WARNING
This post may cause cold shivers or uncontrolled shrieking.
Things I learned yesterday:
This post may cause cold shivers or uncontrolled shrieking.
Things I learned yesterday:
Snakes nap under compost bags.
A napping snake isn't something you want your dog to play with.
Snakes and chickens don't mix very well.
A chicken run can function well to keep dogs and chickens away from garter snakes.
Snakes can be shy.
Little garter snakes can fit through a small gap in the fence boards to reach the front yard.
In the time it takes me to run around the house to the front yard, a snake can easily wriggle back through the gap.
Fearless husbands are never around when a snake is.
I'm more fearless than I thought I was.
But I can rationalize that a snake in residence under the hen house is easily able to dine on baby mice and should be left alone.
Today's lesson:
Garter snakes like the pond.
They're actually kind of pretty with their yellow stripes and little nose sticking up through the lilypads as long as I see them before they see me.
Sons are also fearless and handy.
Snakes don't fit into large yogurt containers.
Snakes don't like Costco-sized lemonade cannisters either.
Snakes move really fast when they're escaping.
Snakes can wrap around plants and hang on for dear life when someone's pulling on their tail.
Snakes can scream bloody murder.
Okay, I made up the part about them screaming.
I'm brave enough to hold the lid while someone else stuffs said snake into the lemonade cannister.
Snakes really smell.
A lot.
The Happy Ending or, Snake In A Can
Snake being released while I snap photos as fast as I can while shaking and trying not to scream.
Snake heading for safety while a madwoman chases her with a camera.
It's a win/win. I'm thrilled she's now living in a greenbelt complete with cool ditch water, green grass, warm rocks and things to eat. And she's no longer in our vicinity. Sigh of relief.
Bloggers will do anything for a good post.
Bravely,
Isn't there a story about you whacking a rattler with a shovel when you were a wee one? Where has she gone?
ReplyDeleteI can vouch for the husbands never around! My neighbor called me over the other week to assess a snake she startled in front of her front door. It was a copperhead!! (poisonous) And no husband around. We considered roping in the fed ex driver who was down the street, or one of the sanitation workers who was on the next street --- but I espied the pickup truck of a known good ol' boy in the driveway several doors down and enlisted his help in dispatching the snake.
ReplyDeleteYikes! You are much easier on your snakes than I am. Gives me the shivers too. LOL!
ReplyDeleteLona: I was so glad to know that I'm not alone in my dislike of snakes.
ReplyDeleteDiana: Those horrible thick-headed pit vipers are another category entirely! No mercy.
Pooh: It wasn't a rattler, I think it was a gopher snake and Dad chopped his head off with a shovel. Fairly traumatic and probably the beginning of my snake-phobia!