Nevada Bioblitz 13-17 April 2017

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s_stocking
Posts: 79
Joined: October 11th, 2012, 7:37 pm
Location: Las Vegas, Nv

Nevada Bioblitz 13-17 April 2017

Post by s_stocking »

Nevada Dept of Wildlife (NDOW) is sponsoring a Bioblitz at Kershaw-Ryan State Park and Rainbow Canyon in southern Lincoln county on 13-17 April. The state park will be our base of operations, and they have tentatively indicated our group will be able to camp for free. The park campground has drinking water and shower facilities; there are no electrical hookups for RVs.

http://parks.nv.gov/parks/kershaw-ryan

The state park and Rainbow Canyon are just south of Caliente, NV; the Muddy river travels south thru the canyon with running water most of the year. This area is a great transition zone between the Great Basin and Mojave Deserts. Both Great Basin (Crotalus lutosus) and Speckled (C. mitchelli pyrrhus) rattlesnakes have been found in the canyon; the southern end of the canyon near the Clark County line transitions to sandy creosote scrub with the potential to find the sidewinder (C. cerastes), Mojave rattlesnake (C. scutulatus), Chuckwalla (Sauromalus after) and Gila monster (Heloderma suspectum). The northern part of the canyon has the potential to produce the Sonoran Mountain kingsnake (Lampropeltis pyromelana), Wandering Garter snake (Thamnophis elegans), and the Regal Ringneck Snake (Diadophis punctatus Regalis). A number of these, if confirmed, would be range extensions.

The event goals will be to document herpetofauna of the area. Plan on this to be a no-collecting event for live animals. Photo vouchers with NAHERP are highly encouraged. Temporary custody of select species may be authorized for genetic sampling and photo voucher, permit guidance will be forthcoming. I expect we will be able to salvage roadkill.
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