I saw this pretty little juvenile Eastern Newt (Notophthalmus viridescens) on my hike through Rutland State Park. Isn’t she cute?
Category Archives: Wildlife Wednesday
Into the Lair of the Beast
When I wandered into the forest to get my daily exercise, I encountered what appeared to be the lair of an animal. It looked like a cozy place to stay for a coyote, bobcat, or small bear. As I approached the entrance to the cave-like rock outcropping, I heard a howl in the distance. I picked up a stick for protection (just in case it came closer), and noticed what appeared to be the left overs of the creature’s lunch lying at my feet. (See Below) I did not see the creature on this day. It is still lurking out there, behind my house…
“A nose like that has one advantage: it keeps your feet dry in the rain.”
About 3 months ago, I was in the rainforests on the island of Borneo, sleeping next to bands of proboscis monkeys. They’re funny looking, with big noses, prominent bellies, and long tails. I laughed while watching their playful antics at dusk and the early morning hours – they jump between branches, trying to find the best place to sleep. I am so grateful that I was able to have the chance to see them in person. Proboscis monkeys are endangered because they can only survive in the rainforest on one island in the world, and there is still a big problem with trees being cut down to sell and to make space for palm oil plantations.
I’m posting about them today in honor of Earth Day. If you donate to any of a number of wildlife organizations before the end of April, Google will match your donation. If you’re willing to donate even a little sometime this year, it is worth it to do it in the next week from the link below. As a fun bonus, the Google Doodle has a quiz to tell you which animal you are. I found out that I am a wooly mammoth. Take the quiz yourself, and let me know what your spirit animal is!
https://www.google.com/doodles/earth-day-2015
*PS- quote from the play Cyrano de Bergerac
Let’s get ready to Rhumba (Not Really)
Did you know that a group of rattlesnakes is called a rhumba?
This is not a rhumba. These little guys are the symbol of my home state of Massachusetts. Can you see all three of them? Do you know which type of snake they are? These are Garter Snakes. I spotted them while on a hike this afternoon. A group of snakes can be referred to as a den, nest, bed, pit, or knot. Next time you are out in the forest, keep your eyes peeled for snakes! These ones are harmless, so please don’t be afraid and please don’t accidentally step on or hurt them. Happy April 15th!
The Beauty of Nature at Bal Samand
At the Bal Samand Garden Retreat, you can see a man-made lake from the 12th century- and if you are out at dusk, watch the bats swoop for insects! This photo was taken near the palace.
The baby gray langur was fun to watch!
The palace has a peacock fountain, modeled after the huge tail feathers of a peacock, and there are many pea fowl roaming the grounds.
Spend a while with a crocodile
There is an amazing place to go and see lots and lots of Crocodiles in Tamil Nadu, India. We saw crocodilian species from all over the world. Below is a Gharial and a bask of Muggers, both species native to India.
Here be Dragons
On January 28th, we boarded a boat to Rinca Island to search for Komodo dragons in Komodo National Park. The short 2 hour journey took us by some spectacular sights. The water was gorgeous shades of green and blue. The landscapes were incredible to behold. Upon our arrival to the island, we encountered some long-tailed macaques searching for their favorite local snack, the fiddler crab.
Shortly down the path, right under the warning sign, we encountered our first dragon. Rinca Island has over 2200 Komodo Dragons currently living on it.
Soon after we met the ranger who would guide us through the park, we happened upon a large male dragon.
Other smaller dragons were wandering through the forest nearby.
A water buffalo was bathing in a stream. If a dragon bites a big healthy buffalo like this one, it could be a week or two before the buffalo dies. Usually multiple dragons will enjoy the feast.
Per UNESCO’s decision 20 years ago, the dragons are not fed by rangers but hunt their entire diet. Rinca has the dragons natural prey animals, deer, and wild pigs for the adults, and birds and lizards for the juveniles. (PS: did you know they live in trees for their first few years?)
If you visit Flores Island, hop on a boat to Rinca Island or Komodo Island and view these magnificent beasts in their natural habitat for yourself. As the old sailors’ maps say “Here be Dragons.” Only in Indonesia.
Giant Grasshopper!
We saw this grasshopper while walking around one afternoon. Matt’s hand is in the photo for scale reference. Amazing!
Inokashira Park Zoo
Inokashira Park Zoo, in the Tokyo area, is a really nice family-friendly zoo with a number of Japanese native species in it. We were especially excited to see tanuki (racoon-dog is the common English translation), the tiny local squirrels we had seen at a distance at the Daibutsu, and beautiful cranes and ducks.
We also learned about the leopard cat, which crossed over the ice to come to one of the islands, and the serow, an ungulate (think antelope) from northern Honshu. Both were super fuzzy and completely new to us!
If you get a chance, this zoo is worth a stop… and foreign passport holders get a discount on admission!
Some of my Favorite Warning Signs
the mint tea drinkers society 