Good Morning! I was greeted this morning with this lovely smiling face. I haven't seen a toad in a long time here at the pond. Texas is going through a historic drought and heat wave. The frogs and toads are absent. They must be going through estivation.
According to How Stuff Works (Thank you, Discovery Channel!): "Estivation is like hibernation in hot weather. Animals that live in deserts or tropical climates practice estivation. It may not occur solely because of food supply issues, as with hibernation, but because the conditions become too hot and dry for the animal to survive. The process typically involves burrowing into the ground, where the temperature stays cool, and reducing metabolic activity in a similar manner to hibernation."
Wonder why the damn snakes aren't estivating. I just chased the juvenile garter snake out of the pond again. I think it is amazing how they can disappear instantly into the rocks.
No comments:
Post a Comment