NARRATOR: PRESENTATION OF

DIALOGUE 4 KIDS ON IDAHO

PUBLIC TELEVISION IS MADE

POSSIBLE THROUGH THE

GENEROUS SUPPORT OF THE

LAURA MOORE CUNNINGHAM

FOUNDATION-COMMITTED TO

FULFILLING THE MOORE'S

FAMILY LEGACY OF HELPING

BUILD THE GREAT STATE OF

IDAHO.

(MUSIC)

JOAN CARTAN HANSEN: COMING

UP SNAKES AND CACTUS,

COYOTES AND ROADRUNNERS;

THAT'S WHAT WE USUALLY

THINK OF WHEN WE THINK OF

THE DESERT; BUT REALLY

DESERTS SUPPORT A LOT OF

DIFFERENT ANIMALS AND

UNUSUAL PLANTS.

IF YOU WANT TO LEARN MORE,

STAY TUNED DIALOGUE 4 KIDS

IS NEXT.

(MUSIC)

HANSEN: THANKS FOR JOINING

US HERE ON IDAHO PUBLIC

TELEVISION AND ON THE

WORLDWIDE WEB.

THE DESERT IS LAND OF

EXTREMES; EXTREME HEAT AND

EXTREME DRYNESS, SUDDEN

FLASH FLOODS AND COLD

NIGHTS.

BECAUSE DESERTS CONTAIN

SUCH A HARSH ENVIRONMENT,

MANY PEOPLE VIEW THEM AS

UNFORGIVING OR LIFELESS;

BUT DESERTS HAVE THEIR OWN

HAUNTING BEAUTY.

HANSEN: THERE ARE TWO MAIN

TYPES OF DESERTS, WARM

DESERTS AND COLD DESERTS.

WARM DESERTS, LIKE THIS

ONE IN ARIZONA, GET WHAT

LITTLE MOISTURE THEY

RECEIVE IN THE FORM OF

RAIN IN THE SUMMER AND

FALL.

WHILE COLD DESERTS GETS

MOISTURE IN THE FORM OF

SNOW IN WINTER.

IDAHO'S DESERTS ARE

CONSIDERED COLD DESERTS.

THEY'RE ALSO CALLED HIGH

DESERTS, BECAUSE THEY

EXIST AT HIGHER ALTITUDES,

BUT EVEN THE WETTEST

DESERTS GET LESS THAN TEN

INCHES OF MOISTURE EACH

YEAR.

THIS LACK OF WATER FORCES

PLANTS AND ANIMALS TO

ADAPT TO DESERT LIFE IN

SOME UNIQUE WAYS; PLANTS

THAT HAVE ADAPTED BY

ALTERING THEIR PHYSICAL

STRUCTURE ARE CALLED

XEROPHYTES.

XEROPHYTES, SUCH AS CACTI,

USUALLY HAVE A SPECIAL WAY

OF STORING AND CONSERVING

WATER, A CACTUS STORES

WATER IN ITS FAT STEM.

MANY OTHER DESERT TREES

AND SHRUBS HAVE ADAPTED BY

REDUCING THE SIZE OF THEIR

LEAVES, TO ELIMINATE

TRANSPIRATION, OR THE LOSS

OF WATER TO THE AIR, AND

SOME PLANTS, LIKE

SAGEBRUSH, ALSO HAVE

MINIATURE HAIRS ON THEIR

LEAVES TO HELP FURTHER

CONSERVE MOISTURE.

WILDLIFE TOO, MUST ADAPT

TO THIS CHALLENGING

ENVIRONMENT, AND DESERT

ANIMALS HAVE AN ADDITIONAL

PROBLEM, THEY'RE MORE

SUSCEPTIBLE TO TEMPERATURE

EXTREMES THAN PLANTS.

FORTUNATELY, MOST DESERT

ANIMALS HAVE DEVELOPED

WAYS TO SOLVE HEAT AND

WATER PROBLEMS.

MANY ANIMALS, ESPECIALLY

MAMMALS AND REPTILES,

AVOID THE HEAT OF MID DAY,

AND ONLY BECOME ACTIVE AT

DUSK AND DAWN.

THESE ANIMALS ARE SAID TO

BE CREPUSCULAR.

A GOOD EXAMPLE OF

CREPUSCULAR IS THE

RATTLESNAKE.

(RATTLE) IN THE MIDDLE OF

THE DAY RATTLESNAKES CURL

UP UNDER COVER.

THEY HIDE IN POCKETS OF

COOL SHADE, HIDDEN UNDER

HOT DESERT ROCKS.

ONLY IN THE EARLY MORNINGS

OR LATE AFTERNOONS WILL

RATTLESNAKES VENTURE

OUTSIDE.

FOR THIS REASON, HUMANS

SELDOM ENCOUNTER THEM.

SOME DESERT ANIMALS GO ONE

STEP FURTHER, AND ONLY

COME OUT IN THE COOL

TEMPERATURES OF THE DARK

NIGHT.

THESE ANIMALS ARE SAID TO

BE NOCTURNAL.

A BAT IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF

A NOCTURNAL ANIMAL.

BATS SLEEP IN COOL CAVES

DURING THE DAY, AND COME

OUT AFTER DARK TO FEED ON

THEIR FAVORITE MEAL OF

INSECTS.

CERTAIN DESERT LIZARDS,

LIKE THIS LEOPARD LIZARD,

ARE ACTIVE DURING THE

HOTTEST PART OF THE DAY,

BUT THEY COMBAT HEAT BY

MOVING EXTREMELY FAST OVER

HOT SURFACES, AND STOPPING

ONLY IN COOLER ISLANDS OF

SHADE.

BIRDS OF PREY, ALSO CALLED

RAPTORS, ARE SOME OF THE

DESERTS MOST EFFICIENT

HUNTERS.

EAGLES, HAWKS, AND FALCONS

SURVEY THE LAND WITH KEEN

EYES.

THEIR PREY, SMALL MAMMALS

AND GROUND SQUIRRELS, HIDE

IN BURROWS BENEATH THE

DESERT SOIL.

THESE SAGE GROUSE LIVE AND

NEST IN THE SAGEBRUSH

DESERTS OF SOUTHERN IDAHO.

DURING THE MATING SEASON

THE MALES WAKE EARLY, AND

AT DAWN PERFORM AN

ELABORATE MATING DANCE,

STRUTTING ABOUT AND

FANNING THEIR TAILS.

DISPLAYING FEATHERS

ARRANGED IN A STRIKING

PATTERN OF BLACK AND

WHITE.

THIS ELABORATE DISPLAY IS

MAINLY FOR THE BENEFIT OF

THE FEMALE GROUSE, WHO

WATCH THE SPECTACLE FROM

THE SIDELINES, HIDDEN

SAFELY BENEATH THE COVER

OF SAGEBRUSH.

