The funny Desert smell.

There is a distinct smell in the desert, that only comes out on certain occasions.  Most people associate this funny smell with something they long for in the desert... Rain!  The creosote bush is a long living desert plant that inhabits the desert south west.  Most creosote bushes can live to be over 100 years old (some in the Mohave and Sonora desert are over 10,000 years old!) and as adult plants are very drought resistant.  One way creosote is able to live in arid regions is it has a waxy resin on the outside of it's leaves to prevent water loss as well as keep animals from eating it.  When it rains these resins are volatilized and give off a very distinct smell, which most people here refer to as the smell of rain.  Creosote is very common here so the smell encompasses everything.  It smells a bit like water on fresh asphalt to me but I am adjusting to enjoying the smell like a local. 

Tonight, it started raining about 9:30 and the smell of creosote quickly emerged.  Tomorrow morning the smell will linger on until the water is evaporated off by the hot desert sun. 

 A picture of creosote I found online... I am going to have to take my own better picture and add it.  On my To Do list.

The plant also has some medicinal uses such as, steam from the leaves was inhaled to relieve congestion.  Tea made from the leaves is said to cure such ailments as flu, stomach cramps, cancer, coughs, colds, and others.  Today the FDA discourages the use of creosote.

For now I am learning to appreciate the smell of creosote and enjoy the association with rain.  When it rains here, it floods and not much of the rain soaks into the soil.  Wildlife here has been very stressed due to the drought.  There are many desert springs in the area but many have dried up and need the rain recharge. 

Another stress to the water supply is us.  We as humans pump water from the underground bolsons that also deplete the natural springs.  Today, while doing some research I found this cool Water Footprint Calculator done by National Geographic.  Try out this fun test!  I think I am going to put together something like this for participants in our Internet Cafe in the Water Utilities Building at the El Paso Zoo.  That way kids and adults can come in and find out their Water Footprint and ways to reduce it!

Here is one of the sample questions: A gallon (16 cups) of milk—from a cow—requires 880 gallons of water to produce. The average American consumes a cup of milk a day.  How many cups of milk do you drink a day? 

But for now... stop and smell the creosote!


SMELL!

Bike to the Zoo!

When I moved to El Paso I decided I really wanted to practice what I preach and push myself to do one more thing to help the environment.  I want to commit to ride my bike to work at least one day a week.

I made my first commute on Sunday July 24, 2011!  It is about a 20 mile round trip, with the first 10 to the zoo mostly downhill and the second 10 back uphill.  That works out good as I don't want to be too exhausted by the time I get to work.  I live on the West side of El Paso, and therefore have to cross I-10 and go through downtown to arrive at the zoo.  I have chosen Sundays as my bike commute day for one reason: lower traffic.  The first commute was really awesome in the morning.  It was cool, hardly any traffic and relatively peaceful.  The way home was hotter, uphill and exhausting!! I stopped and got a diet coke and chocolate bar halfway home to cheer myself up.  :)

 

On my way home.  In the distance is downtown.  I just pedaled slowly up this climb and turned the other way (next picture) to see it is not over yet.  Luckily there is a hospital right where I am standing. 

 

Continuing my uphill climb home. 

One gallon of gas when used as fuel produces about 19.4 pounds of Carbon Dioxide.  So if I estimate my car takes 0.85 gallons of gas for my daily commute:


Carbon Dioxide savings: 19.4 (pounds of CO2) x 0.85gallons of gas = 16.49 pounds of carbon dioxide saved x 4 weeks = 65.96 pounds of CO2 per week saved or 791.51 pounds of CO2 saved per year!
 
Money savings:  at $3.50per gallon x 0.85 gallons = $2.975/day x 4 (number of times I will do it a month) = $11.90/month or $142.80 per year of savings! 

They say that riding your bike everyday rather than once a week is better for you as a person.  Their argument is, it is easier to just get in a habit and the hills don't even bother you anymore.  I am not sure how I feel about this as my first day was HARD!

