During orientation the PolarTREC teachers had a field trip to the Museum of the North, which was on the University of Alaska, Fairbanks campus where we had our training. It was here that I first met Jeanette Moore, a researcher for Team Squirrel. It was great to meet someone from the research team I would be working with, even though she wouldn’t be in the field with us. But meeting Jeanette was only half the fun. With her, she brought a hibernating female Arctic ground squirrel. It was a great opportunity for me to see the animal I will be studying in the field in such a short time.
This was the first time I held an Arctic ground squirrel. Photo taken by Ruth Rodriguez.
It takes about three hours for a squirrel to rouse, or wake up, from hibernation. This squirrel had been removed from the cold temperatures about 90 minutes before we saw her, so she was still hibernating, but more flexible and less frozen than she would have been just an hour earlier. She was also slowly starting to move, a little head movement here, a little arm movement there. Adorable everywhere.
Me and Jeanette Moore with the squirrel. Photo taken by Ruth Rodriguez.
All of the teachers got a chance to hold her. She was cold, which still felt surprising even though I knew she would be. It was nice to get a feel for the size of the squirrel and what I will be working with this spring, though by then the squirrels will be coming out of hibernation and moving around. It was also nice to meet Jeanette and get a chance to talk to her a bit. I’m looking forward to move chats in the future.
Be sure to check out my first video on the media tab.
Inside the Museum of the North
Afterwards, we had a chance to wander around the museum to look at all the exhibits. There were exhibits on life in the arctic, both for animals as well as people. There were also paintings and other artwork on display, as well as an (now) indoor outhouse that was pretty cool.
I think I could live like this. Photo taken my Steve Kirsche.
My favorite part was an exhibit called “The place where you go to listen.” It’s a music installation by composer John Luther Adams that incorporates sounds and vibrations from the Earth. It's in a very peaceful room. I don’t know how it works, but it was very soothing and I could see a sound like this playing in the background of my house anytime.
The plaque on the wall as you enter the special chamber.
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