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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BUILD THE GREAT STATE OF
IDAHO.
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