Meant to put in a shot of the big skink on the last post but didn't take one, DOH! Here's what really gets me, the roadways are nooo sanctuary, believe you me, and not many that enter it make it across, especially big ones like US 77, and the bigger the snake, the bigger the target. All but a very few herps were hit in the breakdown lane or the rumble strip. It is if most people aimed for them. I know that people in Texas let others pass by pulling into the breakdown lane, but shouldn't need to on a two lane both ways highway, and others veer slightly sometimes off the main road, but some of these guys were targeted, the box turtle was beyond the rumble stripe far to the shoulder. What kind of person would run down a box turtle? I know the horned lizards are hard to see, they are small, and love to use the highway as a sauna, so it is completely their fault! Still hate to see it. The splendida was in the middle and had bad timing. I realize not everyone can see some of these herps all the time,but when safety allows, it only takes a slight juke at 55 or 70 to miss em. The Schotts' was on a bridge overpass and totally next to the railing, a deliberate smash, IMO. I did rescue twoatrox and the slider, and pictigaster, so at least 3 herps will live an unknown amount of time, and this was one trek, one path, one glimpse of our roadways in Texas, and it happens 24-7. I can't do the math, but to say the least, there are many, many, many herps in Texas!
Todd Hughes
