A Lesson On "Scary Species" Part II: The Snake Edition.

This blog is super late.  I know I know...I'm a slacker.  I know that you guys have lost countless hours of sleep in anticipation!  I blame it on the food-induced coma that lasts for about 2 months after Thanksgiving.  However, I promised you guys that I would make a Part II to my discussion on "scary species".  Last time I talked about the most notorious animal that has earned a bad reputation...sharks.  Today I want to talk about...*drum roll*....SNAKES!!!!

How could you not LOVE THAT?? Google "Snakes wearing tiny hats".  It's totally worth your time.

 

I can hear some of you right now.  "Ewwww gross there is NO way that I will ever think those creepy and disgusting things are cool!"  "They are mean so why would I want to keep them around??  They're just going to bite!"...and my favorite one of them all (and the one that makes my blood boil)...

 

"The only good snake is a dead snake!"

 

Whenever I hear someone say this (which, unfortunately, is WAY too often) this is the image that comes to mind.

 

This is not to stereotype.  I educate guests of all kinds and ages, however, there is always someone that makes this comment during one of my programs.  It is possible that some of it roots from ignorance, but it's not my job to fix that!  My job is to inform the misinformed.  So just like in my shark post, here are some really cool facts about snakes that you may not have known:

 

Cool Fact #1:  Snakes are cooler than you.

 

just kidding (or am I???)

 

For real though...they literally are.

 

They are cold-blooded.  Does that mean they have "cold" blood?  No.  It just means that they are ectothermic, or their body temperature is that of their surroundings.  This means that when it's hot outside they have to find a way to cool themselves off.  They normally find shade, or a body of water.  They can't sweat like we mammals can.  If it's cold they can bask in the sun, bury themselves, or brumate (which is similar to hibernation except they come out and eat more often).

 

Cool Fact #2:  There are about 2,700 different kinds of snakes in the world. 

 

There are 37 different kinds in NC with only 6 of those being venomous!  Here are the 6 venomous species in NC:

 

1)  The copperhead (which is most often confused with the non-venomous corn snake)

 

 

2)  The timber rattlesnake

 

 

 

3) The Eastern diamondback rattlesnake

 

 

4) The pigmy rattlesnake

 

5) The coral snake

 

 

6) and finally...the Eastern cottonmouth which is also known as the water moccasin

 

 

Cool Fact #3:  Snakes don't have legs, but they can still climb!  In fact, they're better climbers than I am.  They can move EACH INDIVIDUAL scale in order to squeeze and slither their way up!

 

Cool Fact #4:  They don't have eyelids, but they do have a scale over their eyes which sheds with the rest of their body!  The scale is just an added protection.

 

Cool (and very important) Fact #5:  They are pest controllers.  It's actually a good idea to have a snake friend around your house because they eat the rodents that may try to wander in your home.  I don't know about you guys, but I sure as heck don't want a bunch of rats running loose around my house! (Although I'll admit that I think they're kind of cute).

 

So what's the big deal about snakes?  I mean, humans aren't on the menu, so why do we make such a big deal?  Here are some common misconceptions about snakes:

 

1) They are cold, wet, and slimy!

This lady obviously does not want to touch the snake.

Actually, reptiles are quite the opposite!  They have dry scales.  They aren't wet and slimy at all!  In fact, a lot of the snakes that I handle are quite soft and pleasant to touch.  Sure...I'll admit that when I first started learning to handle these guys that I was a little timid.  I can hear my old supervisor now..."You ready to hold him?"

I wasn't ready.

 

Looking back, it's kind of hilarious how nervous I was.  Now I handle snakes like they are little puppies.  I let them hang out on my shoulders, on my lap, and I even kiss them (don't try this at home...our snakes are very used to being handled).  After realizing that they weren't going to hurt me I became quite fond of them! 

Awww this was back in 2011 during my 1st internship.

 

2) They are all venomous!

I'm really glad venom from Spiderman doesn't actually exist.  How creepy! 

 

Out of the ~2,700 kinds of snakes in the entire world there are few that are venomous in comparison to non-venomous snakes.  What's the difference between a venomous and non-venomous snake, you say?  I'm glad you asked.

