jonnysperling's Favorites

or African wild dog as mostly known, Klaserie private nature reserve - The 80% success rate in wild dog hunts can be attributed mainly to the coordinated nature of the pack.
Unlike their domestic counterparts, wild dogs only have four toes per forefoot.
With litters of 2-20 pups, wild dogs have some of the largest litters of wild canines. - taken during a conservation project in South Africa - taken by Thomas Fuhrmann, SnowmanStudios - see more pictures on / mehr Aufnahmen auf www.snowmanstudios.de #africanimpact

On Nature Conservancy property with restricted access; visited with permission as guest of a person from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Coordinates placed on the Nature Conservancy office (and obscured), which was near the location of the observation.

Gorgeous large lyre snake found active on a large rock outcrop at night. Temperature aproximately 85 degrees. time about 9pm. Snake was very calm for a lyre snake and had the lightest pattern of any I've seen. Snake was 40-44 inches.

Photo 1:
More Faces Than I Expected
Yesterday morning I stepped outside before sunrise and saw movement. Turned on a porch light & saw this. I'd been wanting to see this for years. She had 2 babies on her back with a 3rd climbing on. The mama froze as I ran back inside and scrambled to get my camera assembled. I was very lucky, she was still standing frozen when I got back. So dark I had to use flash. I was about 10 feet from her.
Photo 2:
There Is Always One
After my first shot, I stood still & mama finally relaxed and turned sideways. That is when I saw there were 4 babies, not 3. Number 4 was struggling to find a handhold on the other side from it's siblings. Every big family has that one kid that marches to a different drummer.
Photo 3:
Mom Checks Me Out Again
When my flash went off for my 2nd shot, it got mom's attention again. With 3 little sets of eyes also looking my way. Number 4 was still trying to hang on and facing the wrong direction.
Photo 4:
Mom Decides I'm No Threat
Mama ignored me and the camera flashes and wandered around the deck sniffing and exploring for a minute or so. Baby # 4 finally seemed secure. Babies stay in mom's pouch until they are about 2 1/2 months old when they emerge and climb on her back. They stay with her until they are about 4 to 5 months old.

This is one of two remaining young ground squirrels from the litter posted here earlier this year. Of four pups, these two are lingering on in the old burrow site. The mother squirrel only makes occasional appearances in the area now.

A few female Pronghorn from the "Lost Herd".
These Pronghorn are descendants of a herd that were apparently part of a reintroduction plan in the late 70's/early 80's. The plan was abandoned by the state but the Pronghorn remain. They roam the I5 corridor between Sacramento and Redding. People often report sightings of weird looking deer along the interstate. I have found no information about the size of the herd and the California DFW gave me zero information when I inquired.