This week I took some time to survey bud-break of mesquites on the south end of the farm. I looked at both mesquites that were sprayed and were not sprayed last year. By recording the date of bud break of the mesquites that didn’t get sprayed last year, we can determine what time will be the most effective to spray this year. By recording the date of bud break of the mesquites that did get sprayed last year, we are able to determine about what percent were killed, and of the plants that aren’t completely dead, what percentage of each is budding.
This week I also checked the memory cards of the game cameras that I deployed a few weeks ago. I placed several cameras in various locations around the farm that have not yet been surveyed with camera trapping. In addition to this broad surveying, I also placed cameras in a few targeted locations where we have been seeing suspected beaver tracks and feeding sign. After checking these cameras, we were able to confirm the presence of beavers as well as add an unsuspected mammal to our species list, the North American river otter! AnMarie Ulery
Beavers
Otters