DesertUSA.com/mb3

I must agree with Terry on the subject of Whitco Tongs. The present owners of Whitco are the daughter and son-in-law of the designer of the tongs. I have one pair that I have had for nearly 40 years. My son has the other pair which he took when he went west for a job opportunity which caused me to h...

I know it's a small point but I wish to correct what LDMGold wrote; "One example I can cite is the Chuckwallas, or "Mountain Boomers" as my friend called them." Chuckwallas (Genus Sauromalus ) have never been called "Mountain Boomers" as stated above. They have always b...

If you wish to learn more about Cucurbita palmata and see lots of pictures, check out this site - http://www.fourdir.com/p_coyote_gourd.htm

This would not have been something the Anasazi would have planted since it is bitter and inedible.

100% on the Garter. However, the little lizard may be difficult to ID without pics of the belly, side, etc. Suffice it to say, it is Sceloporus species.

Likewise.

LDMGold wrote "...insects attract rodents,..." To which I say, "Wha'?" Name the rodent which eats strictly or mostly insects. Most rodents are plant or seed eaters. I have never heard of a rodent which is attuned to insects as a matter of diet. Of course, I am leaving out a great...

Space Cowboy, you missed a few things. I don't know where the campground is but the word "Laguna" makes me think it's in the Laguna Mts, San Diego County. Your elevation is perfectly good for Mountain Kings and some specimens tend to be yellowish rather than white. BTW, those are bands, no...

Well, we got the "Wilson Rattlesnake" out of the way. Now, to ID this latest critter, we do need a bit more information, i.e., your location including state, county, outstanding geological formations, elevation. If I'm not mistaken, and I may be, you live in CA, in which case you did not s...

I tend to think it is NOT U. ornatus. I think it's probably some species of spiny, scaly, or fence lizard, all Genus Sceloporus. However, it would certainly help a lot in identification if we could get a more specific location such as state and nearest city or geologic formation.

No question about Terry's ID. The dead giveaway is the "crown of thorns" on that lizard. Also, if you look at the range map on the bottom right of the referenced page, you will see that that is the only "Horny Toad" which lives around Sorry Vista. Oops, forgive me, I was statione...