As I write these words, it has been ten days since I left southeastern Ohio for my home in Auburn. Already I have missed so much. One of my best friends first born child entered the world as I crossed the Tennessee line headed south. My cabin in the woods was difficult to leave for many reasons.
This summer has increased my skills and knowledge so much. If I went into this internship with any doubts, they have all be wiped away. Conservation medicine has developed from a curiosity to a passion.
If all goes well, I hope to return for another summer of research work with the eastern hellbender salamander. Our last day in the field was a triumphant double digit capture day. We went into the stream with a goal of finding eight salamanders. This seemed outlandish to me since our previous two surveys netted three captures. Not only did we find ten of these endangered salamanders, but we found the largest female that I have ever personally seen. Her head was as wide as my palm and she was twenty three inches from nose to tail.
I wish I could make this longer and more thorough but my life has shifted into another gear. I am currently in the midst of the dreaded "Second Year". It just so happens that some of my classes are starting right where my independent study this summer was leading me. I have also learned that our wildlife caseload is apparently going up as we have a had a baby giraffe and baby tiger treated by the staff at Auburn. I know what you are thinking, but I still will not put any pictures in my blog.
HIGHLIGHT: It was a magical journey and thank you for sharing it with me.
LOWLIGHT: Next summer seem so far away....
Monday, August 26, 2013
Sunday, July 28, 2013
Days 31-35: Sticks and Stones
Sticks and stones and mud and leaves
All look like turtles to me
Searching underwater in a pond
For painted turtles of which I am fond
Could have been a turtle shellJust another rock, oh well
Poke up their head, then swim awayThis is the story of each day
For a week without a capture
Feels like the opposite of rapture
Basking on a log in the sun
I approach, turtles run
They wait until I'm chest deep
Sliding down a bank too steep
Swim away when I come towardA wet t-shirt my only reward.
That sums up the week that I have had in the field. It was pretty much one long low light of a week with regard to my turtle study.
Highlights: We had another "kids camp" this week for High School kids interested in Veterinary Medicine. I was asked to help with the darting lab which was awesome. I got to fire all the different types of dart guns used here at the wilds. With the scoped rifle I put a nice tight pattern on the target which included a bullseye.
All look like turtles to me
Searching underwater in a pond
For painted turtles of which I am fond
Could have been a turtle shellJust another rock, oh well
Poke up their head, then swim awayThis is the story of each day
For a week without a capture
Feels like the opposite of rapture
Basking on a log in the sun
I approach, turtles run
They wait until I'm chest deep
Sliding down a bank too steep
Swim away when I come towardA wet t-shirt my only reward.
That sums up the week that I have had in the field. It was pretty much one long low light of a week with regard to my turtle study.
Highlights: We had another "kids camp" this week for High School kids interested in Veterinary Medicine. I was asked to help with the darting lab which was awesome. I got to fire all the different types of dart guns used here at the wilds. With the scoped rifle I put a nice tight pattern on the target which included a bullseye.
Monday, July 22, 2013
Day 31: When It Rains
Dreary drizzle awaited me as I left my cabin this morning. A quick check of the weather channel app on my phone let me know to expect more of the same for the rest of the day. If only I were going to play baseball, the game would have been called, kaput, rained out. Instead, I was going to do pond surveys. In this game, the only thing that cancels work is lighting. No storms of that nature were predicted until after lunch.
Our team marched out to the first site of the day. It was a shallow looking pond, with no signs of turtles at all. After deciding that a turtle search would be fruitless at this pond, we hiked to the second site of the day. This was a nearby pond which was added to our survey so our main objective was simply to locate the pond.
Leaving a trail of broken branches and upset spiders in our wake, we came to the shoreline of our new pond. After a brief pause for observations, I set about entering the water to survey this huge lake. Four short steps along the shoreline and I found myself chest deep in the water and sinking slowly.
Looking out across the lake, I saw a clear path on the far shore. Four wheel drive tire treads running parallel up a green carpeted hillside. We decided that finding that path would allow for a better survey. I exited the water and we were on our way to the next site.
