Large Scale Central

Rescued a Critter

General Discussion
#1

After seeing a post about “Damn Hobos” and it turned out to be a praying mantis I had my own buggy alien encounter over the weekend. I got a train going Sunday and I was walking the line removing acorns and twigs and such and came across this cute little guy walking along the main line rail. I’m so glad I spotted it before the train came around to turn him into yellow slime. What a mess that would have been.

I looked up his record and the colourful caterpillar will soon turn orange and eventually change into a butterfly. In retrospect I shouldn’t have been so harsh on the little fella and let him ride the train for a few laps. Instead the RR security took him into custody, took his photo in case he was ever caught trespassing again then sent him on his way at the outer edge of the RR property. Pretty neat looking.

#2

Todd,
I think my Mantis was looking for something like that to chow down on! :slight_smile: :slight_smile:

#3

Cool!

My wife and I have been taking walks around the neighborhood in the evening, and have seen a remarkable amount of wildlife. During the last hot spell a couple weeks ago, we found a baby kingsnake about a foot long, across the street. A few nights later we found another one right on our doorstep! Both were relocated to the nearby canyon.

The water meters here are all set into the sidewalk, and we found that many of these underground hideouts contain tiny frogs that pop up out of the little hole in the cover, after dark.

Last night something large got into one of my tunnels and derailed the train parked there. I think it was either a raccoon or a possum.

#4

It’s neat how much nature can be around us if we choose to look for it. Or in some cases it finds us like the other night one of our Cocker Spaniels dug up a small possum and was having fun tossing it in the air like a cat with mouse. We got it away from him and I brought it down back. The next morning it was gone which means it was either eaten by a passing coyote or the possum was playing possum.
Sorry John your Mantis can’t have my caterpillar I think a flock of turkeys that came through might have got him.
Ray you should put covers on your tunnel openings. I have short tunnels 2’ 4’ and 6’ and I have seen cats and possums using them and the mainline as a path. I don’t cover those but my long 15’ one I do. Twice a critter, maybe a chipmunk, possum, skunk?? has gotten in there and dug all around the edges tossing ballast in great heaps onto the track. To clear it out I popped the access hatches and used my shop vac. What a mess.
This Summer a friend with a KOI pond on his RR had it raided by a bird that ate a couple of fish.
We have all kinds of critters here on Cape Cod and luckily none are deadly unless you venture into the ocean and find a Great White Shark! I know some of you desert dwelling guys have found rattlers on your RR’s and you Southeners recluse spiders and such.
I’ll keep my hobo caterpillars.
Happy RRing