FieldHerpForum

Hey everyone, just wanted to share some photos from the work I'm doing this summer. I'm a senior biology major/environmental studies minor at Ithaca College. Some of you may remember the research I did last summer at the Wetlands Institute in Stone Harbor, NJ (see http://fieldherpforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=19459, http://fieldherpforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=19407, http://fieldherpforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=19864). This summer I'm assisting Dr. Rulon Clark of San Diego State (http://www.bio.sdsu.edu/pub/clark/Home.html) with a behavioral study focusing on the interactions between Northern Pacific Rattlesnakes (Crotalus oreganus) and California Ground Squirrels (Spermophilus beecheyi). The research site is located within a remote region of the Sunol Regional WIlderness area in Alameda County, CA. Here are some photos from my first two days here.





some landscape shots








the campsite






bathroom




living room


bedroom


rattlesnake habitat




always wear protection when working with nasty snakes


ground squirrel burrow


marked squirrel (aka snake food)


1st rattler


Rulon getting the snake to go inside a tube






my first time holding a rattler








administering anesthesia


preparing to surgically implant radio transmitter


the transmitter




making the 1st incision




after inserting the transmitter into the body cavity






sewing up




still knocked out


finishing touches




marking the rattle




clipping scales for identification




tracking previously tagged snakes via radio telemetry




found it


drift fence/funnel trap








Southern California Alligator Lizard (Elgaria multicarinata multicarinata)




heavily parasitized







other miscellaneous wildlife...

some cool caterpillars




moth




mountain lion jawbone


Western Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis)




Santa Cruz Aquatic Garter Snake (Thamnophis atratus atratus)


California Whiptail (Aspidoscelis tigris munda)


Western Yellow-bellied Racer (Coluber constrictor mormon)


recapture


California Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula californiae)







thanks for looking, more to come later

-Zach

Great pictures! Looks like a lottttt of fun.

Cool post, that certainly is an interesting procedure, enjoy the summer!

Nice sequence, thanks for showing some of the research activities going on just down the street! Next time I hike around Sunol I'll watch for rattlesnakes with black-marked rattles. The by-catch is cool too. Your alligator lizard is actually a southern, Elgaria multicarinata multicarinata.

Awesome pictures, I love seeing pictures from other student's research.

ah, thanks for the correction on the alligator lizard

-zach

That is some cool stuff. I grew up just over the hill in Pleasanton. I found my first cal king in Sunol. Didn't know that there were whiptails in Sunol! Guess I haven't explored my own backyard enough!

Andy

By far...my favorite post of the year so far.. ...you guys have basically my dream job! Im actually going to school for Wildlife Biology and Herpetology. The Rattlesnake Radio Telemetry looks awesome!!! You couldnt fathom the idea of how stoked i am about going to college for this stuff!!!!

GREAT post!!!!

-Lucas

This looks like a really interesting study. Have fun with it and keep us informed of the results!

Zach, I truly enjoyed and savored every morsel of this post. The pictures were ordered wonderfully to tell a story. You had me the whole way through. I like the way you start with the dangers as you are off to a new place. Then, holding a rattlesnake for the first time. This is for me one of the best posts of the year. You helped me step into your shoes and experience it too. I can't wait for your next post.

Peter B.

Marvelous! Thanks very much for the detailed insight into a world most of us never get to see!!

Excellent post!!!!

thanks for the interesting look into your research activities!

-Mike