bigflax925
10-10-2011, 07:53 PM
I am lucky if I can get a good 15 miles in after work around my neighborhood.
Part of my daily loop includes the highest point in our county where all of the TV, radio, and public safety radio towers are located. It's remote only in that no one leaves up there and is across the street from some neighborhoods where the average house runs close to a million.
Here are a few pics from up there. Lots of public dumping and the chip and seal roadway is pretty rough if it's intact and not washed away. This is Deliverance stuff. The climbing is pretty intense (for me) but the downhills are worth it. So is the wildlife...
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e332/bigflax925/c891af74.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e332/bigflax925/865bc877.jpg
Yesterday's ride was an early morning one - something I am not used to. I typically ride around 4:00pm-5:00pm. I got to see a lot of wildlife that I typically don't see.
First up…
This nasty looking critter.
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e332/bigflax925/Spiders%20and%20Critters/369bbfd4.jpg
I am not afraid of spiders, but I don't cuddle with them either. It's tarantula mating season now, so I am seeing quite a few of them. They are apparently pretty docile unless provoked and are quite curious. I will capture one or two next time. I think my kids will enjoy seeing one.
Next up:
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e332/bigflax925/Spiders%20and%20Critters/f88774e3.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e332/bigflax925/Spiders%20and%20Critters/fe0d16a1.jpg
I'm not sure what this is, as I haven't researched it yet. What looks like sequins on it's back are actually babies. Yes, that's the flash reflecting from their eyes. Disturbing.
Those are my keys for scale. Since no one has actually seen my keys IRL, I assure you that's a large spider. That's a Livestrong bracelet on there.
A little bit further in my ride I encountered this roll over accident.
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e332/bigflax925/Spiders%20and%20Critters/6045ba6a.jpg
I helped right it and left them to handle with their respective insurance companies. Based on what I saw on my return home, I suspect it might be turtle mating season, too and perhaps I ruined something kinky in the turtle world.
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e332/bigflax925/Spiders%20and%20Critters/a0086266.jpg
"Hey thanks for nothing!"
A little bit further up the road was this gem.
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e332/bigflax925/Spiders%20and%20Critters/45f2d65d.jpg
I haven't researched this one either. It's probably pretty common around these parts, but it's not a spider that I see commonly.
To round out my day, I got this guy a little bit later while, ironically enough, I was looking for more tarantulas.
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e332/bigflax925/Spiders%20and%20Critters/17676f00.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e332/bigflax925/Spiders%20and%20Critters/8783bc65.jpg
Yes, that's a Ball Python. Not indigenous to Arkansas or North America. I believe that a car that passed me going down while I was going up, dumped him off on the side of the road. Snakes are not my favorite things either.
I knew by looking that it was "special" and wasn't one of the typical snakes you see around here: rattlers, cottonmouths, copper head or water snake. That's my shoe in the bottom picture. I attempted to get something relevant to scale. I estimate the length to be almost 5' and weight about 30lbs. He was pretty solid. How did I guess the weight? Well….
…I approached it and it was not defensive and seemed as if it was used to be handled. I touched his tail and all was good. I figured it was of the "Ball" variety, as when I touched him by the head he wrapped himself up in a ball. Clever.
I went home to retrieve a vessel large enough to carry him in (turns out it was a Rubbermaid storage bin) and made arrangements with a friend who's connected with the AR Game & Fish Commission to help. I couldn't keep him at home, as I have small children and small animals. Besides, if it escaped, I'd have to sell my house and I'm pretty attached to it.
He's now resting comfortably in the vet's office and will be placed in the Little Rock Zoo after observation. The vet said he would've died if left outside as our nights are getting cooler.
Heckuva day, I'd say!
What cool critters have you found on your rides?
Part of my daily loop includes the highest point in our county where all of the TV, radio, and public safety radio towers are located. It's remote only in that no one leaves up there and is across the street from some neighborhoods where the average house runs close to a million.
Here are a few pics from up there. Lots of public dumping and the chip and seal roadway is pretty rough if it's intact and not washed away. This is Deliverance stuff. The climbing is pretty intense (for me) but the downhills are worth it. So is the wildlife...
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e332/bigflax925/c891af74.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e332/bigflax925/865bc877.jpg
Yesterday's ride was an early morning one - something I am not used to. I typically ride around 4:00pm-5:00pm. I got to see a lot of wildlife that I typically don't see.
First up…
This nasty looking critter.
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e332/bigflax925/Spiders%20and%20Critters/369bbfd4.jpg
I am not afraid of spiders, but I don't cuddle with them either. It's tarantula mating season now, so I am seeing quite a few of them. They are apparently pretty docile unless provoked and are quite curious. I will capture one or two next time. I think my kids will enjoy seeing one.
Next up:
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e332/bigflax925/Spiders%20and%20Critters/f88774e3.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e332/bigflax925/Spiders%20and%20Critters/fe0d16a1.jpg
I'm not sure what this is, as I haven't researched it yet. What looks like sequins on it's back are actually babies. Yes, that's the flash reflecting from their eyes. Disturbing.
Those are my keys for scale. Since no one has actually seen my keys IRL, I assure you that's a large spider. That's a Livestrong bracelet on there.
A little bit further in my ride I encountered this roll over accident.
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e332/bigflax925/Spiders%20and%20Critters/6045ba6a.jpg
I helped right it and left them to handle with their respective insurance companies. Based on what I saw on my return home, I suspect it might be turtle mating season, too and perhaps I ruined something kinky in the turtle world.
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e332/bigflax925/Spiders%20and%20Critters/a0086266.jpg
"Hey thanks for nothing!"
A little bit further up the road was this gem.
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e332/bigflax925/Spiders%20and%20Critters/45f2d65d.jpg
I haven't researched this one either. It's probably pretty common around these parts, but it's not a spider that I see commonly.
To round out my day, I got this guy a little bit later while, ironically enough, I was looking for more tarantulas.
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e332/bigflax925/Spiders%20and%20Critters/17676f00.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e332/bigflax925/Spiders%20and%20Critters/8783bc65.jpg
Yes, that's a Ball Python. Not indigenous to Arkansas or North America. I believe that a car that passed me going down while I was going up, dumped him off on the side of the road. Snakes are not my favorite things either.
I knew by looking that it was "special" and wasn't one of the typical snakes you see around here: rattlers, cottonmouths, copper head or water snake. That's my shoe in the bottom picture. I attempted to get something relevant to scale. I estimate the length to be almost 5' and weight about 30lbs. He was pretty solid. How did I guess the weight? Well….
…I approached it and it was not defensive and seemed as if it was used to be handled. I touched his tail and all was good. I figured it was of the "Ball" variety, as when I touched him by the head he wrapped himself up in a ball. Clever.
I went home to retrieve a vessel large enough to carry him in (turns out it was a Rubbermaid storage bin) and made arrangements with a friend who's connected with the AR Game & Fish Commission to help. I couldn't keep him at home, as I have small children and small animals. Besides, if it escaped, I'd have to sell my house and I'm pretty attached to it.
He's now resting comfortably in the vet's office and will be placed in the Little Rock Zoo after observation. The vet said he would've died if left outside as our nights are getting cooler.
Heckuva day, I'd say!
What cool critters have you found on your rides?