REMINISCENCES OF EDMUND C. JAEGER

- Nick Crooker

I met Dr. Jaeger in the fall of 1969, while attending Cal Poly in Pomona, California. One of the graduation requirements included a Senior Project in my field of study. Dr. Glenn R. Stewart, a herpetologist and an excellent teacher, was my advisor at that time. Dr. Stewart suggested since the Gopher Tortoise was now under protected status, why not gather those given to the Fish and Game department from local residents and release them back into the desert? That was an excellent suggestion. Sixty tortoises were obtained. Detailed descriptions were made and an aluminum bird tag was fastened to each carapace.

My next concern was where I should release 60 desert tortoises. Dr. Stewart assured me that this would not be a problem and that he would introduce me to his friend Dr. Edmund C. Jaeger. He would be able to help us. On a weekday night the following week I was standing in Dr. Jaeger's cinder block home in Riverside. His surroundings were modest but he had the essentials. A wood burning stove heated the home. Dr. Jaeger took care of his business and correspondence on what looked like a wooden picnic table. Looking past the table one could see his books. They stretched from floor to the ceiling. I saw complete volumes of scientific journals that were no longer in print. He loved his books. I stood and stared at some of the pictures and artifacts that he had gathered from around the world until he started asking me questions about myself. . "Do you like to camp?" He asked. "I was in the Boy Scouts" I replied. He smiled. Finally we got down to business about where to release the tortoises. He gave us three locations where the habitat would be ideal. Before leaving he made sure he obtained my address and phone number. Two weeks later I received a post card inviting me on a camping trip. Our friendship grew from that point on.

One of the most memorable trips I had with Dr. Jaeger came later that same year during Christmas break (12/13-18/69), when he invited me to accompany him on a trip to Baja California. After leaving Riverside early on December 13th, Dr. Jaeger and I stopped in Loma Linda. This is where we purchased uncut rye bread and cream puffs from the Goodie Shop. Dr. Jaeger had a sweet tooth. During our days of travel, Dr. Jaeger was always ready to share his knowledge of his beloved desert. As various geological and botanical interests arose, he was sure to share with me what he knew. We made camp each night in a desert wash, collected wood for the evening fire and made sure we left time to walk the desert floor to see things of interest.

Dr. Jaeger at the campsite
Photograph by Nick Crooker

Dr. Jaeger would tell me the common and scientific names of plants and then quiz me on them. He stated to me that he once knew over 2,000 common and scientific names of desert plants. What a marvelous way to learn the flora of the desert! The most memorable and incredible experience came on the morning of 12/17/69. My field notes recall the following: " I was awakened this morning at 6:00 AM, not by Dr. Jaeger, but by our desert friend Canis latrans. I was sleeping on the ground. The coyote bit the lower end of the canvas that was laid over me and thrashed it around to awaken me. She ran across my chest and went to the campfire where she grabbed an old newspaper, walked 20 feet and chewed upon it. She came back to my sleeping bag, stared at me and then returned to our campfire where she urinated on an ocotillo branch. She gave a final look around and then left. She was a fine looking specimen with a long golden brown winter coat. Dr. Jaeger observed the whole thing and we both agreed that the coyote was a female.

Dr. Jaeger was later asked by the National Geographic Society to write an introduction to their new book on the Great American Deserts. This very account was mentioned in his introduction.

I will always be grateful for the influence that Dr. Edmund Jaeger had and still has upon me. Because of his encouragement, I entered the teaching profession. My students have reaped the rewards of this friendship.



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