![\"Fouquieria](\"https:\/\/dev-clm-blog.pantheonsite.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/325.jpg\")
<\/a>Fouquieria splendens<\/em> towering over other desert species.<\/p><\/div>\n A “basilisk” in bloom!<\/p><\/div>\n This week I have had the chance to see some of the interesting desert wildlife out in the field. Various lizard species were running around the rocks alongside us earlier in the week as we collected seeds at a site. I also spotted my first group of wild burros while out driving, which was exciting! One of the wildlife cameras our biologist set up captured some fun pictures of a packrat running around a borough as well.<\/p>\n A chuckwalla sunning itself on the rocks.<\/p><\/div>\n A packrat caught by one of our wildlife cameras.<\/p><\/div>\n I think one of the highlights of the week, though, was attending a cultural presentation given by a Chemehuevi elder about the history of their tribe, traditional uses for native plants, and their people\u2019s connection to the land, which is adjacent to our field office. We were shown a couple of petroglyph sites and then were also invited to the Chemehuevi cultural center for some more in-depth education. I feel it is important for myself and my fellow interns to learn about the cultural history of the area we will be working in, as well as meet the indigenous people of the area who the BLM work with, so it was a very enriching experience.<\/p>\n Chemehuevi petroglyphs.<\/p><\/div>\n Bureau of Land Management<\/p>\n Needles, CA<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I\u2019ve just ended my first week as a Seeds of Success botany intern with the Needles, CA field office of the BLM. It\u2019s been very busy and feels like I\u2019ve been here for far more than 5 days! Getting to … Continue reading <\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a>