 

Venomous snakes have...well...venom.  Which means that they have fangs instead of the brier-like shorter teeth like non-venomous snakes have.  See, for a venomous snake to be harmful, they have to actually bite and inject venom into the bloodstream.  Snakes, spiders, lionfish...all of these guys are venomous.  This is very different from a poisonous animal or plant, which must be eaten, inhaled, or touched in order to harm you.  If you were to touch a venomous animal then nothing would happen.

 

Non-venomous snakes, however, are normally constrictors that utilize suffocation to kill their prey.  Once this happens the snake then swallows it whole.  Kind of like when I'm eating pie.  I approach the pie slowly...patiently.  When the timing is just right and the pie cannot sense my presence, that is when I ATTACK.  I stab the pie with my fork, place a big bite in my mouth (probably suffocating myself more than the pie itself), and put the poor fruit-filled pastry out of its misery.  Delicious.

 

Honey Boo Boo understands me.

 

 

3)  We should kill only venomous snakes!

 

People seem to think that venomous snakes are the "mean" snakes.  Well, here's the thing, just because they appear different and use a different form of protection doesn't make them "mean".  Plus, it's incorrect to anthropomorphize and give these snakes human-like personality traits.  Animals bite, shake their tails/rattles, make noises, etc. to warn predators and to protect themselves.  Are they "out to get us"?  Absolutely not.  We're not on the menu.  Yes, I realize that some snakes tend to be more aggressive than others and have been known to follow their prey to make sure that they're paralyzed or dead before it swallows them (the Black Mamba).  That's why I make sure my pie is good and dead with my fork before I continue because I obviously don't want it to backfire and choke me.

 

In all seriousness, I can understand why people would fear snakes.  I can also understand why people would choose to only fear venomous snakes.  Obviously, nobody wants to get bitten by a snake and possibly have to visit the emergency room.  I totally get that.  With that being said, should we be respectful of these beautiful and interesting creatures?  Absolutely.  If you give them their space and don't give them a reason to be scared or stressed then they will go their own way.  However, if you purposefully mess with them or something along those lines then you're just asking for it.  If someone was poking me in the face or getting all up in my grill and they weren't invited to my BBQ, I'm probably going to bite them, too.   

 

When I Googled "human rabies".  GET BACK...BACK I SAY!!

 

 Just like I stated in my post on sharks, the point of this blog is not to make you into a snake lover (although you are missing out if you aren't ;) ).  The point is to clarify any misconstrued information and to help you gain an appreciation for these super cool animals!  Just like sharks, spiders, and anything else that we may consider a "scary species", snakes serve a great purpose in the food chain.  Without these animals the rodent populations would become out of control.  So instead of assuming that the "only good snake is a dead snake", if you happen to stumble upon a snake friend near your home then please think first.  If you fear that this snake is venomous and could cause harm, call a wildlife enforcer.  They'll take care of the issue.  Don't assume the worst and break out your shotgun!  For all you know, that snake may have been keeping icky disease-infested rodents from your home.  Thanks for reading, guys!

 

Don't forget to check out "Snakes With Hats" on Tumblr! ;)

http://snakeswithhats.tumblr.com/

I Speak for the Sharks! A Discussion On "Scary Species" Part 1

 

In the short time that I've been in this field, I have to admit that I've been pretty lucky to work with some really cool (and various) species.  Birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, invertebrates, mammals...I love them all!  With that being said, I've also had to learn that not everyone views these fine critters in the same way that I do.  Before you read any further, I realize that not everyone agrees on certain things, but there is a fine line between opinion and ignorance.  There have been several times where I had to hold my tongue at work because of all the close-minded and terrible comments that have been made pertaining to the animal I'm teaching about.  Of course, most of it is simply a misunderstanding and that's what my job is for, but people can be straight up rude when voicing their opinions.  What comments am I referring to?  Oh you know, the stereotypical "The only good snake is a dead snake!" and "What's the best way to kill an alligator?" are some that I hear.  The MOST popular comments, however, are the ones in reference to sharks and how they are "terrible man-eaters" and "serve no purpose on the Earth".  Yep.  They totally said that. 

 

 

People can be straight up rude sometimes.

                                       
For today's topic, I would like to not only clear up some common misconceptions about "scary species", but share how they do indeed serve a purpose in the thing we call the Circle of Life.

