It’s A Lizard’s Life

Posted on October 18, 2026October 14, 2026 by Dusty Roads | No Comments

Large iguana perched on a tree branch, showing detailed orange, brown, and green scales with spines along its back.”

🦎 Lizard Life: Florida Edition

Wildlife comes in all shapes and sizes, but Florida’s scaly resident lizards have a special talent for showing up exactly when you least expect them.

🦎 Iguanas: My First Encounter

The very first green iguana I ever saw outside of a PBS nature special was strolling down Duval Street like it owned the place. It was wearing a tiny harness, attached to a human with big rasta hair and an even bigger vibe. I couldn’t tell who was walking whom, and I was far too shy to ask questions. I didn’t even take a picture — a tragedy, considering how gloriously photo‑worthy the moment was.

The next time, I redeemed myself. I was on an airboat returning from an Everglades tour when I spotted the biggest iguana I’d ever seen perched in the bushes along the channel. He had an orange frill and the attitude of someone who absolutely knew he was magnificent. I got a photo as we glided past, and it remains one of my favorite “Florida wildlife being dramatic” memories.

Large iguana with bright orange spines resting in dense green foliage, gripping branches with its claws.”

🦎 Anoles: Tiny Speed Demons

Back at the condo, the local residents were anoles — tiny green and brown lizards that zipped around like they were late for a meeting. They were adorable, lightning‑fast, and endlessly entertaining. The locals didn’t seem impressed, but I loved watching them skitter across the patio like miniature athletes.

🦎 Iguanas Everywhere: Key Largo Edition

Several years later, I returned to Florida and headed for Key Largo. That’s where I truly met “Green iguana resting on the ground among dry leaves and tree roots, with blue water visible in the background.” the iguana population — and wow, did they make an impression.

I spent most of my beach time at Pennekamp Park. The sand was fine, but the water footing was pure coral punishment. Lining the beach were trees, picnic tables, and iguanas. Big ones, small ones, green ones, orange ones — a whole rainbow of reptiles just living their best lives.

No one seemed to pay them any mind, but if you weren’t careful, they’d absolutely steal your lunch. Florida wildlife doesn’t play.

🐊 Other Scaly Things: Alligators

“Beachside caution sign warning about alligators and crocodiles, with white sand and visitors near the shoreline in the background.” Of course, the biggest lizards in the area weren’t iguanas at all — they were alligators. Signs everywhere warned visitors not to swim with them, but the park still had a roped‑off swimming area, and plenty of people went in and out of the water like it was no big deal.

I even braved it myself to test out my new snorkeling gear. I never saw an alligator there… although I did see one while swimming with manatees. We didn’t realize it was lurking nearby until we were safely back on the boat. Since I prefer returning from vacations with all body parts intact, I’m very glad I didn’t know about that gator while I was still in the water.

“Alligator lying in tall green grass and wet vegetation, partially hidden by plants in a marshy habitat.”

🦎 Final Thoughts

I’ve heard iguanas make good pets — and I guess that’s true, considering the one I saw on a leash. But personally, I prefer the soft, furry kind of animal. Still, it’s always a thrill to see these scaly characters in the wild and learn a little more about their world.

“Two cats sitting on a carpeted floor near a window, one orange and one black, with a beige multi‑level cat tree behind them.

Wildlife Viewing over the Years

Posted on October 13, 2026October 13, 2026 by Dusty Roads | No Comments

Two small brown owls sitting close together, wide‑eyed and alert, with round faces, speckled feathers, and a soft green blurred background.

Wildlife Viewing upclose (but not too) and personal

This has been quite a year for wildlife. Stories have been popping up from all over the map — bears wandering through Connecticut, moose strolling around Gardner, and all kinds of unexpected visitors showing up in places they normally avoid. It’s made me think about the trips I’ve taken where I got to see animals in their natural habitat instead of behind zoo glass. Honestly, it makes me want to go on a safari someday. Lions and tigers and rhinos… oh my.

I’ve always looked for wildlife when I travel — whale watches, manatees, anything with fins, fur, or feathers. But two vacations stand out above the rest: South Dakota and Wyoming.

