CRITTERS!
When outsiders come to Costa Rica, they are usually driven by their own preconceptions about the critters and do not learn that in reality, humans can live in harmony with the country’s natives. If you take a moment to learn about these natives, you can take your critters in stride, as expats here generally do.
Many critters are actually the cleanup crew of Costa Rica. In fact, many of the critters that foreigners fear actually eliminate many of the nastier bugs.
Usually, it is the unseen critter that does the most damage. A dose of dengue from a passing mosquito is far more troubling than a confrontation with a frightened snake.
Those who reject the use of strong chemicals to fight critters in their homes are rewarded with a proliferation of spiders, ants, and geckos that run their own control program!
These critters are everywhere, be it the Central Valley or the coastal regions, and always on patrol. Some common critters are snakes, gararobos, iguanas, bats, crabs, and even crocodiles!
Snakes and other reptiles are everywhere. They can be seen in any vacant lot, even in downtown San José. Gararobos drop in once in a while to take in some sun. At lower elevations, no home is complete without an iguana on the roof, or maybe a bat population.
Crocodiles are a tourist attraction at the Río Tarcoles. Those close to the coast sometimes report seeing crocodiles crossing the roadway in bad weather.
Coastal dwellers also have the annual parade of crabs to announce the beginning of the rainy season.
The fact is, swimming in the ocean is more dangerous than walking in the jungle, and statistics show that. Rip tides do not run away. These critters benefit us in many ways, no matter how exotic or creepy they may look or seem. By living in stride with them, you will learn that humans really can live in harmony with the natives of the earth!
Around here the critter is just part of the landscape
Diana Wilson