The sky doubled its rain production shortly after a green frog found her way into Chelsea's net at our third site. By the time she finished writing all the stats on the page, it was soaked through. We released the frog and raced back to the truck.
Highlight: I guess the highlight of today would be learning that I will be helping out with the new kid's camp this week. It is a "Vet Camp". I can't hardly wait to return to the animal hospital even if the price of admission is dealing with preteens.
Lowlight: Rainy days are terrible for finding turtles. From this point forward, I will only be working on a Major League Baseball type schedule. Might as well roll tarps over the ponds while we wait out the storm from the comfort of a plush locker room.
Our team marched out to the first site of the day. It was a shallow looking pond, with no signs of turtles at all. After deciding that a turtle search would be fruitless at this pond, we hiked to the second site of the day. This was a nearby pond which was added to our survey so our main objective was simply to locate the pond.
Leaving a trail of broken branches and upset spiders in our wake, we came to the shoreline of our new pond. After a brief pause for observations, I set about entering the water to survey this huge lake. Four short steps along the shoreline and I found myself chest deep in the water and sinking slowly.
Looking out across the lake, I saw a clear path on the far shore. Four wheel drive tire treads running parallel up a green carpeted hillside. We decided that finding that path would allow for a better survey. I exited the water and we were on our way to the next site.
The sky doubled its rain production shortly after a green frog found her way into Chelsea's net at our third site. By the time she finished writing all the stats on the page, it was soaked through. We released the frog and raced back to the truck.
Highlight: I guess the highlight of today would be learning that I will be helping out with the new kid's camp this week. It is a "Vet Camp". I can't hardly wait to return to the animal hospital even if the price of admission is dealing with preteens.
Lowlight: Rainy days are terrible for finding turtles. From this point forward, I will only be working on a Major League Baseball type schedule. Might as well roll tarps over the ponds while we wait out the storm from the comfort of a plush locker room.
Friday, July 19, 2013
Days 26-30: Kid's Week
Our education camp, "Wildecamp", was host to a group of twelve year old children. As part of our internship, we were asked to take out a group of ten kids to a survey site each day this week. During that time, we would take them into a lake to demonstrate what we do each day.
Our group of turtle researchers selected a site which had previously yielded four turtle captures and numerous sitings. It was a short hike to the lake. The water was shallow and clear. The perfect set up for the kids to have the best chance finding turtles in the wild.
Turns out the site was too good to be true. Not only did we not see any turtles with any of the groups, we did not see any of the wildlife for which we survey. Maybe it was the fact the twelve year old kids think anything short of yelling at each other is "being quite". Maybe it was the heat driving the turtles deeper into the water. Your guess is as good as mine.
When we survey the lake sites, our whole team shows up with appropriate gear. Long pants with boots or Chest Waders are our daily uniform. The children arrived in shorts and water shoes. It was so hot that I did not think that it made much of a difference.
My assumption was wrong. Chest waders preclude me from all the things that bare skin might attract in a lake. Within 15 minutes of our first lake survey one of the boys had a leaf on his leg. When I looked down, I knew immediately that was no leaf. A simple touch confirmed that one of the youngsters who was under my care was now the host to a leech. We find them on turtles all the time but I never considered that a human would be just as attractive.
I calmly reached down with my bare hands to remove the leech. No luck. The leech had already began to draw blood and slipped between my moistened fingers. Thankfully I had restocked my latex glove supply before heading out that morning. The gloved fingers were able to remove the leech with a firm tug. After removal, that boy decided to stay on the shore with another camper and a councilor who did not venture out into the water. My remaining campers all soldiered on to complete the survey.
When arriving back to the parking area, one camper had a much more engorged leech attached just above his ankle. As we were preparing to remove the leech, he looked at me through his thin rimmed prescription glasses...
"Is this going to hurt?"
"I don't know, I have never pulled a leech off myself."