PALE COLORS ON THESE ROCKY

MOUNTAIN BIG HORN SHEEP

NOT ONLY ENSURE THAT THE

ANIMALS TAKE IN LESS HEAT

FROM THE ENVIRONMENT, BUT

HELP MAKE IT LESS VISIBLE

TO PREDATORS IN THE BRIGHT

DESERT SURROUNDINGS.

SO WHILE SOME SAY THE

DESERT IS AN ACQUIRED

TASTE, IF YOU LOOK

CAREFULLY, YOU MAY FIND

YOURSELF HOOKED ON ITS

QUIET BEAUTY.

HANSEN: AND JOINING ME NOW

TO TAKE YOUR QUESTIONS

ABOUT THE DESERT HABITAT

ARE PAUL SERONKO, AN

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

SPECIALIST WITH THE BUREAU

OF LAND MANAGEMENT.

THANKS FOR BEING HERE, I

APPRECIATE YOU COMING IN.

PAUL SERONKO: WELL THANK

YOU FOR INVITING ME.

HANSEN: AND ALSO JOINING

US, TOM HEMKER, WILDLIFE

BIOLOGIST FOR THE IDAHO

DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND

GAME; TOM THANK YOU.

HEMKER: THANKS YEAH.

HANSEN: APPRECIATE.

IF YOU WANT TO GIVE US A

CALL HERE TOLL FREE WE'LL

TAKE YOUR QUESTIONS AT

1-800-973-9800, OR YOU CAN

EMAIL US AT DIALOGUE4, THE

NUMBER 4, KIDS AT

IDPTV.PBS.ORG

(DIALOGUE4KIDS@IDPTV.PBS.O

RG), AND REMEMBER WHEN YOU

SEND IN A QUESTION YOU AND

YOUR CLASS WILL HAVE A

CHANCE TO WIN A SET OF

SCIENCE BOOKS.

AND LET ME GO TO OUR FIRST

ROUND OF QUESTIONS.

OUR FIRST QUESTIONS CAME

IN.

LET'S TAKE MRS. HUNT'S

CLASS, AT CYNTHIA MANN,

"HOW MUCH RAINFALL DOES A

DESERT HABITAT GET?"

THAT'S HILARY AND TAGGEN'S

QUESTION, I THINK IT WAS

TAGGEN.

HOW MUCH RAINFALL DO THEY

GET?

SERONKO: WELL THE TYPICAL

DESERT, THEY DEFINE IT BY

TEN INCHES OR UNDER, BUT

IT CAN GET MORE RAINFALL

THAN TEN INCHES IF THE

AMOUNT OF RAINFALL THAT

FALLS THERE, IF THE SUN

AND THE PLANTS, THIS THING

CALLED EVAPOTRANSPIRATION,

WHERE RAINFALL DRIES UP.

IF THERE'S MORE

EVAPOTRANSPIRATION THAN

THE ACTUAL RAIN THAT

FALLS, AND ITS LESS THAN

TEN INCHES ALSO, THEN,

THAT CAN BE CONSIDERED A

DESERT.

HANSEN: OKAY SO THAT, SO

WHAT'S THE BIGGEST DESERT?

I THINK THE LARGEST DESERT

IS; AMANDA ASKED, "WHAT'S

THE BIGGEST DESERT IN THE

WORLD?"

SERONKO: WELL IF YOU

CONSIDER THE DRY TYPES OF

DESERTS, ARID DESERTS, THE

SAHARA, I THINK IT'S 3.5

MILLION SQUARE MILES, BUT

IF YOU LOOK AT THE COLD

DESERTS, AND A LOT OF

PEOPLE DON'T CONSIDER OR

THINK OF DESERTS AS COLD,

BUT ANTARCTICA BEING AT

5.4 MILLION SQUARE MILES

IS PROBABLY THE LARGEST

DESERT IN THE WORLD.

HANSEN: AND DONNA I THINK,

ASKED, "HOW MUCH OF IDAHO

IS DESERT?"

SERONKO: PRETTY MUCH THE

LOWER THIRD OF THE STATE

IS GOING TO BE CONSIDERED

AS DESERT.

SO ANYWHERE FROM THE LOWER

MOUNTAIN RANGES DOWN TO

THE OREGON, OR THE, THE

NEVADA/UTAH BORDER, EXCEPT

FOR SOME OF THE MOUNTAIN

RANGES THAT ARE IN THAT

LOWER PART OF THE STATE

HERE.

HANSEN: OKAY AND WHAT'S

THE SMALLEST DESERT IN

IDAHO?

TOM WHY DON'T YOU TAKE

THAT ONE?

HEMKER: WELL WE'VE, WE'VE

TALKED ABOUT THAT BEFORE

THE SHOW STARTED, AND YOU

KNOW THE BRUNEAU SAND

DUNES AREA, KIND OF SOUTH

OF BOISE, IS A, A GOOD

EXAMPLE OF AN AREA THAT'S

A DESERT, BUT REALLY

DIFFERENT THEN THE AREAS

AROUND IT.

SO ITS, YOU KNOW, MAYBE

TEN, TWENTY SQUARE MILES,

BUT IT'S CERTAINLY A VERY

UNIQUE AREA.

HANSEN: TYLER FROM

MRS. HAKER'S CLASS IN

GRANGEVILLE WANTS TO KNOW,

"HOW LONG ARE CACTUS

ROOTS?"

HEMKER: I DON'T KNOW THAT

RIGHT OFF HAND, BUT A LOT

OF THE DESERT PLANTS HAVE

ROOTS THAT GO DOWN THIRTY

AND FORTY FEET.

SO YOU KNOW IT'S OBVIOUSLY

A GOOD THING TO HAVE BIG

ROOTS IF YOU'RE IN THE

DESERT.

HANSEN: BECAUSE IT NEEDS

THE LONG ROOTS TO GET THE

WATER RIGHT?

HEMKER: OH YEAH

ABSOLUTELY.

HANSEN: OKAY HOW ABOUT

KAYLIE AND BRIANNA, "HOW

DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY

ANIMALS LIVE IN THE

DESERT?"

AND THEN NICK ASKED, "WHY

AREN'T THERE VERY MANY

ANIMALS IN THE DESERT?"

HEMKER: WELL YOU KNOW

THERE ARE A LOT OF ANIMALS

OUT THERE, A LOT MORE THAN

YOU MIGHT THINK.

YOU KNOW, I, I SPEND A

FAIR AMOUNT OF TIME OUT IN

THE, THE SAGEBRUSH DESERT

WE HAVE HERE IN IDAHO, AND

IF YOU GET OUT THERE IN

THE EVENINGS OR AT DARK,

AFTER DARK, AND WE USE

SPOTLIGHTS FOR CATCHING

AND COUNTING DIFFERENT

KINDS OF ANIMALS, AND

YOU'LL SEE A LOT OF

ANIMALS RUNNING AROUND

THAT YOU HAVE NO IDEA ARE

THERE DURING THE DAY WHEN

IT'S HOT AND THEY'RE ALL

HIDING AND TRYING TO STAY

COOL.