Here is some more interesting info to inspire you to get out and ride your bike or walk:
- motor vehicle emissions are responsible for 31 % of total carbon dioxide, 81% of carbon monoxide and 49% of nitrogen oxides released in the U.S.
- short car trips (less than 5 miles) are much more polluting than longer trips on a per-mile basis 60% of emissions is released during the first few minutes of operating a vehicle.
- a 130 pound cyclist burns 402 calories while pedaling 14mph in one hour.
- a 180 pound cyclist burns 540 calories while pedaling 14mph in one hour.

The El Paso city voted 7-1 to ticket all drivers who crowd out walkers, runners, cyclists and people using wheelchairs just recently.  Basically, a car HAS to move over into another lane if you are riding on the shoulder.  I honked my cute horn at several cars that did not obey this law.  Maybe I should start remembering license plate numbers!  Although, several cars did obey and moved over.  The overall problem is speed though.  If they would just slow down I would feel a lot safer.  My dream: an entire bike lane or a separate bike trail would be AMAZING .   If you would like to read about El Paso cyclists responding to the bike ordinance click here.  Or to read about the local bicycle groups check out these organizations:  El Paso Bicycle Club,  Borderland Mountain Bike Association (I ride a mountain bike for my commute) and GeoBetty (a great resource for hiking and biking trails). 

All in all, I have an opportunity to make a personal small difference and bike to work at least one time a week.  It is something small and satisfying.  "Do a little, change a lot."  Also - if I am too exhausted the buses in El Paso are completely run on Biodiesel and all have bike racks!  Way to go SunMetro!

A good idea for a post bike meal!  A semi home made pizza.  You can buy 20 balls of frozen pizza dough from sam's club for $15.  The dough is great to roll out and make pizza, breads, fried dough, etc.

BIKE

An elephant experience.

On Sunday,  I had the unique opportunity to go behind the scenes with the Asian Elephants. This opportunity is open to the public (at a fee) so register and come along with me for this once in a lifetime experience! Click here for more information and to register.  There are no pictures allowed in the behind the scenes of the zoo so I will try to describe this all as best as possible. 

The elephants have three main areas at the El Paso Zoo.  The main exhibit, a training yard and their night house.  We started off in the night house and as we walked in two zookeepers were working with one elephant, Savannah.  The elephants are in their enclosure and the keepers can train and work with them from the safety of the outside of the enclosure.  Keepers use a target pole (a styrofoam buey on a stick) as an item the animals have to touch to get them to move and shift their bodies in certain ways.  A whistle (usually high pitched) is used as a bridge to make the animal aware that they are doing the correct behavior and positive reinforcement (a treat) is on its way.  This is a common practice used to train animals all over the world.

The keepers were working with Savannah, an 8,000 pound female Asian elephant, having her display different behaviors such as opening her mouth so they can look at her teeth, raising her legs so they can file her finger nails and maneuvering her around the enclosure to wash her entire body.  This training makes life less stressful for the animals during veterinary procedures as well as keeps their brains active.  Keepers can also monitor the health of the animals by making sure they can complete all the movements without any pain.

Even though Savannah is one of the oldest living Asian elephants in zoos she is still learning new things.  About a month ago the trainers were able to teach her how to lay down.  It is amazing to see such a large animal lay down right in front of you.  Elephants, along with all animals, have their own personalities and are also moody.  Sometimes they want to work and sometimes they don't.  The elephants at the El Paso Zoo are never forced to do anything they don't want to, they can always walk away.  But most of the time they want to participate because of the tasty treats they get!  The keepers even joked their snacks taste great with milk. (ha)  I was able to give Savannah one of her treats with my hands and loved how her trunk opened up and smothered my hand to pick up the treat. We were also allowed the chance to touch the elephant to feel what their skin is like.  Rough, hairy, very leathery and thick are a few words to describe their skin.  Basically not what you would think!

