Hello blog readers-
I thought I would provide some more pics for you today (see below). The cicadas are cooking, and so are we, as a matter of fact. It is 97 down here today, which is incredibly warm for the Central Appalachians. We are expecting temperatures in the 90s for the next 5 days!
So I am sure you are wondering about the venomous things as indicated by the title. I had two close calls in the venomous category recently. Well yesterday I was just inches from stepping on a copperhead snake at one of my sites! I am lucky that I saw him and could stumble backwards in time! Really, I think he just startled me more than actually being a threat. Very pretty snake, although this time I didn't stick around to get a picture. I was walking in very tall grass (almost as tall as me now, because of all the rain), so I proceeded for the rest of the morning with extreme caution (probably a bit too much caution, as it took me forever to finish my route).
My second poisionous experience was with this catepillar that has a pretty serious bite. Chris got tagged by one last year and he said it hurt pretty badly, plus the bite swelled up a bit (kind of looked like a beesting). I grabbed onto a tree to help step down a steep area, and then realized that my hand was right next to this thing on the tree trunk.
Other than that, things have been pretty quiet. Today we did some habitat work in a clearcut, which is the worst possible thing anyone could do with all the briars and thick vegetation! We only got one plot done because they take so long, and you end up coming out with tons of scratches. Plus it was really hot out there today with no shade!
Slimy salamander, Plethodon glutinosus, found under a coverboard.
Picture perfect coyote track (the GPS is about 5 in. long).
Eastern box turtle, Terrapene carolina.
The cows must have tipped over their water bucket...
And look what was inside!
4 comments:
When I was backpacking in North Carolina we heard a coyote howling pretty close to us. I've never camped any where they're around so it was weird for me.
Be careful Aim!! Geez!
Also, these cows crack me up... I'm sure the turtle was happy they tipped the bucket for him though.. Cow tipping at its best. ;)
Coyotes are cool- in Virginia they are actually classified as a nuisance species, so they can be killed on sight at any time of the year. It's kind of sad that they have become such "pests," but I think it's mostly people's fault for providing food and habitat for them and inviting them in too close.
Yep, Aim, we left the bucket just like that for him. I'm afraid I am partial to turtles over cattle:)
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