Them Bones

Skulls are fascinating. Though I didn't always know that. Previous to my current understanding, skulls were evidence of a story - survival, starvation, struggle, etc. Interesting to look at, to be sure. But never did I appreciate the minor details that distinguish one skull from another until a few weeks ago.

With a minor prod from a park visitor, who also happened to be mammal biologist, I began studying the few skulls in the park collection. And I was amazed.

The dental formula of each mammal helps to distinguish one family and often one species from another. It's really quite interesting.

And there is one dental formula that is unmistakable. I found it quite fascinating. You might not share my enthusiasm, but I am going to share it with you anyway.

I've got two skulls below to compare to.

A coyote skull

A bobcat skull

Okay. Let's look at the coyote first.

The bottom half of the jaw, starting from the middle front and working back along one side, has 3 incisors, 1 canine, 4 premolars, and 3 molars (this guy is missing his last molar on the left hand side).

The top half of the jaw, also starting from the front middle and working back along one side, has 3 incisors, 1 canine, 4 premolars, and 2 molars.

In skull language, the number and type of teeth is written like this: I 3/3 (meaning 3 incisors on top, 3 incisors on bottom), C 1/1, P 4/4, M 3/2 x 2 = 42.

So if you take a close look at the premolars and the molars, you can see that the premolars are sharp, meant for cutting meat. But coyotes, and other canines sometimes eat other things as well, so their molars help them grind those other foods, so they are wider, and have more cusps (the little pointed parts of the tooth).

Okay, how fun was that?

Now let's look at the bobcat.

The bobcat has far fewer teeth than the coyote. The bottom half has 3 incisors, 1 canine, 2 premolars and 1 molar.

The top half has 3 incisors, 1 canine, 2 premolars and 1 molar just like the top half. Now, wait, you say. I don't see the molar. Just the 2 premolars. That's what I thought as well.

But take a closer look.

See that tiny little smidgen of a tooth back behind the 2nd premolar? At first I thought it was just a funky part of the premolar. But nope. That is the molar. It is almost non-existent. And that one little molar up top there is very diagnostic of cats. All cats, from kitty cats to massive lions and tigers, have that one, small molar.

When I learned that, I wanted to go and pry open the mouth of my little kitty. But it just so happened that he had to take a little vet visit not too long after that. So when the vet opened his mouth, I took a look to see if I could see that little molar. And sure enough, there is was. So small. Almost not there. But it was there.

Now all you cat owners, you're going to do the same thing, and harass your cat to pry open it's mouth, aren't you. If you do, let me know if you can see it.

Almost finished

Not quite there, but oh so close. Over the last two weeks (working about 1 1/2 days a week) I got most of the floor in. The plan is to finish it tomorrow, along with putting in a bypass door, doing a few more painting projects, and one or two other odd jobs. The tenants move in this coming weekend. Sweet.

Getting ready to put the floor down.

The first few rows are in.

So close. Just a few more things to get done. Oh, it looks so much better. I can't wait to not have to rent it out.

Full Moon

It's almost the full moon! Spooky.

What will you be doing for Halloween? I'll be sitting at home getting my yearly fill of "The Changeling." Not the new one..oh no. This is the classic 1980 version with George C. Scott. A wonderful ghost story. I've watched it nearly every year since I was a wee child.

October in the Wasatch Mountains

The weather has been beautiful. We did have some snow early in the month, but that didn't seem to damper the beauty. There is still some great color in them hills.

My job sometimes requires (allows) me to get out on the trails to work on signs, or scout out a route for an upcoming tour. I had that chance a couple of times this past few weeks. I just wanted to share some of the beauty.





I was listening to an NPR broadcast about the need for play in the lives of children. Without it they loose their sense of wonder, curiosity, and imagination. I think that is one reason I love being out in nature - because there is always something wonderful to see or discover. It's okay to let yourself become lost in wonder.

Basement Updates

We have new renters. They came last night to pay the deposit and sign the rental agreement. They move in the first weekend of November. Happy day.

So, what's been accomplished lately with the basement? My progress has slowed considerably, simply due to the nature of what's left to do. But here are some updated pics. I've had quite a bit of family and neighbor help.

Finished the bathroom.

Did some re-wiring.

Finished mudding the new wall.

Scrubbed the kitchen floor, walls, cupboards, and refrigerator.

Put in a new light fixture.

Got new carpet in both bedrooms.

So what's left? Some prep work on the living room sub-floor, then lay down the Pergo laminate flooring, replace one door, and paint a few last areas.

