Wildlife Monitoring - Ecology in Mukilteo, WA

1.  I attended an Ecology opportunity to complete the Service Learning Requirement for Biology 241 at Edmonds Community College.  The name of the event was 'Wildlife Monitoring in Mukilteo' and is held Fridays from 9:00a to noon. This event is organized by Ms. Grace Coale who can be contacted via email at grace.coale@email.edcc.edu.

Ms. Grace Coale explaining the details of the camera

2. This event is sponsored by the City of Mukilteo and the Snohomish County Airport in cooperation with Edmonds Community College.  The goals of the event were to locate two of the ten motion-sensor/infrared cameras in Big Gulch to change batteries and retrieve the memory card. The images on the cameras create a record of the animals passing through the area.  This data serves in evaluating possible detrimental impact on the area from society.

Locating the first camera

Mounted motion-sensing infrared camera

3. For this specific event, volunteers ventured into Big Gluch with a guide and searched for strategically placed cameras. Once located, we replaced the batteries and memory cards. After the cameras were serviced, the volunteers were educated about local wildlife activity. These specific cameras were recording the travel of a couple of young bucks on the trail as well as the activity of a mountain beaver den. Volunteers were also educated on native plants like Salmonberry and stinging nettles.

Antler rub on sapling

4. Science in society is crucial to not only understanding human impact on the environment, but to also protect and sustain valuable spaces in the region.  At times, taking environmental action could seem inconvenient with busy schedules kept by most people in the 21st century. This experience showed me how easy it is to engage my environment in a simple but meaningful way.  The aim of this volunteer work was to determine possible detrimental impact of society on the wildlife within the region. 'Wildlife Monitoring in Mukilteo' uses data collection which aides in proactively protecting green space in Snohomish County.  The simple task of replacing some batteries and retrieving a memory card contributes to a long-term data set, used to evaluate changes occurring within that biosphere. Excellent stewardship is key to the health of the biosphere as populations continue to grow.  Ultimately, stewardship will become a greater aspect of our lives to preserve environments to ensure that humans are able to thrive mentally and physically. 

In this course, we learned about sensory receptors, the muscular system and thermoregulation, among other concepts. As we were navigating the gulch, the sunlight shown through the trees, birds were vocal in the canopy above our heads and a small stream gurgled at the bottom of the ravine.  Sensing these moments with the receptors in my cochlea, fovea and olefactory bulb, inhaling the fresh air to service my muscles during the hike and perspiring to cool my body down are all direct examples of physiological responses I experienced.  Human biology is interdisciplinary because an understanding of basic physics and chemistry, as well as the ability to extrapolate from other biological arenas creates a thorough and well-rounded picture of us as a people and society.  To evaluate humans from the organism to the scale of the society allows for the most beneficial impact to our direct environment because different needs and consequences are considered.

Salmonberry appetizer

Stinging nettles along the trail

5.  Questions raised during my service learning activity:

What does the mountain beaver eat?

How can I prepare stinging nettles for consumption?

What nutrients are bioavailable in Salmonberry that aren't already found in my diet?

How does the water treatment facility in Big Gulch test the treated water before returning it to the environment?

How can I become more involved in projects like this as an average citizen in society?

Where is stewardship the most prioritized in the region (so I can move there)?

Looking for tracks under bridge

 

Tracks found near stream under bridge