Community News
Pahrmnp Vle Cazette,urday, lday 8, 1997"2"
A Sidewinder for the
I suppose, after reading Rattlesnake Redux in this
Journal, that I may have inadvertently bent a law or two
concerning the protection and preservation of our reptilian
brethren. It was never my intent to kidnap or capture a
protected species, but here's how it all came about.
It was starting out a fine morning. I was down at the
truck stop waiting to meet some film school graduate
students - occasionally I work with students at very re-
duced rates. No charity here, these folks are on their way
up and will soon be controlling large budgets. A friend
who works at the local prison pulled up and parked beside
my Trooper. He stepped from his car gingerly holding a
.large clear plastic jar with a blue lid. He walked over to my
,r as though the jar was full of very unstable nitroglycer-
ine.
Handing me the jar, the young fellow explained that he
had found and caught a baby sidewinder on his front lawn.
Not knowing what to do with a very angry baby rattlesnake
and knowing I know a thing or two about the desert, he
came looking for me thinking I could handle his problem.
Not wanting to disappoint the young fellow, ! placed the
jarred snake in the back seat of the Trooper and told him I'd
take care of it.
The students arrived and forgetting about the snake I
greeted them and loaded their camera equipment into the
back of the Trooper and off we went to see some desert.
First stop was at the Little Dumont Dunes right along
highway 127 at the 30-mile marker. We took a few pic-
tures, some compass readings to compute the location of
sunrise and sunset, and walked over a small dune or two.
We were getting back into the car when Anne gave a
little squeal and cried, "what's in the jar?" She wasn't
"margosa
db dl •
exactly thrilled when I explained it was just a wee baby
sidewinder.
I took a minute or two and pointed out the little red stub
where the rattle would eventually form and the two small
horns on the head that so easily identify the sidewinder.
Seems that film students have different interests than
biology students. Anne wasn't entirely sure she wanted to
share the back seat with a genuine side winding desert
rattlesnake. It didn't much reassure her when I took the jar
into the front seat and held it on my lap as we left the small
In The Thermometer's Shadow
__ by Mike Dougher_
dunes
A mile or two down the road " , ;:
the Amargosa River flows un-
der 127 through a new culvert and bridge system. (It
usually flows, this week it dried up leaving only a strip of
damp sand). There's a few shrubs growing beside the
stream and it seems a good habitat for the small mammals
and such that make up the diet of a sidewinder - that's if
they can't find a few film students to eat.
I pulled the Trooper to the side of the road and stepped
out carrying the jar of rattlesnake. Robert and Anne were
right behind me peering over my shoulder and asking what
I was going to do with the snake. I explained the habitat bit
prepared to release Brother Snake.
I found a small propitious-looking bush that cast a bit of
shade and seemed a likely spot for a youthful sidewinder
to establish himself. The students watched in silent awe as
I simply unscrewed the blue lid from the jar and prepared
to release the snake. The snake was being a bit rambunc-
tious. His tail was a vibrating blur and he was making
repeated thrusts at the side of the jar. No doubt a reptilian's
sign of affection.
Gently tilting the jar allowed the small sidewinder to
slide out and onto the ground. The wee snake paused for a
minute to get his bearings and quickly took possession on
the low shrub. He gave a few exploratory twists, a wiggle
or two, and then he simply seemed to disappear as he
blended into his new environment.
Robert and Anne watched closely as the snake appeared
to become one with the desert. The angry young rattler had
found a new home and we were the intruder. I gently
explained that we could best help the little fellow by
leaving him alone and letting him work out his own
problems in his new home. In answer to their unasked
question, I gently explained that we needn't leave any food
or water and our slithery friend was well equipped to fend
for himself in the natural world. I didn't mention hawks,
eagles and owls - the real natural environment has teeth.
Our day progressed and we concerned ourselves with
filming in the desert. Plans were made, locations were
chosen, and sparse budgets were bemoaned. The students
were sharp and it was a well organized day with little
wasted time and strong goal directed activity. A fine day
and good people to work with.
As we returned down 127, Ann and Robert noticed the
crossing of the Amargosa and suggested we stop to check
our sidewinding friend. We did but he was nowhere to be
found. Undoubtedly he was upon some far ranging snakey
adventure of his own.
Around Amargosa with Andrea
by Andrea Lynn
The school kids put on a great perfor-
mance Saturday and again oa Monday for
Cinco De Mayo. There were several Span-
ish dances and even a skit written by two
students. Ethnic food
and candy was sold, [ ,j
along with several
crafty items made by
the students. There
was even a pinata con-
test. Taylor Payton won Best Overall with
her parrot, and the first grade won Most
Original with their big, crazy looking pi-
nata.
Don't forget about the Amargosa Cham-
ber of Commerce Business Open House,
Swap Meet, Potluck, and Bingo coming up
the 24th and the 25th of May. The swap
meet will be from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday
and Sunday. Call Mike at 372-5413, Tues-
day through Thursday from 9a.m.-5p.m.
for a table. The business open house and
potluck will begin at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
Raffle prizes will be drawn at 4 p.m. and
Around Amargosa
with Andrea
For More Information:
Call (702) 372-5459
bingo will
start at 4:30
p.m. All pro-
ceeds from
this fund-
raiser are go-
ing towards beautification of the cemetery.
Oh yeah, it all takes place at the community
center.
Calendar of events:
Mondays: Boy Scouts, 3-4 p.m., Com-
munity Center
Tuesdays: Senior Tap Dancing, 9-11
a.m., (C/C)
Crafty Ladies Club, 9:30 a.m., Senior
Center
Girl Scouts, 3-4 p.m., C/C
Wednesdays: Bingo, 7 p.m.C/C
Girl Scouts, 2-3 p.m. C/C
MAY
Monday, 12: Planning Board mtg., 7 p.m.,
C/C
Monthly
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Lots of native Nevada plants including:
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Golden Barrels, Organ pipe, Desert Willow
Blue Pale Verde, Ocotillo, Mexican Fence
Post and Extremely Nice
Nevada Joshua Trees
Free Cactus Say you saw it in the Gazette, limit of one.
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