Gators and Geckos!

Last night the light from the lamp was attracting all sorts of moths, mosquitoes, gnats, midges and other insects to my window screen. My first thought was to hurry and close the window. I did not want all of these critters to find some minute hole in the screen and come buzzing around inside. To me, there is nothing more aggravating than to hear a mosquito buzzing around my ear when I am trying to sleep. I wait for the inevitable bite..I know it is coming but the bug has to aggravate me to no end before it dives in for the bite. I got up to close the window even though I was thoroughly enjoying the cool night air..what a shame! These screens are supposed to keep unwanted pests from entering the house! As I neared the window, two small heroes entered the picture! Two geckos started scooping up bug after bug! The lamplight that attracted the bugs also provided supper for these lizards.

Actually as far as geckos go, these were two rather large ones. Each was about five or six inches in length and quite chubby. I suppose living on the Bayou, they had plenty to eat! There are always some sort or another of bugs swarming around here! These are Mediterranean House Geckos and as their name suggests, they live in or around the home. Geckos have a voracious appetite for insects, especially moths and roaches! I am all for anything that will eat a roach since with all of the Oak trees on the hill, roaches abound! Go, geckos, eat those roaches! On the Bayou, too, there are occasional swarms of midges. About every three or for years, the swarms are so thick that they literally cover the house! There have been times when the midges were so thick that we could hardly see out the windows! It is nice to know that the lizards will feast upon such pests! Since they are usually nocturnal, most people will not even realize that the geckos are residing in their homes! I do! I know I have geckos, not just because of these two, but because I can hear them "talk"! And before you think I am slap nuts..I do not mean they actually speak but more chirp! Mediterranean House Geckos communicate with a series of birdlike chirps. This could be merely a territorial thing or perhaps a mating call but the sound is quite distinct and quite loud in the middle of the night! Gecko talk! I watched these two for a while and was happy that I could leave the window open for the evening.

While we are on the subject of lizards on the Bayou...the alligator came back! I know it is not really a lizard but, well, they sort of resemble a bit! I have not seen my friendly Bayou alligator since last year. This evening when I went to the pier, my brother and his sweet girlfriend were on his pier. They pointed out onto the Bay and sure enough, there was Gator! It elated me to no end to see the gator lolling about out there. I was almost to the point of believing that someone had taken a notion to get rid of our friend. There are those who would rather cause the demise of an innocent creature simply because of misguided fear. This gator keeps his distance from humans. It has caused no harm and should be able to live its life in peace. As long as it stays on my side of the Bayou, I can rest assured that it will be safe. Welcome back, Gator!