Unfortunately I've reached my stupid point. I now no longer have the tools or skills to move forward. I'll do what I can today, and then I'll have to start begging again.

A short thought

A group of young children and their parents venture into the visitor center and immediately notice a large moose head hanging on the wall...

Child: "Ohh, look, a moose."

Mother: "Yep, it's a moose."

Child: "Is it dead now?"

Mother: "Nope it's still alive. This is where it lives now, just half of it, up on that wall."

Okay, okay. That's not what she said, but it would have made me laugh. The true version ended like this:

Mother: "Yep, it's dead now."

I love the obvious questions that are often asked, and not just by kids.

A Day Out

I was out a lot today with three separate school groups. The day was beautiful. The weather was perfect, the leaves are amazingly bright and vibrant.

We looked at seeds, trees, scat, tracks, picked apples, learned about history, took hikes...It was a great day.

A couple of fun photographic finds:

A Rock Squirrel

What? I don't have anything.

And a Monarch Butterfly Caterpillar on its Milkweed plant. The kids thought that was pretty amazing. Heck, I thought it was pretty amazing. It's not everyday we see monarch caterpillars.

Silver-Haired Bat

I was up at our historic site today doing an apple harvest program. As a part of the program, we took the group on a tour of the site, including a short interpretive trail. While on the trail, one family spotted something black hanging off a bush.

As they got closer, they noticed it was moving...breathing actually. It was a bat!

Note the silver-tipped hair and small little ears. This is a Lasionycteris noctivagans, or Silver-haired Bat. Or at least that is my best guess. I've never seen one before. Usually all I see are Little Brown and Big Brown Bats. So this was a treat.



I'm a little concerned about it for a few reasons. One is the position is it resting in. Seems a little haphazard. Another is that is was roosting out in the open. Generally these will tuck themselves up under some bark or in a hole or crevice. So I need to go back later this afternoon and see if it is still hanging around.

I can't tell you how much I love bats. They are simply amazing animals. I do a program on bats entitled: Bats: Nature's Do-Gooders. Because they really are. Do you have any idea how many insects they consume in just one night? (hudreds of tons) Or how many plants Fruit and Nectar bats polinate and help propagate? Do you like cashews, bananas, mangos, agave, figs? Bats polinate these and many other plants that we love. Bats aid in the re-growth of forests that have been clear cut or burned over.

I'll stop now. I tend to get a little carried away. But bats are amazing. And I count myself very lucky to have seen this one so up close today.

A Roadside Treat

I was driving out to do a program at another park not too long ago, and noticed a large bird of prey up in a tree near the road. I turned around to get a better look at it, and was able to get a few okay-ish pics.


I love Ospreys. And I love that this one was enjoying a fish meal just off the side of the road. It made the 1 1/2 hour drive worth it.

Not to mention the program went fabulously well also. :)

Cool Wasps

It's looking at ya.

These Bald-faced Hornets (actually, they are wasps) were building a nice hive on the wall of the visitor center. I knew the hive would eventually be removed by the maintenance guys, but I didn't say anything to them about it, wanting to let them live as long as possible. It was fun to watch them slowly build that paper hive larger and larger.

But, just as I expected, the maintenance crew have been cleaning, clearing and painting the visitor center the past couple of days, so I wasn't surprised when I passed by this area and saw that the hive was gone. I suppose it is best as these wasps can be quite aggressive if provoked.

But what cool insects. Black and white, and not so small. Very impressive.

A New Wall

I did warn you, after all, that I would likely be dragging you down into the basement with me.

Yesterday was a good day. We got quite a bit done.

Removed a wall.

Framed up a new one.

Got help from the boys putting up drywall.

Now we have a new wall - that 8 inches makes a big difference.


We also got a good start on the kitchen...

And painted another bedroom.

Today we add finishing touches to the wall, buy carpet for the bedrooms, and continue cleaning the kitchen.

Basement Progress

As promised, here are pics of the basement, right after the tenants moved out, and after doing some work on it.

Today, the plan is to tear out a wall, and re-build it a little further back, to give more room to access the basement. That will be fun.

Stairwell to the basement

Entrance of the basement and dog urine (and other things I'm sure) stained carpet.

Bathroom, with mildewy floor.

Stairs down to the kitchen.


After a little work, stairs down to the basement. That wall at the bottom is the one we are going to move back about 8 inches or so.

Living room after tearing out the carpet. I like it better. :)

Bathroom with a new floor and clean appliances. Getting ready to put the new toilet in.

Stairs down to the kitchen. Ready for some new carpet.