A Day in the Life of a Search and Rescue Dog

Meet Chaos, a valuable member of Joshua Tree's Search and Rescue team (JOSAR)!

These photos show a pretty typical search scenario for Chaos. You'll notice that one of the photos is very dark. That's because Chaos arrives to the search site at 5 am when the temperature is 75°F and is the lowest it will be all day. On this day, his mission is to hike a trail to a ridge, take the ridge to a peak, then down to a valley and finally back to the parking lot. The mission ideally needs to be completed before mid-morning when temperatures will likely reach 100 degrees. Chaos can’t search all day because the heat is dangerous to his health and the terrain can be rough on his paws. 

Chaos waits patiently for his handler but it's easy to tell that he’s full on energy and eager to begin. He gets the order to start searching and is let off leash. As the team heads up the trail, Chaos runs circles around the human searchers. He is constantly sniffing and checking new areas but he never runs out of eyesight. The area is filled with boulders, small to large, and he dodges around them with ease. After about two hours of searching, he runs to his handler, sits down and sniffs at the collapsible water bowl strapped to her waist. Chaos is thirsty. He drinks and drinks and then without warning turns and continues searching.

Chaos doesn’t indicate that he’s picked up a scent during the whole search. It’s unfortunate, but the search area is large and Chaos was only checking a small section of it. By the end of the mission he is moving slower and the temperatures have rapidly increased as they typically do on September days in the Mojave Desert. No one wants to stop searching while there are still hours and hours of daylight, but given the circumstances, the mission’s length was appropriate for Chaos.

Joshua Tree National Park cannot say how grateful we are for Chaos and our other canine search teams. They can pick up scent clues that humans could never find. He truly is a good boy!

*Remember that canine search and rescue teams are allowed to hike in the park only while actively working for JOSAR. If you need to walk a pet while visiting the park, dogs must remain on leash and can walk on the dirt roads or in campgrounds but cannot be on trails. Thank you for respecting the park and our wildlife!

Photos by NPS / Hannah Schwalbe; photos of Chaos, the search and rescue dog, on the job in Joshua Tree National Park.

Humans of Joshua Tree: Idalmis Santana; Wise, Wild and Free

Idalmis Santana has visited over 14 national parks and in the past three years has learned how to backpack, rock climb, jet ski and scuba dive. This mother of three and grandmother of two reminds us to never stop exploring and never stay in your comfort zone. We were lucky enough to do a Q&A with her while she was in Joshua Tree for a hiking and climbing trip. 

Q: What inspires you to get outside? 

A: My main motivation to get outside is to invest in quality time with the people I love the most: my husband, kids, and grandkids. Two of my kids moved to the west coast, so we try to visit a nearby national park every time we visit them. 

Q: What do you like about Joshua Tree National Park?

A: I love Joshua Tree because it is a huge place to liberate my imagination. It is such an immense desert with different ecosystems, colorful sunrises and sunsets, so many rock formations with so many shapes and sizes. 

Q: When did you start rock climbing?

A: I am in the part of life where I can either stay comfortable or continue evolving. Climbing definitely pulls me out of my comfort zone. It all started in 2015 when my son learned to climb and he asked me if I was willing to try climbing indoors. It’s not something I would have done on my own, but the force of love drives me to crazy things. Now I am hooked on climbing. I have my gear and practice as much as I can.

A: Why do you rock climb?

Q: It is not expected for people my age, with an arthritic and achy body, to start practicing rock climbing. I like to be a kind of stereotype breaker. I decided to start doing it to prove that there is no age limit to doing what you want to do. Rock climbing involves not only physical but also mental strength, perseverance, patience and serenity. I also realize that the practice of rock climbing attracts young, free-spirited folks, and I ended up surrounded by them learning and sharing another perspective of life.

Q: How was rock climbing in Joshua Tree? Was it different from climbing in a gym?

A: Rock climbing in Joshua Tree was one of a kind. It was an amazing experience because above all, it was shared with special people in my life; my son, his girlfriend, and my nephew. I never, ever thought that I was able to do something like that. Indoor climbing is more restrictive on the imagination. Outdoors you can do so many different moves to get up the wall. My fingers and feet fit in a wide range of places and shapes. The rocks of Joshua Tree are natural playgrounds.

Q: What was your favorite destination in Joshua Tree?

A: The top of Cap Rock! The view was amazing and from the top, I did my first rappel. I had to remember all of the instructions and not get too freaked out lowering myself nearly 70 feet. Everything worked out as planned but I had a lot of adrenaline and felt so energized and so happy with my achievements that day.