After Savannah was done with her training, they opened the huge elephant sized doors to move her over and move Juno in to start her training.  Juno came from the Ringling Brothers Circus and has ear piercings to prove it.  As I look at her, I can only imagine the stories she could tell us.  When she arrived at the zoo in early 2000s she was wary and angry at people but over time due to her caring and amazing keepers she has become more comfortable.  Juno also demonstrated some of her training she has learned as the keepers told us more about her and her moody personality. 

After our elephant encounter we explored their outdoor exhibit and all of the enrichment items hidden throughout for the elephants to discover and figure out.  The elephants usually have access to their inside and outside exhibits at night.  Since they weigh so much they only lay down for a few hours at a time and utilize sand mounds placed in their exhibits to lean up against.  This makes it easier for them to get up, and since Savannah and Juno are old ladies, it helps them out immensely.  The keepers also told us that they snore!

Also, everyday at 12pm the zoo hosts an Elephant presentation at the training yard where you can learn about elephants and watch some of their behavioral enrichment training with a zookeeper.

The same day,  I caught a glimpse of the two Malaysian Tapirs taking a dip in the pool!  Tapirs are unique looking herbivorous mammals with long noses, I did manage to capture a few pictures of them with my phone.  The male was following the female all around the exhibit and as they spent some time under water I looked a little closer and realized there was a horse fly they were escaping from!  Take a look at the silly pictures:

 

I love this picture!  Reminds me of being a kid. 

To learn more about Malaysian Tapirs visit their fact sheet here.


Opportunities.

Volunteer Training.

This past weekend at the zoo was volunteer training for anyone interested in becoming a volunteer at the zoo.  It was two days of informal information on all the possible departments in the zoo to help out with.  That means they heard from zookeepers, horticulture, security, previous volunteers and of course the education staff.  The volunteer training is very informative on the animals in the zoo as well as a an inspiring learning experience.  In line with my duties, I gave a presentation on the El Paso Water Utilities Discovery Center and all about water.  I started off my presentation with the first slide asking a simple question: How long can you live without water?  Do you know?

The answer and the best way to remember it is to think in three's.  You can live about three minutes without oxygen, three days without water and three weeks without food.  The discovery center at the zoo is a collaboration between the El Paso Water Utilities and the El Paso Zoo.  The building hosts several fun, interactive exhibits that inform kids and adults about how much water they use every day and where it comes from.  As I continued my presentation I continued to share some shocking statistics:

- On average, it takes 5 gallons of water to flush a toilet.  
- The average El Pasoan, uses 111 gallons of water per day. Some cities around the country use over 500 gallons of water per person per day. 
- The water we drink in El Paso comes from three sources: the Rio Grande and two underground aquifers the Mesilla Bolson and Hueco Bolson.  It depends on the time of year and water conditions where the water is coming from.
- About 70 percent of water use in the U.S. goes to agriculture processes.
- Eating a quarter pound hamburger uses about 8 gallons of water to prepare. 

I along with several other presenters shared their story of our journey to where we are today.  All of us hopefully inspired everyone to follow their dreams and never give up.  I was inspired by my co-workers stories, several that started off as volunteers at the zoo.  Others, that were not hired the first time and kept applying until they were.  I feel fortunate to work in an environment where everyone wants to continue to learn and strives to do the best job possible.   When volunteers come to the zoo they gain so much just from the interactions with all the people working to make the zoo a quality destination.  And what a great resource to be a part of with so many departments to be involved with there is something for everyone!

A volunteer assists an El Paso Zoo Education Specialist, Antonia, during a daily Sea Lion Presentation on behavioral enrichment and training.  

