18
Wednesday, October 25, 2017 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
Tales from a
Sisters
Naturalist
by Jim Anderson
The alligator lizard
PHOTO PROVIDED
Sisters salutes...
• After investing between
four and seven years in mixed
martial arts, and enduring a
seven-hour test, the follow-
ing people earned first-degree
black belts through Outlaw
Martial Arts: Ethan Ferwalt,
Amy Berry, Anessa Stotts
and Jeremy Buller. (pictured
from left to right above).
Jaymie Kaczmarek (pictured
in the middle) earned her
third-degree black belt.
• The Sisters Band of
Brothers has announced the
winners of the summer raf-
fle. First prize went to David
Prock, Sisters; a Payson fly
fishing rod and accessories.
Second prize of watercolor
prints by Cathie Raaf went
to Jessica Madron, Sisters;
and third prize of two rounds
of golf at Aspen Lakes Golf
Course to Martha Allen, of
Dundee.
The prizes were donated
b y E . F. P a y s o n R o d
Company, Sisters artist Cathy
Raaf, and Aspen Lakes Golf
Course.
Chapter President Tom
Barrier said: “We thank the
community for help support-
ing our efforts to raise funds
for the benefit of area veter-
ans in need.”
Band of Brothers meets
every Wednesday, 11:30
a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for lunch
at Takoda’s Restaurant.
Veterans are invited to attend
for camaraderie, friendship,
and mutual support.
• Sisters Christian
Academy (SCA) would like
to thank/salute the following
folks for their donations for
our 2017 Walk/Jog-a-thon:
Trader Joe’s, Costco, Ray’s
Food Place, Melvin’s, VFW
Post 8138, Trailer World,
Circa Coffee Co. 1880,
Hull’s Construction, Vast
Church, RE/MAX, Action
Air, Gordon’s Last Touch,
The Pony Express, Monte’s
Electric, and All You Need
Maintenance.
We also salute all of our
parents, our volunteers, our
financial donors, and our
staff for a job well done! And
finally, to all of our walkers
and joggers — you’re the
best! Way to go, team SCA!
In Al St. John’s field
guide, “Reptiles of the
Northwest,” the section
on lizards ends with two
very similar look-a-likes,
the Oregon alligator lizard,
(Elgaria scincicauda) and the
California alligator lizard,
(Elgaria multicarinata), and
lists an additional five sub-
species. Turn the page after
that and the snakes begin,
starting with the rubber boa.
Dennis McGregor, a most
talented artist and poet, took
on a clever project of mak-
ing renderings of named-a-
like animals in juxtaposition.
The paintings are a hoot. I
especially enjoy his render-
ing of the “Spider Monkey,”
and the “Cow Bird” is noth-
ing to sneeze at either, not to
pass up the “Bullfrog,” and
“Bulltrout.”
Looking at McGregor’s
clever rendition of the alli-
gator lizard perched on the
alligator’s head, there’s no
problem telling who is who;
however, be warned, if you
pick up an alligator lizard be
prepared for about the same
reaction you’d get when
picking up a real alligator.
You’ll get bitten.
But unlike the real alli-
gator, whose tail will stay
on no matter what or who
grabs it, the alligator lizard’s
tail is built to detach itself
from the main body, and
even keep twitching for a
few minutes to keep a preda-
tor from noticing the tail’s
owner, who then goes on to
live another day and grow
another tail.
The alligators of North
America will take on just
about anything smaller than
they are, and usually end
up getting it down, whole
or in pieces. It’s about the
same for both Oregon and
California alligator lizards,
but instead of pigs, goats
and chickens, these tiny (by
comparison) distant cousins
go after insects, spiders,
slugs (in season), centipedes,
scorpions, earthworms, and
smaller lizards — and swal-
low them whole.
But if you decide to get
right down to brass tacks
and try to put a positive ID
on that alligator lizard, all I
can say is, “Good Luck!” Al
St. John makes it look easy,
sure, he’s been gazing into
alligator lizards’ eyes from
the time he left the cradle;
the first word Al learned to
say was “herpetologist,” not
“mama.”
A herpetologist is a per-
son who studies reptiles and
amphibians, and I have no
doubt Al began his studies
of reptiles and amphibians
from the time he first saw
a snake in his native land
of McMinnville. I know
for a fact he was hauling
native rattlesnakes out from
under the rocks there before
he was a teenager; which
makes him the best person
in the Northwest to ask any-
thing about herps. He’s still
alive in spite of his early
childhood.
Alligators are almost
entirely limited to the New
See NATURALIST on page 30
Chef Hosler & Crew Invite
tee You to.
to... . . .
Get
Celebrate the seasonal and regional
best of the Northwest
Boo-Tiful!
Sunday, November 5
Prix Fixe 6-course menu paired
with local wines, beers & spirits
Visit our Full-Service
Beauty Supply
2 seatings available: 5 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
$70 per person
Limited space available. This event will sell out!
For reservations call 541-549-EATS (3287) | 243 N. Elm St. Sisters
152 E. Main Ave. / 541-549-8771
Jeff • Theresa • Ann • Jamie • Shiela • Terri • Shanntyl • Brittany
Not just a voice on the phone...
Weʼre right here when you need us...
UN-CHAINED…one dog at a time
Fences for Fido is an award-winning, nonprofi t that
builds fences free of charge for families who keep
their dogs on chains, tethers, or in small enclosures.
INSURANCE OF SISTERS
Serving Sisters
for over 20 years
CALL FOR A
QUOTE TODAY
AUTO • HOME • HEALTH • LIFE • BUSINESS
We also provide:
• A warm, insulated dog house
• Spay/neuter services
541-549-3172 • 1-800-752-8540 • 704 W. Hood Ave.
A member of Fullhart Insurance Agency, Inc.
To volunteer or request a
fence visit our website.
Anyone can confi dentially
request a fence for a dog.
WWW.FENCESFORFIDO.ORG