Happy Halloween

Those of you who follow this blog on a regular basis know very well that the only species I find remotely scary is Homo sapien. So the concept of any creatures being horrifying to people makes me sad. I want everyone to see the amazing beauty in the diversity of species around us. That being said I am prepared to enter into the spirit of the Halloween holiday with some of my most beloved 'terrors' from the past year.
Have a wonderful Halloween everyone.
 

House Guest

I rarely post about creatures inside our house but this was just too good to miss. Because of the nature of my work if there is ever anything that slithers, scuttles hops or is categorized as venomous that needs relocating I am the member of the household who gets called to do it. Last night my husband was at home alone when he noticed something very small and brightly coloured sliding across the dining room floor. In the past he has blown it with snake ID by standing over the snake with my Snakes of North America book (which is a weighty tome to say the least) trying to ID it from the book, without taking any photos! Then being rather surprised when the snake has disappeared before he has worked out what it is!! So after being severely harangued for this major blunder he got lots of good shots first this time before resorting to the book! What is more he carefully collected this beautiful little Variable Sandsnake in a pyrex bowl and carried him outside where he was pleased to report the snake slithered off into the sand. Top marks!