Austin Roy, PhD, gave a tour of Amargosa Vole habitat at the Shoshone marsh on Friday night. Austin talked about what goes into restoring a vole marsh, current reintroduction of voles, and the integration of people and nature in Shoshone.
Janet Foley, PhD, FAB board member, and head of the “Vole Team” at the University of California at Davis, gave a fireside chat at the historic Evelyn station house in Shoshone. Dinner was catered by Steaks & Beer in Tecopa, and libations were certainly had!
Early risers on Saturday morning were treated with a magical sunrise and field excursion at the largest vole habitat in Tecopa. Janet Foley and Austin Roy led the group on a monitoring expedition, checking traps to get an estimate on the current Amargosa Vole population in the marsh, as well as the health of individual voles.
An Endangered Amargosa Vole that was caught and released as part of monitoring work during the Tecopa field exercise. Voles are weighed, inspected for mites, tagged (if they aren’t already) and let go back to their homes.
Community members and visitors alike had the opportunity to engage at various tables, including a raffle/FAB informational table, a coloring table, a national monument education table, and this one with specimens provided by the California Department of Fish & Wildlife during Saturday afternoon at the Tecopa Community Center. Janet Foley gave a riveting talk to attendees amid raffles and refreshments.
Our first run at Amargosa Basin trivia at Death Valley Brewing company in Tecopa on Saturday night was a smashing success! Five rounds of trivia were enthusiastically engaged in, and tasty homemade brews were indulged in along with pizzas from the Kit Fox Cafe next door. Prizes were given out to lucky winners!