Last week has been a blur of travel. Almost to the point of rock star status, minus the girls, drugs, roadies, late nights, etc. After spending a few days in Phoenix on a work trip, I returned to SLO, only to pack up the bags, pet the dog, and kiss my woman, then I flew out to Vernal, Utah. My mission: to find Sclerocactus claucus. This tiny cactus is considered to be federally threatened and protected under the Federal Endanagered Species Act. The crazy thing about this cactus is that is about the size of a quarter. So for days, I walked through a desert, nearly hand-in-hand with a group of fellow biologists, as we literally “Combed the desert.” (God, I love Spaceballs). And, hey, guess what? We didn’t find shit. The photo I’ve included above was taken at a reference location, where the cactus is known to occur. As for the transects we walked, not one of these species was found. And, unfortunately, our survey period ended up getting cut short due to a dusting of snow that easily covered our spiney little friends for the winter.
Sclerocactus claucus
You’re going about the whole “locate endangered species” thing all wrong. After reading a recent article in the Trib over our morning coffee about some threatened mouse in the Carrizo Plain and the millions of dollars being spent to conduct a population count, Linda turned to me and said, “Why not just put out a big bowl of food”? Hmmm – makes you think!
So cynical Keith. 
How am I supposed to keep my job if people are pouring out Captain Crunch for all the kangaroo rats.
I like the new blog, rock star! You’ll be the envy of of the blogosphere for sure!!
by Jon
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