Dave Hoerath

Grew up in Colorado. Sold me on living/working here. BS Wildlife from CSU, MS Auburn. Someone has to be the Lorax. 18yrs at POS!

[Dave Hoerath @biologistdave3]

And the Cool Shot of the Day: from our folks up at the Meeker Sort Yard, this lovely coyote! #wildlife

[Dave Hoerath @biologistdave3]

And just when you aren't looking... a racer. #RabbitMountain #wildlife

[Dave Hoerath @biologistdave3]

More things like: evening primrose, wavyleaf dandelions, purple violets, yellow violets.

[Dave Hoerath @biologistdave3]

And here's a taste of some of the joys of nature out on open space. Spring wildflowers: chiming bells, deathcamus, chokecherry, daisy...

[Dave Hoerath @biologistdave3]

Our crazy spring (end of winter) has delayed the arrival of some species, delayed their elevational migration, and dumped snow on us TWICE in May. I finally saw swallows in numbers at #Lagerman Agricultural Preserve at the end of May!

[Dave Hoerath @biologistdave3]

I had to stop twice at #HeilValleyRanch to shoo bullsnakes off the road. These 2 were in a 'mating ball.' I didn't feel bad about interrupting them, because they ended up living, rather than getting squished in the road. #wildlife

[Dave Hoerath @biologistdave3]

It is snake time! I'm a little tardy on this, but it is warming up (finally). And that means snakes are out. They will like open areas (trails and roads) that absorb and soak up heat.

[Dave Hoerath @biologistdave3]

The drama begins again on #ospreycam We have hatching! Cute chicks and parental feeding. #wildlife

[Dave Hoerath @biologistdave3]

It is osprey time & closure time at #LagermanAgriculturalPreserve Shorebirds (I counted 30+ American Avocets on Saturday) love the shallow west end of the lake - inside the closure. Please respect it for them and for hatching osprey chicks. Check the #ospreycam at Fairgrounds

[Dave Hoerath @biologistdave3]

The Senior Fish-off shows off how dedicated our anglers are and how important it is to get together and celebrate/have fun. #fishing #WaldenPonds And we had a beautiful moonset too!

[Dave Hoerath @biologistdave3]

We had our annual Senior Fish-off on April 19th. A brilliant spring day with lots of smiles, good conversation (fish stories!), and some fishing. #fishing #WaldenPonds

[Dave Hoerath @biologistdave3]

During our heron count we saw this Great Horned owl at #WaldenPonds . Those huge wings provide maneuverability and quiet for a stealthy hunter. They are also what is left of this owl who met his demise at #RonStewartPreserve at #RabbitMountain Maybe the golden eagles got it?

[Dave Hoerath @biologistdave3]

Here's a little of what has been happening. 2015/2016 is before the Elk and Vegetation Management Plan, which allowed limited, controlled harvest on #RonStewartPreserve at #RabbitMountain. Marked distribution change 2018/2019. Fewer elk and less time on the mtn = healing trails.

[Dave Hoerath @biologistdave3]

I finished up summarizing the 2nd paired comparisons of 'Treatment' (elk browsing) vs. 'Control' (little/no elk use) areas. Counting squares for area (square feet) occupied by shrubs. I love the magic blanket and my volunteers!

[Dave Hoerath @biologistdave3]

We just gave our Year 2 Summary of the Elk and Vegetation Management Program at #RonStewartPreserve at #RabbitMountain to our Advisory Committee. Counts, hazing, harvest, fencing, trapping and radiotracking.

[Dave Hoerath @biologistdave3]

It is also heron nesting season. We did a united countywide count on the 17th before all the trees were leafed out. The big sky photo here is an immature golden eagle flying over the colony - scaring up 19 herons (I had counted only 12; thanks eagle). #wildlife Good luck herons!

[Dave Hoerath @biologistdave3]

This is a mother's devotion. Late, late spring snow. ☹️ #wildlife #ospreycam Good luck mom! Still another 15 days or so to first hatching (3 eggs).

[Dave Hoerath @biologistdave3]

But... it was also winter (or just a predation event). We found a few bones and this turkey foot - with a spur from a male. #wildlife #HeilValleyRanch

[Dave Hoerath @biologistdave3]

It's spring and the turkeys are calling. #HeilValleyRanch If you are lucky some tom will fan out and show off for you! #wildlife

[Dave Hoerath @biologistdave3]

It is #OspreyCam time! First egg today! #wildlife