"Is it alright if I swear when you pull it off?"
"Sure thing boss, just don't start crying on me."
...For the record, I'm told that it does not hurt. I let him keep the leech as a souvenir.
Word spread quickly about the pond being filled with leeches and the next group of boys were quite polarized. Some stayed on the shore with a councilor. The majority decided that having a leech on them was a preteen badge of honor. Giving instructions on how to avoid leeches was more like giving them instructions on how to FIND the leeches. When they emerged from the lake, each one of them had bloody circles dotting their calfs and ankles. The lucky few boasted engorged leeches on their legs.
One boy was so attached to his new external parasites that he named them. The first leech he found was dubbed "Steve", the second was known as "Ozzy Osbourn". He refused removal and boarded the bus with leeches still attached. I was later told by another councilor that he put up quite a fight before Steve and Ozzy were finally deposited into alcohol for disposal.
Highlight: Three out of the Four groups told us that our survey was the best. Even though we didn't find any turtles, the kids still enjoyed seeing the tadpoles, beetles, dragonflies, damselflies and of course the leeches. I let a brave group of girls wade out into the water to check one of our empty turtle traps. They ended up shoulder deep in the water, sinking into mud holes and were thrilled about every step.
Lowlight: As previously stated, the groups were split between boys and girls. Several of the boys were not willing to get into the water with us for the survey. EVERY SINGLE GIRL GOT INTO THE WATER! Even after knowing that there were leeches in the pond! When the final group, all girls, finished the survey, I informed them that the girls were the only ones with 100% participation in our survey. They all replied, "Girls Rule, Boys Drool!" After this week, I was forced to agree...
Our group of turtle researchers selected a site which had previously yielded four turtle captures and numerous sitings. It was a short hike to the lake. The water was shallow and clear. The perfect set up for the kids to have the best chance finding turtles in the wild.
Turns out the site was too good to be true. Not only did we not see any turtles with any of the groups, we did not see any of the wildlife for which we survey. Maybe it was the fact the twelve year old kids think anything short of yelling at each other is "being quite". Maybe it was the heat driving the turtles deeper into the water. Your guess is as good as mine.
When we survey the lake sites, our whole team shows up with appropriate gear. Long pants with boots or Chest Waders are our daily uniform. The children arrived in shorts and water shoes. It was so hot that I did not think that it made much of a difference.
My assumption was wrong. Chest waders preclude me from all the things that bare skin might attract in a lake. Within 15 minutes of our first lake survey one of the boys had a leaf on his leg. When I looked down, I knew immediately that was no leaf. A simple touch confirmed that one of the youngsters who was under my care was now the host to a leech. We find them on turtles all the time but I never considered that a human would be just as attractive.
I calmly reached down with my bare hands to remove the leech. No luck. The leech had already began to draw blood and slipped between my moistened fingers. Thankfully I had restocked my latex glove supply before heading out that morning. The gloved fingers were able to remove the leech with a firm tug. After removal, that boy decided to stay on the shore with another camper and a councilor who did not venture out into the water. My remaining campers all soldiered on to complete the survey.
When arriving back to the parking area, one camper had a much more engorged leech attached just above his ankle. As we were preparing to remove the leech, he looked at me through his thin rimmed prescription glasses...
"Is this going to hurt?"
"I don't know, I have never pulled a leech off myself."
"Is it alright if I swear when you pull it off?"
"Sure thing boss, just don't start crying on me."
...For the record, I'm told that it does not hurt. I let him keep the leech as a souvenir.
Word spread quickly about the pond being filled with leeches and the next group of boys were quite polarized. Some stayed on the shore with a councilor. The majority decided that having a leech on them was a preteen badge of honor. Giving instructions on how to avoid leeches was more like giving them instructions on how to FIND the leeches. When they emerged from the lake, each one of them had bloody circles dotting their calfs and ankles. The lucky few boasted engorged leeches on their legs.
