Critters of Kansas

Have you ever wondered how long it takes a grasshopper to dye once a frog has eaten it? (Deep thoughts) I have. They swallow it whole, have no teeth to chomp it up, so down to the belly it goes. So how long does the grasshopper sit there til it expires? Something to think about when you have absolutely nothing else to think about. This line of thought came to me because we made all the egress windows for the basement and frogs keep jumping into the holes, what can they live on? Grasshoppers of course! This year has been crazy with grasshoppers. So Sister Dustin and I have been herding grasshoppers into the holes for the frogs to eat; and you thought I could only herd cows and goats. Anyway herding grasshoppers isn't as easy as one might expect.

We were getting ready to fill in the windows which would kill the frogs, I couldn't live with myself if didn't try to save them, so I caught them and released them in our garden.

From one widow well.

This brings me to this posts topic, Critters of Kansas. Kansas has lots of bugs and I hate bugs! But it also has other critters. I have some pictures of the ones I like best but even then I don't have them all.

My first experience upon coming to Kansas where frogs (or toads) and cockroaches.

Beattl, better then a cockroach.

Baby toad, he's soo cute!

We had pet rabbits. There are also lots of Jack rabbits (no picture) I got up close and personal to one and was amazed at how truly beautiful they are. Their coats and eyes are amazing. You don't see that when they are running away from you.

Out our front door. You have to realize
I'm standing not 10 feet from them taking
these pictures.

Lounging outside our front door.

Baby bunny took up lodging in the pallet we use for the
front step of the trailer. He didn't last long, he got to big.

Then we had KeeKee the Anderson's cat which died under my supervision.

KeeKee, she was a sweetheart.

Then there is James and his adorable family and all their pets.  I love this family. The boys and James always answer you with Yes Mam, No Mam, Yes Sir, No Sir, it's so cute when the little ones do it.

Top row: James, Amanda, Camdon, Bailey and Tatortot.
Bottom row: Moose, Patrick and MoJoe.

Tatortots 6 kittens.

Snakes, I love snakes, I've seen and caught garden snakes, and seen bull snakes which look like and mimic rattle snakes (hence I haven't tried to catch one, you cant' tell until you get up close) I did see a smashed rattle snake and the rattle from a freshly killed rattler one of the ranch hands had just killed.

Pet garden snake, between our trailer and the Lodge.

Bull snake

Smashed Rattle snake

Lots and lots of steers. Steers, Steers everywhere but not a one to eat! The price of beef here is astronomical! We have eaten lots of pork and chicken.

Feed yard, smell all that money!

These 3 adorable baby swallows are looking down from the front window of house #1. I wouldn't let demolition start until after they left their nest.

You can just see their little faces peeking over the edge of the nest. Too cute!

Swallows, I thought this was a fun picture.

The bird population is Robins during the spring and fall. Lots of sparrows, those fake dove pigeons. They have several different types of hawks. The National bird of Kansas is the western meadow lark. They have grouse, pheasant and plover (I call them Killdeer). Barn owls, swallows, finches and juncos. My favorite bird is the Grackle, it is iridescent black-green, with a strange tail, instead of going horizontal it goes vertical. They make all kinds of noise, it can mimic and I swear one here has heard a cell phone, now you can hear all of them calling through the trees. They are kinda like a Magpies, smart, social and annoying. I guess that's why I like them.

Here is a baby gopher, I say she's a little girl. I was walking around the corner of the garage and she was walking around the corner coming the other way, I almost stepped on her. Instead of trying to run for it, she tried to dig herself away. Unfortunately she was digging into the cement foundation of the garage. I was able to pet her. I finally let her go to sleep.

Gopher trying to dig herself to safety. When her little butt was facing me I could pet her.

Looking out from her hole. That was as far
as she could dig before bumping into the footings

She fell asleep, digging is hard work!

I came out of the lodge one day and luckily had my tablet. (I don't get alot of shots because I don't have my tablet)  I saw this spider with a ginormous grasshopper. The spider was kinda ginormous too.

Ginormous grasshopper with ginormous spider.

They have coyotes, we get to hear them every so often, they even come in around the houses. Elder Dustin almost had a run in with a badger while riding his bike. They have deer and some antelope surprisingly enough. Mice and rats. I'm starting to bore myself.

So there you have it, Critters of Kansas. Pretty cool except for the bugs, I don't like bugs.

Love all of you, Happy birthday Ryder, Truman and Eli. Eli gets baptized this year, Yeah!

Good Day!