Above: A biiiiig wave at Gauley Bridge on the Gauley. 5,000 cubic feet per second? 6,000? I dunno, but it was rockin'. I surfed for quite a while, the strategy being that perhaps I would see some mussels flush by. Unfortunately, only milk jugs, tree trunks, and soda cans were noted.

Left: Another mussel survey technique I employed was to engage the boat into a dynamic stern squirt, which more ofen than not ended with the kayak floating bottoms up. At this point a much better view of the river bottom could be obtained, though once again efforts were thwarted by dank, muddy waters.

We found better habitat on the next watershed west on Slaughter Creek where we immediately nabbed a 3.5 (yes, 3.5) gram male pipistrelle. Soon afterwards we also caught a big brown and red bat, though these escaped before they could be completely captured. I beleive that because of a steady wind at the time, these bats were actually landing on the billiowing nets instead of falling into the bags.

Chris and Neil also deemed their site across the river from Diamond as trash, and ventured further west to the outskirts of Charleston where they caught two reds, some big browns, and one pipistrelle.

Left: A tiny male pipestrelle along Slaughter Creek.

Below: Infant northern long eared under the Route 60 bridge in Cedar Grove. The bat and the roost crevice is in the center of the frame.

Below: Baby northern long eared outside its crevice roost.