In the beginning of my wildlife journey, I remember watching a video of a biologist enter a clover trap to subdue a deer. It was exciting and frightening at the same time. With enthusiasm, I was proud to say, “that could be me one day!” The time has come to tackle a deer. Continue reading “My First Deer”
Tag: wildlife
I’m Allergic to Deer
Seriously? After all these years of hunting, you would think that I would have known by now. Apparently, field dressing a deer was never enough to really get my allergies going but working with them is terrible. Just my luck, I’m allergic to deer! Continue reading “I’m Allergic to Deer”
First Trapping Night
We combined forces. Our first trapping night was to be shared between the two crews. Many of us were green. Out of a dozen, maybe two or three had experience working with deer. We would perform under the supervision of our section leaders. Hopefully, their presence would provide guidance and not intimidation. We were nervous but excited to trap deer for the first time! Continue reading “First Trapping Night”
The House of Flies
I know you are curious about my living arrangements this winter. There is always something quirky about the places I stay and this time is no exception. Let tell you about the House of Flies. Continue reading “The House of Flies”
Anticipation
The first paragraph of a new chapter is neither here nor there. In the time between where I’ve been to where I’m going, there is much anticipation of what the future holds. I’d like to say that I’m used to changing things up every several months; the truth is, I know very little going into the next gig. Here I go again! Continue reading “Anticipation”
Seasons Change
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”
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”
Townsend’s big-eared bat
On Wednesday night, I was reminded of the reason that I came to Yellowstone. We caught a Townsend’s big-eared bat (Corynorhinus townsendii), a rare species to be found in the park and the first encounter for me.
Dorm Life
Down past the hoodoos, across from the travertine terraces, within the borders of Yellowstone National Park, my home away from home is Mammoth, Wyoming. In this post, I’m going to show you where I live and give you my perspective on my living conditions. I’m going to take you into the world of Dorm Life. Continue reading “Dorm Life”
So, how’s the job going?
My primary reason for being in Yellowstone is to work. I’ve reported on my leisure time but I bet you are wondering how the job is going. To be fair, the lines are blurred between work and play. To quote a childhood friend, “you get to do all the cool stuff that we did as kids but now, you get paid to do it.” True, many of my hours are spent hiking in the striking landscape of Yellowstone and playing with fuzzy or slimy critters. However, I still have the mundane that comes along with every job. I’d take you along on a typical day but none are the same. Good or bad, I don’t always know what I’m doing from one day to the next. Continue reading “So, how’s the job going?”