Dateline: 30 July 2024
ASIH Warning: The 2nd half of this post contains snake-related content. Viewer discretion is advised.
Just two days in the greater Tucson, AZ area and the ‘crazy animals’ are coming out of the woodwork. #nature. First up, right outside the BIRDS field station Monday afternoon, an absolutely gorgeous Coyote (Canis latrans):
Next up, an amazing Desert Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma platyrhinos):
Finally, nothing puts a spring in your step like a surprise rattlesnake! From this morning at Catalina State Park, a beautiful Western Diamondback Rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox):
This individual was crossing further up the trail, but close enough to rear up slightly (see above) + lots of rattling:
Heading off into the grass:
[Photo Editor’s Note: In the “funny/unfortunate photo background” category, here’s the uncropped version of the shot above, apparently of a Coyote eating a piece of carrot cake:
Note to viewers: this team member is sorry that he dropped the carrot cake on the ground. He was not trying to attract the coyote so the Team Leader can get the picture!
Also, on that note, this team member did NOT plant the rattler near the path the Team Leader was going to walk on. No one can replace him!