4357 Wildlife

Wildlife in our Backyard

September 30, 2012

Turtle walking across the recently cut grass:

Can you see the anole?

Roughlock Falls

Roughlock Falls, SD

October 2006

Bridal Veil Falls, SD

Bridal Veil Falls. SD

October 2006

Switzerland Point Middle School

Switzerland Point Middle School

St. Johns County, FL

August 20, 2012

First day at a new school and the start of 8th Grade:

Gooseberry Falls

Gooseberry Falls, MN

October 2006

Darwin Falls

Darwin Falls

Death Valley National Park

September 2010

Another trip to Mount Whitney ended without a summit. Wildfires in the area made breathing along the trail almost impossible. The picture below is a little hazy due to the smoke in the area:

Since I was driving back to Las Vegas a day early, I decided to spend some time in Death Valley despite the 124F degree temperature. Since I didn't have a plan, I stopped at a convenience store in Panamint Springs to inquire about local hiking trails. Two young men working at the store recommended Darwin Falls. I had already passed the turnoff for the falls and they explained that Eco-Terrorists keep removing the signs to limit the number of hikers to protect the unique wildlife surrounding the falls. 

Between the oppressive heat and my rental car, I can't help but wonder if they thought they were sending me to my death:

The beginning of the trail and it doesn't matter that it's a dry heat, it was brutal to be out:

Adaption is amazing as this lizard was on a rock that I could barely touch without burning my finger:

All of a sudden, the valley turns into a narrow canyon full of  greenery:

The trail becomes more of a wilderness scramble:

and a rock scramble:

The first glimpse of Darwin Falls:

It's hard to find a good spot to view the falls:

After returning home, I researched the falls and learned that the falls I viewed were actually only the lower falls at approximately 20ft. Darwin Falls includes a 60ft. upper falls that can be viewed after some rock climbing. Even if I knew about the upper falls, I don't think I would have attempted the rock scramble considering the desert heat.

Deer

Imagine being in a deep sleep and having an almost hysterical 3 year old bust through your bedroom door yelling: "thems is in the yard". That is exactly what happened yesterday morning. I jumped up and followed Egypt into the family room. Egypt ran to the patio door and started pointing and hititng the window while screaming: "LOOK, LOOK". My eyes were still trying to focus when I made out five deer disappearing into the forest behind our house. Egypt was a little scared and excited at the same time. I was only excited, first that Egypt didn't see a masked burglar in the yard and second because we had a family of deer right outside our back door.

For a second morning in a row we had a family of deer in the yard. I was able to snap a quick picture before they disappeared:

1970's Egypt

August 9, 2012

Florida Striped Scorpion

We first saw a scorpion in the girls bathroom the other night, but he started running and ended up squished before I could get my camera. We were hoping it was a fluke scorpion in the house. However, we found this guy in the garage this morning: