Texas Animals

The first thing that people usually think of when they imagine animals from Texas is cows. Well cows certainly aren't just in
Texas, but at one time they were one of our biggest state exports. The breeding of the Texas Longhorn was at first a fluke.
Later with their immunity to certain diseases and their durability on the road made them ideal candidates for trail drives.
Millions were driven out of Texas in its heyday, but by the 1920's folks decided that they wanted beef for dinner. Since the
Longhorn wasn't the best breed for lots of food, it was bred almost out of existence. The government stepped in however, and
saved them on the grounds that they were a part of history, and gave two herds a spot in wildlife refuge.

Horny toads are sure weird looking creatures! He's got horns and spines all over his head, a flat body and a thin stripe that
runs down the middle of his back. They spend their days laying in the sun, eating, and running for their lives from predators.
When threatened, the first thing they usually do is flatten themselves out and get very still. They may also run very fast and
suddenly stop, making it look like they had disappeared. The horny toad may also hiss or squirt blood out of its eyes to
deter prey. (Ewww!) The Texas Horned Lizard is state listed as a threatened species.

Mountain Lions do not just live in the mountains, rather they'll hang out anywhere that has plenty to eat and provides a nice
place to hide. A mountain Lion was recently seen on the security camera of a residence near Pasadena, Texas! He was
just strolling through their backyard! It is rare for a human to encounter a Mountain Lion for any length of time. Most likely
you'll catch a glimpse from your car by the side of the highway at night. They have been known to attack people though. If
you're going to go hiking make sure to make lots of noise. That way, you won't surprise a sleeping Mountain Lion, and he'll
be more likely to just run away. If you do end up being confronted by one, make sure not to turn your back on it. Stand as
tall as you can, and pick up any small children so that they won't run either. The added bundle will make you seem larger
anyway, and more frightening to the lion. If it does attack you, fight back with your hands, sticks or whatever you've got. But
don't bend over or make yourself seem smaller.

One of the most feared snakes in the Western United States, the Western Diamondback Rattlesnake's bark is definitely as
bad as its bite. The tell tale rattle does not always come before the snake decides to strike, but when you do hear it, you
know you're in trouble. The snake pounces on its victims with lightning speed, and sinks its large fangs in for a stinging bite.
The bite can have a devastating effect on humans, and result in extensive welling, bleeding and tissue damage. Its normal
prey includes mice, rats, chipmunks and other small mammals, and occasionally birds. It is not the top of the food chain
however, and can be quite a tasty meal to a number of animals including the eagle, hawk, roadrunner or other snakes.

Scorpions are nocturnal animals and are definitely classified as "critters." The appearance of these creatures is probably
more terrifying than their sting, which usually isn't that bad. In worse cases the sting can cause severe swelling, pain,
numbness, frothing at the mouth, muscle twitching, convulsions, difficulty breathing, and rarely death. An anti-venom is
available for these extreme cases. The large pincers that are so recognizable are used primarily to trap or capture its prey.
Scorpions are found in many climates including desert regions, grassy plains, forests and caves. Don't be surprised if you
find a nest of them in an old shed in your backyard!

In the United States the tarantula is found all over Texas and in several other Western states. They are usually up to 4
inches across (including leg span) and are dark brown, gray or black in color. It is not uncommon to see several black
tarantulas on the highways in West Texas. Though these spiders are quite feared because of their bad reputation, it is
uncommon for them to bite humans, and their venom is considered to be harmless. They will bite though if provoked. In the
wild, a tarantula does not spin a web to catch prey like so many other spiders. Instead, it races after their dinner, and bites it
if it can catch it, and delivers a paralyzing sting. Then the tarantula grinds its victim up in a ball, secretes digestive juices into
it, and then sucks up the liquefied prey. Ooohh doggies!!

Who doesn't remember that hysteria? "The Killer Bees are coming!! Run for your life!" We all saw the movie, and like ninnys
we feared the worst. That swarms of huge militant bees would sweep in by the thousands and destroy everything in their path.
Okay, well that was a little dramatic, but am I lying? No, people really did worry about that in the late 1980's and early 1990's.
African Honey Bees were imported to South America by scientists in the 1950's to create a better bee. Instead they got a
more violent bee. Well of few of those experiments escaped from their labs, and started mating with the local bees. That
created whole colonies of these violent honey bees. They continued to spread, and today they have invaded many Western
states of the U.S. Obviously they didn't sweep in trying to kill us, but they are more likely to sting than regular honey bees,
and they attack in greater numbers. If you think you may have Africanized Honey Bees around your home, (noted by their loud
swarming, and unusual nesting areas) call a pest control place immediately and have them taken care of. Even noises can set
these guys off, and send them on the rampage.

Well Pardners, we've saved the best for last! The Texas state mammal is
the armadillo! Our website's mascot is an armadillo, and that's why we love
them so much! Armadillo's love to dig in the dirt, and in fact, they can't
survive in areas where the dirt is too hard to dig in. They're usually about 15
inches long, and weigh 8-17 lbs. They're covered by a hard shell that
protects them from predators. Inside they're very ticklish. (Just kidding!)