Wildlife (mammals, reptiles etc) Pics - Page 17

**Kevin WS** · #**161** 04-27-2016, 08:09 AM

And another reason not to swim Whulsey!

A water monitor.

Get pretty large - up to just under 8 feet and 33 pounds in a large speciment.
this one is around 6-7 feet, 25 pounds +/-.

Picture 1 - Spotted on the way to the bank (when crossing a river).

Picture 2 - Getting out.

Picture 3 - "tasting" the water with his tongue. Not quite certain of this behaviour, considering 30 seconds previously he was in the water. It did not lead to anything - just more "tasting".

These are really animals to be wary of.

Crocodiles are generally visible and lie around mostly. But monitors are very very intelligent (apparently they are also one of the few animals that have a true ability to count), and very aggressive.

They have a very powerful bite, and also lash with their tail - and they are not afraid to attack even from a distance, as they are pretty bad tempered. Have also very good eyesight.

**whulsey** · #**162** 04-27-2016, 01:05 PM

Really nice coloring, but wouldn't want to be in the sauna with him. Are they poisonous, or just like to take bites out of you?
Don't have them here in Arizona, but were I grew up in Oklahoma and Texas there were water moccasins, or cottonmouths, they are semi-aquatic pit vipers...and somewhat aggressive if annoyed.

**Kevin WS** · #**163** 04-27-2016, 01:51 PM

They just take bites. But as their mouths are full of muck the bite can get infected.

I believe that in Florida USA there are quite big populations ex escaped pets. Or more likely released monitors as they are too aggressive to ever be pets......

**DWest** · #**164** 10-16-2016, 12:11 PM

Here are some photos I took a couple of days ago. This is a black rat snake that lives on my place, I see him fairly often.

**SCEtoAUX** · #**165** 10-16-2016, 01:07 PM

Great photos of that black rat snake.

**Texman** · #**166** 10-16-2016, 04:00 PM

Indeed, very nice pics.

**whulsey** · #**167** 10-16-2016, 08:29 PM

Dwest, those are some excellent photos.

**Kevin WS** · #**168** 10-16-2016, 10:22 PM

Great pictures, especially the first one!

All my snake pics are terrible - they always end up out of focus. Case of grabbing a camera quickly while the snake just keeps moving!

**DWest** · #**169** 06-20-2017, 03:44 PM

Took my 8 year old grandson to Yellowstone, here are a few photos I took while we were there. Just to be on the safe side I made sure I could outrun everyone else before shooting the bear pictures.....lol.

**DWest** · #**170** 06-20-2017, 08:11 PM

Found a few more wild animal pictures. The Buffalo picture is from Yellowstone and the rest from Estes Park, Colorado.