Spiders, Snakes and Snails?

Happy Friday the 13!  The day seems significantly less frightening when it comes in May, nevertheless, an appropriate day to share some of the warnings, dangers and creatures that have become part of this experience.

My job has taken me on several adventures and new dangers are made apparently regularly.  The roads I travel through the mountains and desert as I go from San Diego to Arizona often warn me of high winds, steep declines and falling rocks.  I also encountered official warnings of flash flooding and cows.  No joke, a regularly occurring sign.

Some of the other perilous creatures we have occasion to encounter in the desert work environment where we work:

Spiders – big ones.  I have not witnessed personally any giants, but have had some small ones crawl up my leg.  Our volunteer groups tend to see more of these (some of a large and furry body nature – read tarantula) in the evening when things cool off.

Wild Pigs (Javelinas – the beginning of which sounds like “have”) – I have also not yet been an eye witness to these.  But again some of our groups have.  They have been woken up by the pigs terrorizing their camp…ramming coolers, shredding bags and eating small children.  One of our long term volunteers narrowly escaped death as he was sleeping in a tent away from the group and the pigs entered the camp coming up through the wash right next to his tent.  It was solely his quick thinking and “playing dead” that saved his life.

Scorpions – I have indeed seen these, almost sat on one the other day.  They move more quickly than I had imagined.  Frightening thing about these…the smaller they are the more dangerous they are as they as they cannot control their venom.  We instruct people to shake out their shoes in the morning clear them of all such little friends.

Lizards - This horned toed lizard came to help us put up trusses one day.  It was very kind.

Snakes – This is indeed a desert work environment we are working in.  This rattler greeted me the other day.  I have learned since taking this picture that when Mr. Rattler is coiled up on himself, he can leap twice the distance of his body length…noted for the future.

Snails - I realize that snails are significantly less frightening than spiders and snakes to most people, but I also know that most people will not willingly touch live snails.  Personally, I cannot be sure of people’s sanity when they eat the creatures, the slimy goo does not convey a savory thought.  I don’t even have to travel from San Diego for these delights.  When it is damp outside, there seems to be several of these fellows hanging out outside of our apartment. 

           

Thanks for reading, may you encounter as many creepy crawlies as you wish today!

Mary