During the sea lion presentation they also explain the importance of eating sustainable seafood and hand out a seafood watch card made by the Monterey Bay Aquarium.  You can actually download your own seafood watch card here or they have an APP - click here.   Oceans are affected by human activities around the world and oceans supply millions of people with food.   About 90 percent of large predatory fish such as shark,  swordfish and cod have been removed from our oceans.  With the advance of technology people have been able to reach deeper limits, remove more quantities and are destroying more of the ocean floor and habitats.  Although farming seems like a good alternative the ecological impact of fish farming depends on the species chosen, where the farm is located, and how they are raised.  So for easy reference use your seafood watch card or app.  

Actually I went to the grocery store the other day and the man behind the counter was extremely helpful and helped me find some yumtastic enviro-friendly seafood!  Ask questions, it will help. 

To learn how to become a volunteer at the El Paso Zoo click here. 

Volunteer.

        

El Paso is beautiful.

Yes, you heard me right.  El Paso is beautiful.  It's all about perspective. 

The Chihuahuan Desert offers sandy valleys with a backdrop of rocky mountains and the occasional oasis.  We recently had a chance to visit two spectacular and easy to access outdoor areas, the Wyler Aerial Tramway and McKelligon Canyon both located in the Franklin Mountains about 10 minutes from downtown El Paso.  The tramway is $7 per person to ride a tram to about 5,500 feet or bring your hiking boots and lots of water and hike up for free.  This time we chose to ride.  The view was amazing and included El Paso, Mexico, New Mexico, Fort Bliss, the Rio Grande, and everything in between.  The ride only takes four minutes to the top where there is a gift shop and plenty of viewing areas.  Next time, pack a lunch and have a picnic up high!

 A view of Fort Bliss, El Paso airport, and the east side of El Paso.

  Downtown El Paso and in the distance is Juarez, Mexico.

 David looking out into New Mexico.  Bring quarters to use these! 

The tram hanging and moving at a blistering 8mph.  It feels fast though!

Located about two minutes from the tramway is McKelligon Canyon.  We arrived at the canyon late (about 6:30pm) to meet a friend to do some climbing.  The canyon has some amazing walls to climb, but due to the time we chose the closest one.  As the sun went down the canyon got dark very fast and next thing we knew we had to hike out in the dark!  But I was prepared and brought a headlamp and boy did it pay off because I SAW A RINGTAIL!  Yes, I did my masters research mainly on ringtails so I have held them, caught them, etc etc but it has been a long time since I have seen one and they are the cutest and coolest animal ever!  Ringtails are in the same family as raccoons but very different.  They are extremely agile and inhabit steep cliff faces denning in cracks and crevices and weigh less than five pounds.  I will dig around my old computer files and find my ringtail pictures and post them soon. 

 David completing his first lead climb!  Climb on!

 The sunset was beautiful.  It was a great time of day to be in the canyon.  A cool 95 degrees at 10pm too.

 McKelligon Canyon offers camping, climbing, and hiking/biking trails.  They also put on a play of the history of the area in the amphitheater shown.

 D-Ray rappelling down at dusk. 

You can tell it is getting DARK!  The gate closes at 10pm so we had to rush to make it out before we were locked in.

Oh and one more tidbit of info:  Franklin Mountains State Park is the largest urban park in the nation! 


Perspective.

Take Action.

It has been about a week since I last posted and I have been busy!  Everyone at the zoo has been very helpful and I continue to learn everyday.  There are over 200 species of animals at the El Paso Zoo and every individual has their own personality.  They all serve as ambassadors for their animal counter parts in the wild and when a visitor catches a glimpse into the personality of one of the animals, it makes a huge impact.  The Education Specialists in collaboration with the animals and zookeepers, give creative and informative programs every day and encourage people to take their message home and take action in any way they can.

Savannah and Juno, two Asian elephants, explore their habitat looking for enrichment items hidden by their keepers. 