Ever since I put on my environmental educator cap I've had to clarify the whole "sharks like eating people" rumor to loads of visitors.  If you've ever worked at a facility such as a natural science center/zoo/aquarium, then you most likely feel the same pain, even if it's not towards sharks.  Don't get me wrong! One of the best parts of my job is being able to reach out to guests and educate them on wildlife conservation and clarify any misconstrued information.  In a perfect world, I would present a topic on "scary species" such as a snake, alligator, or shark, and I would get a response such as "Oh my gosh!  I never knew!  That's interesting.  Have a great day!"...but let's be honest here.  This doesn't always happen.  People nowadays normally draw their information from social media, fictional television, etc. and come into the facility already close-minded.  Most people don't take the time to look at the FACTS, or they can't distinguish between what's real and what's not because they jump to conclusions.  I mean, if they said it on Shark Week then it MUST BE TRUE, right??

WRONG.  To save some time and energy, I'll focus on the most popular "scary species":  sharks.  To start, here are some really interesting facts about them that you may or may not already know:

 

Cut them some slack guys.  I mean, he never even KNEW HIS FATHER!

1)  They are fish.  They have all of the characteristics!  They have gills and fins.  However, instead of having  the "fish scales" that we would typically think of, they have these tiny teeth on their skin called dermal denticles.  In fact, if you rub against these denticles they can be quite sharp!

2) A toaster is more likely to kill you than a shark.  True story (look it up).  In fact, only 10% of the VERY FEW amount of shark attacks are actually fatal.

3) Ever wonder why a hammerhead has such a weird shaped...well...head?  It's because the head, or the cephalofoil, is used to better sense and trap their favorite food (which are rays, not people...duh).  They have these jelly-filled sacs (ampullae of Lorenzini) used to pick up electrical impulses from other organisms.  Cool, eh?

 

4) Sharks go through THOUSANDS of teeth within a lifetime! 

 

5) The biggest shark, the whale shark, weighs in at over 27 metric tons and can be as long as 41 feet!  The best part?  They eat the wimpiest food. Plankton.

                                        

CURSE YOU WHALE SHARKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

Common Misconceptions About Sharks:

 

1) They eat people

 

 If I had a dollar for every time I heard this, you could call me jungle...cuz I'd be makin' it rain. (I just came up with that...you dig?)

                                   

 

Welp, here we go.  Sharks do not "eat" people.  When the VERY RARE shark "attack" DOES occur, it is very rarely fatal.  Sharks have sharp teeth.  They are a top predator.  They can potentially cause a lot of damage.  That is what they are designed to do.  They are not "out to get us".  We are not on their menu.  So why do they bite? 

 

Sharks have 6 senses.  The first sense they rely on is sound.  They can feel vibrations in the water and if screaming children are splashing/flailing around, it could potentially sound like an animal in distress.  At this point, a shark may come closer to check out the scene. 

 

The next sense is smell.  As a lot of people know, a shark can follow trails of blood for hundreds of yards.  Lets say someone at the beach has a wound and is potentially bleeding while they are splashing around in the water having a good time.  Probably not the smartest decision.

 

The next sense they rely on after smell is touch.  Sharks have a lateral line that picks up vibrations, but it is kind of like touching things from a distance so a shark would need to be relatively close for this to be the most effective.

 

What's the next sense you say?  EYESIGHT.  Which is one of the most important things I would like to talk about.  Sharks have excellent night vision, but during the day they can see up to about 50 feet away.  They can get confused.  Especially if you're a surfer and appear to be a seal lion/sea turtle from below.

 

After the sense of eyesight comes the coolest sense, in my opinion.  Sharks use the jelly-filled sacs on their head (ampullae of Lorenzini) to pick up on electrical impulses in the water.  This is how they can pick up on prey that may be camouflaged, such as a stingray hiding under the sand. 

 

The last sense is, of course, taste.  Up to this point, if a shark is still even interested in you, they may do the "taste test".  Remember, we are not on a sharks menu.  Bites are caused from confusion/protection.  Besides, I'm sure that we taste terrible compared to what they normally go for.  The problem here is that if a shark were to the point of a "test bite" and they do bite a human, it causes a huge uproar with the media and all of a sudden the "shark was out to eat someone".  Let me ask you guys something...does a shark stick around to actually gobble up and eat a person, or do they "test bite" and leave?  Hmmmm.  Just something to think about.

