Tuesday, September 12th, 2006
Las Cruces Reptile Rescue is a volunteer operation by local residents that provides care for lost or abandoned reptiles.
Yesterday, unknown thugs broke into the home where the Rescue facility is located. Besides trashing the home and stealing property, these miscreants killed a number of the reptiles, including 3 pythons, 2 gray-banded king snakes, a bearded dragon, and a round-tail horned lizard.
A 10-foot albino Burmese python was stabbed multiple times, but will probably survive.
The police say that attacking the reptiles was the reason for the crime.
I had a personal experience with Reptile Rescue about two years ago.
I was driving near my home when suddenly a dog ran in front of me — then with a shock I realized it was a huge lizard! I knew that such an animal wouldn’t survive in the city, or the surrounding desert, so I jumped out and caught it. It was quite a chase, but I managed to catch it without hurting it — or getting bit.
Here are several photos:
I couldn’t take care of it, so I called the Animal Shelter. They recommended Reptile Rescue, which I then called. They said they’d have someone out to get it within 20 minutes, and they did.
While I was waiting, I discovered it was extremely thirsty.
Here’s the web site for Las Cruces Reptile Rescue. They have posted these details about the attack:
The killers (there had to be more than one) used several knives, a fireplace poker and at least 2 frying pans to beat the animals to death. They hit the animals so hard that they broke off the handles of both frying pans. They also injured several turtles by smashing stones onto their shells.
They are accepting donations for repair of the facilities, estimated to be at least $6,000.
Tags: Las Cruces Reptile Rescue Albino Burmese Python
Saturday, September 9th, 2006
Las Cruces sunset.
Friday, September 8th, 2006
As part of the process of redesigning the Las Cruces downtown (most would say fixing the previous huge mistakes), the La Entrada Monument must be moved to a new location. The Monument stands now in the middle of what will be an extension of Main Street.
The Monument consists of two half-circle walls that commemorate the arrival of Spanish culture into the Mesilla Valley.
Anthony Pennock, the artist who created the Monument in 1997, will supervise its removal and reconstruction.
Mr. Pennock is a native Las Crucen.
Tags: La Entrada Monument, Anthony Pennock
Friday, September 8th, 2006
A beautiful Las Cruces evening sky, looking west.
Tags: Skyscape
Sunday, September 3rd, 2006
Friends of astronomy in Las Cruces organized a friendly “Pluto Protest” Friday on the NMSU campus.
The protest was directed against the “official” demotion of Pluto to a non-planet.
Las Cruces has a very direct interest in Pluto. Clyde Tombaugh, who discovered the planet on February 18, 1930, joined the NMSU faculty in 1955. His legacy in astronomy, and in astronomy in this area, is monumental.
Patsy Tombaugh, 93, Clyde’s widow joined the protest.
Tags: Pluto Protest, Clyde Tombaugh
Saturday, September 2nd, 2006
The rain continues to fall, which is welcomed, but when rain falls in the desert, it’s often intense, creating flooding and erosion.
Here’s a shot of the rain coming down at this moment.
Friday, September 1st, 2006
In spite of the rain and flooding, the 2006 Hatch Valley Chile Festival will open as planned. The cost of the Festival is $5. One dollar of the fee goes to a non-profit fund for the victims of the recent flooding in Hatch.
Here’s the Saturday schedule:
Saturday — September 2
10 am — Parade Downtown Hatch
12 noon — 2006 Queen Coronation
1-3 pm — Music by Ginny Mac
All Afternoon Various Chile Contests, Booths, Food
4-7 pm — Music and Dance to “The Silver Bullet Band”
Here’s the Sunday schedule:
Sunday — September 3
12 pm — Cobre Folklorio Dancers
All Afternoon Various Chile Contests, Booths, Food
1-2 pm — Music by Scotty Fitch
2 pm — Queen’s Auction
3-5 pm — Music & Dance by Cameron the DJ
This is the 35th annual festival.
Official Web Site
Tags: Hatch Chile Festival
Friday, September 1st, 2006
Parts of Las Cruces received at least 1.9 inches during the night.
Here you can see a rain storm rolling across the Organ Mountains.
One consequence of rain is dazzling sunsets:
Tags: Rain Las Cruces
Wednesday, August 30th, 2006
The Federal Government has just declared Doña Ana County a disaster area.
The most recent flooding hit Radium Springs hard, which is just north of Las Cruces.
Radium Springs is the site of Fort Selden, which was an active fort from 1866-1877 and from 1881-1891.
Today Fort Selden is a State Monument.
Tags: Doña Ana County, Fort Selden, Radium Springs
Wednesday, August 30th, 2006
The Organ Mountains lie East of Las Cruces, running NNW. In the satellite image below, Las Cruces is marked by the light area. The Organ Mountains are marked by the black outline. You can clearly see the green Mesilla Valley.
A friend once said it’s impossible to take a bad picture of the Organ Mountains. I think that’s true. Judge for yourself:
Tags: Organ Mountains, Satellite Image
