Our Last Day in the Field!

I can't believe that our days in the field are now officially over! I feel that I am now a professional "Caterpillar Hunter"... O.K. perhaps I'm just now even more observant of nature, but I have learned so much from all of the Earthwatch researchers and am so thankful for them taking the time to so patiently teach us so much in so little time! Today was also extremely special because I was able to see and talk to my students again... I really have been missing not talking and sharing all of the experiences in full detail everyday. I have been getting their wonderful posts and cannot wait until Thursday when we can go through all of the pictures and their questions. This blog is only a small excerpt of all that I have been experiencing and I feel that I cannot express everything that there is to share on here... if only I could Skype with my students EVERY day!!! Thankfully I have the rest of the year to share science with them on a daily basis and we will incorporate the spirit of this trip into our time together!

Today was the last day in the field collecting samples (we still have to care for them tomorrow, etc.) and I was fortunate enough to be able to go kayaking for a second time however it was definitely an adventure when we were told by the Wildlife Management Ranger that we should keep an eye out because they had seen a 13 foot alligator in the area. After the SwampFest and learning that if I'm within a 30 foot radius of the alligator there is no escape, this was NOT good news! In fact where we landed on the river bank we saw multiple FRESH alligator foot prints (see below) and when stepping out of the kayak  in order to put on my boots I almost lost my flip flops (see how mud logged they were) and instead got to "enjoy" a Louisiana pedicure when I put my socks on over my mud encrusted feet! The soft silk could not withstand our heavy steps and it was good to get onto higher and more solid ground! 

Once we hiked to our plot I was constantly looking about to make sure no snakes or alligators were around but we did see evidence of a snake... a molted skin (see below)! We are not exactly sure of which snake it was, however our fearless guide believes that it is from a baby Water Moccasin! YIKES!!! Thankfully we didn't see any real snakes. Although I searched for over an hour for any kind of caterpillar in my zones (even after hitting the branches with the beat stick and beat cloth) I could not find any caterpillars. Instead I found some interesting friends who you can see below! 

I have stepped out of my comfort zone on this expedition and have loved every minute of it. I have always loved hiking and exploring the various trails that the places I visit have to offer, however I now have a new found love for exploring "the wild"! I cannot wait until I work with my students to help decide how we can take this shared experience and do something locally. I know that this post is not my last one, but it will be my last one in the "bunkhouse". Tomorrow afternoon we head back to Tulane with all of the caterpillars and make sure that they are taken care of in their labs in order to further continue watching their progress in their life cycles and possible exposure to parasitoids. I look forward to working there and sharing this experience will everyone tomorrow!