Unfortunately, there are people who capture and collect horned lizards rather than leaving the few that are left to eat their ants happily in the wild. However, the day wasn't really ideal for horned-lizard sightings, as it was not quite hot enough and it was very windy. We didn't see any on this trip, but maybe Felix will get to meet one on the next venture. Even without meeting horned lizards, we had a herpeto-wonderful time. Felix's first encounter was with this baby gopher snake Pituophis melanoleucus , which John found while waiting for Felix and me to arrive.
Gopher snakes are common in central California.
They are probably the most docile wild animal there is, with the possible exception of the mussel. The snake seemed especially interested in going inside Felix's hat. John found the snake under a piece of plywood and put it back when the two babies were finished posing together. More native species at Ft Ord Felix didn't interact so closely with most of the animals and plants we met. He avoided the prickly live-oak leaves, for example, and did not swim with the frogs.