Spring Rattlesnake Processing

Ahhhh Spring! The barn swallows mold their mud nests, the meadowlarks sing a familiar song, the tulips pop from their winter bed, and rattlesnake emerge from their dens and soak in the first hot rays of the season.
Which brings me to this post. This is the busy season where Bryan and his field assistants are busy checking multiple dens on a regular basis (before the rattlesnakes decide to disperse off into the desert). It's the busy season of rattlesnake processing. It's always interesting to see how much the recaptured ones grow after a few years. Of course, there are always new ones too. Bryan has been studying most of these snakes now for over a decade! Only recently, however, have transmitters and an ultrasound machine been introduced into the equation ~ which added more excitement :)

I took these photos last night when our friend Keith was helping Bryan out with processing half a dozen snakes. Lots of data to collect.........

Marking the rattle.........

Rattle width measurement.........

Subcaudal scale count, and sex identification............

Length measurement.........

 Safety first, of course  ;)

It always amazes me how the colors differ from each Great Basin Rattlesnake. Here are two different shades: blonde & brunette I guess...... haha

Ava and Isaac played on the dry erase board........

Ava must have been inspired by the whole process ~ expressing in it in her artwork  :) 

 Have a Sssssssssssssssssssuper sunny day! 

Young Author's Fair

Monday was the Garrison/Baker School Young Author Fair. This was the K - 6 graders. They each experienced what it was like to write a book. When we all walked into Baker Hall, we eventually got settled in our seats. We anticipated a presentation.........

Gretchen, our local Author, was the guest speaker this year!
I think everyone should have her book in their personal library.

Her talk was facinating. I grew up here in Snake Valley and she revealed information I didn't know about! 

She did a great job holding everyone's attention.......

Ms. Phillips, representing the schools, formally acknowledged Gretchen's achievement and to thank her for taking the time to share wonderful information & stories from her book........

Afterward, the kids got to work on a project while the rest of us got to view and read their books. I have to say, we got a great crop of talented little authors and illustrators here in Snake Valley! I was impressed!

The kids really enjoyed signing all their peers books!

I went ahead and took some pictures of all the K, 1, 2 graders books:

And, my little author/illustrator ~ Ava Moriah  :)

I have to say that I was shocked with Ava's book. One, that it wasn't about a horse! Two, that she thought of Isaac for one of her subjects!  Hahaha
They all did such a wonderful job; you could tell by their drawings and the story lines.....
Plus, I think they had fun with it :)

At the end of the day the kids had to do their homework. They had to write and draw about the Young Author's Fair. 
I thought it was cute when she drew a picture of the guest speaker (with her book), Gretchen!

Gretchen, you made an impression! 
Thank you!
And also to the staff!  :)