One boy was so attached to his new external parasites that he named them. The first leech he found was dubbed "Steve", the second was known as "Ozzy Osbourn". He refused removal and boarded the bus with leeches still attached. I was later told by another councilor that he put up quite a fight before Steve and Ozzy were finally deposited into alcohol for disposal.
Highlight: Three out of the Four groups told us that our survey was the best. Even though we didn't find any turtles, the kids still enjoyed seeing the tadpoles, beetles, dragonflies, damselflies and of course the leeches. I let a brave group of girls wade out into the water to check one of our empty turtle traps. They ended up shoulder deep in the water, sinking into mud holes and were thrilled about every step.
Lowlight: As previously stated, the groups were split between boys and girls. Several of the boys were not willing to get into the water with us for the survey. EVERY SINGLE GIRL GOT INTO THE WATER! Even after knowing that there were leeches in the pond! When the final group, all girls, finished the survey, I informed them that the girls were the only ones with 100% participation in our survey. They all replied, "Girls Rule, Boys Drool!" After this week, I was forced to agree...
Day 25: Borex the Broken
In a previous post I detailed the P. Horse, named Borex, who had broken his leg dancing with a fence. This morning, Borex was scheduled for surgery. Thankfully I was going to get witness this procedure. A specialist from tOSU was driving in from Columbus for the procedure.
Shortly after my arrival, the specialist parked outside of the clinic. She entered the glass doors of the clinic with her team in tow. Each member of her three person team carrying a blue tub brimming with medical supplies. Bandages, wraps and surgery packs peaked over the edges.
The Specialist reminded me of a composite of several female authority figures I have known in my life. Her hair and voice reminded me of my Sunday School Principal. She said things to her staff like "Whatevski" and "Val, let's get going here. Preppy preppy preppy" to indicate she was in a hurry to get the procedure started. The physical presence was that of my elementary school gym teacher, demanding the respect of her young charges.
Once the anesthesia took hold and the x-rays had been exposed, The Specialist devised the plan. Her Resident, whom she named 'The Pride of Bali', began by gathering a bone graft from the hip bone opposite the bad leg. The process reminded me of gathering the hard to reach ice cream from the corners of the carton. Perhaps because the tool used was similar to a mini ice cream scoop.
After a sufficient amount of bone material was obtained, it was time to move to the broken leg. At this point, The Specialist was ready to enter the surgery. She skillfully directed her team while her experienced fingers probed Borex's wound. In a few minutes, she had removed the proximal sesamoid bone.
Placement of the bone graft by The Specialist was followed by packing antibiotic beads into all the nooks and crannies around the wound. The whole thing was wrapped up tight and phase two of the treatment plan began. It was time for the insertion of the pins.
I have never seen pins being drilled into a bone before today. I was surprised when The Pride of Bali pulled out a sterilized DeWalt drill. The battery could not be sterilized so it was wrapped in latex gloves with a towel on the outside. In short order two long pins were inserted into the radial bone of Borex.
Highlight: During the casting of Borex's leg, one of the Zoo Keepers inquired about the difference in casting wrap size in each of the three layers. The Specialist's Vet Tech quickly answered, "We do it that way because that is how Big Momma likes it". When the laughter died down, The Specialist enlightened us to the real reason. When casting a limb, a smaller width wrap is used closer to the skin to allow smooth coverage of the contours. With each layer further outward, the width of the wrap is increased to provide better support for the limb.
Lowlight: What Lowlight? I got to spend the day in the clinic!
Shortly after my arrival, the specialist parked outside of the clinic. She entered the glass doors of the clinic with her team in tow. Each member of her three person team carrying a blue tub brimming with medical supplies. Bandages, wraps and surgery packs peaked over the edges.
The Specialist reminded me of a composite of several female authority figures I have known in my life. Her hair and voice reminded me of my Sunday School Principal. She said things to her staff like "Whatevski" and "Val, let's get going here. Preppy preppy preppy" to indicate she was in a hurry to get the procedure started. The physical presence was that of my elementary school gym teacher, demanding the respect of her young charges.
