Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Strange Little Critters . . .

Our little lizards are strange little critters. Our matriarch, Fritzina, is the biggest baddest one of the bunch but she has spawned any number of second generation lizards that are all around us.

Of recent times, some of her off spring have decided to live in her turf, so to speak. We have watched them grow from a little over an inch and half to almost full size. They have fine long tails while Fritzina has a shorter one, I think something got a hold of her and it got sacrificed. No matter we see them often on the patio.

Of late Fritz junior has been hiding in and around the baker's rack that is adjacent to the back door. The baker's rack is against a short brick wall that faces south, and is only about four or so feet wide - just right for the baker's rack. We find him in the flower pots and lately entwined on the bakers rack or just on the wall behind the rack. His coloring matches quite well with our bricks, so one has look carefully to see him sometimes, they blend in well.

He seems to come in at night and clings to the wall. It is, I think, a safe spot from predators. He has the rack between him and free space from a potential attacker to get at him. Good instincts I guess for I am sure they have limited intelligence. Their life is food and survival.

Well Fritzina discovered the interloper in her territory. A couple of nights ago I noted not one but two Fritzs behind the rack. But in the AM I found only Fritzina behind the rack. Me thinks she chased them away.

Yesterday, while cutting the grass, I do the weed eating, Judie cuts the grass ala styled like her father, Bill Gremillion. I had trimmed the usual spots along the front curb and by the power transformer and was walking toward the back yard. When all of sudden I saw Fritzina taking off toward a Hackberry tree. She quickly climbed and moved to the opposite side from me. So when I went of to see her, she scooted around to the other side away from me. Of course, I had that lethal weed eater in my hands.

Any rate, it is getting cooler and the Fritz, etal, will soon be seeking a winter haven. I am sure they burrow under some leaves to find a spot to winter over until next year. Their season is coming to an end. Being cold blooded animals, they need the heat and with that fast disappearing, they will go into hibernation.