 

Personally, I think of sharks as the dogs of the ocean.  Okay, maybe they're not that cuddly.



 

2) They are all aggressive

 

There are actually only a few shark species that are known to be "aggressive".  Some of these guys include the bull shark, the white shark, the tiger shark, and the great hammerhead.  These species get an especially bad rep simply because 1) They are big.  If someone is unlucky enough to get bitten, it's obviously going to be more dangerous based on their size alone, and 2) They are placed in more situations where more attacks can occur.  For example, bull sharks venture in both fresh and salt water.  This automatically puts them at the top of the list for the most "attacks" because they have more access to humans (aka they are more likely to be confused by our actions). Also, these are only a few out of HUNDREDS of known shark species.  All I'm saying is don't judge a book by its cover.  That's similar to folks claiming that all pit bulls and rottweilers are aggressive, which of course is not true.  Yes, they can be trained to be aggressive, but they are not so without reason.  Animals act out for certain reasons.  Shoot, you guys should be more concerned about intraspecies aggression than a shark.

                                   

Road rage is way more terrifying.

 

3) There are tons of them out there

 

On average, we kill about 100 million sharks per year.  Check out the link below to see a picture that will give you some perspective.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/27/sharks-killed-per-hour-infographic_n_2965775.html

The main reason for so many shark deaths is due to shark finning.  In this process, the fins are cut from a shark and the body is thrown back into the water (and it cannot survive after this horrific act).  The fins are normally used for soup and as a thickening agent.  If you'd like to see for yourselves, please watch the video below.  Be warned though...it's graphic.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mO7hvOtYnck

 

4) They serve no purpose

 

We already mentioned above that sharks are an apex, or top predator.  What happens when you remove a top predator?  The entire food chain falls apart.  We have the power to rip sharks out of the ocean by the millions, but they don't have the ability to reproduce quickly enough to make up for the loss.  The ecosystem is then left in a very fragile state.  Species that sharks prey upon get out of control (such as stingrays), which then feed on other species and reduce their numbers.  You get a loss of biodiversity.  Less biodiversity-->unhealthy ocean-->no seafood/resources for us-->no life, period.  That may seem a little dramatic, but it's true.  People don't want to accept that because it's overwhelming to think about.  Killing sharks because they are a "scary species" does not solve our issues.  They, like everything else, serve a purpose, no matter how great or small.  By the way everyone,  I didn't write this post to make you into a shark lover, although I hope that you have a greater appreciation for them.  I simply wrote this to give you a different perspective.   It is understandable why folks should be fearful based on what we've been exposed to.  Yes, like many other things, sharks are potentially dangerous and they need to be respected, but so many other things are more threatening than sharks (texting and driving *cough cough*).  We need to focus our energy in the right place and stop regarding the "scary species" as being "mean" and "out to get us".  In fact, sharks are way more scared of us than we are of them (as they should be since we kill millions per year, which is equivalent to about 11,000 per hour). 

 

 

As someone that has grown up by the ocean and SCUBA dives with these amazing creatures, I have never felt threatened.  Not even once.  If anything, I wanted THEM to come closer to ME just because they were so fascinating.  It is so humbling to be in their environment.  They are definitely an underappreciated species.  I don't want to get all sappy on you guys, so I'll stop while I'm ahead.  Like I said before, the point of this post is not to make you into an avid shark lover that rides them like a majestic unicorn into the sunset (although I would totally do that), the point is to help you understand the facts.  Sharks are not evil villains.  If anyone is the villain in this situation, it's us.  Please feel free to repost this/share with someone who may be misinformed about these guys!  Until next time. 

 

 

A Rewarding Lifestyle...

