Wednesday, September 18, 2013

My First Bear Capture!

Last night we were able to join Sarah Kindschuh, a graduate student at New Mexico State University, on a bear capture.  The bear was captured by a snare trap at an elk carcass.  He was then tranquilized so that he could be weighed, measured, and his failed GPS collar could be replaced.  

(C) Nick Goforth 2013
(C) Nick Goforth 2013
(C) Nick Goforth 2013
(C) Nick Goforth 2013
(C) Nick Goforth 2013
(C) Nick Goforth 2013
(C) Nick Goforth 2013
(C) Nick Goforth 2013

Saturday, September 7, 2013

"Bat Kiting"

In an attempt to create a call reference library for the bat species that are present in my study area, we have been mist netting bats and using a method known as "bat kiting" to collect reference calls.  In this method, a length of elastic cord is loosely tied around a bat's neck and the individual is allowed to fly 'freely' while their echolocation calls are recorded.  Here is a video of us "kiting" a bat!