Q: Do you have any advice for people who are coming to Joshua Tree for the first time?

A: Be realistic with your expectations and do not expose yourself to something you do not have the training or capacity to deal with. Understand that nature is an untamed force, so do not play irresponsibly with it. Nature can play back at you. 

Q: What can visitors do to help support and protect the national parks?

A: We as citizens should be very involved with the preservation of our lands. I know it sounds cliché, but I want to protect them for future generations. Personally, I am involved by volunteering at my local national parks. We should all ask ourselves how can we be not just visitors, but guardians of the national parks?  

Q: What is your Instagram account?

A: @Wildalmis

Q: Anything else you want to tell us?

A: Thank you Joshua Tree National Park for being a place where I have so many beautiful and happy memories. You changed the way I think about desert life, and introduced me to the world of outdoor climbing. This is definitely just the beginning of my relationship with this special place.

All photo by NPS / Glauco Puig-Santana

Romero Family to the Rescue

“We couldn’t leave him there like that,” said Rebekah Romero of the tortoise her family found wedged between boulders last weekend, unable to free itself.

Nine year old Elijah Romero had spotted the tortoise and warned his sister to avoid stepping on it. Upon closer inspection, and after snapping a few photos, the Romero family of eight realized the tortoise was wedged upright between several boulders and was completely stuck. “There was no way it could get out,” said Rebekah. “There wasn’t enough earth under his legs to claw out and he was slanted in a position where he was almost on his back.”

Worried for the tortoise’s life, the Romero’s contacted park staff who dispatched wildlife biologist Kristen Lalumiere. When she arrived, the tortoise was responsive and actively trying to free itself. Ranger Kristen, along with Anthony Romero (the dad) tried to move boulders manually in order to create enough space to get the tortoise free, but they were unable to do so.

Refusing to give up, Ranger Kristen retrieved a car-jack from her vehicle and carefully placed it between the boulders near the tortoise. Anthony slowly raised the jack to gently move one boulder just enough that Ranger Kristen could slide the tortoise out.

“We all shouted and were so excited!” recalls Rebekah of the moment the tortoise came free. After giving the recently released reptile a quick check-up, “Kristen was kind enough to give our kids a neat one on one lesson on desert tortoises.  It was so neat!”

It’s unknown how long the 30-35 year old male tortoise had been stuck prior to sharp-eyed Elijah’s discovery, but “he would have surely died if not for the actions of the Romero family,” says Ranger Kristen. “They did the right thing by reporting the tortoise, waiting for the wildlife biologist to respond, and then even aided in its rescue.”

Desert tortoises have been known to get stuck in rocky areas and die. Yet this lucky individual got a second chance at life – all because of the decisions of one family. After being freed, the tortoise eagerly moved off on its own.

Ruby Romero (aged 4) says of the experience, “It made me feel happy that we got it unstucked…”

Us too, Ruby. Us too.

This September, researchers from Arizona State University returned to Joshua Tree National Park to download data from weather stations that were installed early June. PhD candidate Ryan Heinzman and Arizona State climatologist Dr. Nancy Selover are collaborating with researchers from University of California Riverside and the National Park Service to assess variability in climate within the park. Under the guidance of park staff, the weather stations are installed in discreet areas that minimize impact on visitor recreation, wildlife, vegetation, and cultural resources.The weather stations are placed in locations of varying elevation, observed precipitation, and transition zones such that the data may best represent distinct parts of the park.   Studying climate and weather patterns allow researchers a fuller understanding of how weather varies from location to location and over a period of time. Because weather patterns in a vast desert landscape can be so variable and unpredictable, collecting such data is key to further understanding desert ecosystem ecology including spring and summer wildflower blooms, natural events such as flash floods, and the changing climate. ---- Ryan is a recipient of the Robert Lee Graduate Student Research Grant, awarded by the non-profit Joshua Tree National Park Association. For more information on the graduate student research program and science and research in the park, please go to our website: https://www.nps.gov/jotr/learn/nature/grantprogram.htm   [Photos by NPS/Jesmira Bonoan]   

Perhaps no other desert plant is more conspicuous than the creosote (Larea tridentata) which grows in the Chihuahuan, Sonoran, and Mojave deserts of the American southwest. So prevalent is the plant that it is often the dominant shrub of these regions and its smell is synonymous with the desert rain.

