Weekly Update ArchiveWeek Ending 03/21/04 Spring is definitely here folks!!! I went out on my second round of local herping today and hit the old abandoned pig farm. This place ALWAYS produces! YES…Even if it's only Texas Rat Snakes! But hey, we even see extra suprises such as two Great Horned Owl babies! The nest was located atop the tin roof of the main portion of the pig farm covered area. I hope they can fly before it gets too hot! My old friend Mrs. Barn Owl came out to greet us this time when I gave the roof a tap on the old house. She was a little too quick for my archival photographer to capture her flying out of the house. Ever since I have been collecting at this particular location, I have known this owl to be there. No telling how old she is, but this is her home and I always enjoy seeing her every spring. An abundance of rats and mice were seen as well as a few rabbits and many, many skinks and green anoles. Yes sir, spring is definitely here!! The flowers are blooming and stuff's a crawlin'! I caught two Texas Rats and found a third under a piece of tin, but my good friend, photographer and web mistress demanded I leave the snake where she lay. The snake looked so comfortable, she said. I agreed and we just photographed her and moved on. I will release the other two I caught after they shed. I was going to bring my son Caleb but with a little coercing, I was talked out of that, as well. It is a little on the dangerous side out there simply because the rusted tin, stinging nettle plants and sticker bushes, not to mention the possibility of cottonmouths and copperheads and an occasional coral snake. Caleb is slated to go with me on a "daddy and son" trip sometime this summer. He will actually be spotlighting on his own for the first time. Hope he can stay up for that elusive Alterna! The weather made for a perfect herping day and finding a nice cow skull for the old cactus garden is always a plus! To close out the afternoon, there's also nothing like a good Mexican food dinner with a few margaritas!!! Hmmmm, makes me yearn for Mexico again, but until that time, I'm outta here! Happy Herping as always! Wayne Howell
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