vole day
two of the teacher removing poop from our grid
one of the teachers removing poop from our grid.
one of the voles we caught
Today we returned to Cook's Lake to check our traps. Each day we have breakfast at 8am and then leave for the field before 9am. It sometimes takes up to 1 hour to arrive at the site. When we arrived, we were all anxious to check our traps. Remember that each of us set out 20 traps each. If you can see the videos, you will see how we placed them. In the morning we checked our traps. I had no voles or mice. :( The other teachers had 6 voles between them. They all seemed healthy and the scientists were very happy to see this. We then went and had a 'poop test' to see if we could find, recognize and analyze poop. We created a grid using large poles. The grid (square) was 10 meters by 10 meters. Before our 'test' we had to pick up all of the poo in the area so that it didn't get in the way. After we had cleared the area, we had to leave so Christina (one of the scientists) could secretly place the poo. She placed it in bunches and then piece by piece. Our job was to go in and identify what type of poo it was and then we had to determine if it was a pile or a strand. A pile is just a bunch of poo in one place. A strand is one piece of poo at a time in a row. It is important to learn about poo in an area because it can tell you what animals have been there. You can determine what they are eating and how many of them were there. After our test we cleared a trail. This was actually a lot of physical labor. We had to cut down trees. This was done for several reasons. One is to enable an ATV (four wheeler) to get through so we didn't have to carry the 100 traps a far distance. Another reason is that some of the mammals will use the path rather than attempting to cross through the thick forest. About 5pm we checked our traps again. This time I had voles!!!! I caught 4 voles in the afternoon. I videoed it for you. All of them were healthy and we did not hurt them. The sad part is that I tried to tape the release for you and ran out of memory so you see me about to release it and then it cuts off. Just so you know--they all ran off and hid. We did recapture two of the same voles from the morning. I guess they liked the food and realized it wasn't so bad to sit in a trap for a while--just kidding. Tomorrow (Thursday) we return to check the traps again. We found a beaver lodge and hope to stop to see if there is activity. There is a chance that I will be able to Skype you guys on Friday. I will confirm it first and then let Mrs Evenesen know.
posted by mrskrekeler @ 7:55 PM
55 Comments:
Wow, the mammals that you are studying sound very interesting. we all miss you and cant wait to hear what you have to say next about your trip in Nova Scotia.
JW3
It sound like you are having a very exiting time in Nova Scotia. Was it exiting when you found the voles in your trap? We all miss you and cant wait to hear what you have to say next.
JW3
thats cool that you caught a vole!
sas3
Wow! I never thought poop would be important. But it really helps you discover which animals were there. The voles look cute. We all miss you and are looking forward to reading your blogs each day.
LS
Period1
wow, thats so cool that you and the others found some vole! :D but just one question.....what is vole? is it like a mouse? but yeah, thanks for more of the videos! :D and it'll be fun to see you from Skype! :D
-- M.s.C 4th!!
Dear Ms.Krekeler
The mammals that you are studying are interesting. I cant wait untill I hear about your interesting adventure about Nova Scotia and the really cool mamals.
VH2
thats gross how you had to use the poo it is cool how you cot some animals but there was only one good picture of the vol.
rw period 2
hey mrs. krekeler! how was the poop testing? i hope it was fun!
which poo was the most interesting?
thanks-
CR2
im happy that you have caught something!! thank you for updating everyday.
md p3
hk3 hi Ms.Krekeler i think the voles are so cute i hope youre having a good time..and i also wounder what youre going to trap next time... have a great time i'll see you when you get back..
that vole thing looks so cute! who caught that one? ms e said that u should frame it because it is so cool.
wow I have a similar sheduel in the morning. do traps take a long time to set.
As Per 4
i cant believe that you get to do all of that stuff. it sounds really cool to be studying those animals. we are having fun!
I.T. 4th period
The picture of the vole is so cute!! It sounds like you are doing a lot of work with poop...yuck!I am happy you caught voles of your own and cant wait to watch your videos! KG, 4th period.
It seems really important to learn all about the animals poo. I didn't realize there was so much information you could learn from it like what kind of animals live within the area and how many are there. I didn't know poo could be layed out in different ways like either in a strand or a pile. There is so much information to learn about animals poo!
I love that rat in the picture, it's so cute! Thats gross that you had to pick up poop! Do they give the animals shots to make sure they dont have any desises? Do you see it? i would not want to see animals getting shots, it would break my heart! Bye!
PS peiriod 5
hey,
Sorry that you dindn't catch a vole the first time but at least you did the second. Is it fun to ride the ATV? Do the any other animals you are traping change their fur color in winter?
A.D.W. 4th
Wow the voles just look just like mice and can they swim because I had read a book and it said that voles can swim. Also, what does the poop look like? That is really cool!
TN per. 3
Nova Scotia is a great place to lear for science. Say more about this interesting place.
Jaa Period 4
It's really cool how poop can you tell you so much! It tells you what they ate, how many animals were in that area, what animal it was from, etc, it's so intresting! The picture of the vole is adorable! :)
JL 1st Period
Hey Mrs. Krekeler,
Your trip in Novia Scotia sounds really fun and interesting! I wish I could be there! The rock cycle is really interesting and I enjoy learning about it! Tomarrow (friday) we are doing the crayon lab! I can't wait! I wish you were here to do the lab with us, but Novia Scotia is probably better!!!
LB period, 4
hey
wow all of this sounds amazing and so much fun to be doing!! so happy you caught something. cant wait to hear more from you!!
cb period 3
hey
wow all this sounds amazing and like you are having a totally awesome time!! i think it is so cool with the voles and how you are catching things!! cant wait to hear more things from your nova scotia trip!!
cb period 3
the vole was so cool. it was also very cute. are voles a typ of rodent or is that just what they call mice in Nova Scotia.
