Saturday, April 4, 2009
A squeeky encounter
I am not trying to emulate Tony's exploits last year -(this was my favorite story) or even Duncan's meetings with different ones along the track (no pictures in this one but the descriptions were enough). Please note that some blogs leave an indelible impression! Ok - to get back to the story - a few minutes ago I heard a squeeky noise coming from somewhere in a clump of Golden Cane palms. We all investigated - cat, dog and me! in that order! Would I need to protect my pets - or protect my wildlife! Well it turned out to be neither but I did get both cat and dog well out of my way. There was a frog half way down the throat of a snake and protesting loudly! That was the squeeky noise! Pen and tie up the animals and grab the camera - but I was too slow to get the frog in the snake's mouth - just a photo of the lovely pattern as the snake slithered further into the shelter of the palm. A green tree snake I think but who knows what the frog was! It's long gone!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Did you indentify the frog before it was consumed Mick? White-lipped tree frogs (Litoria infrafrenata)often scream when attacked and its such a distressing sound I used to find it hard to ignore. Now I usually leave the creatures to sort it out although I occasionally chase the Black Butcherbird off the verandah because I feel there has to be a neutral territory!
ReplyDeleteNo I didn't get a good look at it. This all took place well under the palm leaves where it was quite dark and it took me several minutes to actually locate where it was coming from. Not a nice sound!
ReplyDeleteI've heard more 'barking' than squeaking from green tree frogs losing to snakes. Whatever the noise made, the frogs are surprisingly passive. I've never seen one puff up (which Cane Toads do) to make being swallowed more difficult. Their main tactic, where possible, is to wedge head first into a crevice and outlast the snake trying to drag them out. Not a great tactic but it works sometimes!
ReplyDeleteHi Tony, that's interesting about how passive the frogs are. This is the first time I've ever seen a snake swallow anything! I was surprised at how long the noise went on.
ReplyDeleteWell - I've never heard a frog squeak and perhaps, under the circumstances, it's a good thing.
ReplyDeleteIts so interesting hearing about, sometimes, such wonderfully different wildlife.
Hi Tricia, I know we are not supposed to interfere with the natural - but I would have saved the frog out of the 'jaws of death' if I had known how!
ReplyDelete[Grandpa Simpson] I went out to investigate a commotion on the verandah. A green tree frog had tried to eat a rhinoceros beetle. The beetle was hissing. The frog was making a terrible racket because the beetle had dug in its claws. I felt like lecturing them: "I don't care who started it, you can both go to your rooms."
ReplyDeleteThey sorted it out in the end. [/Grandpa Simpson}
Thanks Snail - LOL
ReplyDeleteOh my heavens. To hear him squeaking! Don't you just hate it when you are too many seconds late!
ReplyDeletelol...I liked snail's comment, too.
Hi Vickie - and it was not a sound you could just ignore!
ReplyDelete