I had 3 encounters with local wildlife today.
I was packing up the car to head to the beach this morning. I had my hands full of beach stuff and when I got to the car to put the stuff inside, I noticed something moving right beside my foot. It was a pygmy rattlesnake. I had stepped right over it and my foot (in flip flops) was about 6 inches from it! Luckily he was heading away from me when I saw him, and didn't stike at my foot. Whew.
I get to the beach, and am happily floating on my back. After a while, I stand up and notice a jellyfish floating next to where my head had been. Close call number 2.
Heading back to shore after the jellyfish incident, I step on a stingray. He shoots out from under my foot, scares the crap out of me, but doesn't sting me.
I think I am going to stay inside the rest of the weekend.
Replies
22
Meow
...wowza! I think wildlife comes in threes, so you should be safe now.
bean
Those were some close calls. Jeesh. The only wildlife I saw today was a monarch butterfly and a few squirrels. I miss the beach.
The only wildlife I saw today was a monarch butterfly and a few squirrels. I miss the beach.
SoWal Guide
hey butthead! you didn't join us this evening. and it was just stupendously gorgoesos!!! beautiful sunset and all.
;-)
;-)
Beach Fanatic
It was indeed a beautiful evening.
And Uncle Timmy, holy cow! Your experiences certainly demonstrate that we do share our world with other creatures. (Steve Irwin was not so lucky in his encounter with a stingray.)
And Uncle Timmy, holy cow! Your experiences certainly demonstrate that we do share our world with other creatures. (Steve Irwin was not so lucky in his encounter with a stingray.)
Admin
There were a lot of wild kids on the beach yesterday.
Skunky
Yeah, the wildlife I am noticing making a strong comeback are the freakin' lovebugs.
SoWal Expert
Yeah, the wildlife I am noticing making a strong comeback are the freakin' lovebugs.
Dang!!! Hate those things. Making a trip down to Sulphur in a couple of weeks...........dang!! Hate those things!!
SoWal Insider
I always shuffle my feet when I get out of the gulf. They say that lets the rays know you are coming so they can clear out. I did it last week on the Jersey shore and I stepped on a huge flounder towards the edge of the beach and actually caught it. :funn:
Glad you didn't get hurt by any of your encounters.
Glad you didn't get hurt by any of your encounters.
SoWal Expert
My wildlife encounter yesterday consisted of almost running over two stupid or ignorant people on bicycles as they were crossing in front of me without indication. The two ladies were slower, so they were safe from my motorcycle. Get this, all four of them were slowly pedalling down the middle of the lane of oncoming traffic until the two guys spot the bike path on the other side of the street and decide immediately make a right turn across my lane. What idiots! I just wrote it off to Labor Day Weekend entertainment.
What idiots! I just wrote it off to Labor Day Weekend entertainment.
Beach Fanatic
It was indeed a beautiful evening.
And Uncle Timmy, holy cow! Your experiences certainly demonstrate that we do share our world with other creatures. (Steve Irwin was not so lucky in his encounter with a stingray.)
What a freak accident ! Steve Irwin was a real character. He died doing what he loved.
Beach Fanatic
Friends took us out ontheir boat today.
Man it was so beautiful. We stopped at a spot by the park where there were absolutely no people at all.
I saw a school of stingrays swimming in formation--so cool!
Also saw:
Some yellow-tailed fish of some sort, my first sea turtle since living here, and several dolphins.
Man it was so beautiful. We stopped at a spot by the park where there were absolutely no people at all.
I saw a school of stingrays swimming in formation--so cool!
Also saw:
Some yellow-tailed fish of some sort, my first sea turtle since living here, and several dolphins.
Edited
SoWal Insider
The only wildlife I am seeing are doves, squirrels, several hummingbirds, and frogs. I took a picture last year off of the Dan Russell Pier and got a picture of some Stingrays in formation. Was really cool! Saw a lot of jelly fish also floating throughout the water around the pier. Do not care for the love bugs though. Boy are they in abundance down there in September. And then the dragon flies are in abundance also chasing after the love bugs.