South Dakota: The Highway Wildlife Parade

South Dakota was the first place I ever saw so many wild animals just… out and about. Pronghorn grazed right beside the highway. Deer darted across the Badlands and Black Hills. We even watched a whole herd of Big Horn sheep crossing the road, stopping traffic like they owned the place.

Five big horn sheep crossing a paved mountain road while a white car waits, with rocky hillsides and green forest in the background.

And the best part? People actually stopped for them. There was a respect for wildlife I don’t often see around here. Even with all those animals, there was surprisingly little road carnage — unlike Massachusetts, where you can tell the seasons by how many dead deer line the roadside.

Here’s what we saw in South Dakota:

Four wild horses running across a grassy field, their manes blowing as they move together through open terrain with low shrubs in the background.

White‑tailed deer
Mule deer
Pronghorn
Rabbits
Bison
Big Horn sheep
Wild horses
Wild burros (the famous “beggin’ burros”)
Prairie dogs
And Birds, lots of birds. Meadowlarks, Blue Birds, Swallows and a Road Runner (where’s Wile E. Coyote?)

Wyoming: The Elk Jackpot

Wyoming happened because it was the only place with elk available for a timeshare exchange. I’d started looking in Utah, but I ended up near Jackson Hole — and I hit the wildlife jackpot.

I wanted elk, and I got elk. I didn’t hear the iconic bugle — the rut was over — but I did get to see part of the elk migration. A huge herd of does, calves, and bulls moving across open fields toward their wintering grounds. It was breathtaking.

A large herd of elk moving across a grassy field in a wide panoramic scene, with tall leafless trees in the background.

Elk were #1 on the list, but Wyoming had more:

Grizzly bears
Black bears (not always black, which got confusing)
Mule deer
Pronghorn
Chipmunks
Bison
Moose

One of my favorite moments was seeing a mixed herd — bison, pronghorn, and deer — all grazing peacefully together like they’d formed a temporary wildlife union.

I looked for wolves in Yellowstone, but the Lamar Valley was quiet that day. Beautiful, but empty. I found geysers instead.

Old Faithful geyser erupting in a tall column of steam and water against a bright blue sky, with rocky geothermal ground and forested hills in the background.

Wild Kingdom, Dusty Edition

I’ve had so many wildlife adventures over the years that I could practically write my own Wild Kingdom scripts. But that’s enough reminiscing for now.

With bears in Connecticut and moose in Gardner, maybe the next wildlife story will be closer to home than I think.

California Builds Wildlife Overpass

Posted on October 12, 2026October 7, 2026 by Dusty Roads | No Comments

A newly built wildlife crossing bridge stretches over a highway, with three mule deer walking across the top. Cars travel beneath the structure, and forested hills rise in the background. Construction equipment is still visible on the bridge, highlighting how quickly wildlife began using it.

Wildlife Overpass comes to California

Good Morning, Readers

I love good‑news stories, and there never seem to be enough of them. Recently I’ve shared updates about Colorado’s new wildlife overpass and the incredible success they’re seeing — fewer crashes, less carnage on the roads, and migratory animals like pronghorn returning to their historical routes.

Then I learned about Arizona. They already have more than twenty wildlife overpasses and tunnels. I had no idea they were so conservation‑forward, but apparently they’re planning another one because the existing crossings work so well.

And now California has joined in. Up in Siskiyou County, their new wildlife overpass isn’t even officially open yet, but it’s already proving its worth. Just 15 hours after construction wrapped, three mule deer crossed. They were followed by a bobcat… and then a black bear.

I guess it really is a case of: If you build it, they will come.

A forested highway runs beneath a wide wildlife overpass covered in soil and vegetation. Dense pine trees surround the scene, and a snow‑capped mountain rises in the background under a bright blue sky.

This a WMEO Weekend update- Moose on the Loose

Posted on September 27, 2026September 25, 2026 by Dusty Roads

Two cats sit behind the WMEO 9 news desk, appearing as news anchors. The orange cat on the left wears a black bow tie, and the black cat on the right sits beside a small teddy bear and microphone. Behind them, a screen displays the headline “MOOSE ON THE LOOSE” with a photo of a large bull moose walking down a residential street. The scene humorously mimics a professional TV news broadcast.

