More animals to post!

We were waiting for a bus one morning and the boys spotted a group of armadillos crossing the road. They were moving pretty fast and picked up their pace once the boys started following them. The were running around in the bushes and finally the armadillos took refuge in a small culvert. This guys is just peaking out to see if the coast is clear.


Ah, the ubiquitous coati. These guys are related to raccoons and they are just as cute and annoying. They are very friendly and don't shy away from humans. They love trash. They also climb trees like monkeys. They are very agile and walk out to the end of long thin branches to nibble on leaves.


Anyone recognize this moth? A pair of these came to our TV/window viewing area one night. They are really big, about 4" or 5" across. They seemed to be very active at night, possibly eating smaller bugs on the window. Further research is necessary.


Another unknown specimen. This is a VERY large caterpillar. Artie put his finger up to show the scale. We don't touch many things here unless we know they are harmless because so many things are not harmless and we are a long way from the Emergency Room of a hospital!


OK, you need to be REALLY, REALLY, REALLY REALLY impressed and glad that I survived my run in with this Mountain Lion, or Puma. I was walking through an area called the "Bull Ring" because it is where the bulls used to be kept. It's a really pretty somewhat open meadow completely surrounded by forest. There are a few big trees throughout the meadow itself. So anyway, it was about 1:30 in the afternoon and I was on my way home. Suddenly I stopped, as I saw some movement in a tree up ahead. (One thing you learn quickly here is that any movement=animal). I didn't know what it was at first but I watch the Puma climb about 7' off the ground, climb out on a short branch, kill something (I could only hear that part) and come back down the tree with its kill in its mouth. Then I realized it was a Puma. I quickly pulled out my camera and took the best picture I could from a distance. I ruled out getting any closer. Pumas are rarely seen here and even more rarely during the day, hunting. As soon as the Puma turned and saw me it dropped the prey and ran into the woods. It took me a while to decide what to do. 1. Continue on the path as if nothing happened (don't think so). 2. Run as fst as possible back to my friends' house (maybe). 3. Take a really big detour FAR, FAR, FAR, FAR away from where the Puma had been (ok, might work). I made it home and immediately put the picture on the computer to show Artie, who doubted me of course. The picture isn't really clear but I am pretty happy that i had my camera with me and got a shot at all.
I don't think I'll see anything as scary as this. Hummm, the bugs here can be pretty big and scary too, and those can get into my house...