Where the Wild Things Are
 

	They're everywhere, really.   Just get outside and look around you.  I make a point to surround and immerse myself in things wild. It inspires my writing.  Here's what I've found in my backyard and around my neighborhood:
	A mother bobcat deposited her babies in a friend's backyard tree planter while she went off to hunt.  A snapped a few pics and then we left them alone.  Aren't they cute?   Mom came back and moved her babies several hours later.
	This hummingbird nest was made on a mobile I purchased in Mexico that hangs on my back porch.					One hatched, one to go.
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	Newly hatched.   I have found eight hummer nests in my backyard.				The same chicks pictured left, a few weeks later.  They grow quickly!
	AT THE FEEDER: By day: hummingbirds.				By night: bats.
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	My darling daughter, holding a tarantula.				Close up.
	My daughter, holding a lizard she found in our yard.				The latest fashion : )
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	Uh oh.  A lizard in need of help.				Never fear, help is near!
	(My daughter has since traded lizards for lip gloss...)
	I have a lot of rattlesnakes at my house.  Here's one on the back porch...
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	Here's one on the front porch...				One in the garage...
	Taking a little trip back to the desert.				The firemen know me by name, they come so often to remove the snakes.
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	A Cooper's hawk drinking from my birdbath.				A Harris hawk being assaulted by another bird.
	A dove nesting in a saguaro cavity in my front yard.				A javelina.
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	A tarantula crawling up the side of the house.				A coyote.
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	A bobcat.  (Pic compliments of my dear pal Lisa King.  Thanks, Lisa!)				Western Screech Owl.  (Photo credit Rob LaMaster, my neighbor. Thanks, Rob!)
	Inside this prickly cholla (choy-uh) cactus is a...				curved billed thrasher nest, with eggs. (photo credit: Jeff Volk.  Thanks, Jeff!  You be de man.)
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	Oh, this is fun.  The folks from Animal Planet's BACKYARD HABITAT came to my house to film a segment for their program.  Ours is the Gila Monster and Cactus Wren episode. The National Wildlife Federation has certified my backyard as a wildlife habitat.  Production for two days with show hosts David Mizejewski, Molly Pesce and the "crew" was a blast.  Here are some pics:
	Molly and Dave going over a scene with their producer, Brian Ganeck.				Our garage, transformed into a techno studio and buffet hall for two days.
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	Getting a little help with the bird nesting material craft from Brian, the producer.				My daughter, getting ready for a scene.
	Getting ready to roll with co-host Molly Pesce.				Do over...
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	Uh, Dave. There's a cholla stuck on you...				Getting ready for a scene.  Shooting took place from sun up to sun down for two days.
	That's a wrap! Link to Animal Planet's Backyard Habitat site.