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60 FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | SEPTEMBER 2024 Since we are in the midst of hot summer weather, we are meeting at 8 am on Monday and Saturday mornings. A great way to start your day is to come out and join our group for some shuff leboard and get some fresh air, exercise, and socialization as an added bonus. We play at the new courts at The Lodge behind the swimming pool and next to the paddle tennis courts. We enjoy our own quiet, somewhat shaded area in which we play. Shuff leboard is an easy game to learn and anyone can quickly become proficient at this activity. Our games usually last about an hour and we choose up different teams each time that we play. This allows us to keep the competition challenging and the games more interesting. We play for fun, but of course everyone likes to win. We have no losers, only non-winners. We have a great group of players who play regularly, but we are always looking for new players. So if anyone is interested in joining a fun activity with lots of friendly residents, please just show up on a Monday and/or Saturday morning a little before 8 am. We will give you an introduction to shuff leboard if you have never played before, or a refresher, if needed. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me. Otherwise, I hope to see you at the shuff leboard courts. ~ Marty Rotman, (310) 948-1693, mrtmj@aol.com Shuffleboard Keeping Desert Reptiles Safe from Traffic Many reptiles in our local desert areas wander across roads to reach essential breeding and foraging habitat, and most of them blend into the environment making them difficult to see and avoid. Snakes and lizards are attracted to paved roads that absorb and retain heat, and tortoises are slow to cross which puts them at a high risk of vehicle collisions. With care and vigilance though, the impact of roads on their populations can be minimized. • Slow your roll – Observe all posted speed limits. • Keep an eye out – Watch for reptiles crossing roads and desert washes, especially during rainy weather as most are attracted to puddles that form on the roadway. • Always look under your vehicle before driving away – Tortoises enjoy resting in the shade of parked vehicles. • Keep vehicles on established roads and trails only – vehicles will crush tortoise burrows, killing the tortoises and eggs within. Never pick up or move a desert reptile unless it is in immediate danger. A reptile found on the road should only be moved a safe distance off the road in the direction it was facing. Taking it miles away to "safety" will only disorient it causing additional danger. A reptile's home range is imprinted at birth, and year after year, it will travel to and use the same resources in its home range to stay alive. Although not a reptile, the same goes for tarantulas, which are commonly seen crossing roads. Please slow down and watch the road to avoid running over them. Tarantulas are critical to the desert ecosystem and do not reach mating age until five to seven years old. Tarantula males can live up to 10 years, and females can live a staggering 20 years! Whether traveling on paved highways or off-road desert trails, enjoy the beauty of your surroundings, but remain vigilant and take care to minimize the impact you have on these critical wildlife populations. If you enjoy off-roading come join us! Our meetings are the second Tuesday of the month in the RCN Conference Room. We hope to see you. ~ Scott Snyder 4x4 Seasons Tarantula found on the road in Potrero Canyon Glossy Snake (aka Arizona Elegans) found crossing a riverbed in Potrero Canyon Tortoise crossing the road in Joshua Tree National Park (was safely placed in the desert away from the roadway)

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