Now I am nervous about taking the pups through the mangrove trails.
We do have antivenin at the clinic but damnit, sure makes me nervous about letting them run!
Critters and wildlife in your area - post your pics
- Thread starter Oh Little Oji
- Start date
We do have antivenin at the clinic but damnit, sure makes me nervous about letting them run!
I was estimating just under 3’
Maybe 2’ 9”. She was darn sure healthy looking.
I did not realize how close I was to her until I quit videoing. Bacall btw never broke command although she was shaking with excitement.
She did not have that just eaten look to her. Temps have been in mid 80’s.
Regalis
Notable member
Yeah, definitely female. It's hard to see very well on my phone ... Gravid bulge is lower in the body than the just ate bulge. And usually more symmetrically rounded, where as food tends to have lumpyness to it.
That said - while I'm sure you know this, babies come out with fully functioning venom glands. So you have to be just as cautious of them as adults. Usually they're not too aggressive unless really threatened and their pre-strike is usually super obvious, though their actual strike speed is wicked fast. They don't like to bite us, because it's a waste of precious venom.
If you can catch and relocate, I would, just to be safe since it's definitely possible she's gravid (if you can hook her, the gravid bulge will be pretty distinct in the tail end). That said - gravid females tend to be pissier than normal and more defensive.
With how dark she is, I would lean towards gravid. They don't shed during pregnancy, so get really dark and dilluted looking.
That said - while I'm sure you know this, babies come out with fully functioning venom glands. So you have to be just as cautious of them as adults. Usually they're not too aggressive unless really threatened and their pre-strike is usually super obvious, though their actual strike speed is wicked fast. They don't like to bite us, because it's a waste of precious venom.
If you can catch and relocate, I would, just to be safe since it's definitely possible she's gravid (if you can hook her, the gravid bulge will be pretty distinct in the tail end). That said - gravid females tend to be pissier than normal and more defensive.
With how dark she is, I would lean towards gravid. They don't shed during pregnancy, so get really dark and dilluted looking.
Yeah I know they are live bearers and are just as dangerous as adults. We had a neighborhood kid that was fishing and lifted a log looking for worms and found a nest of baby rattlers. He almost died from them. Had he been alone he would have died by that creek.
I am notorious for reaching into plants and under rocks pulling weeds without gloves on and will occasionally find a 12” centipede or scorpion right next to my hand before I jerk it away. Now I guess I will be beating the brush just in case before sticking my hands into plants and bedding. Crap I hate this for the cat and pups.
All I can do is keep hitting "wow"... 
Wow I didn't know that. The Garter snakes we have around here are live bearers but I didn't think there were too many snakes who are.
The FWC called me about the snakes. First thing she asked me was; was it in your house? I almost dropped the phone. I explained rather sweetly that had the snake been in my house there would not have been a need to call them. WTF was she thinking?!? I called them yesterday...yeah I went to sleep in my house with a rattlesnake last night. Where do they hire these people from!!
The USFW nuisance critter trapper called me back and said the closet person he had to come and put out traps was in Miami and the cost would be $899. initial trap setting and checking, then $199. a month to keep traps outs and check them once a week and put out snake repellant. I explained lead is much cheaper according to my hubs and neighbors. They want to charge through the woods with machetes and shovels which means no snake would be safe from them. It’s the babies he said we should be concerned about down the road after they are born. Ya think
The other snake I saw this morning may well be the breeding partner of the female I saw yesterday according to him.
I had to put the dogs on the treadmill 2 times today to burn up their excess energy. Now we are getting a cold spell so Bacall’s energy level is sky high!!
I think I am going to take a hot shower, eat and then have a nervous breakdown. Can’t do it on an empty stomach. Lol
Did I mention I hate cold weather?
The USFW nuisance critter trapper called me back and said the closet person he had to come and put out traps was in Miami and the cost would be $899. initial trap setting and checking, then $199. a month to keep traps outs and check them once a week and put out snake repellant. I explained lead is much cheaper according to my hubs and neighbors. They want to charge through the woods with machetes and shovels which means no snake would be safe from them. It’s the babies he said we should be concerned about down the road after they are born. Ya think
The other snake I saw this morning may well be the breeding partner of the female I saw yesterday according to him.
I had to put the dogs on the treadmill 2 times today to burn up their excess energy. Now we are getting a cold spell so Bacall’s energy level is sky high!!
I think I am going to take a hot shower, eat and then have a nervous breakdown. Can’t do it on an empty stomach. Lol
Did I mention I hate cold weather?
LifeofRubie
Moderator
This little guy got quite the welcome party last night! Ever since the skunking, we've been pretty good about shining a flashlight around the backyard, looking for eyes, but I guess that didn't happen last night. I was half way up the steps headed to bed and I hear THERE'S A SKUNK OUT HERE RUBIE NOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Man did I whip around and get out the back door at warp speed! Turned out to be a relatively chill opossum but still. I'm glad it didn't run or Rubie would've engaged. He just stood there and kinda let her sniff him. I ran back inside and grabbed the water bottle to spray her to get away from him. Moose was a little frazzled by the yelling and urgency and didn't quite know what was going on. Once we got a leash and collar on Rubie, she and super brave Dog Dad chased him out of the yard.
