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#FieldworkFriday: Field Research Preparations – Bricks and traps

Bricks and traps.  For those more verse with Urban Dictionary, you’d think I was dealing in contraband, but nope. I was doing the necessary work to expand my field sites this year.

This article was published in Scientific American’s former blog network and reflects the views of the author, not necessarily those of Scientific American


Bricks and traps. For those more verse with Urban Dictionary, you'd think I was dealing in contraband, but nope. I was doing the necessary work to expand my field sites this year.

Instead of flags, I use these large bricks with painted numbers and letters to designate the coordinates of the trap station.

It's a lot of bricks, but bricks last much longer than puny flags and they stay put better.


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The grid marker bricks were still in place from last year, even after the area had grown over and mowed over.

I have a lot of bricks to paint.
Assembling the live traps.
Assembling these traps can get a little sticky!
But it is fun!

Thanks to my friend C. Wandolo for taking these pictures of me as I worked so diligently. LOL

DNLee is a biologist and she studies animal behavior, mammalogy, and ecology . She uses social media, informal experiential science experiences, and draws from hip hop culture to share science with general audiences, particularly under-served groups.

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