Images

White-nose syndrome has been detected in Washington. USGS scientist are helping the NPS design and evaluate bat sampling protocols for their Pacific Northwest parks.

A remnant beaver pond that was excavated and deepened to provide aquatic habitat for amphibians including the Oregon spotted frog. Five years post-construction, the excavation project has resulted in more consistent water retention during drought in the Klamath Basin.

Two adult bald eagles look on while two younger bald eagles fight. The eagle on top is a juvenile bald eagle and the one on the bottom is a Basic IV.

This adult female bald eagle is named "Relish." She was banded #57 and fitted with a GPS transmitter in January 2019 as part of the Raptor View Research Institute's bird-lead study. She nested near the Great Slave Lake in the NW Territories, Canada in the Summer of 2019. Her transmitter stopped sending location data in May 2020.

Vertical drop of upper falls at Lake Creek Falls, Oregon, with entry to Denil-style fish ladder visible in background.

Middle falls at Lake Creek Falls, consisting of bedrock sheet flow and a vertical drop. Entry to the Denil-style fish ladder is visible in foreground.

Boise State University Master’s student Kristina Parker uses a syringe to collect blood from a Great Basin rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus lutosus). The blood’s ribonucleic acid, or RNA will be analyzed to track genetic change in the snake from habitat disturbances. RNA, along with deoxyribonucleic acid – or DNA, are the molecules that carry genetic information.

Boise State University Master’s student Kristina Parker and a volunteer use snake tongs to catch and hold down a rattlesnake.

A Great Basin rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus lutosus) is coaxed into a plastic tube. This plastic tube allows researchers to safely handle the rattlesnake during biological sample collection.

Great Basin rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus lutosus) held by snake tongs. The Great Basin rattlesnake is the only venomous snake in Idaho.

Boise State University Master’s student Kristina Parker carries a Great Basin rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus lutosus). The snake’s head is enclosed in a plastic tube to allow her to safely handle it during the biological sample collection process.

A USGS Hydrologic Technician collects eDNA samples alongside a stream in the Nevada wilderness

Sue Phillips headshot

A stream runs through a meadow with wildflowers in the Pacific Northwest. The stream was photographed during stream permanence surveys.

A stream photographed during stream surveys in Washington State. Researchers monitor stream permanence using a mobile app named FLOwPER.

Looking down a fuel break treatment boundary, the area along the road (visible to the left) has been mowed to reduce shrub fuel and maintain safe road access for firefighters.

USGS researchers are studying how enhancing moss growth may lead to improved practices to restore soil biocrusts. 

Malheur Lake, a saline lake in eastern Oregon, photographed from a USGS airboat. USGS has been monitoring water quality parameters including temperature, turbidity, and pH in the lake since 2017.

Experimental site in the Snake River Plain in southwest Idaho three years post-herbicide treatment. The plot towards the lower left of the image was not treated with herbicide. The plot towards the upper right was treated with the pre-emergent herbicide imazapic and is free of cheatgrass. This is one of the longest-lasting imazapic treatments recorded.

Scientists collect carcasses at a wind energy facility to estimate total wildlife mortality at a site.

Original photos by P. Cryan (wind farm) and M. Huso (solar power tower), USGS. Blended photo created by S. Kemp, USGS.