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A Texas Encounter with Some Ornery Crittersor Get that Ostrich off My Carby Barbara Ballard“Danger, stay in your vehicle”, says the sign under the hot Texas sun. What was this, anyway? My sister and I had left Dallas for the hills of Texas, true, but aren’t the Wild West days over?
At the ticket center we’re given an explanation: as we drive through the wooded hills, we’ll be caged in our cars while the animals roam free. We’re told to watch for the native Texas wildlife—armadillos, roadrunners and turkeys.
The giraffes with their long necks can’t bend down to the road, so my sister offers them the container of pellets, holding it out the window. I can’t quite bring myself to being slobbered on by a giraffe so use the excuse of being busy taking photos. After an hour, we take a break for a picnic lunch in a protected area and browse in the gift shop, which is full of animal memorabilia. Heading out again we run into the cheetahs, not literally—this is one animal that is behind fencing. Thank goodness. I don’t relish a cheetah leaping onto the hood of our car.
We decide to end our Fossil Rim tour on that high note and head west on the A67 for 2 miles to Dinosaur Valley State Park. At least these long dead beasts won’t be attacking us.
It’s late afternoon, so, after a cooling ice cream, we opt to drive back to the wilds of “Big D”, vowing never to go on a real African safari—at least not one with ostriches. For details on the Behind the Scenes Tours, map to Fossil Rim, Conservation Camp, Mountain Bike Tours, Day and Family Camps and the Lodge (accommodations at the park), visit their web site at http://www.fossilrim.com/ Images by Barbara Ballard ©1999 Barbara Ballard. Reproduction of this work (including photographs) in whole or in part, and including reproduction in electronic media, without the expressed permission of the author is prohibited. The author has granted one time rights only. -Updated 7-17-99- |
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TM
We are at the entrance to Fossil Rim Wildlife
Center, 2700 acres of African-like savanna land, a pleasant and easy drive 75
miles southwest of the Dallas-Ft. Worth metroplex on Highway 67 and 3 ½ miles
west of Glen Rose, a small town of 2200. More than 60 exotic or endangered
species of animals roam here, but what’s the danger? Aren’t they fenced in?
Our ticket money goes to a good cause. Fossil Rim is an accredited member
of the American Zoo and Aquarium Association and participates in a special
managed breeding program for species survival. We purchase several buckets of
wildlife feed—smelly dried alfalfa pellets. It’s protections, a bribe you might
call it. These animals aren’t above roadblocks and car attacks.
As we enter the gated community we spot a group
of Aoudad, a type of Barberry sheep, giving us the eye. They have learned that
cars mean food and the greediest amble over and surround the car. Progress
comes to a halt, so we lower our car windows and throw alfalfa pellets out.
“Watch it”, I yell as one especially voracious fellow attempts to stick his
head in the window. My
sister isn’t quick enough with the electronic window button, and the animal’s
horns tangle with the steering wheel. Fortunately the horns make it back out
the window without tangling with us. But what a smell—this creature has a
serious breath problem. 
By the time we reach the ostriches we’ve run out
of alfalfa pellets, and they are not pleased. Two nasty fellows make a run for
the car, beaks at the ready, and begin attacking the hood and windshield. Our
windows up and car horn tooting, they eventually back off and let us continue. 
Here on the Paluxy River which flows over solid
rock, the first sauropod tracks in the world were discovered. These were big
babies, all of 30 tons in weight and 60 feet in length. They were plant eaters,
the experts say, not that we have to worry about that today. The sun-scorched
river is low, so we wade across stones for a close look and a walk in these
impressive, frozen-in-stone steps of the past.