I met this Gila Monster out and about on a spring day in 2023. At the time, there were a lot of quail eggs and baby cottontails to find out there, which gets these animals active and observable.
These animals are the only venomous lizard in the United States, and one of five species of the Heloderma genus found across Central America.
Northern Cat-eyed Snake from late last year. This animal is found in thornscrub and tropical forest habitat throughout much of Central America, and just barely makes it into the United States, in south Texas.
A Speckled Racer (Drymobius margaritiferus) from a visit to South Texas last year. This species is found throughout Central America and just a bit into South America, ranging north to just barely enter the United States.
