General Wildlife Thread

[bigsnakegirl785]

Post pics/discuss wild animals or interesting plants you or someone you know has found/seen. Post only pics you or someone you know has taken, not random pictures off the internet. Here's a few of mine.

Prayingmantis
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/IMG_2228.jpg

Eastern fence lizard
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/IMG_2080.jpg


A few from my Costa Rica trip in June.

White-faced capuchin
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/P1040802.jpg

An iguana that got stuck at one of our hotels, one of the hotel managers freed it.
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/P1040740.jpg

I have no idea what these are, but they're pretty cool-looking. I found them at one of the beaches we visited.
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/P1040837.jpg

[BarelyBreathing]

Great photos!

[Hannibalcanibal]

those last things are called chitons. their molluscs.

[BarelyBreathing]

those last things are called chitons. their molluscs.

Is it bad that I'm wondering if they're yummy?

[h3h]

A Praying Mantis is always a cool sight to see, especially the Orchid, Flower, or Thistle. I would keep these if their life span wasn't so short. I get attached to my pets, and a year or so is just not long enough for me.

- h3

[bigsnakegirl785]

Great photos!

Thanks. :)

those last things are called chitons. their molluscs.

Ah, thanks. I saw them everywhere at that beach, and just got curious about them. Now I know what they are. :)

[bigsnakegirl785]

Anyone else have pics/stories?

[Pareeeee]

The luckiest wildlife photo-op I had was this:

http://parisvaughn.com/Fox2.jpg

http://parisvaughn.com/Fox4.jpg

http://parisvaughn.com/Fox3.jpg

I had seen them for a few days while driving by this one spot out in the country. There was obviously a fox den nearby, and I was able to capture these awesome photos! The kits were so curious that the one came within 3ft of me! I was so excited.

[Pareeeee]

While on our honeymoon (Dominican Republic, 2007), my husband and I kept noticing weird patterns in the sand on the beach every evening and morning. Then one day I noticed sea-snail shells up in all the trees. I picked one up and one of these little guys came out!

Hermit Crab:
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a368/Pareeeee/Fish%20Stuff/DSCF0321.jpg

We also snorkeled a lot!

We saw this massive fish below us while snorkeling, I think it may have been a "Tarponsnook" (bad pic)
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a368/Pareeeee/Fish%20Stuff/Scarybigfish.jpg

Sardines, we swam through a huge school of hundreds, they were almost invisible since they were basically mirrors, reflecting the sand and water around them. The water depth was probably only 4 feet (photos enhanced so you can actually see them, we didn't even see them at first since they were "cloaked" lol):
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a368/Pareeeee/Fish%20Stuff/SpanishSardine2.jpg http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a368/Pareeeee/Fish%20Stuff/SpanishSardineLarge.jpg

This dude was awesome, found out he was a "Smooth Trunkfish"
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a368/Pareeeee/Fish%20Stuff/SmoothTrunkfish.jpg

We saw lots of Yellowtail Snappers (big fish!)
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a368/Pareeeee/Fish%20Stuff/YellowtailSnapper.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a368/Pareeeee/Fish%20Stuff/YellowtailSnapper2.jpg

[Pareeeee]

Annoying 8 image cap, lol

And wrasses ate from our hands:
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a368/Pareeeee/Fish%20Stuff/DSCF0549.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a368/Pareeeee/Fish%20Stuff/DSCF0614.jpg

This unidentified fish was very pretty:
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a368/Pareeeee/Fish%20Stuff/DSCF0538.jpg

The Bermuda Chub were HUGE and they wouldn't stop biting our hands (we had food with us) it was like someone was scraping our hands with sandpaper.
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a368/Pareeeee/Fish%20Stuff/DSCF0529.jpg

These Panamic Sergeants were very striking:
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a368/Pareeeee/Fish%20Stuff/PanamicSergeant.jpg

One of my favourites, the Caribbean Blue Tang:
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a368/Pareeeee/Fish%20Stuff/CaribbeanBlueTang.jpg

Fish eating the treats we took with us (Brown Surgeonfish & Wrasses):
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a368/Pareeeee/Fish%20Stuff/brownsurgeonfish.jpg

French Grunt:
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a368/Pareeeee/Fish%20Stuff/DSCF0220.jpg

[cossiecraig]

I took this shot last yr in the Rockies ,pure fluke i must add.....great pic but i've no interest in Crows......lol :hmm: where did he come from lol

[Pareeeee]

i've no interest in Crows

While they annoy the heck out of me by cawing at 5 AM, and getting into my garbage at times, I have always been fascinated by these amazing birds.

