Memoirs from the Ranch-Episode 3 Critters

Arizona has a whole new group of critters to learn and respect down here. First of course there is the rattlesnake. The other day one of the boys killed one in the tack room and a couple of weeks ago one of the boys got bit! And we have the lizards that scurry all over the buildings and come in all different colors. Then there are the wonderful crickets who keep me up at night with their singing. And I had the biggest hornet outside my bunk door building a nest that I had to knock down before it got too big. You're already heard about the fire ants (See episode 2). And we have some sparrows who also have a nest just outside me door. But I don't mind them. I have seen a coyote on my drive into work in the morning. And one of the boys caught up a little jack rabbit today one of the ranch dogs and scarred into some piping. 

Then with the monsoon season and the rains, a whole new set of wildlife begins to show their faces. We have frogs of every size hoping around after every rain. Tonight I saw a toad that was bigger than my fist! And today I met my first tarantula! He also had decided to hold up just outside my door on my window seal. Unlike some of the boys here, I can't say I have ever had a great desire to befriend the furry spiders, but with the boys coaxing, I held one in my hand today for just a few seconds. I can't say that I really loved it but now I can say that I have done it! It was about the size of the palm of my hand so the biggest spider I have ever held. Actually, the only spider I have ever held! With spiders, my first instinct is usually to find a shoe to kill it with! And I hear there are scorpions out here too. In fact, one of the boys got stung by one last week but I have yet to see one in person. So I'm getting to know all kinds of critters. I still love the horses best. I spent a good part of the day doctoring a horse that got caught up in a fence and cut himself pretty bad all over his body and legs. I feel his pain and want to do all I can to help him feel good again. I'm learning to be more sensitive to the boys like that too. When they lash out or act out, it is just because they are in pain, or I am triggering some pain for them. I hope I can get better at helping them heal just like I know I can with a horse.