Once upon a time I was browsing on Pinterest (as I always do...) and stumbled upon this picture:

 

I found it to be very appropriate seeing as how I was just having a conversation with my buddies about this a few days ago while sitting on the beach one evening.  All three of us are biologists and share a love of environmental science and conservation.  Although we have chosen to take slightly different paths within the field, our roots are all the same.  Before long we found ourselves complaining about life's little challenges that everyone has to face at some point or another...you know 1)  Financial hardship 2) Working conflicts 3) Relationships with friends/family 4) Too many tourists in the area 5) The waves being too big to ride (boo hoo, right?).  We then got on the topic of our careers and couldn't help but laugh at all of the previous venting we had just done.  We realized that well, quite frankly, we're living the dream!  So for today's blog post, I want to share some of the amazing perks (and downfalls) to choosing this career path.  Also, I want to ask you guys, what made you chose yours?  What keeps you pushing through?

 

I didn't always know that I wanted to be a biologist.  In second grade when my teacher asked us all what we wanted to be when we grew up, I responded with the following:  paleontologist, killer whale trainer, marine biologist, veterinarian, musician, jockey, and astronaut, depending on which day of the week it was.  You know, all of the stereotypical cool jobs that nobody actually think is attainable.  I'm also pretty sure at one point I wanted to BE a horse.  Not a job that involved horses...just BE a horse.  Let me mane and tail fly freely in the wind.  Be able to run faster and jump higher.  Eat grass.  No paying taxes.  The good life.  Unfortunately, I wasn't born with Animorph skills so I guess I'll settle for the human life.

 

Why?  Just...why?

 

 

I could write an entire blog post about when/why I chose this path, but to save some time I'll wait until later.  Alright let's begin.



 

The Perks of Being a Biologist

  

 1) Travel

 

Whether it be for research/conservation purposes, attending a conference with other nerdy people, or a new job, one of the perks to this field is being able to see new places.  I don't know about you guys, but I can't stay in the same place for TOO long.  Perhaps it's because of my age and curiosity, but I WANT TO SEE EVERYTHING AND BE EVERYWHERE!  Being able to travel gets you out of your comfort zone and allows you to experience new cultures and scenery, but you also do quite a bit of growing and learn a lot about yourself! (Cheesy, but true)

 

This is one adventure I'll pass on.

 

 2) SCUBA!

 

This is more specific to marine/freshwater biology of course, but man OH man.  I cannot even begin to tell you guys how happy I am that I made this decision (and you should try it, too!).  I mean, I had to for my career anyway, BUT STILL...BEST THING EVER.  This sort of ties into my next topic of wildlife/scenery, but let me explain.

 

Between the ability to breath under water, feeling weightless, exploring, and just being in an entirely different world, I could go on forever about how awesome it is.  Seeing it on TV and actually experiencing it are two completely different things.  Things that I thought I would be terrified of (like sharks and barracuda) make you feel humbled and put you in this sort of daze while you're under water (or maybe I was just narked...who knows).  Plus, as someone with a marine science background, it only makes sense to experience what I'm trying to conserve, right?  I hear some people out there right now... "MmMMmm you ain't gon catch me cuba divin' wif dem sharks!"

 

 

 

3) The AMAZING wildlife/scenery

 

Loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) not diggin' all this paparazzi.

 

 

Pretty self-explanatory.  From endangered species of sea turtles to poisonous dart frogs to birds of prey, I am very fortunate to have worked with some incredible species.  Already at the age of 24 I have experienced things that some people would give an arm and a leg to do and for that I am incredibly grateful!  Just another perk to being a biologist/animal lover...

 

 

4) Being Active

 

I don't just mean being physically active, you know, climbing Mt. Everest and what not, I mean active in making a difference.  Sure, not every scientist is directly involved, but in some way it is going to make a difference.  Whether it be for medical reasons, protecting the local species of squirrel (squirrels need love, too), engineering, etc.  Whatever the reason may be, you're being active!  Not every person can say this.  To see the difference you're making is even more incredible!  Once again, just another perk.

I just love chemistry cat. (don't judge)

 

 5) The People

 

 Last, but certainly NOT least, the people that you meet in this field are absolutely incredible.  To be surrounded by people THAT UNDERSTAND YOU and make you realize that you're not the only crazed/weird person out there that cares about all of the "dorky stuff".  There are surprisingly a lot of us out there! (Beware...) In fact, I met some like-minded people the other night at the bar who have apparently been in this small town for quite some time and I was just NOW meeting them!  All it took were some simple words "I majored in blah blah blah SCIENCE" and it was all over.  No worries my non-sciencey friends because I still love y'all, too. 

