Photos / Sounds

What

Vine-like Moonlight Cactus (Selenicereus spinulosus)

Observer

joeysantore

Date

April 2023

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Description

In an Ebenopsis tree. Supposedly from a cutting of a plant found by the mouth of the Rio Grande in Brownsville

Photos / Sounds

What

Rio Grande Ground Squirrel (Ictidomys parvidens)

Observer

joeysantore

Date

April 17, 2022 12:01 PM CDT

Description

According to friends I have that have lived here their entire lives this species used to be much more abundant but has become much more rare due to sprawl and probably to the terrible infestation of feral cats, all of which need to be rounded up and either adopted into homes or more likely euthanized. Sad to think that this common rodent is now restricted to whatever little crumbs of habitat are left for it, like this cemetery. Elsewhere they are poisoned or quickly killed off by feral cats and probably feral dogs to a lesser extent. I had to bait these bastards with Cheerios to get them to come out and even then they were extremely wary.