Wildlife

The past two days I've seen lots of wildlife, more than I've seen in all of our trips down here combined - apparently it's because of the lovely rain that has been happening.

Two nights ago we met Michael Huston, a biologist from the University of Texas who was out here for three days with a student, doing an insect survey.  He told us that the night after our 7/10" of rain they had the heaviest haul of insects of anywhere they'd been in West Texas. We noticed those insects all over our Nooks as we tried to read that night.  

The next morning (yesterday) I saw a deer crossing our road. Along Terlingua Ranch Road I saw two different families of javelina, one with tiny babies and families of quail, also with tiny babies.  Then on my way home from my "office" at the Bad Rabbit Cafe, I saw a single javelina, a road runner and finally, my first rattlesnake, coiled on the road near our place. I backed up and took its picture then moved on, it didn't move a muscle during the whole time.  Many folks here shoot rattlesnakes onsite, I chose not to.  If it was by the trailer, I may have, I don't know. Then, this morning I on the way back to my "office" I saw a coyote.

Our walk last night was with more caution that we've shown in the past. (Not that we are reckless.) We walk with long sticks and we each carry a knife, but the dogs have nothing to protect them. Henry walks on-leash because he won't listen unless he wants to. The other three we kept close. I know that just seeing a snake doesn't mean there are any more of them than if we don't see them, but just like if you have a near car accident you tend to be more vigilant, so were we in regards to snakes.