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When we got to Jepson Prairie and Olcott Lake, we walked around, I nerded out about flowers, Tony and his dad looked around and tolerated my frequent dives to the ground, and that was about it. Luckily, we then joined Solano County Land Trust guided tour, and man, was that fortunate. Not only did the docents show us the California Tiger Salamander we had wanted so much to see, but they also had these totally unexpted tadpole shrimp! These are ancient crustaceans that hatch, eat, breed, lay eggs, and die all in the few months between winter rains and summer heat. They're closely related to the triops that some people keep as pets. On top of all that, they're federally endangered, so even if we had known they were there, it would have been illegal for us to dip net for them! The docents had permits, so they were able to collect some to show us. So awesome.
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When we got to Jepson Prairie and Olcott Lake, we walked around, I nerded out about flowers, Tony and his dad looked around and tolerated my frequent dives to the ground, and that was about it. Luckily, we then joined Solano County Land Trust guided tour, and man, was that fortunate. Not only did the docents show us the California Tiger Salamander we had wanted so much to see, but they also had these totally unexpted tadpole shrimp! These are ancient crustaceans that hatch, eat, breed, lay eggs, and die all in the few months between winter rains and summer heat. They're closely related to the triops that some people keep as pets. On top of all that, they're federally endangered, so even if we had known they were there, it would have been illegal for us to dip net for them! The docents had permits, so they were able to collect some to show us. So awesome.
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When we got to Jepson Prairie and Olcott Lake, we walked around, I nerded out about flowers, Tony and his dad looked around and tolerated my frequent dives to the ground, and that was about it. Luckily, we then joined Solano County Land Trust guided tour, and man, was that fortunate. Not only did the docents show us the California Tiger Salamander we had wanted so much to see, but they also had these totally unexpted tadpole shrimp! These are ancient crustaceans that hatch, eat, breed, lay eggs, and die all in the few months between winter rains and summer heat. They're closely related to the triops that some people keep as pets. On top of all that, they're federally endangered, so even if we had known they were there, it would have been illegal for us to dip net for them! The docents had permits, so they were able to collect some to show us. So awesome.
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When we got to Jepson Prairie and Olcott Lake, we walked around, I nerded out about flowers, Tony and his dad looked around and tolerated my frequent dives to the ground, and that was about it. Luckily, we then joined Solano County Land Trust guided tour, and man, was that fortunate. Not only did the docents show us the California Tiger Salamander we had wanted so much to see, but they also had these totally unexpted tadpole shrimp! These are ancient crustaceans that hatch, eat, breed, lay eggs, and die all in the few months between winter rains and summer heat. They're closely related to the triops that some people keep as pets. On top of all that, they're federally endangered, so even if we had known they were there, it would have been illegal for us to dip net for them! The docents had permits, so they were able to collect some to show us. So awesome.
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When we got to Jepson Prairie and Olcott Lake, we walked around, I nerded out about flowers, Tony and his dad looked around and tolerated my frequent dives to the ground, and that was about it. Luckily, we then joined Solano County Land Trust guided tour, and man, was that fortunate. Not only did the docents show us the California Tiger Salamander we had wanted so much to see, but they also had these totally unexpted tadpole shrimp! These are ancient crustaceans that hatch, eat, breed, lay eggs, and die all in the few months between winter rains and summer heat. They're closely related to the triops that some people keep as pets. On top of all that, they're federally endangered, so even if we had known they were there, it would have been illegal for us to dip net for them! The docents had permits, so they were able to collect some to show us. So awesome.
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When we got to Jepson Prairie and Olcott Lake, we walked around, I nerded out about flowers, Tony and his dad looked around and tolerated my frequent dives to the ground, and that was about it. Luckily, we then joined Solano County Land Trust guided tour, and man, was that fortunate. Not only did the docents show us the California Tiger Salamander we had wanted so much to see, but they also had these totally unexpted tadpole shrimp! These are ancient crustaceans that hatch, eat, breed, lay eggs, and die all in the few months between winter rains and summer heat. They're closely related to the triops that some people keep as pets. On top of all that, they're federally endangered, so even if we had known they were there, it would have been illegal for us to dip net for them! The docents had permits, so they were able to collect some to show us. So awesome.
