Critters

A few days ago we saw our first snake of the season. Our buddy, Crotalus, advised that it was a Sonoran gopher snake and that it preys on rodents and is non venomous. Today, the same snake appeared out back. As it climbed up the embankment by our driveway, a curve-billed thrasher and its mate showed up to encourage the snake to go elsewhere. The bird in the photo pecked at the snake’s tail several times before the snake hurried off into some underbrush on the neighbor’s property. Click on the image to enlarge.

Now that we have been in our new home for over a year, we are observing the variations to flora and fauna that take place when the seasons change. Now that spring is a little over a week hence, we see more and more small lizards around the property. I guess they hibernate or become dormant in the winter months. We were walking the dogs today when I spotted this lizard sunning itself on a round rock.

Image: Lizard sunning itself on a round rock. Click to enlarge.

As the weather continues to get warmer, we expect to see a lot more activity from reptiles (including snakes) as well as other critters such as scorpions. We have not seen any snakes or scorpions this spring, but we will be watching for them . . . 😯