Wildlife Encounters.., Have you had any? Options

[Denise]

This visitor, on the other hand is NOT WELCOME in my yard!
Only as thick as my index finger and not even 12" long. As you can see, it is still so young that its tail tip (the rattler) is still black.
Even scarier than an adult rattlesnake, and im sure it has brothers and sisters.

[swizz]

wow Denise, definitely a scary little critter there.
I'm not sure if it's fact or not, but I think I've heard that baby Rattlers can be more venomous than adults?
Snakes in general don't freak me out but anything venomous gets my attention.
One of the bonuses of living at altitude is little or no Rattlers up here thankfully... I've never encountered one. No Black Widows up here either but lots when I lived in Eldorado Springs years ago, don't like them.
Fascinating markings on that Rattler... maybe a small hatband or bracelet?

[Hoose]

Took this pic early this spring on the way to Drake of some bighorn sheep coming down to drink from the river.

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[Woody]

Hey Denise, Maybe that little feller was just out searching for his long lost cusion. I think I found him, here he is.

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[Denise]

Fantastic picture Hoose, looks like it was a great day to be out exploring!

I'm not sure if it's fact or not, but I think I've heard that baby Rattlers can be more venomous than adults?

In some ways they are Chris. Here is a quote I grabbed off the net........

The venom of a baby rattlesnake is the same as a full grown rattlesnake. the reason it seems more "toxic" is because they cant control the amount of venom they pump out, the way an adult snake can

actually all rattlesnakes have hemotoxin and neurotoxin included in their venim. Baby rattlesnakes, however, contains mostly neurotixin, and little hemotin. It's the neurotoxin that can be fatal. Hemotoxin is used to break down tissue, and aids in the digestive process.

Not only that, but you could be right on top of one, you won't know it because they have no rattles yet to warm you.

Fascinating markings on that Rattler... maybe a small hatband or bracelet?

At this point Chris, it might make nice small patches. Sorry, Im not usually a wildlife killer, but this one had to go! It was way too close to where my son plays.

Cool pic Woody, was that where you found it or was that just a holding spot till you delt with it?

[Woody]

I had to put him in a box till I could deal with him. This was taken last year in Kuwait. I was opening the door to a porta-potty and noticed a movement at the base of the door. He was probably about 6 inches from my foot. I'm not one to kill wildlife unless I am going to consume or use it but this one defiantly did not need to be hanging out in our only latrine. So I put him in a box and took him out in the desert. I think it was a Puff Adder or Death Adder, not exactly sure. He had some baby blue on his markings. Kind of neat. Woody

[ASTROBLEME]

I saw this ant attacking a caterpillar as it was crawling out yesterday. If you zoom in close, you can see the ant's stinger!



ASTROBLEME

[CP]

Nice pics everyone!

Here's another slithering traveler we saw recently. A 3ft bull snake out looking for a snack, thought it was cool in the pic it was doing it's rattle snake impression by compressing it's head muscles in an attempt to look more like a vipers head.

[swizz]

I saw some mud-eroded Cougar tracks on my claim today but wasn't positive on the ID
.... until I followed the tracks and found this

[Denise]

Ewwwww, well don't touch it! Hope you packed in some hand sanitizer.
Is that a feather with it by your hand? Hard to tell by the picture, but is that bone in there or is that feather also?

Inquiring minds want to know.

[swizz]

It is large cat scat with feathers and bones in it.
Pretty old stuff so I wasn't too concerned... but yes, washed my hands.

[Denise]

Even better than hand sanitizer!

That snake Dan pictured above had me worried for a bit. The day after I saw it, I was telling him about it and where I had seen it.
He looks at me and says "like that" and then points out the window..........

There it was again! Hey, I don't recall giving him frequent slitherer miles through our yard!!
It slithered through the yard past the water dish for the bunnies and stopped to smell the board that I put bird seed on, then moved along. I watched the next day, but I haven't seen it again.

Now having to deal with a HUGE pissed off female black widow.....sigh
Bet she is protecting an egg sack somewhere close.

[swizz]

hmmm... remember that 70s hit by Jerry Reed "I Don't Like Spiders and Snakes"?

I actually like Bull Snakes. I got to know them quite well when I lived in ElDorado Springs. Some that I encountered there were in the 7-8ft range but mostly docile and fun to observe. I don't care for spiders in general but do my best not to harm them. Harmfully venomous spiders are my enemy and I destroy them if they have set up shop in my living space, otherwise I leave them alone. ElDorado Springs also has a healthy population of Black Widows unfortunately. I was always careful where I stuck my fingers and toes.

[Denise]

hmmm... remember that 70s hit by Jerry Reed "I Don't Like Spiders and Snakes"?

I actually like Bull Snakes. I got to know them quite well when I lived in ElDorado Springs. Some that I encountered there were in the 7-8ft range but mostly docile and fun to observe. I don't care for spiders in general but do my best not to harm them. Harmfully venomous spiders are my enemy and I destroy them if they have set up shop in my living space, otherwise I leave them alone. ElDorado Springs also has a healthy population of Black Widows unfortunately. I was always careful where I stuck my fingers and toes.

I am NOT a fan of spiders!


I do remember that song, I even put it in the "Off The Wall Songs" (middle of page 1) in the forum. I believe it was Jim Stafford who originally did the song though. I added a good one from Jerry Reed since you brought back good memories, he makes a perfect addition to that thread.

[swizz]

I believe it was Jim Stafford who originally did the song though.

.... you are SO right, I don't even have to double-check, I remember now! Good one