Plants and wildlife are adapted to particular conditions that in combination comprise “habitats”. We discuss environmental conditions that are significant in arid and semi arid environments in determining whether a particular place is suitable for a particular species of wildlife. Taking note of all animal signs and activity, we will likely see grasshoppers, spiders, beetles, ants, and many aquatic arthropods, lizards, birds, and small mammals. We may even be lucky to sight larger mammals or signs of them (tracks, scat, browse) such as Big Horn Sheep. We will visit a variety of habitats such as sand dunes, springs and intermittent streams, rocky ledges, pinyon juniper woodlands, grasslands and desert shrublands.

The trip will be led by Dr. Tim Graham, a biologist formerly with the US Geological Survey staff in Moab.

Habitats we’ll visit:

• sand dunes
• springs and intermittent streams
• rocky ledges
• piñon-juniper woodlands
• grasslands
• desert shrublands

Activities during the day:

• nets in aquatic habitats
• aerial nets for terrestrial arthropods
• rolling rocks and turning logs
• peeking at plants