Trail Log 1995-1997 - Lamar at Colorado State University

stand your ground. Be bold and noisy, confront it and move closer. You hope this works.
49
In 17 years of trails, they have shot 17 animals, but five of these were in the drought year in 1992.
The stressed animals from the drought gave more trouble. Most of these were elephants; the least
shot were lions.
Cleve doesn't believe in firing warning shots. Elephants will flare their ears and intimidate, but this
is best not called a mock charge. His rifle is a .458 Winchester. Guides are issued a rifle and keep
that particular one.
Black rhinos will charge once and turn around and charge again.
The lion is not the king of beasts; the elephant is.
Hyenas are dangerous only at night, and only if you are asleep and not moving. They will bite your
face. But if you sit up they will run off.
Snakes are no real problem, not even in summer, though you have to be careful at rocky outcrops.
The puff adder and the black mamba are the two to watch for. Puff adders are too lazy to get out
of the way.
There were lots of stars in the sky; the Milky Way was especially notable. We looked at the
southern cross and figured how to find south from it.
Watched a satellite cross the sky.
Elephant call in the night.
July 17, Monday.
We left from camp on trail, early, really before daylight, though there was enough light to see a bit.
There is a "hide" (blind) at the edge of camp with a watering hole beyond it; you cross the fence
near here on a style. There were lions roaring just after we crossed the fence.
Hyena tracks seen; there are two lobes in the back pad. Leopards have three lobes in the back.
Elephants push over acacias to get food, and this is considered by many to be destructive. But
often the acacia is not killed; the bending over turns the acadia into a kid of coppice. It resprouts
and the lower leaves are available for other kinds of wildlife. Also grasses sprout beneath it,
protected by the coppice over top.
We saw a spotted hyena a little ways off, and walked closer toward it. Watched it a while. Cleve
said this is not dangerous at all; the hyena will run off, as it did. A second hyena also seen, at more
distance.
long-tailed shrike
buffalo weaver
water buck, the "target" seen nicely
50-60 impala, running, with a few wildebeest
lilac breasted roller, doing its flight roll