Make no mistake, this plant is far from ordinary. Its prevalence is attributed to its resolute hardiness which allows the plant to withstand sweltering summer heat and high winds. Unsurprisingly, the creosote can live for a very long time. The oldest known creosote, and one of the oldest known plants, is called "King Clone". Scientists have dated the plant to be 11,700 years old.

Adaptations such as the waxy coating on its leaves (which acts as sun protection) have allowed it to thrive in 70,000 square miles of the southwestern United States. For comparison, that's larger than Washington state! Because creosote covers so much area, it even hosts its own collection of endemic invertebrate fauna ranging from grasshopers to beetles. -JB

[Photo by NPS/Brad Sutton: Silhouette of tarantula hawk and creosote at sunset]

Cliff and rock edges in Joshua Tree National Park serve as nesting sites for the park’s many raptor species. As top predators, these birds play a large role in maintaining an overall ecological balance within their niche. Because raptors tend to be sensitive to disturbances in their environment, they also serve as overall indicators of an ecosystem’s health. They have even been known to abandon their nest (including eggs and young) when subject to disturbances in their environment. To determine the effects of human disturbance on raptor activity, Joshua Tree National Park conducts Raptor Nest Monitoring surveys, particularly around areas of high visitor activity (such as climbing routes). With the help of climbers and other park stewards, sightings of raptor nests are reported to park biologists. Biologists conduct surveys between the months of March and June during peak breeding season. They look for nests along cliff faces, ledges, crevices, and trees. Nests will often be comprised of sticks, grasses, and other organic material. Presence of nests are indicated by signs such as whitewash (bird droppings), feathers, and pellets (regurgitated organic material). When surveying nesting sites, biologists keep track of the presence and activity of raptors and their young. Confirmed active nesting sites may result in the temporary closure of a climbing route. If you observe a nesting site, please choose a different climbing route, observe at a distance, and alert park staff.  [Photos by NPS/Jesmira Bonoan]

85% of Joshua Tree National Park is managed as designated wilderness which means that under the Wilderness Protection Act, the use of mechanized vehicles and equipment is prohibited in these areas. This protection sometimes brings challenges to our maintenance and trails workers who maintain and preserve remote sites in the park.    Last week, @sequoiakingsnps's pack mules and horses gave our trails crew a "helping hoof" by carrying loads of rocks and heavy materials to project sites on the California Riding and Hiking Trail and Lost Horse Mine trail. Wilderness areas offer visitors opportunities for peace and solitude and protection for wildlife and vegetation. With the help of pack mules, these areas can remain undisturbed in their natural state.      [Photos by NPS/Jesmira Bonoan]

Kangaroo rats have breakaway tails that can detach when grabbed by a predator. When chased, they can leap up to 10 feet with a swing of their tail. To survive in the desert, they have adapted to use their food as a water source by manufacturing water from carbohydrates in their food. Morphological adaptations also allow them to further conserve water. Their elongated nose help retain moisture from their breath and their kidneys concentrate their urine up to 20 times before eliminating them. They also forage in the night and avoid daytime heat by staying in their burrows. When driving in the park at night, please drive slow and keep an eye out for these flighty rodents that may cross the road. Help protect park wildlife by driving with caution.

The Joshua Tree Monitoring Program is an ongoing Joshua tree survey led by Joshua Tree National Park’s Science and Stewardship Division. Since we started the project a year ago, we have relied on local volunteers, various college and high school student groups, climbing groups,  and the Youth Conservation Corps to conduct field surveys and collect data.

Volunteers survey for Joshua trees at designated 50 meter square plots, record the location of each Joshua tree, identify basal sprouts, determine the tree’s overall condition, and take nine different measurements.

Land managers and scientists are concerned about the future of Joshua trees in response to threats such as wildfire, invasive species, human development, and Earth’s changing climate. Data collected through the Joshua Tree Monitoring Program is not just for research; it helps resource managers make decisions about the best way to protect this important species.

Each week, Student Conservation Association intern Nick Graver leads crews of Joshua tree monitoring volunteers at various sites around the park. Some of the challenges that volunteers face include correctly identifying basal sprouts (trees growing from the root system of another tree), measuring around cholla cactus plants, and taking consistent measurements of a plant which is known for growing in weird ways.

Volunteers are a crucial component to our national park’s operations. We rely on them to encourage stewardship in Joshua Tree National Park and to advance research on key topics such as Joshua trees.

If you’re interested in volunteering with us, we have a lot of great volunteer opportunities such as the Phenology Project, which studies the flowering cycle of desert plants. Check out our webpage for more information: https://www.nps.gov/jotr/getinvolved/volunteer.htm