Someone to talk nerdy with...thank God.

 

 

 The Downfalls To Being A Biologist

 

 

Between the adventures, the people, the wildlife, and the overall amazing experiences that come along with this field, there are obviously some downfalls to this lifestyle.  Here are some of the ones that I have personally struggled with:

 

 

1)  You are always broke...end of story

Cool job = crappy pay.  That's just the harsh reality.  There are some exceptions, but for the most part, most scientists/zookeepers don't make jack diddly squat.  So if you plan on being rich, don't become an animal trainer/zookeeper!  However, if you want a "rich" and fulfilling life, than you chose the right path ;)

This happens too often for me.

 

 2) Competition

 

Cool job = crappy pay AND competition!  Yes, nowadays jobs are not easy to come by in general, but especially in this field.  Everybody wants a fun job.  We all have this expectation of graduating college and having our dream job right after we step out of the gymnasium doors, but there are few and far in between that are THAT lucky (if you are one of these people, high five!).  It usually takes several months if not years of persistence (aka applying a bazillion times) before you land your dream job.  The fact that you are 1) specialized 2) there aren't that many jobs readily available 3) most people stick with their job and don't leave 4) blah blah blah, puts you in a hard spot.  YOU MEAN I SPENT 4-5 YEARS BREAKING MY BACK TO GET A BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE TO WORK AT MCDONALD'S????  A lot of us have to flip burgers just to get by until we have a breakthrough.  You almost feel embarrassed and ashamed.  You shouldn't, but it's not what we expected.  At some point you may even feel like you're "too good" for that kind of job and become cynical or bitter (don't let this happen to you).  Everything happens for a reason.  Luckily it's not forever!

So it has come to this.

 

 3) Relationships

 

Just like being able to travel is one of the perks of being a biologist, it is also a downfall.  If you're constantly moving from one place to another trying to gain experience, or to take advantage of new job opportunities, it starts to wear on your personal relationships with family, friends, and significant others.  Not to mention you're really busy!  Sure, the job is awesome which helps to fuel the flame, but it's difficult to balance everything out sometimes.  With that being said, I think this is something that everyone struggles with...not just scientists/zookeepers/trainers!  Aside from balance, my relationship with my parents has sometimes been on edge simply because they don't seem to understand what it's like for recent graduates.  Jobs were simply easier to come by when they were my age.  There is this constant tug-of-war with wanting to be COMPLETELY independent, yet you're still having to rely on them somewhat for support until a full-time job comes through for you.  I am very thankful to have this support, but sheesh I can't go a day without the "when are you going to get a real job" talk.  Jeez guys, I'm trying! 

 

 

All in all, I have not a single doubt in my mind that I made the right decision about my career path.  Regardless of the occasional doubts and life's little struggles, the rewards have been well worth it.  I know that for a fact because I've been through this process many times already.  When people ask me what I do for a living I always get a little giddy on the inside.  Actually being happy at work and being proud of what you do overrides everything that may temporarily bring you down.  My goal is to set up a life that I enjoy and don't feel the need to escape from.  So tell me guys, what are the ups and downs to your career? 

Typical day...no big deal.

Throwback to Tortuguero...

Do you guys ever sit down and think about what you were doing this time exactly a year ago?  I do it ALL OF THE TIME.  In fact, I probably do it way too much (I really should learn to stop living in the past, but anyway).  In honor of "Throwback Thursday" (even though it's Sunday), I am choosing to recall some experiences from one of the most amazing times of my life.  In mid-August of 2013, I was just returning from a trip to Tortuguero, Costa Rica.  My classmates and I were there for about a week and a half serving as eco-volunteers for the Sea Turtle Conservancy.  Although our time there was very short compared to the seasonal researchers, I definitely took home some valuable lessons and memories.  Let me elaborate a little bit.

#1- Taking off in a plane was WAY better than any roller coaster I had ever been on

Okay so, NO ONE EVER TOLD ME HOW MUCH FUN RIDING IN A PLANE IS!! Well, the taking-off part at least.  Prior to this trip I had never been on anything bigger than a 4-seater, and that was once.  This was definitely one of the highlights of my trip.  I just couldn't understand why my fellow passengers weren't as excited as I was, I mean c'mon!

