Cold in August? In Dallas, Texas? Impossible, right? Well, no it’s not. We actually had a cold front move through the area in mid-August that dropped the temperature 10 to 15 degrees Fahrenheit lower that the norm for several days in a row. Definitely unusual for summertime in Texas.
The weather change had an interesting effect on the area’s urban wildlife. One notable example are the grasshoppers in the pictures and video below. The temperature dropped low enough overnight to cause the grasshoppers to go into a state of torpor. They were sluggish and slow. Essentially the grasshoppers were fruit to be plucked.
This single-minded Raccoon was taking advantage of the unique situation when I came across him. He was so focused on harvesting grasshoppers that he did not notice my approach or my observing activities. This even though I was standing out in the open, sometimes only 15ft(3m) or so away.
Observation Details
County | – | Denton | |
City | – | Lewisville | |
Date | – | Aug 17, 2013 | |
Time of Day | – | Morning | |
Temperature | – | Cool (50-69°F/10-21°C) | |
Weather | – | Partly Cloudy | |
Habitat | – | Undeveloped-Wooded | |
Type of Behavior | – | Feeding | |
Gender | – | Uncertain | |
Maturity | – | Adult | |
Observer | – | Chris Jackson |