Ghost's backyard visitors (a RL Monster!!)(Now updated!!)

[GhostRiderGrey]

This guy (gal?) wandered through the backyard this past saturday









First time I've ever seen a Gila monster in the wild, and I've been in Arizona for 37 years!

GhostRiderGrey

from wikipedia:

The Gila monster (Heloderma suspectum, /ˈhiːlə/ hee-lə) is a species of venomous lizard native to the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexican state of Sonora. A heavy, slow-moving lizard, up to 60 cm (2.0 ft) long, the Gila monster is the only venomous lizard native to the United States and one of only two known species of venomous lizards in North America, the other being its close relative, the Mexican beaded lizard (H. horridum). Though the Gila monster is venomous, its sluggish nature means that it represents little threat to humans. However, it has earned a fearsome reputation and is sometimes killed despite being protected by state law in Arizona and Nevada.

[Katpaws]

awwww.. hes cute!! heh.. dont let the bunnies play with him

[GhostRiderGrey]

More Visitors! This guy (gal?) wandered through the front yard this past saturday. Sorry about the photo quality, was shooting through glass with a point and shoot camera.

The roadrunner is a fast-running bird that has a long tail and a crest. The bird is found in southwestern United States and Mexico. The roadrunner is also called a chaparral bird and a chaparral cock. Roadrunners are ground cuckoos and include about fifteen species of birds from the subfamily Neomorphinae of the Cuckoo Family (Cuculidae). Roadrunners are in the genus Geoccyx.[3][4] Two species of roadrunners are the Greater Roadrunner and the Lesser Roadrunner. The Greater Roadrunner, Geococcyx californianus inhabits Mexico and the southwestern United States. The Lesser Roadrunner, Geococcyx velox inhabits Mexico and Central America.

[Zim'Vahlan]

Ooh wonder how many feathers for arrows lol

[Katpaws]

cute little roadrunner.. meep meep!! heh now all you need is a coyote

[Quentin]

We have bobcats and bunnies in the neighborhood though I don't think the bobcat has gotten over the fence. Now that I think about it they are only BOTH around for a short while.

I got some shots of momma and baby bunnies on the patio a couple yrs ago but heck the bobcat is the real photo I want. Rabbits are a dime a dozen.

[GhostRiderGrey]

More Monsters!!

Western Diamondback Rattlesnake




from wikipedia:

Crotalus atrox, the "western diamondback rattlesnake", is a venomous rattlesnake species found in the United States and Mexico. It is likely responsible for the majority of snakebite fatalities in northern Mexico and the second greatest number in the USA after C. adamanteus. No subspecies are currently recognized.

Bullsnake




from wikipedia:

The bullsnake (Pituophis catenifer sayi) is a large non-venomous colubrid snake, widespread in the central part of the United States, northern Mexico, and southwestern Saskatchewan and Alberta Canada. It is currently considered a subspecies of the gopher snake (Pituophis catenifer).