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Unfortunately the docents were only able to find carapaces.
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"Only the carapaces seen this day along the shore of Olcott Lake ( ""lake"" is used loosely here - large, vernal pool.) Only species here with this large a carapace. Bummed docent could find live one for group..."
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"Only the carapaces seen this day along the shore of Olcott Lake ( ""lake"" is used loosely here - large, vernal pool.) Only species here with this large a carapace. Bummed docent could find live one for group..."
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I think this is a Vernal Pool Tadpole Shrimp. Found at Hog Lake, Tehama Co., CA
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I think this is a Vernal Pool Tadpole Shrimp. Found at Hog Lake, Tehama Co., CA
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I think this is a Vernal Pool Tadpole Shrimp. Found at Hog Lake, Tehama Co., CA
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NOTE: A permit is required to enter the water or sweep it with a net. Fortunately we were deputized by none other than Carol Witham (who has a permit and was our supervisor). Carol is the author of the Jepson Prairie Preserve Handbook and was coaching a team from US Fish & Wildlife Service. All my IDs for the water creatures are from Carol. Everyone was super kind, and I greatly appreciate their including and educating us for the morning.
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NOTE: A permit is required to enter the water or sweep it with a net. Fortunately we were deputized by none other than Carol Witham (who has a permit and was our supervisor). Carol is the author of the Jepson Prairie Preserve Handbook and was coaching a team from US Fish & Wildlife Service. All my IDs for the water creatures are from Carol. Everyone was super kind, and I greatly appreciate their including and educating us for the morning.
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The prettiest one of the day! Freshly molted, it will turn greyish later on. NOTE: A permit is required to enter the water or sweep it with a net. Fortunately we were deputized by none other than the author of a field guide to the area (has a permit and was our supervisor). She was coaching a team from US Fish & Wildlife Service. All my IDs for the water creatures are from her. Everyone was super kind, and I greatly appreciate their including and educating us for the morning.
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The prettiest one of the day! Freshly molted, it will turn greyish later on. NOTE: A permit is required to enter the water or sweep it with a net. Fortunately we were deputized by none other than the author of a field guide to the area (has a permit and was our supervisor). She was coaching a team from US Fish & Wildlife Service. All my IDs for the water creatures are from her. Everyone was super kind, and I greatly appreciate their including and educating us for the morning.
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NOTE: A permit is required to enter the water or sweep it with a net. Fortunately we were deputized by none other than Carol Witham (who has a permit and was our supervisor). Carol is the author of the Jepson Prairie Preserve Handbook and was coaching a team from US Fish & Wildlife Service. All my IDs for the water creatures are from Carol. Everyone was super kind, and I greatly appreciate their including and educating us for the morning.
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The prettiest one of the day! Freshly molted, it will turn greyish later on. NOTE: A permit is required to enter the water or sweep it with a net. Fortunately we were deputized by none other than the author of a field guide to the area (has a permit and was our supervisor). She was coaching a team from US Fish & Wildlife Service. All my IDs for the water creatures are from her. Everyone was super kind, and I greatly appreciate their including and educating us for the morning.
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The prettiest one of the day! Freshly molted, it will turn greyish later on. NOTE: A permit is required to enter the water or sweep it with a net. Fortunately we were deputized by none other than the author of a field guide to the area (has a permit and was our supervisor). She was coaching a team from US Fish & Wildlife Service. All my IDs for the water creatures are from her. Everyone was super kind, and I greatly appreciate their including and educating us for the morning.
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The prettiest one of the day! Freshly molted, it will turn greyish later on. NOTE: A permit is required to enter the water or sweep it with a net. Fortunately we were deputized by none other than the author of a field guide to the area (has a permit and was our supervisor). She was coaching a team from US Fish & Wildlife Service. All my IDs for the water creatures are from her. Everyone was super kind, and I greatly appreciate their including and educating us for the morning.