March 2023 - 41

most about, considering the little guys also
is advocating for the state's natural and
cultural heritage.
" Would you want to tell your
grandchildren, 'There was this species out
there I saw, but you won't be able to see?' "
Walker said.
Many of them are either not doing well,
or there's so little data on them that biologists
aren't sure of their status. It's partly why the
state created a list of Species of Greatest
Conservation Need, which is largely filled
with animals that exist in relative anonymity.
Species like the shovelnose sturgeon that
looks like a dinosaur, the American pika
that builds complex, layered haystacks for
themselves to eat all winter and the yellowbilled
cuckoo that sometimes sneaks into
other birds' nests and lays eggs.
Researchers like Walker, Chalfoun and
others across the state have spent their careers
trying to understand these critters better,
and during their studies they realized many
lesser-known beings are infinitely fascinating.
Walker and Chalfoun offered their favorites.
You may have heard of some of these.
Hopefully at least a few will surprise you.
LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE
This bird is slightly smaller than a robin
with the attitude of a golden eagle. Its vicious,
pointy beak and sharp claws aren't for cracking
seeds or nibbling insects like many songbirds.
These birds use their pointed beaks to snatch
sunning lizards from rocks, grasshoppers out
of sagebrush and even other songbirds and
their eggs. But what makes the shrike most
remarkable is less its carnivorous palette
and more its propensity to impale prey on
anything sharp from sticks to barbed wire.
" Some think it's to save the prey for later, "
Chalfoun said. " But I think it's to mark the
territory or impress a female. "
They live in the sagebrush steppe of
western Wyoming and nest along washes
lined with tall, tree-like sagebrush. Their
populations are experiencing major declines
in the Midwest and East - losses up to
10 percent each year. Wyoming researchers
haven't looked closely at the state's
populations until now.
Chalfoun's team from UW is beginning
to net them and other songbirds to gain
clarity on where they live, what they need,
and what, if anything, we can do to help.
Loggerhead shrike are small, but are equipped to feed on lizards, grasshoppers, songbirds and their eggs.
(Photo by Tim Christie)
The northern flying squirrel doesn't fly. It glides using its arms and legs outstretched. (Adobe Stock Photo)
NORTHERN
FLYING SQUIRREL
A flying squirrel doesn't really fly, but it
glides with its arms and legs outstretched -
its wide tail acting like a rudder. Think of its
flight less as a hang glider and more as a way
to greatly extend an already-impressive jump,
Walker said. A flap of skin called a patagia
connects the squirrel's wrists and ankles to
help it glide upwards of 65 feet and sometimes
farther.
Wyoming Wildlife | 41

March 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of March 2023

March 2023 - 1
March 2023 - 2
March 2023 - 3
March 2023 - 4
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