|
Gene's notes Week ending 08-24-03 One evening in early week, maybe Monday, I cruised locally and found aWorm Snake, AOR. The snake was the first one I have found cruising in quite a spell. Around home, newborn Anoles and Fence Lizards have been scurrying about. Sunday (08-24-03) I took my granddaughter to the Laurens County Park at Lake Rabon. This is a very nice faciltiy for picnicing. It has a playground and a fishing dock. We both had a good time and she was reluctant to leave. A fisherman landed a medium-sized Yellowbellied Slider. He was going to cut his line, but I offered to remove the hook. This was the first time I had attempted such. The turtle snapped and did not want me messing with it. I found it surprisingly easy to pin the turtle's head to one side. I ended up having to use a pair of plyers because the hook was so deep. I got the hook out without too much damage. The turtle scurried back into the water. At least it had a chance to survive. Gene Ott ==================================================== |
|
Joey's notes Week ending 08-24-03 Another hot week. Difficult to muster enthusiasm for any non-air-conditioned activities! I think the highlight of the week may have been on 8-22-03 when I found a Southern Ringneck Snake at work. No, the highlight of the week may have come later that day when I arrived home to find that a neat book had arrived by mail. SNAKES AND THEIR WAYS, by C. H. Curran and Carl Kauffeld. Originally published in 1937, this work seems to have some great old information. Many things have changed in the years since, but it is great to pour through the pages and search for wisdom that may be overlooked in the age of computers and the internet. I do love BOOKS! I had another highlight on Sunday 8-24-03. I had been wanting to catch a snake in Edgefield County. Since we were in a dark moon phase, I opted to ride down that way and look around. As I was driving across Laurens County, approaching Lake Greenwood (which makes the Laurens-Greenwood county line) I noticed something DOR that looked odd. I went back. It was still there. It was odd indeed. It was a DOR Armadillo! A Nine-Banded Armadillo in Laurens County! HA! WOW! Been around here all my life, and never seen them HERE. I first noticed them around 1980 in south Georgia, just below Savannah. Found my first SC evidence in 1984 in Jasper County, and since have seen them (alive or DOR) in Jasper, Hampton, Beaufort, Aiken, and Orangeburg. About 3-4 years ago a co-worked reported a Laurens sighting to me, but I never saw that particular animal. Now here is solid evidence that the odd little beast is indeed here! Wow! Oh, by the way, my efforts in Edgefield were not productive. I found nothing but deer, turkeys, squirrels, and a few frogs/toads. Did pick up a neat Ground Beetle (Calasoma scrutator) as I returned through Greenwood and stopped at a gas station in lower Laurens County to find a female Hercules Beetle. The Armadillo was on US 221 about 1 mile north of the junction with SC 72, between Waterloo and Lake Greenwood, Laurens County SC August 24, 2003. When the heat breaks a bit, Herptile activities will increase a bit. If this happens as the moon darkens in September, Herping may be very good indeed. Several species of Tiger Beetle are due out as fall cools off South Carolina, and I am eager to see the changes that will come to the plants and animals, large and small. Joey Holmes |
