I’ve recently seen several unusual living creatures in and around my place (aka: Hickory Hill Haus). I thought I would start cataloguing the wildlife and, maybe, if I get the chance, take photographs of the different wildlife here.
Broadhead Skink (Eumeces [Plestiodon] laticeps):
At least I think that’s what these are. I saw a large salamander-type animal (about 6 inches long) with a bright red head and a short body. It looked like the tail had dropped off (the way lizards do when captured). I’d previously seen about a dozen or so black-striped lizards with bright blue tails also on the deck and on the front porch. Upon doing research, I learned that the blue-tailed lizards are the juvenile skinks, and the ones with the red head are the adults.
Chipmunk: I saw my first chipmunk on the property this morning. Kind of surprised to see it!
Squirrel: Black or gray? These are a lot thinner than the typical grey squirrels I see up in Wisconsin, so I’m wondering if they are a squirrel sub-species. One likes to run in front of the car every time we come home, on the dirt road just as it crosses into our property. One of these days … squirrel pot pie. Or a squirrel pancake.
Dragonflies of different sizes and colors are showing up, flying around the daisies and the thistles as they bloom. Nice to see these mosquito-eaters!
Bats: I’ve only seen a few, but I hope we can get more to keep the mosquitoes in check!