Crows are amazing, they and ravens are actually considered some of the most intelligent animals in the world.

They have the ability to reason, problem-solve, identify shapes, make and use tools, they also have a very good memory. They often score very highly on intelligence tests.

Recently they discovered that crows can possibly even recognize individual people by their facial features alone.

[cossiecraig]

While they annoy the heck out of me by cawing at 5 AM, and getting into my garbage at times, I have always been fascinated by these amazing birds.

Crows are amazing, they and ravens are actually considered some of the most intelligent animals in the world.

They have the ability to reason, problem-solve, identify shapes, make and use tools, they also have a very good memory. They often score very highly on intelligence tests.

Recently they discovered that crows can possibly even recognize individual people by their facial features alone.

wow ,i learnt something today ,thankyou for enlightening me on the above ,i never knew they were Ravens . thanks again :)

[h3h]

That last picture Pareeeee posted looks awesome.

- h3

[bigsnakegirl785]

I love those fox pictures, I've only seen a few in the "wild", as in living out of the dumpsters of the city.

[Pareeeee]

wow ,i learnt something today ,thankyou for enlightening me on the above ,i never knew they were Ravens . thanks again :)

They aren't ravens, I didn't say that, lol! They are very closely related, they can even be crossed. They are both Corvids, and both very, very intelligent.

[cossiecraig]

[QUOTE=Pareeeee;772332]While they annoy the heck out of me by cawing at 5 AM, and getting into my garbage at times, I have always been fascinated by these amazing birds.

Crows are amazing, they and ravens are actually considered some of the most intelligent animals in the world.

thats right you didn't my apologies there for that error ,i still however learnt something regarding the 2 birds :)

[Roadtrash]

Yeah but they can sure be annoying at times just like the "magpies" around Europe. But like you I do enjoy watching them at times.

[Kaetlinv]

Was walking back to my dorm and saw a huge long bodied cellar spider on the outside frame of the window, and on the railing was a little ladybug. There was also an orb weaving spider tucked under the railing in plain sight but I couldn't get good enough lighting to take a shot of him.

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/308122_10152141355250472_1545075663_n.jpg
The cellar spider was decent size, i'm pretty sure the edge of the window that he is sitting on spans an inch, so there's that for size comparison! haha


And here is the pretty little beetle. :) smaller than a number 2 pencil eraser head!

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/577408_10152141353680472_668133779_n.jpg

[BarelyBreathing]

THANK YOU for knowing the difference between a cellar spider and not a harvestman. And also, thanks for not calling it a daddy long legs. You get brownie points.

[Kaetlinv]

I consider Cellar spiders to be adorable, along with jumping spiders. There's just something about them that's endearing, and most spiders I don't call 'cute', just 'pretty', haha.

I will never kill a cellar spider, and I try to leave them to their own lives. I actually try to protect them when I'm in other peoples' houses or my home.

I discovered their real name about a year ago when I found one inside a bathroom and was panicking trying to figure out if it was dangerous or not (I'm one of those people who WILL bother to research before killing something... one of the few.), and discovered that it helps keep dangerous spider populations within the house down. I saw a little one in the dorm the first few days I was here, but he's not here anymore. Must not have liked the traffic in the dorm.

That big cellar fellow though is still chilling on that window. :)

[Pareeeee]

Jumping spiders are AWESOME! Love them. They seem to have such paranoid "personalities". Their eyesight is amazing too. Only spider I allow to stay inside my house. Others get the boot outside ;P

[Kaetlinv]

I think jumpers are just adorable. I respect them a bit more mainly because I know they can CLEARLY see me, and I can see their eyes as well. Because of that sight, unless you really are asking for it, jumpers are more likely to jump away, rather than towards you... :)

[bigsnakegirl785]

Here are some old pictures.

A few white-tailed deer that were in our yard when I still lived in the trailer.
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/P1000803.jpg

A tent caterpillar I found.
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/IMG_1181.jpg

A pair of phoebes made a nest under the roof of our trailer, and I managed to get a few pics of the babies, this is one of them.
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/IMG_1176.jpg

Some sort of spider, you can see the thread coming out of it. :)
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/IMG_1174.jpg

[bigsnakegirl785]

I flipped over a piece of wood today and found an army of pillbugs....most of them fell off, there was over twice that amount originally. It's insane how many group together. :)

http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/IMG_2554.jpg

[EmbraceCalamity]

Can I still post them if they became pets? >.>

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h74/MidnightRainbow/001_zps51eb5a61.jpg?t=1351261571
http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h74/MidnightRainbow/003_zpsc4dd94f9.jpg?t=1351261687

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h74/MidnightRainbow/verlas004_zpsdc814875.jpg?t=1351262414
http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h74/MidnightRainbow/fawn002_zps82c3352e.jpg?t=1351262371
http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h74/MidnightRainbow/elysburg019_zps684f8d5f.jpg?t=1351262236

~Maggot

[BarelyBreathing]

Awww, I love the raccoon. Were any of them released?

