Today (Day 11) was not my favorite day, but I still had a good time. We woke up extra early and did a little bird watching. There wasn’t much to see, but listening to their calls was really neat!

It wasn’t a great day for epiphytes 🙁 The only new spots I have to share with you are a few unidentified orchids. They all look the same to me without flowers! I’ll include photos anyway!

After breakfast, we designed an experiment using camera traps. They are cameras with motion sensors that biologists leave in the environment to try to capture photo evidence. We’re hoping to analyze the distributions of big cats and their prey. Hopefully we’ll get some good photos!

We spent the rest of the day setting out the camera traps. Before lunch, we set 6 traps out on a trail that had two extremely steep hills that I was not expecting. That was tough hiking! Also, half of our traps were placed off the path, and that added two additionally “Bonus Hills” (as Scott liked to call them).

We got back to the station more than an hour late for lunch, so we also got a late start for our afternoon hike. We set out 8 additional camera traps along one of the bigger trails. That was exhausting. Also, we got “turned around” while trying to find our way back to the path, so we spent 35 minutes tearing through dense jungle behind Scott and his machete. I was very nervous that the station staff would have to come rescue us because it was starting to get dark.

Five hours later, we returned to the station almost two hours late for dinner. I spotted a Bothrops asper, the most dangerous snake in Belize. It was just a small baby, but it’s still venomous. I almost stepped on it; it moved, so luckily I was able to jump over at the last second.

We’re all absolutely pooped, so Scott gave us the night off. No lectures!! As soon as I finish this blog, I’m going to pass out on my bed and try to get a full 8 hours of sleep (unheard of!). Scott promises that tomorrow’s adventures are less intense, and hopefully we’ll all be recharged for the fun!