Grant Daniel
@gdwildlife
Wildlife biologist , herpetology specialist, you will find me in the field talking to a frog in a pond or a lizard on a rock.
Had a wonderful time last weekend working with some amazing scientists from SFSU doing mouse population and genetics surveys around the Bay Area. We were able to find several species including Peromyscus maniculatus, boylii, and truei. All mice caught and released alive. #wildlife #mammalogy #nature
For #WorldSnakeDay I offer up this recent picture of a beautiful Valley Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis fitchi). Helped this little one out of a work zone and off into some underbrush where it could be safe and continue on its day. Nature is beautiful. #snake #wildlife #nature #biology
It’s taken me years to get to this point. There were many times I doubted myself. But I am happy to say that I am finally able to be a paid biologist. The road is long but it’s the small steps that make it disappear without you realizing it. Here is my first step on the job and into the future.
Celebrating world frog day with a recent blurry photo (I’m bad at checking photos) of me at night with a California Red Legged Frog (Rana draytonii) from a wonderful recent training I had. All handling was done under supervision of a permitted person. www.lagunafoundation.org/biology_work...
What I thought when I first saw my professors publication page: Wow not as many as I would have thought but these are all so cool and detailed Now trying to write and publish my own paper: *frazzled* Speak to me of what fountain of eternal wisdom you must have found to publish so many you sorcerer
Had an awesome time doing work on Taricha granulosa (Rough-skinned Newt) and Taricha torosa (California Newt) last Sunday. Thank you to the ever amazing Kannon Pearson @taricha-rivularis.bsky.social for leading this and having me on to work on this research. The world is an amazing place.
Traveled to the lovely city of St. Paul Minnesota for the JMIH conference. Super excited for my first conference! #JMIH25
Need help ID’ing from my fellow herpetologists! Found this little one today. 11cm long 4mm wide. Black tongue. 5-6 labial scales. No keeled scales. Area: Sacramento, CA USA . Will post/comment what it is when we figure it out. Was released back to safety. Very feisty little bugger.
Today can be a hard day for many people. However since it is my birthday I’m going to require a present from everyone, and that is that I want you alive at this time next year to celebrate my birthday with me again. The world is a beautiful place and needs you in it. You being you makes it better.
An amazing day in the field catching Taricha torosa and Taricha granulosa under the supervision of the wonderful @taricha-rivularis.bsky.social . The newts were out taking advantage of the rain and were all over the ground. The world is an amazing place. ( T. torosa and P. regilla/sierra)
My wonderful but very hard hike this weekend off trail to an amazing hidden waterfall. The creek that feeds it used to flourish with newts and might be a new research opportunity. Also what is likely a Cougar (Puma concolor couguar) territory marker. Nature is my place of tranquility.
Late night snake post because why not. A beautiful specimen of Thamnophis sirtalis fitchi from this summer that was not happy that I found them under their rock.
This is fantastic! Here is a melanated T. elegans vargans I found in northern Idaho during my research this summer along with a normal morph I found a short distance away on the same day. One guess to the amount of avian predators in the area 😂. 🐍
Hello all biological friends! Hats are a hilariously debated topic in the field. Some refuse to have a day without their trusted headgear, while others walk around with that no hat confidence. What is your style or trusty dusty field head gear? (Head lamps acceptable). Here are my field partner(s).
Happy new year everyone! To celebrate have some pictures from my research this past summer. Elgaria coerulea, melanated Thamnophis elegans vargans, and Plestiodon skiltonianus. (Orange markings were temporary paint for capture mark recapture.)