MED3
I wondering how do you know what poop is from what animal? And what do you mean by pile or a strand??? Anyways it cool that you got 4 VOLES!!! i also never thought that poop would be so importanat/ or even about sceince. can't wait to see you!!!!!!
nt p.5
Heyyyyyyyy Mrs. Krekeler,
Thats soo cool that you got 4 voles!!! Were they all scared? I would be. They look adorable in the pic!! :) :) :) Are you enjoying working with poop? Yuck! does it smell bad? Thanks for the videos and hope you have fun:)
AP period 3
Heyyyyyyy
just wondring how do you all test the poop??
AP Period 3
heyyyyyy Mrs Krekeler,
Thats soooooooooooooooooo cool!!! :):):):):):) It seems like you are having so much fun!! when will you call 3rd period?? I relly hope you do..... We have played the rock cycle game and it was soo fun!! Which animal has been teh most interesting so far?? and why??
well I got to go I really miss you!!!
AP Period 3
heyyyyyyyy
that vole is adorable!!!! Im soo jealous you get to be with them!! you are probalbly having fun:):):)
have you found any baby mammals?
AP Period 3
working with poop seems gross!!
AP period 3
HI
The vole looks pretty. Is a vole pretty much like a mouse or is it some other kind of rodent? I liked the videos and pictures. They were Great!!! :-)
Still missing you. Mrs. Evensen is being great and classes are also going good but not great because of you not being here.
rg3
This trip sounds like a fantastic and interesting adventure and learning oppurtunity! I saw your video on You Tube about releasing and catching the vole. After seeing this adorable animal I started to wonder what it was. The vole seems to look like a mouse but really what is related to or like?
MM Period 1
Hey Mrs.Krekeler! I have a question:
Why do you have to check the vole's poop?
hey! it looks so cool up there and the vole looks really awesome it seems like its a blast and i cant wait to hear more about your catchings! am4
Hey Mrs.Krekler the mamals you are studying look really cool. The poop that you are studying looks pretty nasty thuogh. Hope to see you soon.
Hey mrs krekler the poop that you are studying looks nasty. I never knew how much poop could tell you. Thanks for keeping us updated. by
cro3
Hi Mrs. Krekler,
You sure seem to be working with a lot of poop. I never relived how much you can learn from poop. I know it is a disgusting subject, but has the poop tould you about the vole's effect on other animals ,and what did you find out about what they were eating?
You must be working a lot ,but for how long? And what do you do when you aren't working?
Very curious,
SP5
Sounds like you're having a great time! Have you caught anything else besides voles and mice by accident? What's the biggest vole you have caught so far? The Rock Cycle pretty cool, I had no idea rocks were made up of all different sediments.
EC-Period 4
Hi! What are you going to do at the beaver lodge?
cjz1
hey Mrs. Krekeler
Those videos were awesome!!!!! But I have a question about the voles and their traps. How long does it take to catch a vole and is the trap big or small.
RR Period 2
Some of your questions can be answered by watching the videos. I've created links to google videos so you can watch them.
Wow that was really odd of you to test the poop but you know the science is wanting of you to discover so keep on testing. I really can't for you to come.
mlvs periond 2
that is sooo cool that you acually caught a vole. Were you really excited when you caught your first vole? We can't wait untill you come back!!!!
FT Period: 5
hey mrs. krekeler!!!
I wish I could be there with you..I miss you so much!! I wish you were here to teach us about the rock cycle!! I'm counting the minutes till you come back! Have you caughten any mice or voles yet? Is it disgusting picking up the poop? I would be grossed out. But I still thinks Its cool. Cya, Mrs.K!!
~e.k.5~
I like how Christina had you leave and then come back after she hid the poo somewere then identify what poo it is. That is a great way to learn how to do something, by making it fun. I have never seen a strand of poo that is odd that some animal would do that. Talk to you later!!
MK Period 1
HEy Mrs K! it souds like you are having a great time and its great that you caught a vole! it seems like you are doing a lot of work with poop! Gross! cant wait to hear more,RAH 4th
I saw the videos, that was cool! What would happen if you realeased the "vole" into a place nowhere near where it was when you caught it?
BH5
Thats so cool. It must be very cool to be in Nova Scotia doing something you really like to do.
I have a question, what is the biggest thing you've caught yet?
We miss you,
P.E. Period 3
Hi ms.k we miss you. What do voles eat? Where do you put them when you catch them?
WB1
Hey mrs.K,
Can't wait to see you!! Th mamals u r studing sound really cool!! is the animal droppings interesting?? I think it would be gross!! We had a little bit of a scare 2 day Mrs. wrightstein fell down the stairs she had to go to the hospital!! it was scary!!! we are going to make here a card!!!
EG3
Hola Mrs. Krekeler. Congrats on the voles, looks like there pretty small. Hope you catch some more to see if there all healthy.
_ _
o o -Im a nice vole!
\_/
CZ1
hey thats cool how you caught an animal ur trip sounds interesting
I think that it is really cool that you caught 4 voles. Also I think it would be so cool to see a real beaver lodge. Beavers are awesome! Also that stuff about scat was pretty gross, but cool. I miss you a lot. I hope you are having a good time.
JA period 5
Wow you caught 4 voles? That is really cool! That is funny that the voles like the food so much that they keep coming back! I miss you and I hope that u have a great time and also I hope that we will be able to skype with you on Friday!
MJ5
Wow, I can’t thought poop is important for investigation for animals live that place.
The poop say which mammals live that place and what food they are ate(and we can now that animals are flesh-eating animals or plant-eating animals.)
and the picture of the vole is so cute!
Period1 TSP
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