Winter Research '09-'10

Winter has come and gone quickly, a very light snowfall for Michigan's Upper Peninsula this year. Although I did not spend all my time down in the study area because of classes and my thesis proposal, I was lucky enough to go down during some weekends.
Most of the field work has been deer trapping using clover traps, but because of low snowfall totals food has been more abundant and the deer haven't been "yarding" as nicely this winter but the deer trapping crew did well despite that and has caught and collared 20 doe. Currently they are rocket netting for deer but I have not been down to experience that.
Track surveys were also conducted but the snow failed to cooperate with getting many completed. The bobcat hair snares seemed to work well, and it is great to get out in the woods and bait for bobcat with roadkill deer.
The bear that we captured and collared this summer needed the GPS batteries changed out as well as checking on cubs of the year from females, den checks went quite well. Both females I worked on had 3 cubs each and a third female had 3 yearlings.
Spring is fast approaching and soon carnivore trapping will start, can't wait to catch some coyotes and wolves again! I will be graduating May 1st and starting my graduate research assistant position soon after. Talk to you all this summer.

- Tyler