Some things belong in the desert, and some things do not.
Our refuge work
Burro Damage in the Desert
As larger animals with a less efficient digestive system, burros (small donkeys) consume more vegetation than native bighorn sheep and mule deer. Damage to desert foliage can be extensive as they congregate near water during dry spells.
To Prepare for a Fieldtrip — or Not
“Is it better to bring the students on a tour of the zoo before we study the unit, or is it better to prepare them first?” a teacher friend once asked me when Chuck and I were docents leading school tours at the Denver Zoo.
From the Desert to the Tetons
After spending winter months hiking through the desert, we’ve learned to watch for critters that lurk unseen, ready to strike or sting unwary visitors. With this in mind, even though unnecessary, I found myself constantly on guard while tramping through brush and tall grasses at the National Elk Refuge over the summer.
Naturalist Work on the deck of the National Elk Refuge
Volunteering as naturalists on the deck of the visitor center at the National Elk Refuge with our skulls and snakes, we meet people from all over the country and the world. Some encounters are educational, some are merely social, and some are comical.
Antler Auction
Despite snow, cold, wind, and occasional glimpses of sun, the annual Antler Auction in Jackson, Wyoming, proceeded as usual today.
Becoming Museum Volunteers
A packrat den in a rock wall, stuffed with burro droppings, cactus pieces, and various vegetation, helps us explain to our winter visitors how we became involved volunteering with Denver’s Museum of Natural History.