[Roadtrash]

Is the deer a buck or doe? I can't tell with my computer pictures are a problem for me sometime.

[EmbraceCalamity]

Is the deer a buck or doe? I can't tell with my computer pictures are a problem for me sometime.She was just a little fawn, but yes she was a doe.Awww, I love the raccoon. Were any of them released?The raccoon died of rabies after I'd had him for a month and a half. The fawn got attacked by my one prick dog after I'd have her for several months, and she ran off and never came back. She was eating solid foods, had lost her spots, and had taken to spending the day out in the woods on her own by that point, and she always had a healthy fear of humans except me, so I hope she has survived. I loved her but she drove me nuts. X) Plus after the raccoon incident, I was risking some serious trouble with the law if anyone found out.

~Maggot

[BarelyBreathing]

Yikes, that's scary!

[EmbraceCalamity]

Yikes, that's scary!I hate that dog. -___- The rabies thing was freaky though, because it takes ten days from exposure for it to reach the brain. And even though he never bit me, I spent all my time with him; he was basically another pet. So it was very possible I was exposed anytime in that month and a half I had him. Then they made me wait four days before giving me the vaccines (he went in for testing on a Friday and the results didn't come back til Tuesday since they couldn't be bothered to work on them over the weekend), only making the situation potentially worse. And symptoms can take up to six months to appear, so it was a while before we knew for sure I wasn't infected. It's fun waiting six months to see if you're gonna die a horrible, painful death. X)

~Maggot

[bigsnakegirl785]

Oh wow, that sounds pretty scary. And I respect you for having a raccoon, I hear they're demolition masters. XD

[Akuma223]

Damn its a pity the poor coon died of rabies of all things :( that must have been scary. I hear raccoons can have the most wonderful personalities when they are worked with thoroughly.

[EmbraceCalamity]

Oh wow, that sounds pretty scary. And I respect you for having a raccoon, I hear they're demolition masters. XDHe actually wasn't too bad. No worse than my horrid cats. XDDamn its a pity the poor coon died of rabies of all things :( that must have been scary. I hear raccoons can have the most wonderful personalities when they are worked with thoroughly.He was the coolest thing with the most awesome personality. I loved having him as a pet.

~Maggot

[BarelyBreathing]

No wonder you're extra cautious about those things now. I would be, too. Rabies is one of the things I fear most in life.

[Roadtrash]

I had a dog many years ago that had rabies. I was never bitten but ended up taking the 21 shots that they gave back then anyway. The doctor said that I could get it from a scratch, a bite or from saliva that entered any tiny prick on my skin. They were painful but I guess they were needed.

Young raccoons are fun little creatures but as they get older they can be a handful and can get quite mean.

[EmbraceCalamity]

No wonder you're extra cautious about those things now. I would be, too. Rabies is one of the things I fear most in life.I don't wanna see anything else die the way he did. Thankfully it took only a few days, and by the time we realised it was something deadly, he was almost gone. But it was still awful to watch.I had a dog many years ago that had rabies. I was never bitten but ended up taking the 21 shots that they gave back then anyway. The doctor said that I could get it from a scratch, a bite or from saliva that entered any tiny prick on my skin. They were painful but I guess they were needed.

Young raccoons are fun little creatures but as they get older they can be a handful and can get quite mean.That's why pets should get rabies shots.

~Maggot

[BarelyBreathing]

I understand completely.

[Roadtrash]

~Maggot[/quote]
This was in the late 50's, you didn't see much in the way of shots back then. You had a pet, if something went wrong you simply took care of it if you know what I mean. Then you went to the doctor and he took care of you.

[EmbraceCalamity]

This was in the late 50's, you didn't see much in the way of shots back then. You had a pet, if something went wrong you simply took care of it if you know what I mean. Then you went to the doctor and he took care of you.That's really terrible and completely inexcusable.

~Maggot

[Lankyrob]

That's really terrible and completely inexcusable.

