Part 1: The Couch of the Covenant
In mid-May of 1999
I went down to eastern NC in search of the red phase Carolina Pygmy
Rattlesnake (Sistrurus m. miliarius).
When my brother Ron and I headed out from Stopped to inspect
something on the road. Unfortunately, it was a DOR Redbelly Water Snake (Nerodia e. erythrogaster), but
fortunately it was fresh, so at least some things were out and about. Just
then, about 30 feet ahead of us, we spot a turtle coming out of a ditch and
making its way towards the road. It was a small snapper, looking way cute and
determined.
Snapping Turtle Chelydra
serpentina As Ron was taking its photo, I flipped
some trash by the side of the road and uncovered a Mud Turtle covered in,
well, mud.
Eastern Mud Turtle Kinosternan
s. subrubrum The
centerpiece of this trash pile was a torn-up old couch. As
I made my way over to check it out, I suddenly saw a black tail disappearing
through the grass in the direction of the sofa, clearly a Black Racer.
I called Ron to help me so that he could
turn and I could grab. I crouched down and on the count of three he flipped
the couch. My eyes searched for the Racer, then stopped when I heard
the buzzing of an angry bee. But it wasn't a bee. There I was, leaning over a
gorgeous red Pygmy!
Well,
we got excited and stared, took photos, stared some more. Our second flip and
we found our target…never underestimate the power of sheer dumb luck.
|
|||||||||
