Written by Len Otto, FOMR Volunteer Aug 2026
My wife, Gloria, and I have a mutual love – and fascination – with birds. That is one interest that brought us together.
It was inevitable we would end up at Malheur NWR. On our first visit to Crane’s Nest we made a couple purchases, and were asked if we would like to join the Friends group. We’ve been members ever since. Also inevitable was that we would volunteer for something at the refuge. That led to a road trip on Sunday, August 23rd to Malheur NWR. Here’s a day by day snapshot:
Day 1, August 24, 2026
After orientation from Ian Snyder, FOMR Conservation Stewardship Technician, we worked in the Rock Garden, clearing invasive plants, trying to tame some enthusiastic growers, and making the garden more accessible for the mid-September work party.
We met Kathy, another volunteer, and also met Mary, Kaitlin, Mickey, and Kate (not a volunteer, but part of group we got to know). Everyone ended up in the volunteers kitchen/dining room, pitching in to share a dinner of delicious tacos. It was a fabulous way to get to know other volunteers!
A massive dust storm soon rolled in; gritty, smoky ash, dust, soil (Photo, left). It cleared to incredible colors and lighting for a glorious sunset (photo, above). A lightning and dust storm formed to SE, huge bolts striking mountains.
•Personal note: I clocked 7800+ steps and almost 3 miles!
Day 2, August 25, 2026
8:00a.m. – The day started in the Rock Garden, until we received a call from Ian. After gathering needs for the day, we met Ian and Travis Miller, Malheur NWR Habitat Ecologist and Supervisory Biologist. Travis led us south, heading to work on fire-related remediation pulling T-posts and barbed wire. The Stubble Fire had eliminated most of the vegetation, exposing problem (photo). Fauna become entangled in wire and die.
Temperature in the low 90ºs, we worked in ash covered ground, dodging tripping hazards (remnants of burned sagebrush (photo, below). Four hours later, we were filthy, tired, and happy. The truck was loaded with T-posts and wire, and we were ready to call it a day. Thankfully, US FWS provides showers in the volunteer camp. What a relief they were!
Day 3, August 26, 2026
Much like yesterday, we pulled posts and coiled barbed wire until about 11:30a.m., and finished with a full load of steel.The last posts had fused with baked clay soil. Pulling one with a tractor: child’s play. Pulling one with T-post puller: almost impossible. [I weigh ≈200+ lb., Ian probably 150-ish, and with combined weights bearing on the lever were unable to budge them. Wiggling and bending and chanting incantations to the gods of fencing we managed to get final six posts in truck.
Further down the road, we went to work on charred wooden posts and the remnants of wire. Gloria and Ian began work on west end, I backtracked and followed wire, removing staples where needed. After ≈300 yards wire petered out into soil. I worked west, pulling and coiling three strands. That worked for the first 100′. We finished up, section by section, and managed to get the remainder of the wire in truck. Buried wire, we cut as close to the ground as possible and left it to rust away. [I was glad to see Ian, less than half my age, sweating as much as I was in the desert heat!]
It was hard work, but I felt I had done something positive for wildlife on this NWR. It is heartbreaking to see elk, deer, or any animal entangled in wire, injured and unable to survive on its own.
Gloria was tired, but invigorated by having contributed to a positive change at Malheur. Working hard comes to us naturally.
Keeping up with someone younger……that’s a different story. Ian was very patient.
Staying hydrated in the heat was a challenge for us Oregon Westsiders. It seemed not to matter how often or much we drank, we felt thirsty minutes later. Obviously, becoming dehydrated is dangerous, and happens quickly. Pioneer folks were tough; they had to be. How did they cope in the arid environments?
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After wrangling wire, we traveled south to scout the P-Ranch trail, following the Blitzen River. The trail is relatively short, ≈½ mile, but overgrown. Its a scenic mix of farmland and wild. We visited Pete French’s “Long Barn.” French, well known for his “Round Barn,” also was known for the “long” one. Sadly in disrepair, the roof is in danger of collapse. US FWS owns the property and historic barn, but they do not have the money to effect repairs.
Day 4, August 27, 2026
Trail work today. Back to P-Ranch. Ian and I cut branches intruding on trail, so Zach could get mower through; Gloria removed invasive weeds. Both hot, sweaty jobs, but again left us with sense of having done something good for the refuge. After returning to HQ, we headed for overgrown pollinator garden. Much trimming and composting of plants later* we called it a day with plans to finish in the garden tomorrow.
*[Note to self: Do not kneel on stinging nettles to compress bundle.]
Day 5, August 28, 2026
Pollinator Garden, Part 2
Grass and spreading desirables have taken over the Pollinator Garden. We remedy where we can; some plants, e.g. clematis, have well established roots. The garden was being watered so we switched to “remove invasives” (Kochia) mode, seemingly everywhere in high desert. Gloria tackled the big area around the awning near Crane’s Nest Nature Store, I tackled a smaller, tighter area with trowel and gloves. We made headway, but did not finish, happily switching to the shadier garden area after lunch.
Crabgrass grew between the cement blocks in the wall; I took down two tiers and dug, knowing I left plenty to grow back. Gloria focused inside the fencing. Together, we tied up “leggy,” currants, asters, and mint. Some were tied to fencing, some to themselves. When done, it was possible to walk through the garden without stepping on plants. Most had name tags, so we could determine which plants had been choked out. Bottom line, it was a chore needing to be done and we were happy to tackle it.
September 7, 2026
We now are a couple weeks out from our first Malheur volunteering adventure and are looking forward to our next one. This time we will make time for birds and Steens Mountain. A few nights at Page Springs, some walks up the canyon, then back to work with the friendly community at Malheur headquarters.
THANK YOU, LEN AND GLORIA OTTO!
If you are interested in volunteering with Friends of Malheur NWR, please email [email protected]
