Elk Park and Badger Gulch - June 2025

Eric and I released Rhinusa pilosa in the grids and retrieved images from the trail cameras.

Weather

⛅ Mid 80ss, mostly sunny. Started to get real toasty as the day went on.

Eric and I drove out to Elk Park and Badger Gulch to retrieve trail camera images and release Rhinusa pilosa in both the control and exclosure grids at both sites. We planned to release at Hog Hollow as well but the gate leading to the site was locked. I am going to go back out tomorrow morning and meet up with our Forest Service contact to get through the gate.

Elk Park

Eric holding a Rhinusa pilosa release bucket

A gall from a previous year

We found a gall!

Eric looking for galls in the exclosure

Released Rhinusa pilosa

Trail Camera Images

Morning visitor at the control grid

Ground squirrel (bottom left)

Badger Gulch

Yellow toadflax starting to get pretty big

Eric releasing insects into the control plot

Released Rhinusa pilosa

Found some mecinus janthinus on the yellow toadflax

Nearby Dalmatian toadflax

Evidence of possible herbivory by Mecinus janthiniformis on the nearby Dalmatian toadflax

Trail camera images

A cyote visits the control grid

Morning elk at control grid

Deer passing the exclosure