Well maybe not tigers but we have been seeing mountain lions and bears here in the great Northwest. I was attacked by a cougar in a zoo I worked in so I can personally attest to what that feels like – and it ain’t good. Despite a couple of close encounters so far the bears have left me alone.
A note to all to all of you bogus robo subscribers using the latest and most ridiculous @dod.bytom.pl “email” account – don’t bother. You are automatically deleted. Same for the rest of you morons who think you’re slick with these idiotic techniques.
This is a trifle embarrassing but since it is wildlife related I went ahead with the post. The other day I noticed an odd sound while driving. It seemed to occur whenever I made a sharp turn or stop, so I assumed it was just some loose something or other rattling around my auto. It kept happening, however. When the rattle scratch noise continued after my car came to a complete stop I suspected rodentia mischief. That night I checked the car thoroughly but found nothing – until I popped the hood:
Amazing! That little mouse had to have been riding back and forth to work with me for quite some time. I guess the wee thing found a warm winter spot and decided to hang on.
I spent a bit of time in Little Rock recently at the National Guard Professional Training Center (PEC) at Camp Robinson. Me being me I strolled about the camp keeping an eye out for the local wildlife. And, of course, I found some great examples of Arkansas natural history.
I am always fascinated by the variety of wildlife that exists right under under our nose. It did not take much effort to find these beautiful animals on Camp Robinson. Military posts, by the way, are great places for wildlife. The prairie lizard is a common, dull colored species but the males display a brilliant turquoise color. Box turtles are often encountered but catching a mating pair is a treat. I love millipedes and this beautiful orange and black specimen caught my eye. I believe the turtles on the muddy bank are painted turtles but they slipped into the water before I could get a precise picture. To the best of my ability to identify it the large snake is a swamp snake, relatively rare in Arkansas. Grubs are hardly everyone’s favorite animal but these big white ones are exceptional. Half the size of my index finger they are the biggest grubs I’ve ever seen. The find of the day, however, was the western worm snake! I’ve been reading about these snakes and wanting to catch one for years. They are tiny little things, normally burrowed or hiding underground so finding this guy under a log was a stroke of luck.
It’s one of my favorite times of the year and one of my favorite animals. For the most part they live mysterious, unseen, secretive lives. But if you creep around enough damp places and turn over enough rocks and logs you’re treated to a wildlife wonder:
Although you can see them just about all year round here 60 – 70 degree spring weather is ideal. Sometimes you come upon a real bonanza like the little clutch of red backed salamanders. One of our biggest is the northwest brown salamander reaching almost a foot in length. The big guys are one of most secretive species, however. But as you can see everybody loves salamanders!
Caterpillar eyes; a Giant Western Crane Fly; a Great Blue Heron eating an eel; a crow scolding a squirrel for stealing his nut; colorful snails trespassing over barnacles; a close look at sea star tube feet
Anoles are members of the Iguanid family, over 600 species of which inhabit the Americas. The common green anole is native to America and often displays a jagged white stripe along it back.  Males often display a distinctive ink throat flap when vying for territory. The crested anole is distinguished by the prominent crest along its head and back. I have not yet found another photo of this lizard showing those black spots behind the eye and behind the ear of the animal. Both green and crested anoles can change colors from green to brown; the transformation primarily dependent on emotion but also appears to change in relation to temperature as well.
For some real reptilian rhythm go here:Â Lizard Dance!
During a recent trip to New Orleans I found myself stranded in the downtown French Quarter of the city. Since I have an infinitely greater preference for wildlife safaris over cuisine I was chagrined not to be able to get out into bayous and swamps of the place; some of the best times of my life have been spent sloshing around swamps. Well, you can’t have everything. But the determined wildlife photographer can always find something somewhere so I took my camera out along the backyard fence lines of some homes in the area and, of course, I found something. At first I thought I was seeing nothing but variations of the common green anole, Anolis carolinenesis. After a bit of research, however, I discovered that I had also captured a crested anole, Anolis cristatellus, on film as well. Both are common reptiles found throughout the Southeast but the crested anole is an introduced species from the Caribbean. Combined with their ability to change colors these active, territorial, and aggressive reptiles very interesting to observe – and welcome relief from the frantic noise of downtown New Orleans.
There are many things I miss about Afghanistan. I grew to love the people, the land, and the wildlife. I have fond memories of that country. Reptiles always hold a special place in my heart, however, and the arid Afghan climate gives home to a plethora of these beautiful animals. Add to this the fact that most of the country’s reptiles, and wildlife in general, have not been thoroughly cataloged and you have a herpetologist’s paradise. Some day, when the insane people of the this world are defeated, this land will be a natural history and historical paradise. But for now – keep your head down.
The Afghan Tortoise is surprisingly common in parts of the county.  Sold in American pet stores as a Russian Tortoise the two cute specimens in this photos are definitely Afghans – lovingly raised by American GIs outside of Qalat. HOOAH! Saw Scaled Vipers are ubiquitous – and dangerous – venomous serpents found throughout the country. Due to the number of time it bites humans saw scales are rated as one of the most dangerous snakes in the world. This strikingly beautiful specimen posed for me in Kandahar. The largest snake I encountered over there is the Steppe Racer. Easily over 6 feet long this non-venomous snake gets a lot of attention when you run across one of them. They seem to prefer in the northern to northeastern part of the country. For lack of a good common name I’ll call this Erimias fasciata a Striped Racer. Common, colorful, and fast I usually found them in southern and central Afghanistan. Agamas lizards, as they do in the resto fo the workl, predominate in Afghanistan. Although they do not possess the extreme talents of its chameleon cousins, agama lizards actually do change colors. The little guy in my hand proved this right in front of my eyes. The prettiest lizard I discovered over there is the purple throat agama I found in great numbers around Zabul province. For more on the fascinating wildlife of Afghanistan visit:
Of all the animals I managed to photograph in Afghanistan none seem to have captured more attention than this little guy – a species of Afghan amphibian called a Skittering Frog, Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis microspinulata. These are actual frogs, about the size of a US leopard frog, that live in a various places throughout the country; these particular specimens were found in Kandahar province. They are found in other parts of the country but this is the only area I witnessed them in. These little guys have an exceptional and interesting ability to jump across the water surface. When frightened they don’t just plunge under water like most frogs; they skip along the water surface sometimes covering more than seven feet before diving. Seeing twenty or thirty of these little frogs suddenly skitter across the surface of the water in different directions is an amazing – and very amusing – sight. Get a lot more of amazing wildlife from Afghanistan here:
Nosy and sometimes spooky, but I love them anyway.
Elk are a constant visitor on my property (no, I won’t give out the address). The Roosevelt Elk we have here in the Northwest are the largest of the elk species. Bulls come in at a half a ton and almost 10 feet long. Throw in the antlers and your looking at 10 feet tall (5 feet at the shoulder.) You have to get close in order to get a true appreciation of just how big this deer is. I’m fortunate enough to have this experience throughout the year.  I love to take photos with the flash in the evening or early morning – it really highlights the glowing eyes.
 