8 March 2013

Unfortunately Toby's traps failed to capture a single mongoose. There were about a dozen medium-sized hermit crabs in the first trap and six of the remaining traps were sprung and three of those had been dragged from their original placements. I never know what causes a specific trap to be sprung because our trail-camera videos, trapping records, and direct observations indicate that it could be one of many causes. Chickens, doves, cats, dogs, land crabs, and mongoose visit and/or get caught in our traps. The mammals are all capable of moving the traps while attempting to retrieve the reward inside.

No mongoose dem for the Skype sessions with my two classes and Skype didn’t work on my laptop. The good news is that Cottages By The Sea upgraded their WiFi to 10 MBS so after I got Skype working on another laptop, I was able to give the WSU students a tour of Cottages By The Sea and the adjacent salt pond. Technology is like a relationship - it’s great when it works but it needs lots of TLC.

Brad arrived after a brief shower (the island, not Brad) - the first in several months. The island is very dry and the salt pond on the Refuge is low.

Finally, I can get off this thing!

That thing can actually fly?

I know that guy!