9th Annual Meeting of CARCNET
Field Trips, Monday September 27, 2004

Tyrrell Museum & Reptile World (08:00 - 21:00)
Hosted by Ed Hofman, Alberta Fish and Wildlife Division

This all-day field trip to Drumheller, Alberta, will provide the participant with two uniquely different and exciting experiences. First, we will visit the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology to view numerous galleries and exhibits describing the vast diversity of life on the earth during prehistoric times. This journey through geological time begins several billion years ago, and ends in relatively recent times with the fossil record of only a few thousand years ago. Of particular interest will be the numerous dinosaur exhibits, and skeletal and fossil displays. Opened in1985, the Museum's mandate is to collect, conserve, research, display and interpret palaeontological history with special reference to Albert's fossil heritage.

From there we will proceed to Reptile World to view our living history of 85 species of reptiles and amphibians. Reptile World has the largest display of reptiles in Western Canada, attracting visitors from all over the world. Of particular interest will be the live displays of indigenous Canadian species such as the Prairie Rattlesnake and Western Hog-nosed Snake, as well as more exotic species such as the Gila Monster, American Alligator, Poison Dart Frogs and several species of pythons. This Tour will be of interest to anyone, regardless of experience or expertise.

Welcome to Slytherin! The Red-sided Garter Snake Hibernaculum (12:30 - 17:00)
Hosted by Lisa Priestley, Beaverhill Bird Observatory

Join Lisa Priestley of the Beaverhill Bird Observatory for a field trip to a Red-sided Garter Snake hibernaculum. This journey will take us about 40 minutes east of Edmonton to the Glory Hills, appropriately named for the high concentrations of Red-sided Garter Snakes. We will be viewing one of the largest known garter snake dens in Alberta (over 9000 snakes based on captures). It is located in a gravel pit area and is being protected by the landowner. Each spring, over 1000 people visit the site to watch the snakes as they move out from the den to breed and then disperse. From1998-2001, Lisa coordinated a relocation study of the garter snakes through the Alberta Conservation Association. We will be visiting the den that the snakes were taken from, and the den that the snakes were relocated to. A presentation on the largely volunteer-based study will talk about the methods used for this relocation study.

Please bring good walking shoes, a sweater or jacket, and pants. Cameras and video recorders are welcome. A snack and drink will be provided.

This trip is weather dependent. If it is raining or too cold, then we will be travelling to the Provincial Museum of Alberta, one of Canada's most popular museums. Exhibits at the Provincial Museum include: the Syncrude Gallery of Aboriginal Culture, Natural History Galleries (Bug Room, Treasures of the Earth, Bird Gallery, Dinosaurs), and the new Wild Alberta Display. Wild Alberta is a new museum experience leading visitors on a journey of discovery across, over, and even under, Alberta's diverse landscapes.