Snakes !!!

[Bird]

<font color=blue>A group of fire ants has the same punch as on scorpion sting</font color=blue>

Fire ants are quite common in this area, and I have to use a bit of insecticides to keep them under control, but having been stung by both, I think it would take quite a large number of the fire ants to equal one scorpion sting./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif I had a scorpion get in bed with me when I was 6 to 8 years old. He got me 3 times before I got awake and got out of that bed./w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif But fortunately, I haven't even seen a scorpion in this area in nearly 30 years, although I've heard we still have them around.

 

[RanchMan]

I think the fire ants got 'em!

 

[Bird]

RanchMan, I really hadn't thought about that, but it does sound like a likely cause. Of course, I think everyone hates the fire ants, but I guess maybe they do have some redeeming features./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

 

[njrqs]

Jeff & Ranchman

No wonder you guys all have tractors, I reckon I'd be using it just to check the mail over there!!!

I can at least walk around here in thongs (OK you know what I mean???) and be reasonably certain I'll survive, although now the snake thing has me carrying a good torch at night. I used to just wander around in the dark but they tell me a lot of snakes are active at night.

Don't think my thongs qualify as safety footwear.


I am also glad to see someone's ancestors have gotten rid of most of the native wildlife. Good to see nothing has changed across the big pond.

We have only been on this little island for 200 years and have wiped out a lot of the native flora and fauna.

Real shame that the aborignes lived here for 40000 years with no worries but in 200 we have destroyed the place.

On a brighter note, the Eastern Brown snake which is venomous and dangerous appears to have taken advantage of the destruction and is multiplying in numbers.

Crops = mice = snakes !!

Woohoo /w3tcompact/icons/clever.gif

 

[njrqs]

Hey Patrick, don't think we've met. Welcome to TBN /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif

Didn't see your photo although I looked hard /w3tcompact/icons/eyes.gif

Cheers

 

[Jeff396]

Okay, so one night I get the bright idea to go out in the dark hunting scorpions. I was kinda curious as to how many I could find around the perimeter of the house. To do this you get a black light. You see, scorpions glow green when they are hit with a black light and are very easy to spot. We used to scan the entire house, especially the kids room, for the little buggers. So, I get halfway around the house when I realize I had forgotten about the Javilina. Quickly did an about face and headed back for the door. Well, in the dark I had failed to make out the golden barrel cactus near the door and fell over it. The thorns on this thing are easily 1.5 inches long! I drove three of them into my leg. One was so deep that I couldn't flex my foot without extreme pain...when I did, the thorn pushed up on the skin because I guess it was in the muscle. Well, this is where I find out that the thorns are barbed and you can't pull them out....gotta cut 'em out. My wife jokingly refers to this night as my Rambo night. That's because faced with the thought of the ER at midnight, I opted to get out the old box cutter and cut 'em out. I had blood running all over my leg but I'll be darned if I was going to the ER that late at night. Point is, if the animals don't get you in Tucson....the plants surely will!/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Jeff

 

[Egon]

Neil:

Start a snake farm and process the skins for Cowboy Boots. Export same to locations where this footwear is a fetish and realize wealth beyond your wildest dreams.

When oportunity presents itself one must take advantage!!!

Egon

 

[P.K. Burke]

Whoops! Hopefully here is the picture.

 

[RanchMan]

Bird -
I figure anything on the ground is a potential target for fire ants. My mother had an outdoor cat who had kittens once - fire ants got the whole litter - terrible way to go. She also found an abandoned fawn in the front yard that was almost dead due to them (probably why the doe abandoned it). She called some type of wildlife rescue organization and they came & picked it up. They didn't think it had much of a chance, but they eventually fixed it up.

Don't like the idea of "death from a thousand pin pricks", but I concur on the redeeming quality issue!


Neil-
Don't want to make Texas sound like something out of an Indiana Jones movie with regards to critters. Some folks here do walk around in thongs during summer (both types). Occasionally I do (the feet type) too.

Just depends how rural you go and if you watch what you're doin' you'll probably be fine. As a kid my best friend's father had a 1500 acre ranch with a river right down the middle. We'd get inner tubes, the dogs, a .22, and a fishing pole or two and spend the afternoon floating/fishing/shootin'. We just paid attention to where we stepped/swam/walked (most of the time).

 

[njrqs]

OK Egon no worries.

As long as you come over to check on their progress, and feed, them and kill them and have all the hands on stuff and I'll handle the wealth bit !