~Maggot

Which bit was inexcusable? I am confused by your comment?

[Gungirl]

That's really terrible and completely inexcusable.

~Maggot

Really? Now a days, depending on the animal and the issue I would still take care of it myself rather than let an animal suffer. Back in the 50's and 60's that was just what you did. Unless you lived during that time don't judge it.

[Lankyrob]

Really? Now a days, depending on the animal and the issue I would still take care of it myself rather than let an animal suffer. Back in the 50's and 60's that was just what you did. Unless you lived during that time don't judge it.

This was why i questioned the comment, i have ended the suffering of many mammals and birds (not had to deal with reptiles yet, thankfully).

I dont see it as terrible or inexcusable to save an animal from a lengthy trip to a vet when it is already past being saved?

[EmbraceCalamity]

Really? Now a days, depending on the animal and the issue I would still take care of it myself rather than let an animal suffer. Back in the 50's and 60's that was just what you did. Unless you lived during that time don't judge it.That's not at all what I said. Read it in context. The person said that their dog had rabies, and I said that's what rabies shots are for, and they said that back then people didn't provide shots to their pets. They just let it get sick and then went "oh well" and went to get shots for themselves. Now I don't know how long they've been around, so maybe they didn't exist back then, but if they did, then such things happening are terrible and inexcusable.

~Maggot

[Gungirl]

I think you took what they wrote wrong too..

I agree with them...

[EmbraceCalamity]

I think you took what they wrote wrong too..

I agree with them...About putting down animals that are sick?

~Maggot

[Roadtrash]

It's not that you just let animals get sick and die, think back 60+ years and you'll see what I mean. You didn't have all the immunizations back then that you have today for pets or people. I am obviously a lot older than you and probably most people on this site. When I was a small child they still hadn't come up with a vaccine for polio and a lot of other diseases that you have today. And some that they did have you couldn't find just anywhere. And there wasn't a vet on every corner you did all this kind of stuff yourself and with the help of neighbors.

You don't realize how good you have it today with all the technology that is available to you. These things are relatively new. Years ago you did the best you could with what you had and it wasn't always pleasant. We loved our animals and considered them part of the family just as you do today but we couldn't always take care of them the way you can.

[EmbraceCalamity]

It's not that you just let animals get sick and die, think back 60+ years and you'll see what I mean. You didn't have all the immunizations back then that you have today for pets or people. I am obviously a lot older than you and probably most people on this site. When I was a small child they still hadn't come up with a vaccine for polio and a lot of other diseases that you have today. And some that they did have you couldn't find just anywhere. And there wasn't a vet on every corner you did all this kind of stuff yourself and with the help of neighbors.

You don't realize how good you have it today with all the technology that is available to you. These things are relatively new. Years ago you did the best you could with what you had and it wasn't always pleasant. We loved our animals and considered them part of the family just as you do today but we couldn't always take care of them the way you can.You should have read this part:Now I don't know how long they've been around, so maybe they didn't exist back then, but if they did, then such things happening are terrible and inexcusable. ~Maggot

[Roadtrash]

Guess I didn't read it well enough I didn't catch the first part just the last. Anyway I just wanted to clarify what I was saying.

[bigsnakegirl785]

Saw these guys at the local Nature Center.

A red-tailed hawk that apparently got its wing twisted, either hitting a car or a wall.
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/IMG_2843.jpg

Red wolves.
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/IMG_2866.jpg

Timber rattlesnakes.
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/IMG_2886.jpg

Hellbender
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/IMG_2894.jpg

Otter.
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/IMG_2898.jpg

[bigsnakegirl785]

More....

Eastern hognose snake. Wasn't too happy to see me. lol
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/IMG_2889.jpg

Copperhead
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/IMG_2884.jpg

Mountain lion
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/IMG_2853.jpg

White-tailed deer
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/IMG_2848.jpg

A bad pic. I saw four raccoons and a opposum last week on my way home from my mom's, these are three of those.
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/IMG_2808.jpg

[reptileexperts]

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7020/6468408457_2e1d3c11ff_z.jpg
Smooth-billed Ani, Ammo Dump Ponds, Gamboa Panama

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7034/6421696809_b2670f4cd2_z.jpg
Fasciated Antshrike, Northern Pipeline Road, Gamboa Panama

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7198/6866056435_67ab70b3c5_b.jpg
Three-toed Sloth, Panama Canal, South of Gamboa Panama

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7031/6434408327_78ea7b6746_b.jpg
Night Monkeys, Pipeline Road Entrance, Gamboa Panama

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7065/6866049679_b103a6c929_z.jpg
White-faced Capuchin Monkey, Panama Canal, Gamboa Panama.