HANSEN: LET'S GO TO BLAKE

IN HAYDEN, HAYDEN

ELEMENTARY, BLAKE?

YOU THERE BLAKE?

BLAKE: YEAH.

HANSEN: GREAT WHAT'S YOUR

QUESTION?

BLAKE: "WHAT DO CACTUSES

SURVIVE ON IF IT DOESN'T

RAIN?"

HEMKER: WELL, IF IT

DOESN'T RAIN LONG ENOUGH

EVEN CACTUS CAN, CAN DIE

FROM LACK OF WATER.

YOU KNOW, IT'S PRETTY

RARE.

THEY'RE REALLY ADAPTED TO

GO A LONG, LONG TIME, BUT

IF YOU HAVE A DROUGHT THAT

LASTS FOUR OR FIVE, SIX

YEARS, CACTUSES DIE, AND

YOU KNOW, THEY'LL, THEY'LL

HAVE TO BE REPLACED WHEN

IT STARTS RAINING AGAIN.

HANSEN: BUT THEY, BUT THEY

CAN LIVE FOR A LONG TIME.

HEMKER: OH YEAH.

HANSEN: HOW LONG CAN THEY

LIVE WITHOUT AN ACTIVE

RAIN?

HEMKER: I DON'T KNOW

EXACTLY, BUT SEVERAL

YEARS.

YOU KNOW WE, WHAT YOU ALSO

SEE WITH A LOT OF DESERT

PLANTS, NOT JUST CACTUS,

BUT YOU'LL SEE THAT

THEY'LL LOSE THEIR LEAVES

DURING DROUGHTS, DROUGHT

DECIDUOUS.

SO IF IT GETS REALLY HOT,

REALLY DRY ONE YEAR THEY

DROP THEIR LEAVES OFF, AND

THAT WAY THEY DON'T LOSE

AS MUCH WATER AND WAIT FOR

IT TO START RAINING AGAIN.

HANSEN: OKAY LET'S TRY;

LET'S SEE IF WE CAN, LET'S

GO TO, FROM DONNELLY

ELEMENTARY, THEY WANT TO

KNOW, "DO BATS LIVE IN THE

DESERT?"

BOBBIE SUE WANTED TO KNOW

THAT, AND WE SAW SOME BATS

IN THE VIDEO PIECE, BUT

HOW ABOUT HERE IN IDAHO?

HEMKER: WELL SURE, SURE

THEY DO, AND ACTUALLY

BATS, YOU KNOW, EAT

PRIMARILY INSECTS, OR AT

LEAST THAT'S HERE IN

IDAHO.

THAT'S, THAT'S MOST

COMMON, AND WHAT YOU'LL

SEE IS THEY'LL USE, LIKE

MAYBE, OLD CAVES.

A LOT OF THE CAVES WE HAVE

IN THE LAVA AREAS ARE

REALLY ATTRACTIVE FOR

BATS.

EVEN OLD MINING SHAFTS CAN

BE REALLY IMPORTANT ROOST

HABITAT FOR, FOR BATS.

HANSEN: AND YOU SHOULD

NEVER DISTURB THEM RIGHT?

HEMKER: THAT'S RIGHT,

THAT'S RIGHT, THEY'RE

REAL, YOU KNOW A LOT OF

THE BATS ARE VERY

SENSITIVE TO BEING

DISTURBED.

HANSEN: OKAY LET'S GO TO

GIA IN LINCOLN ELEMENTARY

IN ST. ANTHONY.

GIA: HI.

HANSEN: YOU THERE?

GIA: YEAH.

HANSEN: I CAN BARELY HEAR

YOU SO YOU'RE GOING TO

HAVE TO TURN YOUR AUDIO UP

JUST A LITTLE BIT; CAN

YOU, CAN YOU.

DID I SAY YOUR NAME RIGHT?

GIA: YEAH.

HANSEN: GREAT OKAY,

WHAT'S, WHAT'S YOUR

QUESTION?

GIA: "WHAT IS SAND MADE

OF?"

HANSEN: THE SAND THAT YOU

SEE IN THE DESERT, WHAT'S

IT MADE OF?

GIA: YEAH.

HANSEN: OKAY.

SERONKO: WELL SAND, THINK

OF DESERT SOILS, THERE'S

THREE PARTICLES THAT MAKE

UP DESERT SOILS, AND SAND

IS ONE OF THEM, AND LIKE

ALL MINERAL PARTICLES THAT

SOIL IS MADE UP OF, THE

SAND IS WEATHERED

MOUNTAINS, AND THINGS LIKE

THAT.

ROCKS GO THROUGH A

WEATHERING PROCESS AND ONE

OF THE PARTICLES, ONCE

THEY WEATHERED A SMALL

ENOUGH PARTICLE WE CALL

SAND.

THE OTHERS ARE SILT AND

CLAY.

SO MOST OF THE SAND THERE

IS JUST A, IT'S A

WEATHERING PROCESS WHERE

BEDROCK OR YOUR, LIKE YOUR

MOUNTAINS AS THEY START TO

BREAKDOWN INTO SMALLER AND

SMALLER PARTICLES, SAND IS

ONE OF THOSE PARTICLES.

HANSEN: LET'S GO TO LESLIE

IN LINCOLN ELEMENTARY,

LESLIE?

LESLIE: HI.

HANSEN: HI.

LESLIE: HI, "HOW HOT DO

THE DESERTS GET?"

SERONKO: WELL A LOT OF

YOUR DESERTS, EVEN SOME

HERE IN THE UNITED STATES

LIKE THE SONORAN DESERT,

CAN AVERAGE 120 TO 130

DEGREES FAHRENHEIT, AS THE

HOTTEST TEMPERATURES, BUT

I UNDERSTAND THAT SOME OF

THE DESERTS, IN LIKE THE

SAHARA, CAN ACTUALLY GET

EVEN HOTTER.

SO, IF YOU THINK OF 120

DEGREES OR 130 DEGREES

FAHRENHEIT, THAT'S HOT

ENOUGH THAT EVEN THOSE

RATTLESNAKES PROBABLY ARE

GOING TO HAVE A CANTEEN

WITH THEM IF THEY'RE OUT.

HANSEN: HOW ABOUT HERE IN

IDAHO?

SERONKO: HERE IN IDAHO, WE

DON'T GET VERY, VERY HOT

DESERTS, BECAUSE WE DO

HAVE WHAT WE CONSIDER HIGH

DESERTS, AND THERE ALWAYS

SEEMS TO BE A BREEZE WHEN

I'M OUT THERE WORKING, BUT

IN THE SUMMERS THEY, THEY

CAN GET AS HOT AS 100

DEGREES, BUT THEY PROBABLY

AVERAGE IN THE HIGH

EIGHTIES, LOW NINETIES IN

THE HOTTEST PART OF THE

SUMMER.

