B Bryan Preserve, Point Arena, California ©

This is a private preserve with large open fields for breeding and the preservation of African hoofed animals, Zebras, Giraffes and Antelope.  Not a zoo, the preserve allows the animals plenty of room to roam--actually, some are wandering on the road as you drive along in this sanctuary. The animals here are healthy, beautiful, frisky and happy (if one can really tell).

The zebras are what I want to talk about--they are a single-toed hoofed animal in the category that also includes donkeys, horses and asses.  The single hoof helps them run fast on hard ground.  The zebras are the most handsome animal in this family with their dramatic striping. There are three species of zebra:  Plains Zebra, Mountain Zebra, and Grevy's Zebra

The stripes on the zebra make it hard for a predator to pick out one zebra when they are in a herd.  The stripes all blend together and it dazzles the eye of the predator--that is why in the bush a herd of zebra is called a Dazzle of Zebras.  Also, in a herd all zebras might look alike but their stripe patterns are as distinctive as fingerprints are in humans.

The zebra that is most common is the plains zebra, also known as the common zebra or Burchell's zebra.  These are found south of Ethiopia through East Africa to as far south as Botswana and eastern South Africa and can been seen in most zoos throughout the world.

The Grevy's zebra (one of Africa's most endangered mammals), also known as the imperial zebra, is the largest and most endangered of the three species of zebra.




















The Grevy's live in northern Kenya and a few small areas of southern Ethiopia. A Grevy's has a large head with large and round ears standing at attention. It has a thick erect mane which runs the length of its back.  Its muzzle is brown and the neck is thicker than in other species--it is taller with narrow stripes and a white belly and appears more mule-like than other zebras.

The Hartmann's Mountain zebra is a threatened species native to south-western Angola and South Africa,  and is also known as Cape Mountian Zebra.  It has a short head with a dark muzzle and long ears, and it has a very distinctive dewlap below its chin (a flap of skin where we would find an Adam's apple). From its mid-back to tail, it has distinctive striping that looks like a zipper.

Its coat is characterized by its stunning coloration pattern--its underside is white with one black stripe the length of its belly.  It is called, "Mountain zebra", for it is a very good rock climbers unlike its counterpart, the Plains zebra. It has strong hooves for climbing the mountain terrain.  While the Mountain zebra spends up to half the day eating,  its next best thing is bathing, at least once or two times a day! The Mountain zebra is listed as endangered and is facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild.

(Copyright 2013)

The Land of Bob con't. ©

The Unexpected House Guest?  

It was time for a road trip to get out of the too-warm desert for a cool-down.  After the excitement of baby coyotes and the juvenile bobcat that were hanging around, we left thinking that they all had moved on.  But to our surprise the day after returning we found this guy relaxed and at home sleeping on the stairs going up to the observation deck!

Of course he didn't know anyone was here because the house was quiet for two weeks.  He thought the place belonged to him/her.  We opened the sunscreen slowly and took these pictures.  But taking pictures through the sliding glass door with the screen closed was not ideal, so we tried to open the door and this is what happened!

I realized that the door wasn't going to get opened, so I kept the camera snapping......

.........and snapping,.....

........and snapping,.....

We don't think she (gender assumption) was ready to wake up but decided she probably should get going.....

She watched us very carefully all the way down the stairs, and once she was off the patio, she walked over to the gate to climb the wall and go over....

I went outside to say, "Hi, Bob",  and she stopped and turned to me--she is as curious about us as we are about her!  The next morning I saw it sneaking up the stairs at 5:30 and again we saw her leaving after her late nap the next morning!  

We were getting a little nervious about sharing our living space with the Bob so we decided to check the Arizona Fish and Game website for any advice.  And this is what they say: 

Bobcats are common throughout Arizona--are generally seen alone, but groups may consist of a mating pair, siblings, or mother with kittens.  If you see a bobcat near your home, there is no need to panic.  Bobcats rarely attack people.  It is not uncommon to find one napping under a shrub in a brushy backyard or in this instance on the cool tile in the shade of the outside stairway! Bobcats may visit an area to find food, water, shelter, or the space they need to live.  But do not feed bobcats, as this can encourage them to become too comfortable around humans.

You may choose to watch and enjoy that bobcat or bobcat family sharing your yard.  I guess she is staying until she decides to move on!

(Copyright 2013)

An Eye Opener ©

The story to follow!

(Copyright 2013)

Non-Believers ©

For you non-believers--take a look!

The roadrunner hiding in and up the tree is really a prehistoric looking bird.  In real life the roadrunner is a survivor just like the rest of the animals in the wild.  He is not that cute little guy running around Warner Brothers Studios saying, BEEP, BEEP!  He can get the whole bird world out of whack just by showing up.  The tree was filled with birds until he came around--the beautiful carefree sing-song of the desert birds turned into a horror of screeches and cries.  

But, today, the roadrunner left empty-beaked!

(Copyright 2013)