SoWal Insider
What is a love bug? and why isn't anyone feeling the love?
I dragonflies.
I
dragonflies.SoWal Insider
Friends took us out ontheir boat today.
Man it was so beautiful. We stopped at a spot by the park where there were absolutely no people at all.
I saw a school of stingrays swimming in formation--so cool!
Also saw:
Some yellow-tailed fish of some sort, my first sea turtle since living here, and several dolphins.
I'm jealous.
All I got to see and step on was a flounder and some sand sand sharks at the Jersey shore last week. 
Beach Fanatic
Mango
I love dragonflies, too! I am always glad to see them around. They look cool and they eat mosquitoes. What's not to love?
Here are lovebugs:
lovebugs
We did see a few of them today, but not like last spring when they were everywhere.
I also saw a Walking Stick this morning.
And someone told me the bald eagles are returning, but I have not seen one yet.
I love dragonflies, too! I am always glad to see them around. They look cool and they eat mosquitoes. What's not to love?
Here are lovebugs:
lovebugs
We did see a few of them today, but not like last spring when they were everywhere.
I also saw a Walking Stick this morning.
And someone told me the bald eagles are returning, but I have not seen one yet.
SoWal Insider
Mango
I love dragonflies, too! I am always glad to see them around. They look cool and they eat mosquitoes. What's not to love?
Here are lovebugs:
lovebugs
We did see a few of them today, but not like last spring when they were everywhere.
I also saw a Walking Stick this morning.
And someone told me the bald eagles are returning, but I have not seen one yet.
EEEEW to love bugs.:shock: I am glad they haven't made their way North yet. Got enough bugs here!
How cool, a walking bug.
You have all the funn Cil! :clap_1: There is a mountain where the Bald eagles nest near West Point it is said they can be seen clearly. I have only seen one in the wild, and it was along the highway. It was such a huge majestic beautiful bird. I have also seen them at a raptor sanctuary in Rhinebeck New York, but the hwy eagle was by far the most beautiful one I ever saw.
SoWal Insider
I say if you see a pair of mating love bugs, email me with the date and time and location. And also if we are adventurous, we can catch some love bugs and preserve them in ethanol, rubbing alcohol, or vodka and put them in a baby food jar and then in a plastic bag and mail it to them to study. I do not think so. I see hundreds of mating love bugs every time we are down in September. Cannot keep them out of the townhouse. And as for the dragonflies, I do not mind them except when we are riding a scooter and they are hitting you in the face. Yuck!
Edited
SoWal Expert
What is a love bug? and why isn't anyone feeling the love?
I
When they crash into the front of your car, you cannot get the "remains" off--ever!! Well, maybe someday, but only through great effort and expense.
Meow
When they crash into the front of your car, you cannot get the "remains" off--ever!! Well, maybe someday, but only through great effort and expense.
Oh yeah, that's so true! And if you don't get them off in time, they ruin your paint!!! I always think of getting a BRA for my car after a road trip when they are out.
Beach Fanatic
A boy was bitten by a rattlesnake in Watercolor along the trails. They'll be out due to all the rain. Be careful.
SoWal Guide
A boy was bitten by a rattlesnake in Watercolor along the trails. They'll be out due to all the rain. Be careful.
yikes! is the boy okay?
directionally challenged
A boy was bitten by a rattlesnake in Watercolor along the trails. They'll be out due to all the rain. Be careful.
I HATE those guys. There was a pygmy that came out from under my house a few months back so I went out and put mothballs around my MINUTE lot. It seemed to work because my neighbor saw a pygmy at his place a week later and I haven't seen another.
I have my Tampa Bay place which is on fresh water professionally treated and he puts the "snake away" out during warm season and then stops for cold season. It's available at most hardware stores. Or you can use the "not as toxic as a snakebite" moth balls as long as you leave about a 3 ft untreated area to let them out.
Is the boy OK?
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