I've been chucklin all day about the one find you guys made out there.....an extremely rare Jackalope nest.
Cause that's what that pile of branches and cholla balls was, and he's gonna be pissed when he gets back and find out someone's been messing with his abode.
Most folks don't know this, but those critters gather up all those branches and pile them up like that for camouflage. That's so you can't see their antlers, which is why they can't dig holes to live in, like other rabbits. This also makes them very aggressive and dangerous, but they do sometimes give warnings when you get close to their nest. They rattle their antlers against the branches, and if that isn't enough they'll flick the cholla balls at you. But if that isn't enough to get your attention, they WILL charge. Leave you black and blue from your ankles to your kneecaps, and snake gaiters don't help, cause them suckers are FAST and those antlers are sharp. If they get a run at you it's game over, and you're crawling back to the jeep.
Just thought I'd let ya know, so's you'll be better prepared next time....just in case.
Oh BTW.....sometimes like snakes, they don't rattle. The specially mean ones just stay real quiet and flick a cholla on to the back of your leg as you pass by.
Then, while your busy getting it off......WHAM.
I still have flashbacks and nightmares !!
Regards:SH.