Searching for Bats

DWR Wildlife Technician Brandon Flack looks at the wing of a silver-haired bat on Antelope Island on Tuesday, May, 27, 2014. Biologists check the wing membrane of each bat for signs of disease or infection. (BENJAMIN ZACK/Standard-Examiner)

I recently went out with a group of biologists from Utah's Division of Wildlife Resources as they looked for bats on Antelope Island. Here are a few of my favorite photos from the evening and I also made a video that you can watch here.

DWR biologists and volunteers hang nets around a small pond on Antelope Island on Tuesday, May, 27, 2014. The fine nets, known as "mist nets" are thin enough that they are difficult for bats to see, but strong enough to hold the bats. (BENJAMIN ZACK/Standard-Examiner)

DWR Wildlife Conservation Biologist Adam Brewerton checks a bat detector while trapping bats on Antelope Island on Tuesday, May, 27, 2014. The small electronic device records bat calls and displays the rhythm and frequencies. By watching the changes in frequencies, biologists are able to tell which species of bats are nearby. (BENJAMIN ZACK/Standard-Examiner)

Searching for Bats Video

I recently spent some time with wildlife biologists out on Antelope Island as they were trapping and surveying bats. It was a great experience, especially since I used to spend my summers working on bat research projects while in college.

Watch the video below:

Bighorn Sheep

Earlier this week, wildlife biologists began trapping bighorn sheep at Antelope Island State Park in order to get a hand on overpopulation and to help establish a new herd in Central Utah. I went out on Tuesday to photograph the process. You can also see a video that I made from the day and more photos here. Enjoy.

Utah Department of of Wildlife Resources employees and volunteers from Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife weigh a bighorn sheep on Antelope Island on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2014. State wildlife officials are capturing and moving 30 sheep from the island to form a new herd in Central Utah. (BENJAMIN ZACK/Standard-Examiner)

Bighorn sheep are moved beneath a helicopter to the staging area on Antelope Island on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2014. The sheep are captured with a net gun fired from a helicopter. After they're netter, a person known as a "mugger" hops from the helicopter and restrains the sheep for transport. (BENJAMIN ZACK/Standard-Examiner)

Release the Pheasants

Last week, I went out with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources as they released pheasants at Salt Creek WMA just before the start of the hunting season. This year, Utah is drastically increasing the number of birds being released. I also shot a video which you can find here, along with an article and more photos. Enjoy some of the selects below.

Mason Asay, center, releases a pheasant at Salt Creek Waterfowl Management Area under the watch of Randy Berger, right, on Friday, Nov. 1, 2013. Berger, the wetland manager, released over 300 pheasants the day before the start of hunting season. (BENJAMIN ZACK/Standard-Examiner)

Wetland Manager Randy Berger examines the beak of a captive-bred pheasant before its release at Salt Creek WMA on Friday, Nov. 1, 2013. The bird was raised with blinders in order to keep it from attacking other pheasants. The blinders are an alternative to the old method of trimming beaks.  (BENJAMIN ZACK/Standard-Examiner)

Dustin Mitchell releases pheasant sat Salt Creek Waterfowl Management Area on Friday, Nov. 1, 2013. The release was the largest ever in the area. (BENJAMIN ZACK/Standard-Examiner)

Utah Coyote Bounty

I recently wrote an article on the coyote bounty program here in Utah. The state recently introduced a new predator control program to try and increase mule deer populations through the Mule Deer Protection Act. Through the act, hunters and trappers can get $50 for every coyote scalp that they turn in. You can read the article and view more photos here. A few of the images I shot for the story are below.

Troy Davis from the Utah DWR takes samples from the coyotes brought in during the coyote check-in at the Ogden DWR office on Thursday, Apr. 25, 2013. Hunters and trappers brought in everything from ears and jaws to full tanned hides. (BENJAMIN ZACK/Standard-Examiner)

Troy Davis from the Utah DWR removes a tooth from a coyote brought in during the Predator Control Program check-in at the Ogden DWR office on Thursday, Apr. 25, 2013. (BENJAMIN ZACK/Standard-Examiner)