Yikes!This little guy got quite the welcome party last night! Ever since the skunking, we've been pretty good about shining a flashlight around the backyard, looking for eyes, but I guess that didn't happen last night. I was half way up the steps headed to bed and I hear THERE'S A SKUNK OUT HERE RUBIE NOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Man did I whip around and get out the back door at warp speed! Turned out to be a relatively chill opossum but still. I'm glad it didn't run or Rubie would've engaged. He just stood there and kinda let her sniff him. I ran back inside and grabbed the water bottle to spray her to get away from him. Moose was a little frazzled by the yelling and urgency and didn't quite know what was going on. Once we got a leash and collar on Rubie, she and super brave Dog Dad chased him out of the yard.
Ruby good girl!!
And yes, good thing it didn’t run.
Daisy once barked at one from a distance for close to 5 minutes once until I discovered it behind bushes.
When I moved the palm tree to see it it hissed at me. It didn’t even get to finish the hiss before Daisy dove through the palm and snatched it out of there.
Shook the $#i! out of it, crunched it a little, dropped on 3rd command, but then it moved my direction, so shake, crunch, repeat, lol.
The lil guy sorta signed his own death warrant with that one hiss.
LifeofRubie
Moderator
Yikes!
Ruby good girl!!
And yes, good thing it didn’t run.
Daisy once barked at one from a distance for close to 5 minutes once until I discovered it behind bushes.
When I moved the palm tree to see it it hissed at me. It didn’t even get to finish the hiss before Daisy dove through the palm and snatched it out of there.
Shook the $#i! out of it, crunched it a little, dropped on 3rd command, but then it moved my direction, so shake, crunch, repeat, lol.
The lil guy sorta signed his own death warrant with that one hiss.
Eek! she didn't get bit or anything, did she? I scoured Rubes to make sure there were no marks! I'm sure she thought it was going to be a cat to play with
These suburban critters are so used to people and animals, it doesn't phase them. Hopefully this close encounter will keep him away, though. We've seen neither hide nor hair of the skunk or raccoon Rubie has already tangled with!
Not a one.
Palm trees have some pretty agreesive spikes she got a couple of, but no bites.
It didn’t have time to react, lol.
And, in reading up on it right after it happened, every source I could find suggests the possibility of rabies in opossum is very, very rare.
Something about their body temps not being high enough for rabies to live within them?
jazzies mum
Hot Topics Subscriber
I'm sorry, I'm still picking myself up off the floor from laughing so hard at your reaction to the "skunk alert"! So glad it wasn't actually a skunk, also so glad we don't have them here from the sounds of it. Bet you were all pretty much awake after that one, but lucky old opossum who didn't make a run for it!This little guy got quite the welcome party last night! Ever since the skunking, we've been pretty good about shining a flashlight around the backyard, looking for eyes, but I guess that didn't happen last night. I was half way up the steps headed to bed and I hear THERE'S A SKUNK OUT HERE RUBIE NOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Man did I whip around and get out the back door at warp speed! Turned out to be a relatively chill opossum but still. I'm glad it didn't run or Rubie would've engaged. He just stood there and kinda let her sniff him. I ran back inside and grabbed the water bottle to spray her to get away from him. Moose was a little frazzled by the yelling and urgency and didn't quite know what was going on. Once we got a leash and collar on Rubie, she and super brave Dog Dad chased him out of the yard.
jazzies mum
Hot Topics Subscriber
This is what Jazz alerted to this morning. A pair of emus picking currant berries about 25 metres away.
LifeofRubie
Moderator
Saw this guy on our Ring doorbell this morning! I think he came into frame the same way he left, based on tracks, but not sure why the recording didn't kick in sooner.
jazzies mum
Hot Topics Subscriber
It's been so dry this year that our Brolgas can't find a swamp to build their nest in. This is what they have had to resort to, it is technically in the swamp, but it is dry as chips. Yesterday there was one egg, when I took the camera with me today there are two. They will usually lay four and raise one or two to adulthood, but I don't like their chances in this dry. 
Wow! I can't believe you have fox right at your front door!! All the years we've lived out here I've never seen one. But that doesn't mean they haven't crossed the property, I guess. I just missed them! lol Now that I know 'what the fox says' I HAVE heard them! Speaking of critters, did you see the news about the coyote that got a family pet in Wheaton?? Sorry, this content is not available in your region. VERY sad!
I am still keeping big eyes on Kali!! @jazzies mum I love all the different wildlife you have !! Keep posting!!
Edit: I don't know why that link says that but it worked for me. Let me know.
