Wolf Lichen growing on the dead branches.

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Prickly Pear Cactus taken while out catching butterflies and hiking. The blooming season is almost over for the cactus in Montana. These grow close to the ground, unlike their southerly cousins.

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Mountain Goats

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This rattlesnake is taking a big risk crossing the open ground. A hawk or eagle could take it for a meal. A rattlesnake tail will fetch a $10 bounty. Me, I leave them be. They are misunderstood creatures and do good things. I have a heavy ironwood walking stick that thumps the ground as I walk. It lets the snakes know I'm coming. They let me know where they are from their zzzing of rattle.

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I look for fossils. Doing so, requires turning rocks over. You never know what is under the overturned rock. I'm always ready to jump back in case of rattlesnake. This is not a rattlesnake. It is a rare sight, a rubber boa (Charina bottae). One of North America's few native boas. This one was found in the Little Belt Mountains, they are sort of part of the Rockies in central Montana.

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