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12/25/09, 08:03 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: maine
Posts: 1,175
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Snow snakes don't scare me as much as the Sidehill Gouger does.
Quote:
Sidehill Gouger
Kingdom: Animalia
Location found: North America (with related species found in parts of Europe)
image Sidehill gougers are herbivores highly adapted to living on steep hillsides. The legs on one side of their body are longer than the legs on the other, allowing them to stand comfortably on sloped terrain. These creatures come in two varieties: left-handed and right-handed (also known as counter-clockwise and clockwise gougers). The legs of a left-handed gouger are shorter on the left. As a result, it can only travel around a hill counter-clockwise. Right-handed gougers are just the opposite, with legs shorter on the right. They always move clockwise. This business of always moving in the same direction is the source of the gouger's name, because they gouge a path in the side of a hill as they endlessly circle it. If gougers do try to reverse direction, they inevitably topple over.
Right-handed and left-handed gougers, it should be noted, are simply different forms of the same species and can breed together. However, their offspring often end up with mismatched legs (a long leg on their front left and a second long leg on their back right, for instance) making it almost impossible for them to move. Such hybrids usually don't survive long.
Beyond the unusual length of the gouger's legs, little is known about the appearance of this creature. Some say it's badger-like. Some say it's goat-like. One observer, a Harry S. Knight of Camp Wood, Arizona, has been quoted as saying: "A Sidehill Gouger is jest a burrowin' buffalo, sized down and growed crooked."
There have been reports of a Gouger sub-species found in the Appalachians that has fur only on the downward-sloping side of its body. The fur on its other side has been worn away by constant rubbing against the side of the hill. The skin of these creatures, being so highly polished and smooth, is sought after by handbag makers.
References to sidehill-type creatures can be found in records dating back hundreds of years. Sir Thomas Browne, writing in the 17th century, recorded a popular belief that British badgers (popularly referred to back then as "brocks") had legs of different lengths: "That a Brock or Badger hath the legs on one side shorter then of the other [which] though an opinion perhaps not very ancient, is yet very general; received not only by Theorists and unexperienced believers, but assented unto by most who have the opportunity to behold and hunt them daily." (Pseudodoxia Epidemica, 1646, Book III, Chapter 5, 'Of the Badger').
In colonial America sidehill-type creatures were referred to as "procks". Evidently a derivative of "brocks". Since then a wide variety of names have been given to these creatures, including: sidehill badger, sidehill winder, sidehill dodger, sidehill wowser, godaphro, and gyascutus. However, sidehill gouger is, by far, the most common name. Other sidehill creatures include the Rackabore, and the French Dahut. There have also been reports from Scotland of a Sidehill Haggis.
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12/25/09, 08:16 AM
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More dharma, less drama.
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Join Date: May 2002
Location: Texas Coastal Bend/S. Missouri
Posts: 30,490
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You guys are scaring me.
Here on the coastal plain of Texas, we have the Wild Man of the Navidad.
The Navidad River runs through several counties here between El Campo and Victoria. There is a Yeti type creature who lives along the river.
Of course, we also have the chupacabra.
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Alice
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"No great thing is created suddenly." ~Epictitus
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12/25/09, 08:59 AM
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Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: NW Minnesota
Posts: 470
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Haven't seen any snow snakes, just a lot of snow bunnies in open fields a few years ago.
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12/25/09, 09:23 AM
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: near Abilene,TX
Posts: 5,323
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No snow snakes, but I did find some rock worms in the woodpile.....
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12/25/09, 10:51 AM
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Too many fat quarters...
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SW Nebraska, NW Kansas
Posts: 8,537
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Quote:
Originally Posted by uncle Will in In.
I'd wager that most of the posters here also went snipe hunting in their younger days. Everyone knows that snipes exist, but catching one in a gunny sack on a dark night can be tricky. I guess it would be dangerous to try it in snow snake season! <>Unk
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Well that's just silly. Everyone knows snipe hunting is an old joke.
Now cow tipping on the other hand... 
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12/25/09, 12:04 PM
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Banned
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Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: A woods in Wisconsin
Posts: 9,283
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Not only have I seen snow snake tunnels but right now I'm reading about them on the internet so "It's gotta be TRUE".
And my 89 year old daddy still tells me about his Snipe hunt experiences.
Every new kid in the neighborhold was taken to the local cemetary, after dark of course, and taught just how to hold the gunny sack while the rest of them went out to round up the snipes.
Sometimes it'd take hours befire that kid returned with the empty gunny sack!
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12/25/09, 02:52 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 278
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Forget the snakes! I have to watch out for snow sharks around here.
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12/25/09, 07:55 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Central Virginia
Posts: 2,550
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Annie in MN
Forget the snakes! I have to watch out for snow sharks around here.
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Oh My Goodness, I'm not walking outside until ALL the snow goes away!!!!!!! I may be here till spring!!!
Alice in Snowy Virginia
__________________
There is nothing any worse than an angry little old lady, they've had a lifetime to learn all the dirty tricks and people get upset if you hit them!
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12/25/09, 09:13 PM
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Join Date: May 2004
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 17,225
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"There have also been reports from Scotland of a Sidehill Haggis."
That must be one that only travels to the left................. 
__________________
Flaming Xtian
I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.
Mahatma Gandhi
Libertarindependent
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12/26/09, 08:47 AM
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Brenda Groth
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Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Michigan
Posts: 7,817
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in Michigan we have the snow critters..but then there is the dogman as well..so you must beware any time of year
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