Alligator - ANWR (Nov 2025)

American Alligator - ANWR (Nov 2024)

American alligators at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge (Nov 2021)

This was the largest number of alligators that I've seen at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. They were obviously enjoying the lovely, sunny November day. Intellectually, I know that gators aren't interested in attacking people without reason but they creep the bejeesus out of me anyway.

Anole at Charlie's Pasture (Nov 2019)

This little lizard was hanging out in between the slats on one of the birding gazebos in Charlie's Pasture. It wasn't too concerned about us watching it nap.

Smooth Softshell Turtle at Hagerman (July 2019)

I adore turtles, but I have to admit that smooth softshells are just about the ugliest turtles ever. I mean, they're turtles and I still appreciate them, but they are not a species I want to be staring at close-ups of too often.

I had to stop and take pictures when I saw this turtle in the road. It's hard to tell from the photos, but she's huge. When I saw her shell from the car, I thought it was a hubcap that had been washed onto the road during the flooding last month. Her shell was easily 14 inches in diameter.

July is still breeding season for smooth softshells. I assume that this gal turtle's getting ready to lay some eggs. Unfortunately for her, she chose a spot in between the road and the parking area for the bird observation deck. Assuming someone didn't accidentally run her over before she finished, the eggs are unlikely to survive.

Cottonmouth Snake at Hagerman (May 2019)

North Texas has had a lot of rain lately. So much that Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge is currently underwater. Most of the hiking trails and roads are flooded. We didn't realize how bad the flooding was until we went up there yesterday for a hike. Areas that, in April, were 6+ feet down and completely dry are now engulfed and basically missing. The bridge over the main part of the lake is usually 4-6 feet above the water; all I could see yesterday was the very top of the guardrails.

Because of all the flooding (and the subsequent lack of people), the wildlife had moved to higher ground. Unfortunately, this meant that what was supposed to be a relaxing hike was spiked with a couple of cottonmouth sightings. Generally, I have no problem with snakes, but venomous ones freak me out. The two we ran into yesterday were right in the middle of the trail (at the furthest point from the trailhead) and very angry to see hikers.

These are some photos I took of one of the snakes -- from a safe distance using a telephoto lens.

Red-eared slider at Hagerman (Jun 2018)

There are always turtles out sunning on rocks and logs when we visit Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge. Unlike the birds, the turtles are much less forgiving of gawkers. They usually slip into the water the moment I see them.

On my last trip to Hagerman, however, a large red-eared slider hung out long enough for me to take a nice photo. I love how mossy its shell is! And if you zoom in super-close, this turtle has an awesome smirk on its face.