As spring temperatures continue to rise and snowmelt accelerates, native wildflowers are blooming earlier than ever before. This has far-reaching consequences for the ecosystem, affecting everything from pollinators and insects to wildlife that depend on plant materials for food. To better understand these shifting bloom times, a guided community science walk is being organized in Grand Teton National Park.
The walk will take place at the Blacktail Butte parking lot off HWY 89/191 just north of Moose Junction. Participants should be prepared for a short hike with closed-toed shoes, water, and bear spray. Notebooks, pens, field guides, and light snacks will be provided for the two-mile roundtrip hike with frequent stops. RSVP by emailing Charlotte Cadow, the Community Science Specialist.
The community science effort known as Wildflower Watch aims to track changes in bloom times. The scheduled dates and times for the walks are as follows:
– Wednesday, April 17, 1-3 p.m.
– Wednesday, April 24, 1-3 p.m.
– Wednesday, May 1, 1-3 p.m.
– Wednesday, May 8