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”
Tag: Wildlife and Fisheries Science
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”
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.
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”
A Letter
Once a week, sometimes twice, I stop by the post office to check my P.O. box. The sun is usually shining and the elk lay on the green grass. I walk past the bustle of tourists and bound up the post office steps. My heart beats a little more and adds to the excitement. I make a quick left in the vestibule and make a not so sharp right in the lobby. I approach the wall of postal boxes in excitement. There has to be something for me! Mine is on the top left. I reach up high with the key in hand. I unlock and open the little door, stand on my toes, and peer inside. Continue reading “A Letter”
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?”