Ok, I went hiking today in the south of Brownsville, it was a strange morning!
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Temperatures were in the mid 80s. There was a dense overcast and an intermittent, blustery east, southeast wind. Everything is very dry and there was just a hint of rain in the air. The gnats were swarming every part of exposed skin, eyes, ears.. what a torment!
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The areas with a sufficient topping of dust to record the passing of animals were crisscrossed with snake (and other) trails! Big stuff and tiny stuff and every size in between.. At every turn I was certain I'd encounter some thing.. I did, but not exactly as expected... while walking quickly and as silently as possible I came upon a Bobcat! also negotiating the narrow trail.. right in front of me! .. the wind was in my face and the cat did not suspect my presence. Fumbling for the camera I took my eyes from it for a second and it disappeared.
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I did not expect to see it again.. but I did! Here's the first photo..
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.. a second later I stopped and took aim and gave a small hissing sound.. hoping to have the cat turn for a portrait.. It worked!
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That was fun! ... next I surprised myself by successfully stalking a large race-runner lizard that was picking at a termite trail.. he was surprised too, look at his face!
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Here's more of him.. beautiful critters! If they were 28" long everybody would have one for a pet!
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.. this next is a Speckled Racer, Drymobius.. a small one, perhaps 17" in length.. I see these pretty snakes most anytime I put in the effort. Smaller ones, like this kid, are not frequently encountered.
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I kept walking and eventually did see more snakes out on the trails.. a ribbon, a ruthveni whip snake and an indigo.. they all burned me! But I am not complaining!
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Thanks for looking. Have a super weekend!
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-----
Gus
A. Rentfro
RioBravoReptiles.com
www.riobravoreptiles.com

"Perfectly healthy animals are a minimum requirement.. everything else is just salesmanship" gus

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