I'm sure you can guess which person is supposed to represent yours truly.

 

 

The landing part, not so much.  That experience can make a non-religious person start spurting out every verse from the Bible within a 5 second period.  It started out smooth (it always does...) and when the plane started slowing down, the pilot slammed on the breaks so hard I'm pretty sure my body almost traveled into a different time zone.  Thank goodness for seat belts.

WHEN DOES IT STOPPPPPPPPP

 

 

#2- Surviving the Jungles of Tortuguero (Part 1)

 

A view from my bed on the hottest day of the week.  That little fan was my Saving Grace.

 

Okay, so I'm not usually one to complain.  Especially since we were only there for a little over a week and the wildlife was absolutely incredible (and we'll get to that later), but holy crap.  The bugs and the sun in Central America are no joke.  Since it is a third world country and we were in a small village in the middle of nowhere, we were living minimally.  That means:  no A/C, a shared room with 5 other people (reminds me of freshman year ahh), and no escape from the bugs.  Literally no escape.  Our cabin/dorm walls were not attached to the ceiling, so whatever wanted to creep and crawl inside could easily do it.  Aside from the cute little house geckos that peeped during the night, I was a little disturbed when thinking about what could possibly crawl over my face at night (I had heard stories of scorpions and spiders, among other things *shivers*)  It didn't help that I found THIS THING hanging out over top of my bunk the VERY FIRST NIGHT.

 

Hello, human.  What a comfy-looking bed you have there!

 

Alright.  We've got the bugs and heat part out of the way.  Now lets talk about the noises.  Ever wake up to the sound of a rooster calling?  Try various species of birds (including toucans) and howler monkeys.  Never heard a howler monkey, you say?  Click on this link (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYtoz-t-bbY).  You're welcome.  And if you're REALLY lucky, you wake to the sounds of your annoying classmate (named Andy) flapping his trap when you've just fallen asleep after walking the beach from 12am-4am searching for sea turtles.  Love you, Andy ;)

 

Surviving the Jungles of Tortuguero (Part 2)

Lets talk turtles!  The whole reason we were there in the first place was to help the current summer researchers and to learn, learn, learn!  As eco-volunteers, we would walk the beaches at night from either 8pm-12am or 12am-4am.  We also did a morning track shift as well where we would mark tracks/nests from the night before.  For the night shift, our duty was to measure turtles, count eggs, note their current physical condition (i.e. barnacles, disease, etc.), and to tag them (that was a researcher duty).  We would separate into two groups and briskly walk (or sometimes run) the Boca section, or the Park section.  Adjusting your eyes to the lack of light took several minutes, but the stars were normally out which reflected off of the ocean.  You could see a small glow on the waves created by the bioluminescent plankton.  The sound of the waves crashing on the shoreline along with the beautiful sights made those 4 hours go by pretty fast.  Sure, it was tiring and I tripped over random objects several times throughout the night and my legs were chaffed, but the turtles were well worth it. 

A photo taken by the talented Ralph Pace.

The turtles we were after were mainly green sea turtles (Tortuga verde, or Chelonia mydas).  For those of you that may not know, green sea turtles are the second largest next to the leatherbacks.  Greens can get over 500lbs and their shells can measure over 5ft sometimes.  Which brings me to my next point...getting slapped in the face from an animal that size isn't fun.  I can't tell you how many times I was almost blinded every time I tried to measure a turtle's carapace (the top of their shell).  It didn't matter how many times I was warned or whatever position I tried to place myself in...I would either get dragged down into her pit every time she swooped her big fins, get a face full of sand, or a butt crack full of sand (or all of the above).  I was doing all of this while trying to get an accurate measurement, not get bitten by her ridiculously strong jaws, not piss her off/scare her away, and not make the researchers get angry with me.  Did I mention that sea turtles love building their nests in nearly inaccessible areas covered with brush and ant hills?  These aren't just ANY ant hills.  These are badass, Costa Rican, human flesh-eating ants.  Talk about stressful.  Not as stressful as tagging turtles/supervising idiotic volunteers (aka me), but stressful.