HANSEN: THAT'S NOT BAD AT

ALL.

OKAY, NOW LET'S GO TO JOSH

AT HAYDEN ELEMENTARY.

JOSH?

JOSH: YEAH, "HOW MANY

TYPES OF ANIMALS LIVE IN

THE SAHARA DESERT?"

HANSEN: HOW MANY KINDS OF

ANIMALS ARE IN THE SAHARA?

JOSH: YEAH.

HANSEN: OKAY.

IS THE SAHARA, ARE ANIMALS

IN THE SAHARA DIFFERENT

THAN ANIMALS HERE IN

IDAHO?

SERONKO: WELL YEAH, I'VE

NEVER BEEN TO THE SAHARA

DESERT, AND DON'T KNOW A

LOT ABOUT IT, BUT YOU KNOW

WE'RE TALKING, YOU KNOW

ANIMALS, VERTEBRAE

ANIMALS, YOU KNOW, LIKE

MAMMALS AND BIRDS AND

THINGS LIKE THAT.

YOU'RE PROBABLY TALKING

HUNDREDS, BUT YOU START

THINKING ABOUT INSECTS AND

THINGS LIKE THAT, WHICH

ARE ANIMALS TOO, AND WE'RE

TALKING THOUSANDS AND

THOUSANDS OF DIFFERENT

KINDS.

SO YOU KNOW IT'S, IT'S,

IT'S SURPRISING HOW MANY

DIFFERENT KINDS OF ANIMALS

LIVE ANYWHERE.

HANSEN: DILLON FROM

DONNELLY ASKED, "WHAT

KINDS OF INSECTS LIVE IN

THE DESERT?"

ARE THERE DIFFERENT

INSECTS IN THE DESERT THAN

YOU'D FIND IN YOUR

BACKYARD?

HEMKER: WELL YOU KNOW

THERE'S A LOT OF 'EM THAT

ARE THE SAME.

YOU KNOW I, I WORK A LOT

WITH SAGE GROUSE AND THEIR

FAVORITE FOOD IS INSECTS,

AND ANTS ARE THEIR

FAVORITE, PROBABLY THEIR

FAVORITE INSECT.

SO I MEAN YOU DO SEE A LOT

OF THE SAME KINDS OF, OF

INSECTS OUT IN THE DESERT

AS YOU DO, YOU KNOW, HERE

IN TOWN, AND PAUL YOU WERE

TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THE

MORE RARE ONES OUT THERE.

SERONKO: YEAH, THE BRUNEAU

SAND DUNES, WHICH IS

BASICALLY SOUTH AND EAST

OF BOISE HERE UP BY

MOUNTAIN HOME, ACTUALLY

HAS A, A VERY UNIQUE

BEETLE.

IT'S CALLED A TIGER

BEETLE, AND IT'S, I THINK,

I BELIEVE, IT MAY BE THE

ONLY PLACE IN THE WORLD

WHERE WE CAN FIND THIS

BEETLE IN THE SAND DUNES

THERE.

HANSEN: HUH, LET'S GO TO

HAILEY IN HAYDEN

ELEMENTARY.

HAILEY?

HAILEY: OKAY UM, "WHY DO

THE CACTUS SPINES GROW ON

A CACTUS, AND HOW ARE THEY

MADE?"

HANSEN: OKAY WHY DO THEY

HAVE SPINES?

HAILEY: YEAH.

HANSEN: OKAY WHAT ARE THE

SPINES ON CACTUS FOR?

HEMKER: WELL THEY'RE, I

THINK MOST FOLKS

UNDERSTAND ITS, ITS A WAY

TO KEEP ANIMALS AND THINGS

FROM COMING AND EATING

THE, EATING THE CACTUS,

AND GETTING A HOLD OF THE

WATER IT'S STORED UP, AND

THEY'RE BASICALLY JUST

MODIFIED LEAVES THAT ARE

DESIGNED TO PROTECT THE

CACTUS FROM OTHER FOLKS

THAT WANT THAT WATER.

HANSEN: MRS. LANE'S THIRD

GRADERS IN GRANGEVILLE

ASKED SOME OF THESE

QUESTIONS, LET'S SEE, "HOW

MANY DESERT HABITATS HAVE

YOU SEEN, AND WHICH IS

YOUR FAVORITE?"

THAT CAME FROM NICKI AND

LEXI.

WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE

DESERT?

SERONKO: WELL ACTUALLY MY

FAVORITE, THAT I'VE

ACTUALLY SEEN, IS THE

SONORAN DESERT HERE IN THE

UNITED STATES, WHICH

ACTUALLY IS PROBABLY ONE

OF THE MOST DIVERSE

DESERTS IN THE WORLD.

BUT IN IDAHO HERE I, I.

HANSEN: AND THAT'S IN

ARIZONA?

SERONKO: THAT'S IN

ARIZONA, BUT IN IDAHO I'LL

TELL YOU, THE HIGH DESERT

SAGEBRUSH DESERTS OF

OWYHEE COUNTY ARE SOME OF

THE PRETTIEST.

ESPECIALLY, IN THE NEXT

COUPLE OF MONTHS WHEN THEY

START FLOWERING.

HEMKER: WELL YEAH YOU

KNOW, I'VE BEEN AROUND THE

WEST, AND BEEN IN THE

DIFFERENT KINDS OF

DESERTS.

THERE'S ACTUALLY FOUR IN

THE WEST; THE SONORAN,

MOJAVE AND THEN, OF

COURSE, THE GREAT BASIN,

AND THE CHIHUAHUAN DESERT,

I GUESS RIGHT DOWN ON THE

MEXICAN BORDER, AND I'M

KIND OF LIKE PAUL, I LIKE

THE DESERTS THAT HAVE LOTS

OF ROCKS AND CANYONS.

YOU KNOW, I USED TO WORK

DOWN IN SOUTHERN UTAH,

DOWN BY THE GRAND CANYON,

AND ZION, AND SO, AND THAT

AREA, AND IT WAS, THOSE

ARE SPECTACULAR DESERTS

WHERE YOU HAVE THOSE BIG

RED ROCKS.

HANSEN: LAUREN ASKED THE

QUESTION, "CAN ANIMALS

WALK ON CACTUS?"

ARE THOSE, ARE THEY JUST

TOO SPIKY?

HEMKER: WELL, YOU KNOW, IF

YOU'RE CAREFUL YOU CAN,

YOU CAN GET KIND OF CLOSE

TO THE CACTUS.

IT'S WHEN YOU JUST BUMP

INTO 'EM IS WHEN YOU GET

YOURSELF IN TROUBLE, AND

THERE ARE LITTLE TINY

SPINES, RIGHT, THAT YOU

CAN HARDLY SEE.

