Wuerch's Wildlife

Millions of Monarchs

Monarch Butterfly Migration
Danaus plexippus
Date: October 6
Time: 2:37 PM
Location: Irion Co, TX
Site: Road side (Hwy 67) elm tree between Barhart and Mertzon
Weather: Skies clear, wind N 18 mph
Temperature: 78 F
Other: A weak, dry northern front was passing across the area at the time of the encounter
Notes: Several thousand of the millions of Monarch butterflies on their annual autumn migration south into Mexico were using a large, lone elm tree to take a break. They had been flying for many miles using the strong tail winds of a cold front that was pushing through Texas.

Cannibal Grasshoppers

Lubber Grasshoppers
Brachystola magna
Date: September 4
Time: 3:33 PM
Location: 7 miles south of Animas, Hildago county, NM
Site: On the road
Weather: Partly cloudy with winds out of the SE at 5 mph
Temperature: 81 F
Other: Scattered rain showers just to the south in the Animas and Peloncillos mountains
Notes: The road was littered for miles with the smashed bodies of countless Lubber Grasshoppers that had been run over. Stopping to get a closer look brought the discovery of live grasshoppers eating the remains of their own kind.

Doug Gets Slimed

Western Slimy Salamader
Plethodon albagula
Date: June 13
Time: 10:17 PM
Location: County Highway H, Christian County, MO
Site: On the road
Weather: Warm and damp. It had sprinkled earlier in the evening.
Temperature: 74 F
Humidity: 92%
Notes: Doug's swift effort to rescue this guy from an oncoming car in the darkness only allowed enough time for a quick snatch from the pavement. By the time he got it to the safety of the grassy roadside, Doug's palm was pasted with the thick, gooey skin secretion these salamaders release when threatened by an enemy.

Blake Catches His First Bullfrog

Bullfrog
Rana catesbeiana
Date: May 30
Time: 2:27 AM
Location: Hwy 97 near Dull, La Salle County, TX
Site: On the road, next to a pond
Weather: Warm and dry, with a light breeze coming from the south out of Mexico.
Temperature: 83 F
Humidity: 47%
Notes: Following a family tradition, it was 10 year old Blake's turn to capture a Bullfrog since he was the only guy in the truck who had not caught one before. This large male frog was two handfuls of Ultimate Frog Joy!