Wyoming (the blog is back!)

The blog is back! My long hiatus from updating this thing was due in large part to me being very busy! For a solid 16 months I was working under contract as a Herpetologist for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department in Casper and Laramie. After the end of that experience I considered writing a long blog post to summarize it. Well... that did not happen. Instead I am going to include a brief story, as well as some photos from the desolate and beautiful Equality State. Enjoy!

Additionally, I would like to thank the many hard-working folks from the Department, especially all of the past and current members of the Aquatic Assessment Crew. Thank you all so much for your support and company! I also want to thank the seasonal technicians for their assistance with field work in some crazy places! Finally, many thanks to my friends and roommates for keeping me sane!

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Without further ado, the story:

Like anywhere else, Wyoming is home to all kinds of folk, from outdoorsy adventure-seekers to reclusive ranch owners. As a Game and Fish Department employee, I had to wear a bright red uniform shirt while I was on the job. The uniform made me stand out, which also made me and my coworkers constant targets for criticism of Wyoming's hunting and fishing regulations. One such time was particularly memorable. It took place while I was waiting in line at the Walmart in the town of Rawlins. Here is the conversation that took place:

Guy: That's just like Game and Fish: ALWAYS IN THE WAY!

(I was in front of him in the line)

Me: Wow, I don't know what to say. Sorry?

(Awkward silence)

Guy: I've lived in this state for 40 years and still haven't drawn me a moose tag! If I live here, I should able to shoot a moose! If people from out of state can do it, why can't I?!

Me: Sorry. I can see how that might be frustrating.

Guy: They come from NEBRASKA, from IOWA, from ILLINOIS! They come in here, SHOOTIN' OUR DEER, SHOOTIN' OUR ELK, SHOOTIN' OUR MOOSE!!!

(People are now staring at us)

Guy: I bet you're one of the people making decisions about all that, AREN'T YOU?!

Me: Ummm... Not at all. I'm a biologist that looks for reptiles and amphibians. I have nothing to do with hunting.

Guy: Ah. Did you say amphibians?... My ex-wife is some kind of amphibian... Or maybe a reptile. I can't quite remember... You been looking in on her?!

Me: Uhhh... (trying not to laugh). Nope, definitely not.

Guy: (laughs)

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Now the photos! Sorry if the formatting is funky. The internet can be weird sometimes.

View of Casper from Casper Mountain as winter turned to more winter.

The Ferris Mountains! A true hidden gem among many in Wyoming.

One of our five spadefoot monitoring stations, which we spread across Wyoming to determine weather conditions that encourage breeding activity for one of my favorite amphibians. This one was set up near the Killpecker Sand Dunes (in background).

Speaking of the devil! Here be a spadefoot! Under those silly back legs are keratinous protrusions that are used for digging down in a backward corkscrew fashion...

Mud that is described as "gumbo" tends to have a lot of bentonite in it, which is a main ingredient in cement. These trucks remained in place for the night...

You can always see when a storm is a-brewing, but by then it is too late...

More spadefoot excellence! They prefer sandy soils for digging, as seen here.

Young of the year spadefoots are very small! Like, unbelievably small.

Sand dunes are my favorite. Wyoming is nota place you would expect to find them. They cover a large part of the Red Desert in the southern/central part of the state.

Katrina, Carl, and yours truly, all hanging out in lovely Wamsutter! You should really stop by that Love's Truck Stop.

Red Canyon: a place of beauty and many snakes! Located near Lander, this is one of my all-time favorite places!

The spadefoot obsession continues! These little dudes numbered in the hundreds at one wetland. It was magical.

It ain't Wyoming without a rodeo!

Devil's Tower National Monument! My friend Kelsey, who I volunteered for in the Peruvian Andes, came to Wyoming and helped with toad surveys and some side adventures, including one to this place!

The elusive Boreal Toad and a Wandering Gartersnake! It is very hard to find an amphibian AND a reptile in the same day in Wyoming.

A little bison action outside Thermopolis.

We did a llama pack trip into the Wind River Range with some of the fish folks out of Lander. Twas an amazing experience! The mountain in the back is Wind River Peak. Carl and I climbed it!

Here is the view from the top!

I like llamas.

Rattlesnake "cuddle puddle."

Carl hard at work with a gartersnake on his leg.

Killpecker Sand Dunes and Boar's Tusk (on right). One of the better views around.

Point of Rocks, WY has a bar! The Point Bar! I dare you to venture inside.

More epic Ferris Mountain views.

Wandering Gartersnakes are common, but very photogenic.

And the adventure is done! The drive through Shirley Basin best encapsulates Wyoming for me. It is an extremely remote, harsh, and other-worldly place to drive through. Again, I cannot thank the good people of Wyoming Game and Fish for all of their support! I hope to visit soon!