This weekend was Dillon Jones’ first official start to his Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary Herpetology (Reptile & Amphibian) Survey Project.

See the photos that accompany this report.

Here's the report from last night (Saturday, November 18, 2017). I unfortunately didn't find anything else when I set out again except for some very curious raccoons swimming in the pond.

Brown Anole (Anolis sangrei) x6
Gulf Coast Toad (Incilus nebulifer) x2
Rio Grande Chirping Frog (Eleutherodactylus cystignathoides) x3
Bullfrog (Lithobates Catesbaeinus) x3
Little brown skink (Scincella lateralis) x1

Other than that, I found 3 raccoons, a fair amount of swamp rabbits, blue mushrooms (I'm not a fungi person, but I thought they were cool!), an opossum and some feral cats.

Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary 18-Nov-2017 20:12

Tonight was the 1st night at Edith L Moore. This was not the prime time for herping. I found a fair amount of species given the weather. It is cold, it is windy, and there is a storm front moving in.

The forest is alive but not with animals. Wind breaks every loose twig and rustles every free leaf. This park is beautifully maintained, but I am constantly reminded of humans. The constant drone of traffic, the lights from backyards lighting my path, and the laughter from families enjoying the fall weather. I'm beginning to think I mind more than the reptiles.

Despite the signs of the Anthropocene this park holds beauty. Something this dense with knowledge and education is wonderful. Today I saw a mother teaching her child the alphabet using trail markers. Children flipping rocks with curious eyes. Families enjoying every step of trails while I just lamented on the human disturbance.

Who is really disturbed? The one with knowledge who only sees problems? Or the happy ones who are blind to any issue.

Dillon Jones