Helicopter Surveys, Gila Monster Tracking, Tortoise Friends and MORE BUFFELGRASS DOMINATION!

With buffelgrass season continuing in full swing, the SCA Native Plant Corps Crew at Saguaro National Park continues to kick butt!

The crew was invited to conduct Helicopter Plot Assessment Surveys at Tucson Mountain Park, adjacent to the Tucson Mountain District of Saguaro National Park. Last year, the county dropped herbicide from helicopters on certain buffelgrass management areas. The assessment surveys involve implementing transects in these plots to assess the kill rate of buffelgrass and the effect on surrounding vegetation.

Earlier in the month, Corps Member Joseph Ladd decided to help out a fellow conservationist on a Night Tracking of Gila Monsters. Although only Gila Monster dens were spotted (and no spotting of the Gila Monsters themselves), Joseph was able to gain hands on experience with radio-telemetry tracking, as well as see wildlife that only comes out at night!

Our buffelgrass days continues to be successfully AWESOME. Although the days are the hottest any of us have ever experienced, the work is fulfilling and the large crews of SCA Members and NPS Employees are enjoyable!

**More buffelgrass songs...

"I see a green plant and I want to paint it blue" - The Rolling Stone's "Paint It Black"...as it pertains to spraying a green grass with blue herbicide.

"Give a little bit...give a little bit of your spray to me" - Supertramp's "Give a Little Bit"...as it relates to sharing your backpack sprayer with others when they run out in the field.

"I shot the buffel...but I did not shoot the cottontop, oh no, OOOOHHHH!" - Bob Marley's "I Shot the Sherrif"...as it relates to spraying the correct species of grass--considering everything looks the same out here.

Posted below are some pictures from the helicopter survey, the gila monster tracking adventures of Joseph Ladd, and more "A Day in the Life of Buffelgrass Warriors".