BUT YOU CAN SEE LOTS OF

DIFFERENT KINDS OF

INSECTS, AND EVEN SOME

BIRDS THAT WILL WALK

AROUND ON CACTUS.

HANSEN: JESSICA ASKED,

"HOW DO ANIMALS GET WATER

IN THE DESERT?"

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE

TRICKS?

SERONKO: THERE'S, THERE'S

LOTS OF TRICKS.

I'LL TELL YOU A COUPLE;

SOME OF THE INSECTS THEY

EAT HAVE WATER OR THE

ANIMALS THEY EAT HAVE SOME

OF THE WATER, THAT THEY,

THAT AN ANIMAL MIGHT NEED,

AND THEY'RE ALSO VERY

EFFICIENT ONCE THEY DO GET

SOME WATER, AND NOT

NEEDING TO DRINK FREE

RUNNING WATER.

A LOT OF THE ANIMALS IN

THE DESERT NEVER ACTUALLY

DRINK WATER, THEY GET IT

FROM THE FOODS THAT THEY

EAT.

HANSEN: REALLY?

SERONKO: YEAH, JUST

THROUGH THE PLANTS AND THE

ANIMALS THAT THEY EAT.

HANSEN: IF SOMEONE WERE

JUST TO CUT OPEN A CACTUS,

IF YOU COULD GET THROUGH

THE PRICKLY SPINES WOULD

YOU FIND WATER INSIDE?

HEMKER: PAUL YOU WANT TO

ANSWER?

SERONKO: WELL YOU, YES YOU

CAN, AND IT REALLY DEPENDS

ON THE TYPES OF CACTUSES.

YOU'RE BARREL CACTUSES,

BUT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO

FIND, LIKE YOU SAY, FREE

WATER.

YOU'RE GOING TO FIND A

PULP, OR A MASH IN THERE

OF THE PLANTS CELLS, AND

SOME MATERIAL, AND SO WHAT

YOU END UP HAVING TO DO

IS, PULLING THAT UP, AND

STRAINING THAT, OR MASHING

IT, AND PRESSING THE WATER

THAT YOU DRINK OUT OF IT.

HANSEN: OKAY.

SERONKO: THERE'S NOT LIKE

A FOUNTAIN IN THERE, NO.

HANSEN: SO, SO IF YOU'RE

TRAPPED IN THE DESERT,

LET'S JUST THROW THAT ONE

OUT, BECAUSE I KNOW WE'RE

GOING TO GET THAT

QUESTION, CAN YOU SURVIVE?

HOW DO YOU SURVIVE IF YOU

GET STUCK OUT IN THE

DESERT?

SERONKO: YEAH, THERE'S

LOTS OF SURVIVAL SKILLS.

I THINK WATER IS ONE OF

THE IMPORTANT ONES AND

SHELTER.

I MEAN THOSE ARE THE TWO

MAIN.

YOU CAN GO WITHOUT FOOD

FOR QUITE A LONG TIME, AND

YOU CAN HANDLE A LITTLE

BIT OF COLD, BUT YOU KNOW

THE, THE HOT SUN OF THE

DESERT, AND THEN AGAIN

WATER IS THE TWO, TWO

TRICKS YOU REALLY NEED TO

FIGURE OUT HOW TO DEAL

WITH.

HANSEN: SO GET OUT OF THE

SUN AND?

HEMKER: YEAH, IF YOU'RE

GOING TO REST, YOU WANT TO

BE RESTING IN THE SHADE.

YOU DON'T WANT TO BE.

HANSEN: LIKE THE ANIMALS

DO.

HEMKER: THAT'S RIGHT,

THAT'S RIGHT.

HANSEN: OKAY, LET'S GO TO

JORDAN IN BOISE.

JORDAN?

JORDAN ARE YOU THERE?

DID WE LOSE YOU JORDAN?

WE MUST'VE LOST YOU.

I THINK JORDAN'S QUESTION

WAS, "HOW LONG CAN AN

ANIMAL LIVE IN THE

DESERT?"

ARE THERE, TALK ABOUT, SO

THE KIND OF THE LIZARDS.

HOW LONG DO THEY LIVE AND,

IS THAT A, THEIR LIFESPAN

IS WHAT TWO YEARS?

HEMKER: OH HOW MANY, HOW

OLD?

HANSEN: YEAH.

HEMKER: WELL, MOST WILD

ANIMALS DON'T LIVE TO BE

VERY OLD.

YOU KNOW IT'S, IT'S RARE

FOR A WILD ANIMAL THAT

LIVES MORE THAN TWO OR

THREE YEARS.

HANSEN: OKAY.

HEMKER: SO YEAH IT'S NOT

VERY LONG.

HANSEN: OKAY LET'S TRY

GEORGE IN OROFINO, AT

OROFINO ELEMENTARY,

GEORGE?

YOU THERE GEORGE?

GEORGE: YEAH.

HANSEN: THERE YOU GO,

WHAT'S YOUR QUESTION?

GEORGE: "HOW LONG, IF

YOU'RE OUT IN THE DESERT;"

HANSEN: UH HUH.

GEORGE: "AND YOU GET LOST,

CAN YOU EAT THE CACTUS?"

HANSEN: OKAY, WELL THERE

YOU GO, THERE'S OUR LOST

QUESTION.

YEAH IF YOU'RE IN THE

DESERT CAN YOU, WHAT ALL,

HOW DO YOU, HOW DO YOU,

WHAT DO YOU EAT WHEN

YOU'RE IN THE DESERT IF

YOU'RE, IF YOU'RE A HUMAN

BEING?

HEMKER: WELL, YOU'VE GOT

TO BE VERY RESOURCEFUL.

SOME OF THE CACTUSES DO

BEAR FRUIT, AND THERE ARE

SOME, PROBABLY SOME PLANT

MATERIALS, THAT YOU COULD

CONSIDER TO BE EDIBLE,

BUT, I THINK, YOUR MAJOR

FOOD SOURCE MAY BE, IF YOU

CAN FIND SOMETHING AS

YUMMY AS SOME INSECTS, OR

YOU MIGHT WANT TO EAT A

LIZARD, OR SOMETHING LIKE

THAT.

THAT MAY BE YOUR BEST

SNACK FOR A WHILE.

HANSEN: AND THE GENERAL

RULE OF THUMB, UNLESS YOUR

MOM AND DAD SAY SO DON'T

EAT IT.

THAT'S ALWAYS, THAT'S

ALWAYS WHAT I TELL MY

KIDS.

OKAY ASHLEY IN CHESTER,

ASHLEY?

ASHLEY: HI, "DO YOU KNOW

HOW MANY ANIMALS DIED IN

THE DESERT IN IDAHO THIS

YEAR?"

HANSEN: ANYWAY TO

CALCULATE THAT?

HEMKER: WELL, NO, NOT

EXACTLY.

YOU KNOW, I GUESS THERE'S

A COUPLE OF THINGS I

WANTED TO SAY.