 

How we returned to our bunks every night.

Surviving the Jungles of Tortuguero (Part 3)

 

Lets talk about our night hike!  You know those episodes on the Discovery Channel where you see people like Jeff Corwin trekking through the jungle in search of highly venomous and exotic animals?  That was a reality for us.

Here you see little me (in blue) protecting my friend, Andy, from snakes, spiders, and poisonous frogs.

 

 

I will admit that not every person was a fan of this hike.  It was really dark, wet, muddy, humid, hot as the devil's butt crack, and the bugs were having the biggest fiesta of their lives.  Not to mention we were wearing uncomfortable boots that put huge blisters on our feet.  However, we saw some of the coolest animals that I've only dreamed of being able to see in person!  We saw multiple species of frogs, pseudo-scorpions, actual scorpions, tarantulas (among other species of arachnids), snakes, etc.  Overall, it was an awesome experience! (and we survived).

 

Here I am with a baby cat-eyed snake.  I cropped out my face because I look D-I-S-G-U-S-T-ing.

 



#3- The lesson of the turtle

If what I mentioned previously didn't already scare you away from ever visiting Costa Rica, here are a few other things that I learned while in this unique and wonderous place:

 

1)  People steal (this is not to pick on the person it happened to).  The locals are friendly, but they can be TOO friendly at times, so pay attention to your things.

 

2)  The FOOD WAS SO GOOD.  Their coffee and pineapple is the bomb diggity.  They also use pure, unprocessed food so you don't feel like absolute crap after eating it.

 

3)  The wildlife/scenery is incredible.  I could write an entire blog on this topic alone (maybe later?) ;)

 

4)  The people are passionate and real.  A lot of them have nothing and they still manage to get along with their lives just fine and seem very happy with it.  Also, my classmates and teacher are some of the coolest and most inspiring people I've ever met.  Just saying.

Our class before whitewater rafting on the Sarapiqui river!

 

 

5)  The biggest lesson of all...the reason I do what I do.



The biggest lesson I learned on this trip, aside from learning to adapt to a place very much out of my comfort zone, was to always remember the lesson of the turtle.  To never forget why I became a conservation biologist in the first place.  To never forget what originally instilled my passion for marine life...sea turtles.

 

Holding the critically endangered Hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmocheyls imbricata) 

 

I have one last story and then I promise I'll shut up.

 

#4- Meeting Viernes

 

For those of you that do not speak Spanish, "Viernes" is the Spanish word for "Friday".  I named her Friday because that was our last day in Tortuguero and my last chance to count eggs.  All week I had heard stories from my fellow classmates about their egg counting experiences and how incredible it was.  Even though I was delighted to see their joy, I wanted nothing more than to have that same experience.  To count eggs, you have to catch a female turtle in the right stage of her nest building.  You also have to be careful not to scare her away (they can be very skiddish at times).  The only time we would count eggs would be during the 12am-4am shift.  That Friday, I was supposed to walk the morning track shift, which meant if I chose to do the 12am-4am shift, I wouldn't be able to sleep until the next day.  Did I give up my precious sleep in order to have the chance at counting eggs?  You bet your sweet fanny I did.  It was truly a magical moment.  Not to get cheesy, but the situation was perfect.  We found a female who had just finished digging her pit and was beginning to go into her "daze" before laying.  We carefully and silently made our preparations.  I slipped on my gloves, climbed in behind her with a tally counter, and patiently waited.  She laid 160 precious eggs in my hands, the most eggs out of any turtle that week.  I might have cried just a smidgen.   (SEA TURTLES MAKE ME EMOTIONAL, OKAY???)  I cried the first time I saw a nest boil, too.  Just knowing that I played a part in protecting this species made me all gooey inside.  Nothing can ever replace what I experienced in that moment and at that place.  Normally I would end this novel that I just wrote with something like..."I waved goodbye to Viernes as she pulled her heavy body back into the sea.  Would I EVER SEE HER AGAIN?  WOULD HER HATCHLINGS EVER FEEL THE WRATH OF THE SEA AND LAY EGGS OF THEIR OWN??"...but that's WAY too dramatic and deep for me, so instead I'll just end with this picture.  Until next time guys!

Looking good, Tyler ;)