The Wyoming Biodiversity Minute

"Wyoming is known as a headwater state. Headwaters are common due to the mountainous landscape. 70% of Wyoming’s surface water originates as snowmelt, giving life to streams and rivers in the region. On average Wyoming’s precipitation accounts for 16.3 million acre-feet of surface water. This alone can fill around 8 million Olympic sized swimming pools."

"This episode of the WyoBio Minute introduces you to the Clark's Nutcracker, sometimes referred to as Clark's crow or woodpecker crow. Living high in the mountains of the West, gray-and-black Clark’s Nutcrackers dart among aging pine trees, flashing white in the tail and wing."

"This WyoBio Minute was written and narrated by Sara Kirkpatrick. During this time of year a drive through the mountains is colored with the vibrant colors of aspen leaves. The aspen is one of the most widespread tree species in North America."

"The elk or wapiti, is one of the largest species with the deer family, Cervidae. Elk typically inhabit forest and forest edge habitats. Elk are found natively in North America, and Eastern Asia."

"As winter approaches bears are heading into hibernation. Bears have developed adaptations to that allow them to be immobile for 5-7 months without getting sick. The polar bear is one species that is being studied for this reason."

"As winter approaches we may look up to the sky and find geese flying in a V formation, a hallmark of migration season. For centuries scientists have attempted to understand bird migration."

"It’s a sunny day in spring, and you’re driving down a highway. You look out your window and you see a herd of pronghorn keeping pace with you. The whole herd is pushing 60, and they don’t even look winded."

"Wyoming winters can be harsh. Although many animals are hibernating or have left for warmer places, each year and entirely new world is born beneath the snow. Specifically in the subnivean, an area in and underneath the snow pack."

"One of Wyoming’s most showy wildflowers was lost for 140 years. A striking plant, blowout penstemon has large, scented, pink flowers, and turquoise green leaves. Its most unusual feature is its proclivity for sand—it grows only in active sand dunes, hence the name “blowout.”"

"What do pack rats and botanists have in common? Both collect plants, and both have played important roles in understanding what the vegetation of Wyoming was like in the past."

"Wyoming’s all time low temperature was -63°F recorded in 1933 in Moran. So it may not surprise you that Wyoming insects have some truly improbable methods for dealing with cold. Although freezing would be a death sentence for most creatures, for the mourning cloak butterfly, it’s a way of life."

"Tis the season for food and cheer and many other holiday traditions. Wyoming bird watchers take part in a unique holiday tradition. The Christmas Bird Count."

"Catamount, painter, panther, lion, and cougar are just a few of the common names for the Mountain Lion but scientists the world over call this member of the cat family "Puma concolor"."

"Wyoming is home to one of the largest waterfowl in North America the Trumpeter Swan. Trumpeters can measure 6 feet long and weigh up to 25 pounds. They are easily identified by their long neck, snowy-white plumage and black bill."

"Mountain Lions are usually associated with the mountainous west, including Wyoming. But this story takes us to the east coast. Connecticut to be exact, where in June 2011 a male mountain lion was struck and killed by a motorist."

"Last week we talked about mammal dispersal. We told the story of a male mountain lion that had travelled 1500 away from home and ended up in Connecticut. But mountain lions are not the only North American mammal that can travel great distances. In 2009 a male wolverine called M56 travelled 500 miles from northern Wyoming to Colorado"

"The American Pika is an alpine member of the rabbit family. It has a small round body with peppery fur, rounded ears and a stubby tail. They live at elevations between 6,000 and 13,000 feet and prefer environments with large rocks."

"It’s spring in Wyoming, and you’re walking home on a chilly, rainy night. To your surprise, on the sidewalk in front of you is a squirming black and yellow creature. What is going on here?"

"Vampires evoke dreams of cool nights and warm blood. For the vampire bat these dreams are reality. These nocturnal denizens of the tropics acquire their liquid nourishment from other mammals and birds. "

"Vertebrate bones are a treasure trove of information. From what an animal eats, to how they move, or how they died, scientists can extract myriad data from a skeleton."

"Wyoming is home to one of the world’s rarest plants, the desert yellowhead. This unusual plant defies all expectations—its shiny, dark green leaves contrast with the rough and rugged leaves of its neighbors on the wind-swept slopes of central Wyoming."