May 15, 2022
07:00
Our last morning in the desert, several of us got up early to check a series of pitfall traps that had been set the night before. A few very cool animals found their way into the traps, and we were able to get some great photos before releasing them to go on their way. The traps were set up in transects, and I think we ended up checking 40 or 50 traps. Most of them were empty, but here are the things that we did see.
Our sole herp for the day was this Long-tailed Brush Lizard. (Who was hanging out with a Blue Death-feigning Beetle). This was the only vertebrate that we found in the pitfall traps. It was nice seeing this attractive little lizard in hand.
This Desert Hairy Scorpion fell into one of the pitfall traps, and was not particularly happy! It was exciting (and a bit of a challenge) to safely get the scorpion out of the trap and back out into the desert. When we released it, it continued making its aggressive display . . . as it ran away from us as fast as it could.
I also saw some interesting things that weren’t in the traps, including a Desert Recluse spider, another Blue Death-feigning Beetle, California Harvester Ant, and loads of amazing footprints and tracks.
After the pitfall traps, we had breakfast, and then it was time to pack up the vans and head north. I really do love this place, and look forward to coming back next year!
Species List
Wildlife seen: Common Sideblotched Lizard (Uta stansburiana), Blue Death-feigning beetle, Stenomorpha confluens, Desert Hairy Scorpion (Hadrurus arizonensis), Desert Recluse (Loxosceles deserta), Mojave Fringe-toed Lizard (Uma scoparia), Long nosed leopard Lizard (Gambelia wislizenii), California Harvester Ant (Pogonomyrmex californicus)
Notable Plants and Fungi: Alkali Goldenbush (Isocoma acradenia), Stalked Puffballs (Tulostoma sp?)
Let me know what you think!