Day 2 in Georgia (July 7, 2010)

A beetle and his lunch

We left the La Quinta Inn to head towards our new house and Dad stopped us on the sidewalk outside.  There, in the morning heat was a dung beetle.  It was rolling its lunch – a firm round dog turd – with its hind legs.  It was majestic and disturbing and funny and gross.

I’ve never seen a live dung beetle before.  I’ve seen pictures of them and documentaries about them.  But never right in front of me.  At least not one in the process of rolling dung.

You would think a creature that had enough skill to walk backwards on its front legs while rolling poo with its back would be somewhat intelligent.  No.  Not so much.  I mean, besides the fact that it eats poo; this little guy pushed his find into a brick wall (the La Quinta Inn) numerous times before realizing that the 1” ball would not fit into the 1/8” crack.  He quickly surveyed the excrement before rolling it on down the sidewalk.

The Moral of the Story:

Don’t give up; there’s always another way.

–or–

If you have a big appetite, be sure your door opens wide.

–or–

If your poop doesn’t fit through the crack, try another exit.

…