There are so many opportunities to make a difference in your everyday life but one of the initiatives the El Paso Zoo takes part in is the palm oil crisis.  In short, palm oil is used in so many products from food, candy, soap and is found in about half the items in the grocery store.  Palm forests are cut down destroying animal's habitats but also vast areas of tropical rainforests are cut down in order to grow palm oil.  In Kalimantan it is estimated that an area the size of three football pitches is cleared every minute.  Ok but I won't go on and on about it, if you would like to read more or see some pictures of the devastation click here or here or here.  Or watch this two minute video on the crisis here.  To make a difference all you have to do is read the back of labels and make sure the products you purchase DO NOT have palm oil in them.  Simple right?  If you watch Juno and Savannah (two female Asian Elephants on exhibit at the El Paso Zoo) conduct their enrichment training for zoo visitors, it is almost as if they know the people watching can help their friends in the wild. 

 Impact.

Checking out the Scene.

Every town around the world has something to offer and it's your job to get out there and find out what.  Check out the newspapers, listen to the radio, get on the internet and start reading.  Twitter and Facebook are excellent sources to keep up with and find out what's going on around the city.  And of course, pester people that live there to show you the ropes!  (Thanks Jeremy, Arielle, and D-Ray!)

One thing I have mentioned in previous posts is how close El Paso is to Mexico.  My commute to work every day has changed from a two lane road alongside green pastures and rolling hills into an eight lane highway on the border of Mexico and the US.  I love the exit off of I-10 to the zoo, the options are literally 1. go to mexico and pass border control or 2. road to the zoo.  I can't stress enough it is very safe in El Paso even right on the border, no need to worry.  I did take a picture exiting I-10:

 Border crossing is about 200 yards from this sign and the entrance to the zoo is about 300 yards. 

On Thursday night we heard on the radio that Fort Bliss, the military base in El Paso, was hosting the Eli Young Band for FREE.  The free concerts are part of their marketing to encourage people to check out the new Freedom Crossing, an area with lots of shops and restaurants on the military base.  To get on the base we only needed our ID and proof of vehicle registration.  The concert venue was sweet: a great stage, grass seating and restaurants all around.

 

Eli Young Band at Fort Bliss.  Free.

Las Cruces, New Mexico is about 45 minutes away which means the best sopapilla of my life is 45 minutes away.  We knew "Si Senor" would be good when we couldn't find a parking spot!  The drive up into the mountains was beautiful right at sunset.  It was an impromptu trip, therefore I need some more time to report much on Las Cruces.

 The Franklin Mountains off of I-10 on the way to Las Cruces, New Mexico.

We had the chance to hang out with my friends from graduate school (Jeremy and Arielle) and visited the Ardovinos Desert Crossing (farmers market) and played frisbee golf on the East side of town.  The course may not be the best but it was great for us!  Make sure you get their early because the park is a recreation area used for fiestas.  Every park fiesta must have one of those big blow up jump on things for the kids.  Not easy to throw a frisbee around a fiesta.  The farmers market was small but cute and the stone oven for the restaurant there was Amazing.  Pictures below.

 Ardovinos Desert Crossing Farmers Market.  

The stone oven at Ardovinos.  The materials were shipped in from Italy.  Yes, I would like to try a pizza cooked in this!

Frisbee golf party!

Sunday morning 6:15am alarm = Do not like!  But, well worth it.  When you live in the desert to avoid the heat and baking sun you have to get up early to do anything outside.  A friend and well experienced climber (D-Ray) took us on our first climbing in El Paso.  Sneeds is part of the Franklin Mountain State Park and located about 15 minutes from our house.  The rock is granite and challenging.  David and D-ray easily shimmied up to the top while I enjoyed the birds, lizards and scenery.  We also hiked up to the Aztec caves and saw LOTS of lizards!  It was a short, steep and beautiful hike.  We will definitely do more exploring of the Franklin Mountains.  After the hike we fully enjoyed Torro Burger, a local burger joint with my favorite, sweet potato fries!

Let's climb!

 

 Collared lizard.  So cute.

 

Climb on David. 

 

The Aztec Caves at the Franklin Mountains State Park. 

 

Where's David? 

Guess who?

OUTSIDE!