Snow was on the ground when I arrived in Yellowstone. Before I left, snow fell and winter began her embrace on the landscape. The summer concluded abruptly and although I was forewarned, my tenure at Yellowstone had done the same. Now I have the pleasure of looking back upon my time. I was here long enough to see the seasons change. Continue reading “Seasons Change”
Category: A summer in Yellowstone
Thoughts and experiences during my summer in Yellowstone
Vampires and Daywalkers
For my last installment of this theme, I’m going to tell you more about the bat work that we are doing in Yellowstone. There is more than the acoustic project in the Maple Fire and Buffalo Fire burn areas. Day and night, there is bat work to be done — from summer acoustic stations to bat capture! Continue reading “Vampires and Daywalkers”
The Cute and Cuddly
With time running out, I’m pressed to tell you more about my work in Yellowstone. In this post, I’m going to talk about cute and cuddly small mammals — well, kind of. You see, they are those fuzzy little creatures that we love to adore. However, some of them may carry something deadly. The Wildlife Health Program monitors certain small mammal species for disease that can affect animal populations and people visiting the park. I’ll tell you more about the program’s efforts and my experience with this project. Continue reading “The Cute and Cuddly”
As Summer Ends
Less than a month remains of my summer in Yellowstone, about three weeks. I’ve been thinking about this summer quite often. Surely more so, I’ve been thinking ahead. I’m pondering what I will do next. Continue reading “As Summer Ends”
Bats and Fire
Bats and fire, what an interesting combination. I recall being excited when hearing of this project back in May. Our mission was to set up some acoustic stations in and around areas burned by wildfire with the intention of discovering how bats are using these altered landscapes. In this post, I’m going to stick with the current theme and tell you more about my work in Yellowstone and my involvement in this project. Continue reading “Bats and Fire”
Looking for Trouble
After publishing my last post, some of you inquired about what happened to the amphibians at that pond in Canyon. I was sad to report on the demise of this cohort; however, I was pleased to hear of the concern for these wonderful yet vulnerable animals. They often do not get the attention or the funding that they deserve. In this post, I’ll tell you about my amphibian work with the Wildlife Health Program and present my hypothesis on what caused the amphibian die-off. Continue reading “Looking for Trouble”
Shoshone Lake
This summer in Yellowstone, I discovered places to escape the crowds and find solitude. The first time I met Shoshone Lake, she gave me a cold shoulder. Since then, she’s warmed up to me and has provided a place of peace.
A Grizzly Encounter
The day began like many others… Continue reading “A Grizzly Encounter”
The Shortcomings of Paradise
In previous writings, I said that Yellowstone has treated me well. The park is beautiful and striking and I am enjoying my work and the opportunities that may come from my employment. These things are true. Nevertheless, the experience isn’t what I thought it would be. Daily, I grapple with my perceived shortcomings of paradise. Happiness ebbs and flows and I’ve done much thinking to discover why. Continue reading “The Shortcomings of Paradise”
Bat Capture at Buffalo Ranch
The sun goes down and the net comes up at Buffalo Ranch. This past Wednesday, we did a roost capture in the Lamar Valley of Yellowstone. In this picture, we are waiting to deploy the triple high net. Once the they emerged, we captured sixty of the nearly three hundred female little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus) that are using the attic as a roost. Associates and visitors of Buffalo Ranch expressed their curiosity as we caught and extracted the bats from the net. I was delighted to see such interest from non-scientists.