlife Refuge in Sky Valley. “I have a sign that says ‘no headlights after dark,’ because it (headlights) chases the birds out of the trees and they can’t see to get back up.”

Pallsen said 80 ravens and hundreds of birds live on the refuge. For the animals’ safety, she asked the troop to install permanent lights mounted on wooden posts so that vehicles can navigate with only the parking lights on.

“This amazing Scout is doing the Outsmart the Raven project,” she said.

Scout Just Marianowits took the project on as part of his effort to become an Eagle Scout.

Pallsen had previously tried solar lights, but the birds would pull them out.

“We are trying to outsmart them because we don’t think they can pull the posts up, but we’re going to find out,” Pallsen saidd.