Can you see any small mammals in this photo? Neither could we -- a team of UAC students (and their fearless translator) paired with a South Dakota State student researching rodents in the primary forest and in the coffee plantation as well.

After setting up almost 70 trampas in the dense cloud forest, we only caught 5 specimens. (Of course I'll oblige if you want me to e-mail you close-ups of their little mammalian faces.)

Thankfully there is no photographic record of my sudden and unexpected love affair with the unparalleled efficacy and artless grace of the machete. Needless to say, next time I'll be asking to be one of the trail-clearers up front. So. Much. Fun.