A trail guide along the Madre de Dios river responded to a questioning hiker who complained of not spotting any Jaguars or interesting snakes, “Si but many of them saw you this morning”. A bit later he pointed out Jaguar tracks less than 10 minutes. We had a brief but hard rain about 10 minutes prior to finding the perfect prints, no damage from the rain which would have pocked them up. Interesting thought. A man in Missouri was killed by a copperhead bite about 3 or so years ago. A small one was in a tent they were folding up and his kids spotted it. In trying to get it out it bit him. Despite getting out and getting to a hospital he had a pre-existing cardiac issue and died within a couple of days. Locally we have a twice a year road closing in a federal park to allow for snake migration from a swamp below to the rocky upper reachs of a bluff. Foot traffic is permitted and lots of folks with cameras are out taking pictures. Southern Illinois University biology students and staff are out frequently. Google LaRue-Pine Hills.
8 Likes
