HOOT

I've been exploring my neighborhood (and beyond) as of lately and found a field full of interesting things/critters. It's only an acre and a half wide but it's teeming with all sorts of wild life (not to mention it's right next to a farm); the ever-endangered Gopher Tortoise, Six-lined Racerunner (which I thought lived only in Texas and those other desert places), Rhinoceros beetles, rabbits, many different kinds of snakes, and lots of other things I'm sure have escaped my notice. The only problem with this little spot of paradise is that it's marked to be developed. I didn't think they could since it's illegal to mess with Gopher Tortoises but mum says they're aloud to pay a fee to bury them!! Can you believe that? What's the point of having them on the endangered list when all it takes to wipe them out are pieces of paper?!? And have any of you ever seen a racerunner (for those who live in FL)? They look like skinks but they have leathery skin, no blue tail and are twice as fast (out of the six I spotted I only managed to catch a newborn no longer than my finger (their tails take up the majority of their length)). Mum also said they can relocate them which is what I'm hoping they'll do. There are around 42 holes of various sizes; most of them are empty and over grown. One hole was so large Penny was able to walk into it (she wasn't to happy about that)! I've been keeping tabs on them to see which ones are lived in and I think only two are. Tortoises live alone so it's probably an adult and maybe a juvenile. It saddens me to see property developed; I remember when our neighborhood was surround by woods and fields; now it's a bunch of cookie-cutter houses.

I hope Jesus comes soon. Or we'll be sitting in our own.... well, never mind.

+Phyllis-