JUST DURING THE

WINTERTIME, YOU KNOW, WE

DO LOSE SOME ANIMALS.

PARTICULARLY, ONES THAT

LIVE UP IN THE MOUNTAINS

WHERE THERE'S MORE SNOW,

AND IT'S COLDER.

IN THE DESERT, THE THING

THAT REALLY CAN BE A

PROBLEM FOR MOST ANIMALS

IS THE LACK OF WATER, AND

A LOT OF THE ANIMALS, THAT

LIVE IN THE DESERT, DON'T

DIE IN THE WINTERTIME

BECAUSE THEY'RE

UNDERGROUND, OR VARIOUS

KINDS OF THINGS TO GET

AWAY FROM THE, THE

DRYNESS.

HANSEN: AND THERE'S SNOW.

HEMKER: YEAH, IT'S COLD,

AND THEY'LL DIE, BECAUSE

WE HAVE DROUGHTS FOR TWO

OR THREE YEARS, AND THE

LITTLE, THE BABIES DON'T,

DON'T MAKE IT THROUGH THE

SUMMER, AND THEY DIE, AND

THAT'S, THAT'S REALLY WHAT

CAN CAUSE A LOT OF LOSS OF

ANIMALS IN THE DESERT.

HANSEN: WE'RE SEEING SOME

BEAUTIFUL PICTURES; THE

DESERT IS ACTUALLY BLOOMS,

AND A BEAUTIFUL ARRAY.

WHAT KIND OF FLOWERS DO

YOU FIND IN THE DESERT?

SERONKO: WELL, ESPECIALLY

IN THE IDAHO DESERT,

YOU'RE GOING TO FIND A LOT

OF, LIKE LUPINES AND

INDIAN PAINTBRUSH.

THERE'S A LOT OF PEA

FAMILY, SUNFLOWER FAMILY

TYPE FLOWERS IN THE LOWER

DESERT.

WE HAVE A PLANT CALLED

SCARLET GLOBEMALLOW.

THERE'S A NUMBER OF VERY

BEAUTIFUL GRASSES AND

SHRUBS THAT A LOT OF THE

SHRUBS WILL BLOOM, BUT

COMING, LIKE IN IDAHO'S

HIGH DESERT, COME MAY HERE

IT'S GOING TO BE PRETTY

SPECTACULAR WITH THIS GOOD

MOISTURE YEAR WE'RE

GETTING, SO IT SHOULD BE

WORTH GETTING OUT.

HANSEN: SO WHERE WOULD YOU

GO IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF

IDAHO IF YOU WANT TO SEE

THE FLOWERS?

SERONKO: WELL, I'M, I'M

ONLY A REAL EXPERT IN THE

SOUTHWEST PART OF THIS

STATE HERE, BUT EARLY IN

THE YEAR, HELLS CANYON IS

A VERY UNIQUE PLACE TO GO

AND SEE WILDFLOWERS, AND

WE HAVE, WHAT WE CALL, A

BACK COUNTRY BYWAY THAT

RUNS FROM JORDAN VALLEY,

ACROSS THE OWYHEE DESERT

AREA, AND, AND CONNECTS

INTO GRANDVIEW, AND THAT'S

A SPECTACULAR AREA, AND

TOM MIGHT HAVE A BETTER

HANDLE ON SOME OF THE

OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE.

HEMKER: WELL, I LIVED IN

EASTERN IDAHO FOR SEVERAL

YEARS, AND CRATERS OF THE

MOON NATIONAL MONUMENT.

HANSEN: YEAH THAT'S REALLY

PRETTY.

HEMKER: NATIONAL MONUMENT

IS A REALLY POPULAR PLACE

IN JUNE, AND, YOU KNOW,

BASICALLY, AS SOON AS THE,

THE SNOW GOES OFF, AND IT

STARTS WARMING UP,

WHEREVER YOU ARE IN THE

DESERT IT'LL START, START

BLOOMING IF YOU'VE GOT THE

WATER.

HANSEN: A QUESTION VIA

EMAIL FROM TANNER, "HOW

COLD DOES IT GET IN THE

DESERT?"

SERONKO: WELL AGAIN YOU

KNOW IT DEPENDS ON THE

DESERT.

IF YOU'RE TALKING THE COLD

DESERT OF ANTARCTICA, 50

DEGREES BELOW ZERO MAYBE.

HANSEN: THAT'S PRETTY DARN

COLD.

SERONKO: YEAH, A WARM DAY

THERE, BUT IDAHO DESERTS,

TYPICALLY, A LOT OF OUR

DESERTS, TRUE DESERTS, ARE

BELOW 6,000 FEET, AND

WE'RE PROBABLY TALKING

AROUND ZERO IS A PRETTY

COLD NIGHT IN THE DESERT.

MAYBE TEN BELOW ZERO, BUT

THEY PROBABLY AVERAGE

PRETTY SIMILAR TO SOME OF

THE TEMPERATURES HERE

AROUND BOISE.

BOISE'S ABOUT 2,700 FEET

AND WE'RE ACTUALLY

CONSIDERED PART OF THE

DESERT RIGHT HERE IN

BOISE, SO.

HANSEN: OKAY AND BRIANNA

ASKED, "HOW MANY DIFFERENT

KINDS OF CACTUS ARE IN ONE

DESERT?"

WHY DON'T WE STAY HERE IN

IDAHO.

HOW MANY DIFFERENT KINDS

OF CACTUS ARE HERE IN

IDAHO?

HEMKER: BOY, PAUL YOU

KNOW?

SERONKO: YEAH, WE BASIC,

TWO BASIC ONES WE HAVE.

HANSEN: AND ALEX ASKED,

"WHAT'S THE MOST COMMON

ONE."

SERONKO: OH THE, WELL THE,

THE, IT DEPENDS ON WHAT

PART OF THE DESERT YOU'RE

IN.

ON THIS PART OF THE STATE

WE HAVE A BARREL CACTUS

THAT'S FAIRLY COMMON, AND

WE HAVE PRICKLY PEAR

CACTUS.

NOW I KNOW IN THE EASTERN

PART OF THE STATE THERE'S

A LOT OF THE PRICKLY PEAR

CACTUS, BUT THOSE ARE TWO

MAJOR TYPES OF CACTUS WE

HAVE IN IDAHO.

HANSEN: AND MCKENNA ASKED,

"HOW TALL DO THEY GET?"

- THE CACTUS GET.

SERONKO: THEY'RE FAIRLY

SHORT.

THE LITTLE BARREL CACTUS,

WHICH ARE VERY PRETTY WHEN

THEY FLOWER, THEY HAVE A

BEAUTIFUL YELLOWISH

FLOWER.

A LOT OF THOSE ARE GOING

TO BE LESS THAN EIGHT

INCHES IN DIAMETER AND

HEIGHT.

HANSEN: OKAY.

