An interesting time was had this past week and I was able to see and enjoy many beautiful species. Fire monitoring was a large part of the week and we camped close to a monitoring plot in the TRE fire at about 6700′ in the Pinenut Mountains of Douglas County, NV. It was a breathtaking experience to see the sun set behind the Sierra Nevada Mtns and the fiery clouds looming over the high peaks. However, the greatest experience was sitting up and watching some of the Perseid Meteor shower. Never have I seen an event so magnificent as the fleeting flight and trail of a large meteor; it is an experience that cannot be summed up in words, only viewed in awe and wonder for such an opportunity. Another friend who decided to visit in the night (not necessarily a friend when trying to sleep), was a  North American Deermouse (Peromyscus maniculatus). He was scurrying under the tarp I was sleeping on and eventually I sat up and looked with my light and there he was about 4 feet away, twitching his nose in the air. Funny indeed for such a small animal to make so much noise. The morning brought the sounds of the Mtn. Bluebird, Bushtits, White-breasted Nuthatches and many other friends of the air. It was a pleasant experience to enjoy the wonders of the natural world on a fine morning.

To the coming of Fall,

Ethan Hughes

CCDO BLM