A Summer, Deep In the Woods

The on-going job search has taken in interesting turn this last month.  It oddly enough will be taking me back to an old, familiar vacationing destination where my family used to spend our summer holidays.

The Boundary Waters National Park is a vast waterway that allows outdoor enthusiasts access across the Canadian -

American border via canoes.  The lakes are deep, clear, abundant with fish and other wildlife, and provide the weary paddler with numerous ledge rocks that function as make-shift outdoor cafes, or listening points at the end of a long traveling day.

The Finnish and the Swedes settled in this area during the late 1800's, building their log cabins and establishing a distinctly Scandinavian culture for generations to follow.

                                                            Photo by: Nancy Jo Tubbs / Camp Van Vac, cabin 25

The North American Bear Center and Wildlife Research Institute is located at the Boundary Waters central hub, and for the next few months, this area will be 'home.'   It is an educational and research center that was started by Dr. Lynn Rogers and his wife, Donna  - the latter being likened to the "Jane Goodall of black bears."  What attracted me most to the institute is that Dr. Rogers is an advocate of 'trust based research,' which simply requires the researcher to develop a relationship with the animal -rather than relying on dart guns, traps, or restraining methods to gather data.  The animal always has a choice in the level of participation.  I have felt the benefits of this approach both when dealing with  abused horses as well as when working with the European Wildcats.  Developing a trusting relationship may take more time in the initial stages, but in the long run, your further ahead.

                                                         Photo by: Dr. Lynn Rogers

So, soon I will be off to the great north woods. My activities over the next few weeks involve breaking-in serious hiking boots, understanding the mechanical workings of a compass, and researching odorless bug repellent.   Such topics for discussion! ...but I wouldn't trade this new life for any other!

Lessons learned:

Don't try to break in new boots all at once...ouch!

Don't position your nose too close to the spraying device when testing the olfactory strength of bug repellents!

Training, 18 Feet Up

Note: delayed entry from February, 2012 

San Francisco is one of my favorite cities.   Yes, it's extreme in places, but none-the-less, intoxicating.  I get up for my daily morning walks, which typically take me down to the waterfront where I can breath in the salt air and feel the chill of the fog rolling back out to sea.  Once there, I take time for a quick cup of coffee, and then I loop back through Chinatown to watch the vendors setting up their wares.  If it weren't for the ringing bell of an approaching cable car, I could almost believe I was in a foreign country.

Over the course of these past 7 days, I've been at the International Giraffe Symposium.  There are both moments of hope and frustration while listening to the researchers talk about dwindling numbers and tireless efforts being made to help Giraffes survive in the wild. I am brought up to date about new veterinarian methods to treat common ailments specific to the species, and I listen to the new discoveries being made surrounding familial and social behaviors of giraffes in the wild. We are also invited to view husbandry training sessions at the zoos in the area.  Using acacia, bananas, grapes and an abundance of other delicacies, giraffes will gracefully and graciously go through their repertoires of husbandry behaviors.  They do seem rather proud of the fact that it takes 2 trainers to work with them -one on the ground to cue and tend to the task at hand (such as hoof trimming or vet procedures), and the other 18 feet up on a ladder to deliver the reinforcer.

Chart above provided by:  

http://www.wildliferanching.com/content/giraffe-giraffa-camelopardalis

Some key points from the conference came from the pro and con discussion surrounding the AZA approval of crossbreeding the Rothschild and Reticulated giraffes in captivity.  While the AZA has approved this method in order to assist the dwindling gene pool, the BIAZA (British/Irish Zoos) are taking a strong stance against crossbreeding.  Because research in the wild has not yet been able to determine if crossbreeding occurs naturally, there are many unknowns.  I also found identification process techniques for field research to be fascinating.  Through the use of photography, spot shapes and designs researchers are able to identify a specific giraffe.  I can only imagine the number of spots I'd see before my eyes after a long day of identifying giraffes in the hot African sun!

Lessons learned:
One can have a good run and still enjoy the view (San Francisco doesn't disappoint).

and
When working with a giraffe, move like they do (slowly and gracefully)!