SERONKO: SOME OF THE

PRICKLY PEAR CACTUSES

DON'T GET MUCH BIGGER.

THEY HAVE A MORE OF A FAN

SHAPED LEAF, AND THEY'RE

GOING TO GET, YOU KNOW, A

BIG PRICKLY PEAR CACTUS

MAYBE TEN INCHES, TWELVE

INCHES TALL, BUT BRANCHING

OUT.

HANSEN: LET'S GO TO MATHEW

IN HAYDEN ELEMENTARY,

MATHEW?

MATHEW?

MATHEW: "HOW MANY DAYS

DOES IT DROP FROM THE TIME

IT IS MORNING UNTIL THE

TIME WHEN IT'S?"

HANSEN: WHAT'S THE, WHAT'S

THE TEMPERATURE SPAN FROM

DAY TO DUSK, OKAY?

SERONKO: WHAT?

FORTY DEGREES?

HEMKER: IT CAN CHANGE,

PROBABLY THAT'S A GOOD

GUESS, 36-40 DEGREES FROM

THE COLDEST TEMPERATURE AT

NIGHT TO THE WARMEST

TEMPERATURE IN DAY, WHICH

ACTUALLY IS QUITE A

FLUCTUATION IN TEMPERATURE

OVER THAT 24 HOUR PERIOD.

HANSEN: I THINK ALEX YOU

HAVE A SIMILAR QUESTION,

ALEX WHAT'S YOUR QUESTION?

ALEX: "WHY DOES THE HOT

DESERT GET SO COLD IN THE

NIGHT?"

HANSEN: AND SO WE KNOW

THAT IT'S ABOUT A FORTY

DEGREE TEMPERATURE RANGE,

WHY IS THERE SUCH A BIG

SPAN?

SERONKO: WELL, IF YOU

THINK OF THE DESERT, AND

WHY AT NIGHT MOST DESERTS

DON'T GET MUCH RAIN, SO

WHAT HAPPENS IS, CLOUDS,

WHEN THEY COME OVER AN

AREA, ACTUALLY INSULATE

THE DAYTIME TEMPERATURES.

SO LIKE WHEN YOU HAVE A

CLOUDY NIGHT THE DAYTIME

TEMPERATURES DON'T

FLUCTUATE AS MUCH, BUT

MOST DESERTS ARE FAIRLY

CLEAR AT NIGHT, AND SO YOU

GET, THERE'S NO CLOUD

COVER, IT DOESN'T INSULATE

THAT HEAT THAT, THAT WAS

ABSORBED DURING THE DAY,

SO THAT TEMPERATURE CAN

DROP VERY DRASTICALLY AT

NIGHT.

HANSEN: SCOTT MCKENZIE

WHO'S A HOME SCHOOL

STUDENT ASKS, "HOW MANY

DESERTS ARE THERE IN THE

WORLD?"

WE TALKED ABOUT THAT A

LITTLE BIT EARLIER,

WHAT'S, HOW DO YOU DEFINE

WHAT A DESERT IS, AND THEN

HOW MANY OF THEM ARE THERE

IN THE WORLD.

HEMKER: WELL, TEN INCHES

OF RAIN, I THINK.

IS WHAT WE STARTED WITH.

YOU KNOW LESS THAN TEN

INCHES OF RAIN, AND WHAT,

HOW MANY?

DO YOU KNOW OFFHAND PAUL?

THERE'S TWELVE MAYBE?

SERONKO: WELL THERE'S,

WELL THERE'S ACTUALLY

TWENTY-THREE MAJOR.

HEMKER: TWENTY-THREE WOW.

SERONKO: MAJOR DESERTS,

NOW THESE ARE DIFFERENT

TYPES OF DESERTS, BUT

TWENTY-THREE MAJOR

DESERTS, AND THEY'RE

DEFINED UNDER FOUR

CATEGORIES, AND THAT'S

YOUR SUBTROPICAL DESERTS,

WHICH ARE YOUR VERY HOT

ONES, AND THEN YOU HAVE

WHAT WE CALL YOUR COOL

COASTAL DESERTS, WHICH ARE

ALONG COASTLINES, YOU HAVE

YOUR COLD MOUNTAIN

DESERTS, WHICH IS LIKE

TYPICALLY AROUND IDAHO,

AND THEN YOUR POLAR

DESERTS, OR YOUR POLAR

REGIONS, SO YOUR COLD

DESERTS.

HANSEN: OKAY, ARIA, DID I

SAY YOUR NAME RIGHT?

ARIA: UH HUH.

HANSEN: WHAT'S YOUR

QUESTION?

ARIA: "HOW MUCH OF IDAHO

IS DESERT?"

HANSEN: OKAY, HOW MUCH OF

THE STATE IS ACTUALLY

CONSIDERED DESERT?

SERONKO: WELL, WE, WE

TALKED ABOUT THAT A LITTLE

BIT, WE, YOU KNOW ABOUT A

THIRD OF THE STATE,

PROBABLY, AND MOSTLY IN

THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE

STATE WHERE WE HAVE LESS

THAN TEN INCHES OF

RAINFALL.

A LOT OF THE AREAS WITH

SAGEBRUSH DON'T HAVE THAT

MUCH RAINFALL.

SO MAYBE A THIRD.

HANSEN: BEFORE WE GET, GET

TOO FAR, I WANT TO ASK THE

BOTH OF YOU HOW COME YOU

DECIDED TO STUDY DESERT?

BECOME DESERT SCIENTISTS

AND WHAT, WHY'D YOU DECIDE

THAT THIS WAS WHAT YOU

WANTED TO DO FOR A LIVING?

HEMKER: YOU KNOW I

TRAVELED AROUND THE WEST

QUITE A BIT, SINCE I WAS A

LITTLE KID, AND WORKED IN

LOTS OF DIFFERENT AREAS

NOW, AND YEAH, THE DESERTS

ARE REALLY INTERESTING

PLACES.

YOU CAN SEE A LONG WAYS,

WHICH IS A, YOU KNOW, KIND

OF A NEAT THING, AND LOTS

OF DIFFERENT KINDS OF

ANIMALS OUT THERE THAT,

THAT PEOPLE DON'T, YOU

KNOW PROBABLY, REALIZE.

HANSEN: WHAT ABOUT YOU

PAUL, WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE

TO BECOME?

SERONKO: WELL, THEY ARE

VERY UNIQUE HABITATS.

I MEAN, THE MOUNTAINS ARE

VERY PRETTY, AND, AND IT'S

LOVELY TO BE UP THERE, BUT

THE DESERT DOES HAVE ITS

OWN LITTLE BEAUTY TO IT,

AND, AND IT'S AMAZING

AGAIN HOW DIVERSE A DESERT

CAN ACTUALLY BE.

