The Return of the Flat-tails!

Researchers from the University of Arizona contacted Kevin several months ago inquiring about the Flat-tailed Horned Lizard (FTHL) since he is the resident expert (and he has his PhD to prove it!). They have a new project funded through MCAS Yuma studying the impacts of a runway the military is going to build for their Joint Strike Fighter. The runway will be built in prime FTHL habitat. Since the FTHL is a species of special concern (although it is NOT endangered or threatened), environmental assessments are required before and after construction. The research does not influence whether or not the habitat will be destroyed, but perhaps some good may come from the findings.

 

Part of that good is that April has been hired as the project leader, working along with the PIs, Dr. Phil Rosen and Researcher Matt Goode. Kevin will act as an advisor, but has other commitments (like his job at AWC) which prevent him from spending more time with it.

 

Phil and Matt came out to Yuma for a visit and spent a couple days with April on the Barry M. Goldwater Range, our old study site from Kevin's dissertation research during 1996-98. Security has changed a lot in the past 15 years, and we violated major safety policies when we unknowingly drove into a "hot" explosive testing area on our way to visit the tracker huts which will serve as the field station. Oops!  (Really, we were not in any immediate danger--we just temporarily interrupted the training exercise and probably got someone from the Range Management Department in trouble.)

Many hours later, after an hour-long Range Safety Course (during which they said, "don't go in the hazard areas" and "check in when entering and exiting the range") and after waiting in lines for background checks, we had official temporary miliary ID cards, official temporary vehicle passes, and official military Motorola radios. We feel rather official now. Plus, April has official access to the Range Scheduling Website in order to schedule ALL our activities. We must schedule the tracker buildings where some of the crew will be living, the main road if we want to drive on it, as well as the desert space (called "Cactus West Surface Area") we want to walk upon looking for our lizards. Hopefully I haven't inadvertently released any critical or top secret information in relaying this. If so, the military may shut down our blog.

Can you see the lizard?

Part of April's job is training the new crew (which has yet to be fully assembled) how to find Flat-tails in the first place. One difficulty in studying the FTHL is its cryptic behavior--it relies on camouflage to hide from predators and does an excellent job. With our years of experience, we are considered expert Flat-tail finders and have learned how to track them through sandy areas. Phil and Matt were impressed with April's ability to find a couple of lizards to show them.

Can you see the impression where this FTHL is buried?

There are a lot of juveniles this year, which indicates that last year was a good one for reproduction. This year is going to be harsh, however, with the lack of the winter rains which means reduced food sources for all the desert critters. We expect a large portion of the juveniles to die off over the season.

  April felt a temporary wave of homesickness while checking out one of the new weather stations.

It was made by Campbell Scientific from Logan, UT, and our good friend Jim Crook was involved with its manufacturing!

 

 

We are in the process of working out the study designs and protocols which may take a few weeks. Also, we need a field crew ASAP. If we have any readers who would like to spend the summer roasting in the Yuma sun while tracking, catching, tagging, and measuring FTHLs as well as doing scat surveys, please contact us!