I almost died from the cuteness.

**Pareeeee** · 07-05-13, 08:04 PM

I was browsing through Reddit and came across these photos. (Not mine!)

Almost died from cuteness overload!

slowhite03 · 07-05-13, 09:09 PM

What is that, I want one

valid · 07-05-13, 09:13 PM

Looks like a horney toad (don't know the scientific name) I caught them all the time as a kid.

**Pareeeee** · 07-05-13, 09:27 PM

Yeah Horned Lizard.

Amadeus · 07-05-13, 09:28 PM

They eat ants and other tiny insects.

possum · 07-05-13, 09:31 PM

And they're disappearing from the wild because so many are captured (plus the loss of habitat etc.) and keep in mind their diet MUST have a large proportion of ants...it's essential for them.

Amadeus · 07-05-13, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by possum

And they're disappearing from the wild because so many are captured (plus the loss of habitat etc.) and keep in mind their diet MUST have a large proportion of ants...it's essential for them.

Some kind of enzyme in the ants?

valid · 07-05-13, 09:43 PM

We never kept any of them when we caught them - we just enjoyed the thrill of the chase and them let them go. Interesting little creatures. The babies are cute, the big guys are beasts.

dbassa · 07-05-13, 09:54 PM

Yea! Texas Horned Lizard. Spent many a hot summer catching these guys in southern New Mexico growing up. One of my all time favorite lizards. So cool!

Thanks for posting that. Good memories.

possum · 07-05-13, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by valid

We never kept any of them when we caught them - we just enjoyed the thrill of the chase and them let them go....

That almost seems admirable (that you didn't keep them) but I really doubt they enjoyed the "thrill of the chase" as you did... wildlife suffers from such encounters even if it's not obvious to us at the time... the stress can impair their health & even result in their death.

valid · 07-05-13, 11:19 PM

I know, but I was a kid. As were my friends. We lived in the middle of no-where. Local theater ran about 6 months later than every where else (not even worth going to) , and the next closest was about 2 1/2 hours away. Local flora/fauna kept us busy. I personally never kept anything we caught, but I did get pretty good at catching them. We also didn't run them to the ground in a hell-bent determination to catch them frenzy.

DOBERMAN · 07-05-13, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by possum

That almost seems admirable (that you didn't keep them) but I really doubt they enjoyed the "thrill of the chase" as you did... wildlife suffers from such encounters even if it's not obvious to us at the time... the stress can impair their health & even result in their death.

Possum - I really like some of your posts so don't think I'm chastizing you, I'm not. I just hope your post wasn't chastizing catch and release actions because, let me tell you, that is the most noble of young kids interactions with local wildlife that I can think of. If memory serves me correct, every single "catch" of wildlife by anyone between the ages of 4 and 19 years old, that I am aware of, resulted in some inhumane torture, usually involving firecrackers, a magnifying glass, i.e. etc.

possum · 07-06-13, 12:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by valid

I know, but I was a kid. As were my friends. We lived in the middle of no-where. Local theater ran about 6 months later than every where else (not even worth going to) , and the next closest was about 2 1/2 hours away. Local flora/fauna kept us busy. I personally never kept anything we caught, but I did get pretty good at catching them. We also didn't run them to the ground in a hell-bent determination to catch them frenzy.

I understand...& thanks for clarifying. I was just speaking up for the creatures that couldn't... humans often cause more harm than they mean to. These "cute" creatures have disappeared from many areas and I'd much rather have lizards eating ants than people pouring poison everywhere. And don't underestimate ants...I once hung a new shirt in my dressing area & by morning there was a large ant invasion eating holes in it! (presumably they liked the fabric sizing?) They also killed a banded gecko I was keeping...and his cage was 4' off the floor.

Mikoh4792 · 07-06-13, 01:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by possum

That almost seems admirable (that you didn't keep them) but I really doubt they enjoyed the "thrill of the chase" as you did... wildlife suffers from such encounters even if it's not obvious to us at the time... the stress can impair their health & even result in their death.

Are you sure? I'm pretty sure wild animals get chased all the time by predators. It doesn't impair their health.

sweatshirt · 07-06-13, 01:30 AM

Awww... look how tiny it is!!