WRF Retreat

Western Research Fellow’s attended their annual retreat from the 23-26th of June. The retreat provides an opportunity for Fellows to check in with Ucross staff and share their progress with each other. The Fellows gathered on Friday Afternoon at Sheridan College’s Spear-O Mountain Campus. There they explored the streams, lakes, forests, and pastures of the Read more about WRF Retreat[…]

Measuring Soil Carbon – Dan Kane

A year ago, I traveled out to Wyoming to visit a few properties managed by The Nature Conservancy and test a new field method for measuring soil carbon content. Our initial results from last year’s work suggested we were on to something. The method worked! We were able to successfully use just a simple handheld Read more about Measuring Soil Carbon – Dan Kane[…]

Alaska is Big….Really Big – Adam Eichenwald

Alaska is big. Very big. You won’t believe how vastly, hugely, mind-bogglingly big it is. I mean, you may think it’s a long way down the road to the pharmacist, but that’s just peanuts to Alaska. (Man, the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy really hits it on the nose when it comes to attempts to Read more about Alaska is Big….Really Big – Adam Eichenwald[…]

Beaver Restoration and Water Management in Wyoming – Austin Rempel

I’m writing from Red Canyon Ranch, a working ranch and nature preserve owned by the Nature Conservancy. I’m fortunate to have the opportunity to live at the Ranch this summer while working with Conservancy staff on questions related to beaver restoration and water management. Red Canyon Ranch covers some 5,000 acres in the foothills of Read more about Beaver Restoration and Water Management in Wyoming – Austin Rempel[…]

Take the Road Less Traveled – Jessica Swindon

Hello from Bill, Wyoming! I am currently writing from within the Thunder Basin National Grassland where one of my research sites is located. This is by far the most remote place I have ever stayed, in fact Wikipedia says the total population is 11, including pets. I’ve already spent a lot of time on the Read more about Take the Road Less Traveled – Jessica Swindon[…]

Coexistence in the Northern Rockies – Ross Donihue

“One time I was at my gym in Banff running on the treadmill and I saw a deer giving birth, no one else noticed and I didn’t want to say a thing because I knew everyone would rush over with their cameras. After the fawn was able to take a few steps I exclaimed – Read more about Coexistence in the Northern Rockies – Ross Donihue[…]

The Popo Agie (bonus points for pronouncing this one right!) – Carli Kierstad

Hello all, I am writing to you from Lander – a small town in Central Wyoming that has already won me over. Since my arrival two weeks ago, I have been interning with The Nature Conservancy as a Summer Research Fellow. My summer research will be focused on the feasibility of a decision support tool Read more about The Popo Agie (bonus points for pronouncing this one right!) – Carli Kierstad[…]

Bison Revival – Anthony Bell

Calving bison on the prairie, with nothing but grass and sky as far as the eye can see. It is a scene which, without knowing any better, could have been identical to what I would have seen if I stood on this ridge three hundred years ago. For anyone who knows better, however, it is Read more about Bison Revival – Anthony Bell[…]

The Early Botanist gets the Snow – Rachel Renne

What a thrill it is to be back in Wyoming! I arrived in Laramie two weeks ago, shyly crept my Connecticut license plates onto a side street, and dashed off into the field—that is, the sagebrush steppe of southwest Wyoming. Three hours west of Laramie, we turned off the interstate onto highway 191 north. When Read more about The Early Botanist gets the Snow – Rachel Renne[…]

Gyrfalcon Attacks Helicopter! – Adam Eichenwald

Remember how I said a few posts ago that you don’t want to mess with a female gyrfalcon? Yeah, well one of the female falcons here is absolutely psychotic. When the Peregrine Fund field technicians were doing an aerial survey, she actually flew out and dive-bombed the helicopter. They had to do some quick aerial Read more about Gyrfalcon Attacks Helicopter! – Adam Eichenwald[…]

The Batman Effect – Adam Eichenwald

Fun fact: a gyrfalcon flying at 200 mph hits HARD. Plus, it likes to pluck the feathers from birds it kills. So in the spots where a gyrfalcon has attacked, it looks like a bird exploded. Exhibit A: this picture of me taking a GPS point at what I will now refer to as a Read more about The Batman Effect – Adam Eichenwald[…]

Fox Time – Adam Eichenwald

I interrupt my own blog posts to bring you this special news bulletin: yesterday I made a fox poop itself in fear. I was collecting data near a dirt road and watched, bemused, as a red fox came jogging up the path toward me. I had my camera and started snapping pictures. “Wow, it’s so Read more about Fox Time – Adam Eichenwald[…]

The Science of Snowmelt: An Interactive Story Map – Taylor Ganz

Check out this interactive story map about the exciting research done by Taylor Ganz, 2016 Western Research Fellow and graduating MESc student from the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies. She traveled to the high peaks of the Wind River Range, WY to study how air pollution is stored in snowmelt and delivered to Read more about The Science of Snowmelt: An Interactive Story Map – Taylor Ganz[…]

Midnight Musings in the Land of the Midnight Sun – Adam Eichenwald

So I’ve been trying to think of a way to start these posts off, like a signature of some kind. Considered doing a different variation of “hello from the edge!” every time, but that would probably get old quickly. Guess I’ll just have to come up with a new gimmick. Maybe next time I’ll just Read more about Midnight Musings in the Land of the Midnight Sun – Adam Eichenwald[…]