There’s never an ophiologist around when you need one

Alert Gazette readers will recall our encounter with a cottonmouth (aka water moccasin) last fall. Then, a couple of months ago we discovered a four-foot-long blotched water snake [Update: which I now know is more correctly known as a plain-bellied water snake] in our courtyard. The latter encounter taught me that distinguishing between the poisonous… Continue reading There’s never an ophiologist around when you need one

Web Weaving Weirdos

I’ll fight a bear, but I don’t like spiders. I’m not a fan of those.   — J. J. Watt I’m an unabashed arachnophobe. Spiders are not just creepy; they’re intentionally malevolent. God created spiders because snakes weren’t sufficient to remind us that we live in a fallen world. Spiders are the only creatures that… Continue reading Web Weaving Weirdos

Wildlife Update

It’s been awhile since I provided a wildlife update. But, first, here’s a squirrel (turn up the sound to get the full effect): Your browser does not support HTML5 video. That’s the noise a squirrel makes when its annoyed or angry. I couldn’t discern what caused this one’s panties to get in a wad, but… Continue reading Wildlife Update