Visitors walking the trails of Cougar Bay, located on the west side of Lake Coeur d’Alene, enjoy the splendor one of Idaho’s most beautiful mountain lakes. The rich wetland habitat of Cougar Bay provides an abundance of wildlife watching opportunities from birds to moose.

Bordered by towering conifer forests and lush meadows, Cougar Bay attracts migrating and nesting waterfowl, numerous shorebirds, songbirds, moose, beaver, otter and deer. Thirty-four rare animal species are known to utilize the site, including 27 species of birds.

In 2021, after years of co-management, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) acquired this sensitive lakefront habitat from The Nature Conservancy. This next step in TNC’s partnership with BLM ensures Cougar Bay will remain undeveloped while continuing to offer recreational opportunities for the community.