3 things I have to share

1) We are currently collecting data on jaguar tracks in the hopes of gaining insight into the size of the Jalova jaguar population and dynamics. We have new software we are using that was originally used to track tigers in India. AWESOME. Already we are getting good data and hope that by the end of this phase we can identify individual jags. Additionally, we have motion detector cameras that we setup around jag hotspots to get pictures (you can also Identify jaguars by their roseate patterns). The very first night we put out our new cameras to be tested, we got an amazing few images of a possibly pregnant female, which was so amazing. Even cooler still is that the pictures were captured at 730 in the morning, and were retrieved by the team at 9am! They were only 1 1/2 hours away from seeing the jag!

2)I drink coffee now. This is a miracle. I have always been repulsed by coffee or anything that tastes remotely like it. However, once I relized how early I would be getting up, and how supposedly good the coffee is in Costa Rica I decided that I would start drinking it. Amazingly, I forced my way through the first cup with less difficulty and gagging than i thought. Since then I may have even begun to enjoy it! Ofcourse loads of sugar and milk are involved, but I am getting there!

3) I was stung by a scorpion. I repeat, stung by a scorpion! But fortunately there are no deadly species in Costa Rica. I made the mistake of picking up a branch during trail clearing without my gloves and I sure paid for it. As I grabbed the branch to move it off the trail, I felt a strong sting on the tip of my finger that felt unlike any bee sting or ant/spider bite I've had. The throbbing/painfully numb sensation quickly spread up my arm and even into my chest while my finger felt as if someone was continuously pricking me with a needle. This carried on for the next 12 hours with some degree of flucutation between bareable and I think my arm is going to fall off! After brainstorming what could have possibly stung me (there was only a pin prick at the site and no swelling, and i have strong reactions to bees) and hearing from other staff who had been stung by scorpions, that is how we made the decision. Always look before you touch!

A scorpion I saw in Nicaragua (Not the dude that stung me)