Name: gummo - friend to all creatures large and small

Mission: Operation Hit & Run

Region: Colorado Desertscrub

Goal: To find as many critters that I can before reporting to a staff meeting at 1pm (PST)

Start Time: 4:27am

End Time: 8:27am

Target Species: Sidewinders

Species hoping to see: Califonia kingsnakes

Barriers: Time constraints, heat

Mood:

Song: Makes No Sense At All by Husker Du (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bd3MtdzKZ38)

Abstract:
I decided to do a quick walk in the flats before rushing off to work and before the heat drives most of the creatures underground. Waking up to a 94 degrees dry heat is not my idea for a good start, so I had to move quickly.

Results:
Within a 4-hour span, I managed to see a medium-sized desert iguana, a med-sized sidewinder that was almost stepped on, a small spotted leaf-nosed snake, a small sun spider, a few scorpions, a plethora of side-blotched lizards (all sizes), a large desert spiny lizard, and unknown baby bird species.

Conclusion:
The critter count (with the exception of side-blotched lizards) was lower than expected for May, so I conclude that the daytime critter activity will increase as the weather cools.