08-02-2007, 10:10 PM
ROCK SPRINGS-It's not often that you run into people actively seeking out midget-faded rattlesnakes, unless of course you run into Molly Brockman and Karee Blewett.
Brockman and Blewett are Herpetologist Technicians with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department studying reptiles living near Flaming Gorge Reservoir. The study is part of an intense effort by the Department to learn more about species of special concern identified through the Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy (CWCS) program.
The Wyoming CWCS was produced to provide a long-range conservation plan to conserve Wyoming's Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) and meet the requirements of the Congressionally-authorized State Wildlife Grants (SWG) Program.
State Wildlife Grant funding is used to support the CWCS program and to fund temporary personnel, like Blewett and Brockman, to conduct fieldwork. Their data will be used to help fill in gaps in our knowledge of the distribution of reptiles in the Flaming Gorge area.
Reptiles are an essential part of the environment, serving as predators of insects and rodents. Reptiles in turn are also an important prey base for other wildlife. "They are biological indicator species of environmental health for entire ecosystems and, unfortunately, their populations worldwide are declining," says Blewett.
There are more than 800 mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, mollusks and crustaceans in Wyoming over which the Game and Fish has authority. Although there are about 40 reptile and amphibian species in the state, biologists have limited information on most of the species.
Blewett says herpetologists do not fully understand all of the factors contributing to the population decline, but they are learning more through the collection and sharing of data.
"We do know that the global decline of herps, (reptiles and amphibians) due to habitat loss, habitat fragmentation and disease are well documented," said Blewett. "Currently, there is only one full-time herpetologist working for Game and Fish and that's our supervisor, Bill Turner. There is so much we still need to learn about herps in Wyoming before we can take steps to protect their habitats and identify other limiting factors causing these population declines. We were hired to collect the much needed data."
Blewett and Brockman realize they have a tough job selling reptile conservation to most people they encounter.
"Try and tell someone how or why a snake or lizard is important to them and they just laugh at you," Blewett said. "I grew up chasing lizards near the Mansface Formation in Green River. I love herps. I just tell people if they don't want ants or rodents in their home, they shouldn't complain about snakes and lizards. They are so important to the whole ecosystem and their existence goes beyond whether humans like them or not. And besides that, I just like having them around as cool creatures- part of nature, to look at and enjoy."
Brockman, on the other hand, doesn't talk very much and will tell you it's just a summer job for her. However, after spending the day catching snakes and lizards with Molly that doesn't appear to be the case.
"At first I had a hard time telling the difference between the lizards," Brockman says. "Now I'm pretty good at it and it's fun. We have identified the ornate tree, eastern short-horned, northern plateau and northern sagebrush lizards. "
The reptile-duo will also be collecting data on snakes, including the Great Basin gopher, wandering garter and their more-famous cousin the midget faded rattlesnake.
"Even though midget faded rattlesnakes are less aggressive than other rattlesnakes people should still respect themwhen they encounter one in the field."
Blewett says people can avoid encountering snakes by being cautious and observant in snake habitat.
"People should be aware of their surroundings and keep close reign on their dogs. Snakes like rock outcroppings above or on the waters edge. They eat lizards, which gather around ant hills, so watch for the presence of ant hills, as well."
Brockman and Blewett conduct their surveys daily, in two sessions- morning and evening -because they find more reptiles when the temperatures are cooler.
"Lizards are fast and hard to catch when they get warmed up by the sun," Blewett said. "Most snakes head for cover when it gets too hot, so we stop around 10 or 11 am and come back in the evening when it cools off a bit. This summer has been hot and dry with daily temperatures reaching the 70's (degrees Fahrenheit) by 7 am and in the 90's by 11 am. You can imagine it gets really hot for us wearing our protective gear, gators or chaps, and heavy boots."
Brockman and Blewett will continue collecting data on reptiles through August. In September Brockman, an Ohio native, will be moving to California to work as a conservation educator. Brockman recently completed her degree in Natural Resources from Northland College on Lake Superior. Blewett, who was born in Las Vegas but has lived in the Bridger Valley and Green River for many years, will return to East Stroudsberg University in Pennsylvania to finish her degree in Environmental Science.
For more information on reptiles and many other species and the Wyoming Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy go to the Game and Fish web site at Go to the Home Page and click on CWCS at the far right. In addition, there are many web sites people can access to learn about reptile and amphibian life histories and global population declines.