See some of my highlite shots from that trip here:
Panama Highlight Shots - a set on Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/codyconway/sets/72157628313235403/with/6866049679/)

I have been doing a lot of bird photography over the last three years, and started photographing mammals down in central and south america in 09. Really enjoy bird watching, but it's hard to get back into it hard locally because I've literally ran out of new birds to document so the motivation is not as rich. However, I feel I will get my needs met in May when I travel back to South America for 9 days of birding in the amazons and Andes :)

Cheers

[bigsnakegirl785]

Those are great pics, reptileexperts. I have also been able to see white-faced capuchins in the wild recently, when I went to Costa Rica this summer. Devious animals...

[reptileexperts]

and they absolutely hate flashes . . . we flashed on once and it snarled, dropped its food, then ran off crying . . . felt horrid

[bigsnakegirl785]

Luckily, I didn't have to use the flash around them....I would feel horrid, too.

[reptileexperts]

Yeah, we really didn't need to once we got to the right place. Our first run in with capuchins was a feeding troop in some palms about 30-40' up in the canopy. We got excited, and the lighting was really early in the morning with heavy clouds. So we used the flashes, but after getting the reaction we stopped attempting to photograph them and just observed . . . Night Monkeys, however, we struck out on during the day, so we used spot lights and super flash extenders when we found them in the middle of the night :-) they didn't mind though, but the spot light did cause 2 of them to turn around! Punk Monkeys :-) I hope to photograph about 7 new species of primate for myself in May.

[bigsnakegirl785]

Those pics would cool to post here when you're done. ;)

[BarelyBreathing]

Those are awesome pictures, Reptile!

[reptileexperts]

Thanks BarelyBreathing!

[EmbraceCalamity]

We've had a huge problem with monarchs dying off lately, and we've had a few that were living on the milkweed behind the house, but none of them every seemed to form chrysalises, so we took one in and got this:
http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/532317_3717059814634_673134483_n.jpg

~Maggot

[bigsnakegirl785]

Congrats on the success, do you know what's been killing them off?

[EmbraceCalamity]

Congrats on the success, do you know what's been killing them off?Not a clue. I'm not sure how far the issue has spread, but I've heard of it in the news the past few years that they've been dying off in huge numbers. When I saw a kid, I used to see the caterpillars everywhere, and now they're virtually impossible to find. Obviously nothing's eating them, as they're toxic, so it's something environmental. Possibly climate change.

~Maggot

[reptileexperts]

Climate change would be a giant assumption. . . It would envoke mainly the fact that their behaviors have been altered do to temperature changes provoked by warmer waters, faster ice caps melts, and less snow piling on the polar caps. . . Sometimes animals just shift their locations, and most of the time it's either because of a new species in the area out competing them, or its a lack of available resource. Which we could then break down as why is their a lack of resources, and see what's respondsibile for that. But just to say Climate Change is dangerous wording IMO for what it's worth.

[EmbraceCalamity]

Climate change would be a giant assumption. . . It would envoke mainly the fact that their behaviors have been altered do to temperature changes provoked by warmer waters, faster ice caps melts, and less snow piling on the polar caps. . . Sometimes animals just shift their locations, and most of the time it's either because of a new species in the area out competing them, or its a lack of available resource. Which we could then break down as why is their a lack of resources, and see what's respondsibile for that. But just to say Climate Change is dangerous wording IMO for what it's worth.Except I didn't say it's climate change, did I? I said possibly climate change. If you'd read what I actually said in context, you'd see I was saying that it's obviously not a predation issue because monarchs are toxic, so it's an environmental issue, possibly climate change, as that is a big environmental factor for many species.

I don't think I could have possibly worded it any more clearly. You shouldn't attack someone's wording and then say it's different than what it is.

~Maggot

[reptileexperts]

Not attacking. Clarifying, dont jump the gun on something like that. I read it clearly. Possibly is suggesting that it's possible, which honestly it's not. Just trying to point that out. No need to be defensive on someone clarifying a suggested topic.

[EmbraceCalamity]

Not attacking. Clarifying, dont jump the gun on something like that. I read it clearly. Possibly is suggesting that it's possible, which honestly it's not. Just trying to point that out. No need to be defensive on someone clarifying a suggested topic.You said I shouldn't say it's global warming, and I never did. The end.

~Maggot

[reptileexperts]

moving on.