Kids These Days
One advantage of working as naturalists on the deck of the National Elk Refuge in Jackson, Wyoming, is meeting some of the young visitors who come through on vacation. While many people bemoan the deterioration of today’s youth, we witness first hand some of the…
Nature Takes its Course on a Wildlife Refuge
Although we’ve encountered people trespassing a bit beyond “Area Closed” signs on national wildlife refuges, recently we viewed a woman at least a half mile beyond the warning sign. We spotted this woman as we descended from a hillside after observing and recording wildlife information…
Fear Nature? Or Respect Nature?
“Where can we take our 4-year-old hiking that’s safe?” a young father asked me at a visitor center where Chuck and I were volunteering in Wyoming. After thinking a bit, I recommended a trail that popped into my mind. “But are there a lot of…
Collaring Bighorn Sheep
“You can come and help out, but I hope you don’t get bored. There might be a lot of down time.” After inviting us to a bighorn sheep capture and collaring, Desert National Wildlife Refuge biologist Lindsay Smythe warned us in advance that we could…
For the Love of Spike
For someone who is afraid of snakes, Kim O’Neill fell in love several years ago with our kingsnake, Spike. “When he puts his nose in the crook of my elbow,” she coos, “he’s so cuddly.” [twocol_one][/twocol_one] [twocol_one_last][/twocol_one_last] A receptionist in my brother’s dental practice, Kim…
Our Favorite Grade Level
“So what’s your favorite grade level to present to?” We’re often asked this question, but because we don’t have a favorite grade level, we never have an answer. Instead, we have discovered that any age level, any grade, can harbor students eager to participate in…
The Farmer and the Snake
Snake handler Jack Bibby is once again in the news after being bitten for the 12th time by a rattlesnake. Bibby even lost a leg to one of the snakebites, but still continues to wrangle the critters despite his previous injuries and deformities. According to…