Brockman and Blewett are Herpetologist Technicians with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department studying reptiles living near Flaming Gorge Reservoir. The study is part of an intense effort by the Department to learn more about species of special concern identified through the Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy (CWCS) program.
The Wyoming CWCS was produced to provide a long-range conservation plan to conserve Wyoming's Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) and meet the requirements of the Congressionally-authorized State Wildlife Grants (SWG) Program.
State Wildlife Grant funding is used to support the CWCS program and to fund temporary personnel, like Blewett and Brockman, to conduct fieldwork. Their data will be used to help fill in gaps in our knowledge of the distribution of reptiles in the Flaming Gorge area.
Reptiles are an essential part of the environment, serving as predators of insects and rodents. Reptiles in turn are also an important prey base for other wildlife. "They are biological indicator species of environmental health for entire ecosystems and, unfortunately, their populations worldwide are declining," says Blewett.
There are more than 800 mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, mollusks and crustaceans in Wyoming over which the Game and Fish has authority. Although there are about 40 reptile and amphibian species in the state, biologists have limited information on most of the species.
Blewett says herpetologists do not fully understand all of the factors contributing to the population decline, but they are learning more through the collection and sharing of data.
"We do know that the global decline of herps, (reptiles and amphibians) due to habitat loss, habitat fragmentation and disease are well documented," said Blewett. "Currently, there is only one full-time herpetologist working for Game and Fish and that's our supervisor, Bill Turner. There is so much we still need to learn about herps in Wyoming before we can take steps to protect their habitats and identify other limiting factors causing these population declines. We were hired to collect the much needed data."
Blewett and Brockman realize they have a tough job selling reptile conservation to most people they encounter.
"Try and tell someone how or why a snake or lizard is important to them and they just laugh at you," Blewett said. "I grew up chasing lizards near the Mansface Formation in Green River. I love herps. I just tell people if they don't want ants or rodents in their home, they shouldn't complain about snakes and lizards. They are so important to the whole ecosystem and their existence goes beyond whether humans like them or not. And besides that, I just like having them around as cool creatures- part of nature, to look at and enjoy."
Brockman, on the other hand, doesn't talk very much and will tell you it's just a summer job for her. However, after spending the day catching snakes and lizards with Molly that doesn't appear to be the case.
"At first I had a hard time telling the difference between the lizards," Brockman says. "Now I'm pretty good at it and it's fun. We have identified the ornate tree, eastern short-horned, northern plateau and northern sagebrush lizards. "
The reptile-duo will also be collecting data on snakes, including the Great Basin gopher, wandering garter and their more-famous cousin the midget faded rattlesnake.
"Even though midget faded rattlesnakes are less aggressive than other rattlesnakes people should still respect themwhen they encounter one in the field."
Blewett says people can avoid encountering snakes by being cautious and observant in snake habitat.
"People should be aware of their surroundings and keep close reign on their dogs. Snakes like rock outcroppings above or on the waters edge. They eat lizards, which gather around ant hills, so watch for the presence of ant hills, as well."
Brockman and Blewett conduct their surveys daily, in two sessions- morning and evening -because they find more reptiles when the temperatures are cooler.
"Lizards are fast and hard to catch when they get warmed up by the sun," Blewett said. "Most snakes head for cover when it gets too hot, so we stop around 10 or 11 am and come back in the evening when it cools off a bit. This summer has been hot and dry with daily temperatures reaching the 70's (degrees Fahrenheit) by 7 am and in the 90's by 11 am. You can imagine it gets really hot for us wearing our protective gear, gators or chaps, and heavy boots."
Brockman and Blewett will continue collecting data on reptiles through August. In September Brockman, an Ohio native, will be moving to California to work as a conservation educator. Brockman recently completed her degree in Natural Resources from Northland College on Lake Superior. Blewett, who was born in Las Vegas but has lived in the Bridger Valley and Green River for many years, will return to East Stroudsberg University in Pennsylvania to finish her degree in Environmental Science.
For more information on reptiles and many other species and the Wyoming Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy go to the Game and Fish web site at Go to the Home Page and click on CWCS at the far right. In addition, there are many web sites people can access to learn about reptile and amphibian life histories and global population declines.