Finally Frogs!

I'm finally really hanging out with the bog frog! I've been getting to know them for the last 3 weeks and I'm loving it! I wandering around in the dark (fun) by myself (funner) and try to ignore the eyeshine off some creature in my head lamp (funest!). It can be rather exciting with an over active imagination like mine. For example, if I walk far away from the truck I get really nervous when I get close to it again because I'm convinced that IF some ax murderer decided to sneak onto a MILITARY BASE and stumbles across my truck in the THOUSANDS of acres of land out there that would be his/her (but lets be honest statistically it is the testosterone filled sex- so his) best chance to chop me into little bits and feed me to an alligator. Oh yes, I have lots of fun in the woods at night.

BUT! The frogs! The frogs totally make it worth it. We've got over 25 different speices of frogs and toads on the base and I've probably heard over half of them now. I've gotten to see a good portion of them too, 'cause they come out on the roads at night. In fact, a lot of the time I feel like I'm playing and inverted version of the game frogger as I drive.

Two weeks ago I heard my first bog frog. They sound like a miniature wind up chomping alligator. Its a wonderfully distinct call and travels very well in the night. I can hear them from over 100 meters away, which is pretty impressive considering their small stature. I also got to see and take some sadly pretty crappy photos of this rare little anuran. Very pretty frog! My goal is to post a picture and maybe a sound bite of its call somewhere online. Of course we all know how well I've been doing about posting things, so don't hold your breath (I know you are all very anxious to hear/see such things).

Sadly, haven't been seeing much wildlife other than the amphibians now that I've switched to the night shift. My co-worker Melissa did bring me back a little gift from the field: a pygmy ratttlesnake! A gorgeously patterned snake with a very quiet rattle. You could be right on top of the thing and you wouldn't hear it. I was very impressed with the ease in which Melissa handled the poisonous snake! When I grow up I wanna be cool like her!

Oh, and in case any of you want an update on the Baxter situation: I released the box turtle on the south west edge of the base well away from any highways and in an area I have seen lots of other boxturtles. I'm hoping he finds something that makes him happy and he doesn't try to find his way back to my neighborhood. He probably wouldn't survive that journey. I like to picture him in the woods under a blueberry bush munching some nice ripe fruit. I have hope for his future!