Look out there is fungus, among us.

Thanks everyone!

The auricularia auricula fungus is one of my favorite subjects to photograph. It's also interesting for other reasons.

That was very interesting indeed.

Pap

Awesome!....Again!

"The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is announcing the 2013 Python Challenge."

Python Challenge News Release

PythonChallenge.org

I take it that dead snakes don't count.

Pap

They don't if they were road-killed. But to comply with the rules the competitors must kill the snake. The rules state:

"Burmese pythons are classified as Conditional Species in Florida and cannot be transported live. They must be harvested in the field using humane methods. See our Guidelines on humane euthanasia of a Burmese python ."

According to the guidelines, "the brain of a python can remain active for up to an hour even after decapitation." A firearm or captive bolt is recommended for destroying the brain. Here's a photo from the guidelines showing the target area.

Speaking of snakes...

A couple of weeks ago I was trying to get a photo of a shelf fungus on a fallen tree. I intended to walk right up the center of this first pic.

Fortunately, the pattern recognition part of my brain kicked in and stopped me in my tracks.

The snake wasn't very big as rattlesnakes go, about thirty inches long or so. It didn't coil or try to rattle. It only moved its head slightly to follow my movements.

I say 'try' to rattle because its rattle wasn't fully formed, just a button.