Once the anesthesia took hold and the x-rays had been exposed, The Specialist devised the plan. Her Resident, whom she named 'The Pride of Bali', began by gathering a bone graft from the hip bone opposite the bad leg. The process reminded me of gathering the hard to reach ice cream from the corners of the carton. Perhaps because the tool used was similar to a mini ice cream scoop.
After a sufficient amount of bone material was obtained, it was time to move to the broken leg. At this point, The Specialist was ready to enter the surgery. She skillfully directed her team while her experienced fingers probed Borex's wound. In a few minutes, she had removed the proximal sesamoid bone.
Placement of the bone graft by The Specialist was followed by packing antibiotic beads into all the nooks and crannies around the wound. The whole thing was wrapped up tight and phase two of the treatment plan began. It was time for the insertion of the pins.
I have never seen pins being drilled into a bone before today. I was surprised when The Pride of Bali pulled out a sterilized DeWalt drill. The battery could not be sterilized so it was wrapped in latex gloves with a towel on the outside. In short order two long pins were inserted into the radial bone of Borex.
Highlight: During the casting of Borex's leg, one of the Zoo Keepers inquired about the difference in casting wrap size in each of the three layers. The Specialist's Vet Tech quickly answered, "We do it that way because that is how Big Momma likes it". When the laughter died down, The Specialist enlightened us to the real reason. When casting a limb, a smaller width wrap is used closer to the skin to allow smooth coverage of the contours. With each layer further outward, the width of the wrap is increased to provide better support for the limb.
Lowlight: What Lowlight? I got to spend the day in the clinic!
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Day 24: The Neighbors
I have decided not to regale you with the tales of another day hiking the north. Rather, I am going to tell you about one of the things I will miss the most when this internship has run it's course. My neighbors here are what make this experience an 'A+'.
One of the first neighbors that I met here is a fat groundhog. I have named him 'Whistle Pig'. He hangs around with the Bunnies next door. The lot of them can regularly be found munching on the vegetation surrounding our cabin. I regularly have breakfast with Whistle Pig and the Bunnies.
Further down the shore line, a family of beavers built themselves a nice dam house. The beavers usually swim by but they never stop to chat. Always too busy for small talk. I guess a beaver's work is never done.
The Great Blue Herons live across the pond. Most of the time, we see them just hanging around on the shore line. Watching them take flight is quite impressive, especially when they launch from the water. From time to time, their friends the Geese will show up for dinner. They usually end up leaving with a squak.
Lately when I have been going on my evening run, I am coming across eight to ten turkey vultures. I usually see them late in my run when I am huffing and puffing my way along the last mile. The vultures make a weak attempt to move out of my way when I approach. I tell them, "Not today guys!" as I run past.
One of the first neighbors that I met here is a fat groundhog. I have named him 'Whistle Pig'. He hangs around with the Bunnies next door. The lot of them can regularly be found munching on the vegetation surrounding our cabin. I regularly have breakfast with Whistle Pig and the Bunnies.
Further down the shore line, a family of beavers built themselves a nice dam house. The beavers usually swim by but they never stop to chat. Always too busy for small talk. I guess a beaver's work is never done.
The Great Blue Herons live across the pond. Most of the time, we see them just hanging around on the shore line. Watching them take flight is quite impressive, especially when they launch from the water. From time to time, their friends the Geese will show up for dinner. They usually end up leaving with a squak.
Lately when I have been going on my evening run, I am coming across eight to ten turkey vultures. I usually see them late in my run when I am huffing and puffing my way along the last mile. The vultures make a weak attempt to move out of my way when I approach. I tell them, "Not today guys!" as I run past.
Monday, July 15, 2013
Day 23: Night Time is the Right Time
After another fruitless survey at a northern lake, I sat down to work on my research paper in the Conservation Science Training Center. The chairs are the most comfortable around and it is the perfect place to get down to the business of writing up some science.
