THANK YOU Cathy! We get a lot of
salamanders crossing the roads in the winter and early spring, always try to
avoid stepping on them. While I cannot argue with those folks who feel compelled
to kill venomous critters....I was just shuddering at the post regarding killing
GECKOS! I can't think of a much more inocuous and gentle critter....gosh,
many people have Geckos for pets. When we go to Jack Brook horse camp, the
kids name and count the banana slugs!!
I am also sort of surprised that peope who are
"outdoorsy" and involved with horses are so squeamish!!! Having large
animals is dealing with poop, yucky wound treatment, big dead animals sometimes,
and an outdoor life that goes with it. Spiders in the hay barn, wildlife
on rides....
amphibians and reptiles in our local environment
are a GOOD thing! They are in indication we are not overrun with
pesticides and herbicides. When they start disappearing, it's time to
worry!!
The banana slug, on a training ride, is a
wonderful sight.......when i come upon one i carefully make sure my horse
doesn't step on one.......The are so big and YELLOW and it would be an awful
shame to ever step on one. I think they are the treasure of the
santa cruz mountains.......
if a snake crosses
the road and my horse steps on that, it doesn't bother me near as much, they
have so much body left........but one big hoof can completely crush a banana
slug and that folks is
that.......
cathy
