Critters Encountered While Fossil Hunting

[barefootgirl]

Great snake photos, Tera! Others might know better, but it looks like a banded water snake of some kind...vivid colors.

Thanks John! I know what the poisonous ones look like and are but the non-poisonus ones not so much.

[MikeD]

Is that the kind of spider that chases you? We had the chasing kind in Illinois..

I think they are wolf spiders. They are more interested in getting away, although some will run towards you. I've never seen so many at one time. Most were 2-2.5 inches, although I have seen bigger.

[Roz]

I think they are wolf spiders. They are more interested in getting away, although some will run towards you. I've never seen so many at one time. Most were 2-2.5 inches, although I have seen bigger.

You must have discovered their den..

[bear-dog]

Sometimes while out diving dolphins will come to the boat (never while I am on the surface - dang). Anyhow here are just a few photos that I shot.

I have a bunch more dolphin and scenery photos here:

http://www.megateeth.com/photos.htm

Here Flipper,Flipper.

[Scylla]

Okay so if you didn't catch this on my hunting thread here is some picts of the snake who decided to join me for lunch today. I was sitting on a rock and this guy just popped up out of the water with a catfish in his mouth. He stayed there at the edge of the water till the fish finally stopped fighting him and then slipped back down into the water under a rock. I really hope the fins on that catfish don't hurt him. I believe it was a diamond back water snake but I could be wrong. His tummy was really pretty red colored.

Still going barefoot?

[barefootgirl]

Still going barefoot?

Yes!

[Frank Menser]

Perhaps my most unusual find while fossil collecting was a 5" Leucistic (white--with black eyes) Dekay's Brownsnake in north Broward County, Florida.

[Harry Pristis]

Perhaps my most unusual find while fossil collecting was a 5" Leucistic (white--with black eyes) Dekay's Brownsnake in north Broward County, Florida.

Nice find, Frank! I wish you hadn't photographed it on a white background, though. It's difficult to make out in your post.

[Frank Menser]

Nice find, Frank! I wish you hadn't photographed it on a white background, though. It's difficult to make out in your post.

Here is a better photo;

. .

Edited October 18, 2010 by Frank Menser

[Guest N.AL.hunter]

And here's one of my pet glass snake

:

[Auspex]

And here's one of my pet glass snake

:

I think you used the wrong pic; looks like a chameleon to me...

[Roz]

This was a critter I found recently. An old grasshopper skull. As common as grasshoppers are,

I had never found one before..

[barefootgirl]

This was a critter I found recently. An old grasshopper skull. As common as grasshoppers are,

I had never found one before..

Very very cool! Looks like a big one to.

[Roz]

Very very cool! Looks like a big one to.

I knew you would like it, Tera..

[Ordovician_Odyssey]

well, i've encountered the mighty and mejestic squirl. not all that interesting but either then that, theres this big bee. notice how i found it when i got back home

Edited October 27, 2010 by trilobite guy

[Fossildude19]

Shamus,

That looks like a white faced hornet ( I calls 'em a Bald faced hornet,... mmm hmmm!)

They are mean nasty and just plain aggressive! I hate those guys!

They will sting you for no reason other than you are there, in their way.

They'll chase you a good distance, too.

Neat pic though,... cold weather must have them sluggish!

Regards,

[Auspex]

well, i've encountered the mighty and mejestic squirl. not all that interesting but either then that, theres this big bee. notice how i found it when i got back home

Dolichovespula maculata ("Bald-faced 'Hornet' [not a true hornet, but a yellowjacket]). Beautiful creatures, but dangerous to people who are allergic to their sting (as I am).

[calciteguy]

They grow em big in Texas! The knife is 4 1/2 in. Seen while fossil hunting out west.

I want to see one of these

[CreekCrawler]

I want to see one of these

Just head out to Alpine Tx, Hook a left on hwy 118 then head about 75 or so miles down to Study Butte. Park car on side of road, walk out and look around the rocks. Best after a light rain and at night. At times I have seen plenty down there. There are some grasshoppers down there that look like they were painted by Picasso....

There also resides a centipede "Scolopendra heros" down there that gets very large"up to 9 inches" and I've heard that the bite is very painful. They are also beautifully colored down there and are a fast moving centipede..

If ya live in Tx and have never been down to the Chihuahuan Desert or the Trans Peco's.... It's a must see

[calciteguy]

Just head out to Alpine Tx, Hook a left on hwy 118 then head about 75 or so miles down to Study Butte. Park car on side of road, walk out and look around the rocks. Best after a light rain and at night. At times I have seen plenty down there. There are some grasshoppers down there that look like they were painted by Picasso....

There also resides a centipede "Scolopendra heros" down there that gets very large"up to 9 inches" and I've heard that the bite is very painful. They are also beautifully colored down there and are a fast moving centipede..

If ya live in Tx and have never been down to the Chihuahuan Desert or the Trans Peco's.... It's a must see

Thanks for the info. Next time I'm in Alpine I'll head to Study Butte and look for these along with agates and fossils. I was there last March and L O V E it. My kind of place.

[Auspex]

Thanks for the info. Next time I'm in Alpine I'll head to Study Butte and look for these along with agates and fossils. I was there last March and L O V E it. My kind of place.

While you're there, go on in to Big Bend N.P.; camp at Grapevine Springs for a week or a month or a year or so...I never really left.

[erose]

Shamus,

That looks like a white faced hornet ( I calls 'em a Bald faced hornet,... mmm hmmm!)

They are mean nasty and just plain aggressive! I hate those guys!

They will sting you for no reason other than you are there, in their way.

They'll chase you a good distance, too.

Neat pic though,... cold weather must have them sluggish!

Regards,

Surprised to hear that you had problems with them. I had a big nest near my home and what was great was the hornets drove away (killed?) the Yellow Jackets. And the YJs were a big problem nesting under the deck, landing on food and even drinking my beer! They have become much more numerous and are the only bug I will go out of my way to zap.

I've heard that all social wasps and bees can get a bit more aggressive in the fall as they fight to see who gets to winter-over in the nests.

[Fossildude19]

Erich,

I did a bit of research after I posted, and was actually surprised to see many people found them inoffensive, or not aggresive at all.

There are no known nests in my yard, but I've had them come after me when I wasn't aware that they were around.

All of my experiences have been, if I see one, it's usually gona come after me.

And I would be willing to admit it's just me,... my friends, family, and acquaintances all agree. They are some bad tempered bugs.

Having been stung by both the Bald Faced hornets, and yellow jackets, I don't like either, but the yellow jacket stings were much less painful.

Regards,

[evannorton]

I spent this past weekend around Mazon Creek and had a red fox watching me most of the afternoon. I think he thought I was going to find his prized fossil spot.

[erose]

I spent this past weekend around Mazon Creek and had a red fox watching me most of the afternoon. I think he thought I was going to find his prized fossil spot.

Possibly you were probably close to a den. And the fox was unwilling to leave but also not ready to reveal the location.