Hunting the New Mexico Whiptail

9.28.2013


The New Mexico Whiptail
Let’s see now, Chloe hunts bugs, rabbits, birds, bears…sometimes, and now the “Whiptail”. If you didn’t know, the New Mexico Whiptail is the official state reptile. We also have an official state bird, state flower, and even a state cookie, the Biscochito, or at least that’s what the box says. But I’m getting off topic.

As a matter of fact, Chloe has had better luck in catching the Whiptail with a record of 3 catches just this past summer. Having a resemblance to a tiny dinosaur, the Whiptail’s habitat includes the deserts and grasslands of New Mexico, Arizona, and northern Mexico. It measures a pint size 16.5 to 23 cm in length, or if you’re not up on the metric system, that’s 6.5 inches to 9 inches. Although the size we have in the backyard are more like 3 to 4 inches in length.

The Whiptail is amazingly fast, darting up walls, over rocks and into bushes, except for when Chloe goes on the hunt. As I mentioned she a record of 3 scores just in the last few months, where upon she attempts to bring them into our house. That’s where we have to stop her, and offer her a treat to drop the poor creature, which is still alive, and yes, …I’ve seen them hang out of Chloe’s mouth, …feet first, …head first, and …even sideways!

This New Mexico Whiptail hides out high up on the wall.
Chloe's keen eyesight spots the lizard.
A hunting leap in an attempt to get the Whiptail,
...and one more leap!

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