Cow Killer

We went on a hike today and saw one of these cruisin along. I could barely get a picture of her she was going so fast. They are actually called Velvet Ants and are really just a type of wasp.
They are called cow killers because they have a really powerful sting that is rumored to be able to kill a cow.

Day Hike...Owls and a Western Diamondback

Gage and I went on a small day hike. We tipped over some trash and walked down a few ditches. In one ditch, Gage yelled, "Dad, look out! A huge snake!" I did not see it but he said it was right under my leg as I stood over the ditch. Then, on the way back, I found this guy in the same spot. He was a Western Diamondback rattlesnake, about 4.5 feet long. Gage wanted nothing to do with it. He was huge and I had to get a picture or two. His rattle had 12 rattles on it's tail. I could not touch my fingers around its body it was so thick around. He must have been at least 9 inches in circumference. Nothing to mess around with for sure!

This is a burrowing owl. They live all over by my brother's house. He was just sitting on the edge of a ditch waiting for some food. I love his eyes.

Bull Snake

I know some have already seen these, but we found this bull snake in the weeds in my neighbor's front yard. We had one as kids in our yard that ate all the gophers. Tiffin was not about to let me keep this in the back (or front) yard. In fact, she made sure it got let go a few miles away.