FROM IDAHO DESERTS, WHERE

WE HAVE, WHAT WE CALL, THE

SALT DESERT SHRUBS, ALL

THE WAY TO THE SAGEBRUSH

DESERT.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF

DIVERSITY, AND I THINK TOM

HAS IT; IT'S NEAT TO BE

OUT THERE BECAUSE YOU CAN

SEE FOREVER, AND THERE'S A

VERY EXPANSIVENESS TO

WORKING IN THE DESERT.

HANSEN: SO IF YOU WANT TO

BE A SCIENTIST WHO STUDIES

THE DESERT, WHAT KIND OF

SCHOOL, WHAT KIND OF

CLASSES SHOULD YOU TAKE?

HEMKER: WELL YOU'VE GOT A

LOT OF SCHOOL AHEAD OF

YOU.

HANSEN: AND THAT'S NOT

BAD, THAT'S A GOOD THING.

HEMKER: NO THAT'S, THAT'S

GOOD.

THAT'S, YOU KNOW, JUST AS

LONG AS YOU UNDERSTAND

THAT.

YOU KNOW AND TYPICALLY

PEOPLE THAT WORK FOR FISH

AND GAME WHERE I WORK IS,

YOU KNOW, YOU'RE TALKING

SIX-SEVEN YEARS OF

COLLEGE.

HANSEN: OKAY.

HEMKER: AND TYPICALLY MOST

OF OUR FOLKS HAVE DEGREES

IN BIOLOGY, OR SOMETHING

LIKE THAT.

HANSEN: OKAY.

HEMKER: SO IT'S SCIENCE,

AND IT TAKES A WHILE.

HANSEN: OKAY WELL LET'S

GET ONE REAL QUICK

QUESTION IN, MALLORY FROM

SANDPOINT, MALLORY?

MALLORY: I WAS, I WAS

WONDERING, "WHAT PREDATORS

EAT IN THE DESERT?"

HANSEN: OKAY.

HEMKER: WELL THE DESERTS

HAVE LOTS OF, LOTS OF

RODENTS, YOU KNOW, LOTS OF

MICE AND THINGS LIKE THAT,

AND THAT'S PROBABLY THE

MOST COMMON THING TO EAT

IF YOU'RE A PREDATOR OUT

THERE, AND OF COURSE YOU

HAVE COYOTES, AND RED FOX,

AND BOBCATS, MOUNTAIN

LIONS, AND LOTS OF KINDS

OF HAWKS, AND EAGLES AND

THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO YOU KNOW I'D SAY MOST

ALL OF THEM EAT RODENTS,

AND PROBABLY THAT'S WHAT

THEY EAT MOST OF THE TIME.

HANSEN: SO ARE

RATTLESNAKES THE PREDATOR

OR ARE THEY THE PREY?

HEMKER: THEY'RE A

PREDATOR.

YOU KNOW THERE'S TEN, OR,

NO I DON'T KNOW, THERE'S

PROBABLY EIGHT OR TEN

DIFFERENT SNAKES THAT

MIGHT BE OUT IN OUR

DESERTS HERE IN IDAHO, AND

ONLY ONE IS ACTUALLY

POISONOUS, BUT THEY ALL

EAT, YOU KNOW, RODENTS, OR

AT LEAST A LOT OF 'EM DO.

SOME ARE ACTUALLY REAL

SMALL AND THEY'LL EAT

INSECTS PRIMARILY.

HANSEN: OKAY.

SO WE HAVE ABOUT THIRTY

SECONDS LEFT, ANY LAST

PIECE OF ADVICE BEFORE WE

SEND KIDS OUT ONTO THE

DESERT?

IF YOU'RE GOING TO GO TO

THE DESERT AND SEE ALL OF

THOSE PRETTY FLOWERS, ANY

PRECAUTIONS YOU SHOULD

TAKE?

SERONKO: SUNSCREEN.

SUNSCREEN AND WATER.

HANSEN: YEAH, AND GOOD

SHOES.

HEMKER: AND A HAT.

HANSEN: AND A HAT.

HEMKER: YEAP.

HANSEN: SUNSCREEN, WATER,

GOOD SHOES, AND A HAT, AND

GO AND EXPLORE BECAUSE

THERE'S LOTS OF PRETTY

PLACES.

SERONKO: GREAT PLACE, FUN

PLACE.

HANSEN: WE'VE RUN OUT OF

TIME.

I WANT TO THANK YOU BOTH

FOR JOINING US, TOM, PAUL

APPRECIATE YOU BEING ON

THE SHOW TODAY.

SERONKO: OH IT WAS.

HEMKER: YEAH IT WAS GREAT.

HANSEN: AND THANK YOU FOR

COMING, FOR JOINING US FOR

THE SHOW.

THERE'S A LOT MORE

INFORMATION ABOUT THE

DESERT HABITAT, CHECK OUT

THE DIALOGUE4KIDS WEBSITE

AT IDAHOPTV.ORG/DIALOGUE,

THE NUMBER 4, KIDS.

OUR NEXT DIALOGUE 4 KIDS

WILL BE ON APRIL 9TH AND

WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT

ROCKS AND MINERALS.

SO GO AHEAD AND EMAIL,

FAX, OR CALL IN YOUR

QUESTIONS, AND BE ENTERED

IN OUR CONTEST FOR A SET

OF SCIENCE BOOKS FOR YOUR

CLASSROOM, AND SPEAKING OF

THAT, OUR WINNER OF LAST

MONTH'S BOOK CONTEST WAS,

TRINITY, IN MRS. MCCOY'S

FOURTH GRADE CLASS AT

DONNELLY ELEMENTARY.

SO CONGRATULATIONS

TRINITY, AND WE'RE

STARTING TO GET READY FOR

NEXT SCHOOL YEAR, SO

TEACHERS GO AHEAD AND

PLEASE SEND ME AN EMAIL, I

NEED TO KNOW WHAT KIND OF

SHOWS YOU'D LIKE TO HAVE

NEXT YEAR.

SO GIVE US, YOU CAN EITHER

FAX IT OR PHONE IT IN OR

BETTER YET, SEND ME AN

EMAIL AT

DIALOGUE4KIDS@IDPTV.PBS.OR

G

<MAILTO:DIALOGUE4KIDS@IDPT

V.PBS.ORG> .

SO JOIN US NEXT TIME FOR

OUR SHOW ON ROCKS AND

MINERALS, AND GIVE US YOUR

QUESTIONS AND ENTER OUR

CONTEST, AND THANKS FOR

JOINING US TONIGHT.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.

(MUSIC)

NARRATOR: PRESENTATION OF

DIALOGUE 4 KIDS ON IDAHO

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POSSIBLE THROUGH THE

GENEROUS SUPPORT OF THE

LAURA MOORE CUNNINGHAM

FOUNDATION-COMMITTED TO

FULFILLING THE MOORE'S

FAMILY LEGACY OF HELPING

BUILD THE GREAT STATE OF

IDAHO.

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