As I am getting underway, a fellow vet student comes in a politely pleads with Brian and myself to join her for a night time frog survey. Being the gentlemen that we are, only a moderate amount of bribery was required to enlist our help. It is difficult to resist helping when beer and cookies are the reward.
I borrow a head lamp from one of my cabin mates and load up my chest waders. The night survey of the wetlands is about to begin. I have been told that the night time is the best chance to catch a frog. When the spotlight goes into their eyes you can just pick them right up. I started out the survey hoping this was the truth.
When we reached the parking lot, there was a orgy of frog activity surrounding a nearby puddle. I could not resist the chance despite the frog calls indicating that it was not a species we were in search of currently. Down to my knees, I spotted a frog. I slowly approached on all fours. A quick dive with both hands leading the way and he was all mine.
Highlight: I rose with a tree frog firmly grasped between my palms. He was small compared to the green frogs, but a frog is a frog. Perhaps tree frogs are less evil than other types.
After releasing him, we began our actual survey. The wetlands area that was selected for the night had reeds which grew tall enough to obscure my view. Moonlight obscured the beam sent from my tiny headlamp. I was crouched low with every step scanning the ankle deep waters at the base of the reeds for flashing eyes or green skin.
Lowlight: Being so focused on the reeds directly in front of me, I lost sight of the big picture. This lead me to lose my balance and fall into a channel which was chest deep on me. The sloshing of the water as I regained my balance soaked by shirt but did not fill up my chest waders.
The channel's water level put me in a prospective which would be perfect for the frog search so I decided to stay. While wading slowly upstream, something large moved under my foot. Shortly after something slammed into my leg. Not hard enough to knock me off balance but hard enough to freak me out.
At this point I began writing a mental list of things a person wading chest deep in turbid waters at eleven o'clock at night should not think about...
As I am getting underway, a fellow vet student comes in a politely pleads with Brian and myself to join her for a night time frog survey. Being the gentlemen that we are, only a moderate amount of bribery was required to enlist our help. It is difficult to resist helping when beer and cookies are the reward.
I borrow a head lamp from one of my cabin mates and load up my chest waders. The night survey of the wetlands is about to begin. I have been told that the night time is the best chance to catch a frog. When the spotlight goes into their eyes you can just pick them right up. I started out the survey hoping this was the truth.
When we reached the parking lot, there was a orgy of frog activity surrounding a nearby puddle. I could not resist the chance despite the frog calls indicating that it was not a species we were in search of currently. Down to my knees, I spotted a frog. I slowly approached on all fours. A quick dive with both hands leading the way and he was all mine.
Highlight: I rose with a tree frog firmly grasped between my palms. He was small compared to the green frogs, but a frog is a frog. Perhaps tree frogs are less evil than other types.
After releasing him, we began our actual survey. The wetlands area that was selected for the night had reeds which grew tall enough to obscure my view. Moonlight obscured the beam sent from my tiny headlamp. I was crouched low with every step scanning the ankle deep waters at the base of the reeds for flashing eyes or green skin.
Lowlight: Being so focused on the reeds directly in front of me, I lost sight of the big picture. This lead me to lose my balance and fall into a channel which was chest deep on me. The sloshing of the water as I regained my balance soaked by shirt but did not fill up my chest waders.
The channel's water level put me in a prospective which would be perfect for the frog search so I decided to stay. While wading slowly upstream, something large moved under my foot. Shortly after something slammed into my leg. Not hard enough to knock me off balance but hard enough to freak me out.
At this point I began writing a mental list of things a person wading chest deep in turbid waters at eleven o'clock at night should not think about...
- Alligators like wetlands. Maybe someone released a pet alligator here.
- I saw a snapping turtle bite through a stick. I'm pretty sure that my waders are not as strong as a stick
- Northern Water snakes are "very aggressive" snakes. Do you think they hunt at night?
- Every episode of 'River Monsters' ever made features stories about people doing questionable things in the middle of the night. This seems fairly questionable.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)