Yesterday we took the usually uneventful evening dog walk and ran into three desert big horn rams courting a ewe. We walked within 50 yards of one of the rams but none of them startled and ran. They were alert and watching, but just as curious as we were.
Then I nearly stepped on a baby Diamondback. It was no more than twelve inches long with crisp diamond shaped markings on its fresh skin. It had a bulging mid-section so I suspect it warmed up quickly during the sunny part of the day, ate a lizard or something and got caught in the sudden drop in temperature when afternoon shade fell as it was digesting that meal. It was stiff and sluggish with cold when I found it in the wash. With luck it might have survived the nighttime temps in the 40's. I have learned to appreciate rattlers as long as they don't threaten the dogs.
Next we were joined by three coyotes yipping and yowling on the ridge above us. A large pack moved into the area last week, possibly coming down from the Mesa, and their vocalizations ring through the canyon. One has a very distinctive call, a series of high pitched staccato notes, uh-uh-uh-uh-uh. The dogs sure get excited and want to respond when the coyotes point their noses to the sky and let loose. I do too. Even Bob let loose a howl or two with us. I suspect there is some canine in my genetic make-up.
Heading back to the Rhino a couple of feisty burros blocked our way. The wild burros are sleek with rippling muscles and not an ounce of fat, unlike the carrot stuffed Oatman burros. They're more concerned about the dogs than us and usually trot off after giving a huff or two. I call it a huff but it might be more accurate to call it a super snort. If you blocked one nostril with your thumb and blew a short, hard blast of air through the other, then magnified the sound a hundred times, you'd have an idea what it sounds like. It seems to be a challenge or warning sound and carries a good quarter mile or more. We'll often hear a huff long before we see the burro.
So that was our evening, a walk of about an hour full of wildlife encounters and Bob says everything happened because it was his birthday -- and because I had no camera. Maybe so, but I had better start bringing that camera anyway!
Today we are cooking up a turkey dinner.
