June 6, 2008 Scientists Bioblitz Maine preserve Play video

(Marnie MacLean, NECN: Wells, Maine) - Teams of biologists from Maine and across New England Have been in Wells, Maine this week for a bio-blitz. It's a focused Three day effort to learn about every plant, animal and Insect living in a new nature preserve.

"So each snake has its own frequency that's emitted by a radio transmitter"

Jonathan Mays is Maine’s own snake hunter. He's looking For the endangered racer snake....there are seven living In the wells Barrens in Maine....each is fitted with a small Transmitter so Jonathan can track them.

Jonathan wants to know how far the snakes travel and how Well they can live in this habitat.

While Jonathan looks for the snakes other biologists are focusing Their efforts on the plant life they like to hide under. It's Called a bio-blitz...three days of intensive survey of one specific Area.

Parker Schuerman is leading this team of biologists. His motto Is there's no bad weather...just bad clothes...so dressed to Work in the rain...they head out to plot a section of the wells Barrens.

Parker Scheurman--nature conservancy "we're looking at plant diversity on the forest floor....the mid-story and overstory with The trees themselves."

It's a lot more than spotting an oak tree....they follow strict Guidelines when mapping out a plot...measuring exact Distances from a center point.

Once the marks are in place, they'll catalogue all the plant life within the plot.

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"the nature conservancy bought over 500 acres in wells, Maine last fall....most of it Is blueberry barrens..and while want to keep blueberries...want the land to be more Diverse."

The way to make that happen is to eventually burn sections of the land.... Which will encourage new growth...and bring new species Of plants...animals and insects. The ones living here Now, know how to get out of the way of the fires..including The racer snakes.

Jonathan has found one of the snakes....but says she's hiding Underneath the brush--out of the rain.

It would be nice to see the four foot black racer...but Jonathan Says it's more important to protect her and her home in the barrens. NECN’s Marnie Maclean reports.