After checking out the Space exhibition and experiencing a space walk with the magic of virtual reality, we were ready to get our feet back on solid Earth ground and partake of the freely available oxygen of our atmosphere under the rays of our sun kindly shielded somewhat by our little planet's atmosphere...and then we found the cute fluffy things!! YES!
And the cute scaly things, too!
I find tortoises to be absolutely adorable, do you? Maybe it's because I grew up pretty pro-turtle thanks to the awesomeness of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movies, coloring books, action figures and cartoons, but they're such interesting creatures. Not only do they live for 50-80 years (about the same as a human life span) and prefer to eat flowers, but there's something to be admired in their doggedly patient lurch from point A to point B. Time and time again the tortoise really does beat the hare in the race simply by plodding it's way forward one stumpy step at a time. Plus they're like nature's perfect introverts; when they get spooked or feel shy they can retreat into the safety of their shell, the home that goes with them everywhere for as long as they keep on trudging. They're like tiny dinosaurs! Tortoises are pretty freaking cool. Unfortunately, the Desert Tortoise has been bordering on endangered for quite some time now so there are concerted efforts in place by conservationists like The Defenders to try to protect their natural environments and conserve the populations. Keep on keeping on, little hard-shelled friends and their guardians. π
Surrounded by all these awesome animals and the soothing gardens, it's hard not to find your zen.
More photos after the cut!
We (still) have our pet rats and seeing this goofy little cousin of their's made us happy.
How far can you jump?
Tortoises weren't really made for jumping... π
More tortoise facts!
It was naptime for this kangaroo rat!
A gila monster lounging among the rocks. They have to gnaw the venom into you, so they clamp down with their strong jaws and can be quite difficult to remove! Definitely don't want to run into one in the wild and make it mad. I've yet to encounter a wild one and it would be cool to see one, from a safe distance, in it's natural habitat... they're not yet considered endangered, but their populations are declining... π Their patterns are quite pretty and as is typical of venomous creatures bright and flashy as a warning to bugger off if you know what's good for you.
When we found our way back indoors, we found this room that simulates conditions of flash flooding in the desert. Vegas itself is a valley, after all, which was part of what attracted settlers in the first place. While it rains infrequently here and we average about 2 inches per year the mountains can get some snow and when we do get a storm they can get pretty severe. When I was a kid I happened to be at Lake Mead with family when one of the worst rain storms in decades came through and the flash flooding was so severe that most of the beaches were completely flooded and roads were washed out. I watched Port-a-potties get knocked onto their sides by the torrents of water cascading towards the lake, and have never felt the same about swimming there since... But see, that's the thing about living in a valley... a lot of the city is going to be downhill from something, and the grounds get packed hard during the dry seasons so instead of absorbing the rain it just funnels it all towards lower ground. Roads get flooded and people inevitably drive into what they presume to be a puddle only to find themselves waterlogged and panic stricken. It's serious business and that's why this room exists- though it presents the situation in an exciting and safe manner. Great way to introduce the concept to kids!
As always, we had a great time and were eager to see what else we could take in during our trip to the Springs Preserve. Check back soon for the next adventure!
XOXO,
NAU
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