WMEO Weekend Update — Moose on the Loose in Gardner, MA

Banner and Balboa reporting from the Nature Desk. We Meow-You Listen

Banner: It’s been quite the year for wildlife, folks. Jellyfish, sea turtles, criminal seagulls, beavers, bears… and of course, moose. And now — finally — we have our own moose story to share.

Balboa: Gardner, Massachusetts. Small city. North‑central part of the state. And on Tuesday morning… its population increased by exactly one. A moose.

Banner: Not just any moose — a massive bull with a full rack of antlers, trotting right down Main Street like he owned the place.

Balboa: Yeah, and he had to stop at the McDonald’s for his morning breakfast sandwich. Moose gotta eat.

Banner: We now go live to Pumpkin Spice in the field with his on‑site report.

An orange and white cat wearing a black hat with an orange band and a press badge that reads “WMEO PRESS PUMPKIN SPICE REPORTER” poses as a news reporter. The cat has a blue lanyard and holds a camera, while a microphone labeled “WMEO NEWS” sits nearby. The softly blurred background suggests an outdoor setting, creating a humorous scene of a feline journalist at work.

Pumpkin Spice — field reporter

Pumpkin Spice: Wow. He’s a big boy. He picked up a police escort as he strolled through downtown Gardner. When approached by this reporter to explain his visit, he gruffly replied, “no comment.” Officers then gently escorted him back toward the forest.

Balboa: Well that was rude.

Banner: And there you have it, folks — live from Gardner, Massachusetts, our very own homegrown Moose on the Loose.

This concludes your WMEO Weekend Update from the Nature Desk. Thanks for watching.

Wildlife Overpasses Are Saving Lives

Posted on September 23, 2026September 22, 2026 by Dusty Roads

A Slow Start for a Smart Idea

Not so long ago, wildlife bridges were almost unheard of. The first versions started appearing in the 1950s, but here in the U.S., the idea took decades to gain traction. Canada embraced the concept much earlier, and because they’re our closest neighbor, we had a front‑row seat to watch their success.

When Human Impact Forces Action

For years, wildlife advocates pushed for safe passage for migrating animals, while politicians pointed to the cost. And as often happens, nothing really changed until enough people were affected. Once the human impact became impossible to ignore, momentum finally shifted.

Colorado’s Most Dangerous Stretch of Highway

One of the worst areas for wildlife collisions is in Colorado. You might remember when I shared the opening of the I‑25 Greenland Wildlife Bridge — and then the update when the first three elk crossed it shortly after it opened. The latest numbers are jaw‑dropping.

A 91% Drop in Wildlife Collisions

Since the overpass opened, wildlife‑vehicle collisions have dropped 91%. Ninety‑one percent. That’s not just a win — that’s a lifesaver.

Before the bridge was built, this stretch of highway saw up to 25 animal‑vehicle collisions per day during migration season. Think of the ripple effect: fewer injuries, fewer animal deaths, fewer totaled cars and trucks. Imagine a big rig hitting an elk — the damage to the truck, the cargo, the driver, and of course the animal. And that’s just one accident.

Built for Big Game — Used by Everyone

The overpass spans I‑25 near the Greenland exit between Larkspur and Monument. It was designed primarily for pronghorn and elk, but the success has gone far beyond that.

Video feeds show entire elk herds using the bridge. Pronghorn are crossing to the west side of I‑25 for the first time in decades. Bears, deer, coyotes, and other animals have been spotted using it too.

Biologists even created a protected pathway for small mammals by piling wood along the edges so they wouldn’t be picked off by predators while crossing. It’s not just a big‑game solution — it’s a full‑ecosystem fix.

A herd of elk standing in a grassy field, with a large bull elk in the center and leafless trees in the background.

A Model for the Future of Wildlife Safety

Colorado’s success is more than a local win — it’s a blueprint. When we give wildlife safe passage, we protect animals, drivers, families, and entire ecosystems. The Greenland overpass proves that thoughtful infrastructure can save lives on both sides of the guardrail.

Projects like the Greenland overpass remind us that the West isn’t just a place we admire — it’s a place we share. When we build with wildlife in mind, we’re choosing a future where animals can follow the paths they’ve used for centuries and drivers can travel safely through the landscapes we all love. It’s a simple idea with enormous impact, and Colorado has shown what happens when we finally decide to make room for every creature that calls this region home.

Tag Archives: wildlife