Never give up? NDR

Steve Sanford

Well-known member
Good morning, All~


Yesterday I spent some time moving a bunch of Water Lilies and Arrowheads from a friend's lake to our frog pond right behind the house. Whilst taking a break with my wife in some shade nearby, we heard an unusual sound from one of our resident Green Frogs. Susan's closer investigation revealed the early chapters of a natural drama - involving one very large Garter Snake. I am still not sure which was the protagonist.



[definitely CLICK to enlarge!]





View attachment Garter Snake with Green Frog - captured.jpg



Ol' Mister Green Frog was almost 4 inches long (snout-vent length for you herpetophiles). I fully expected this robust amphibian to make his escape from the maw of the determined reptile....


'twas not to be. About 20 minutes later the denouement was obvious.


View attachment Garter Snake with Green Frog - penultimate cropped.JPG



I wanted one more photo - with a bit crisper focus - but I clumsily dislodged a rock and caused the serpent to retreat into his lair.


In any event, we have now learned the distress cry of Lithobates (was Rana when I learned it....) clamitans.



Let's be careful out there!


SJS

 
Steve,

That reminds me of a frog that we heard screaming when we were down hunting in the Stormwater Treatment Areas of south Florida. At first we didn't know what the heck was going on and we were looking for the noise. I decided it was coming from this monster leopard frog and when I reached down and picked him up, coming out of the water on the other side of the frog....attached to his leg was the biggest water moccasin I'd ever seen. I quickly dropped him, said "Go to God" and told that moccasin to enjoy his meal as the frog continued his screaming. Poor fella. Nature sure isn't kind to those getting eaten BUT a snakes' gotta eat too.

Dani
 

All God's critters gotta eat...



Before we got the T-storms and rain we needed, the snapping turtles have been on the move.

Driving home on a country road from fishin', a rather large turtle was trying it's best to cross the road. I pulled off the road, put on the four ways, got out, picked up the the hissing, leg thrashing turtle and placed it away from the road and where I thought it wanted to be.

Made me smile, and the smell of that turtle was just like a good Duck Swamp.

Did not have time for a cell phone photo. As in - Old Guy Struck & Killed While Trying To Save Turtle.


VP
 
Vince Pagliaroli said:
Did not have time for a cell phone photo. As in - Old Guy Struck & Killed While Trying To Save Turtle.


VP

Which begs the question; Which moves faster, (A) an old guy or (B) a turtle? [w00t]
 
Dave~


I cannot answer your question re Man v. Chelonian - but I did observe an interspecies contest here a week or so ago. Not having tried to "run" since the installation of 2 new knees in 2012, the Old Guy of Pencil Brook Farm "tore" after a Possum on the front lawn - ostensibly to see if he could convince the marsupial to "play dead". The Old Guy did not get the desired result - but was able to catch up to it. It was neck-and-neck for a while - and O. G. traveled further to port and starboard than straight ahead. Total headway was about 20 or 25 yards....and - surprisingly - O. G. did not need to play dead either.


All the best,


SJS





 
Huntindave McCann said:
Vince Pagliaroli said:
Did not have time for a cell phone photo. As in - Old Guy Struck & Killed While Trying To Save Turtle.


VP

Which begs the question; Which moves faster, (A) an old guy or (B) a turtle? [w00t]



Considering that the turtle and I are about the same age... A DEAD HEAT. [;)]
 
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