(It's complete, in the box, and I'm mailing it after this post by the way)
The point is, I have not gotten "out there" like you expected me to do during a week off from school.
Apparently ... I was missed and the critters are coming to me instead of the other way around.
This was the scene looking down my entry hall yesterday afternoon.
What's really funny, is that I stopped just inside the door, grabbed a few dog bones from the doggy cookie jar, opened the door, stood there feeding snacks to Flounder and Feather, and then shut the door ... before I ever noticed the snake!
Not sure where my SNAKEDAR was, but obviously I was a bit distracted ... probably due to too much reflecting while writing my National Boards portfolio.
The snake is a lovely grey rat snake, but not the huge one of a few posts ago. This one is a lot smaller than that beauty.
He was curious in a snakey sort of way.
Look how transparent his tongue appears in that photo.
Gotta love those big puppy eyes ...
... well, you don't, but I do.
Don't you wish your abs were that strong?
He just stretched out straight until he reached the porch chair.
(Yikes! That chair needs some TLC and a coat of Rustoleum.)
I stuck out my hand in friendship and ...
... he took it.
After a brief handsnake, he retreated to the chair, slid across the patio table, and onto the porch rail.
Man and wild snake meeting with no harm done to either.
Refreshing isn't it?
I can tell you it made my day.
I had warm fuzzies (cool scalies?) the rest of the day.
And, I got the message ...
...they miss me out there.
30 comments:
Brilliant post. Glad all your work is finished. Done. Dusted. Finito...
I love meetings with wildlife like this... what a beauty!
Yes I do wish I had those abs... they might help me dig the pond in my back garden a lot quicker!
I don't think I would have noticed the snake either... it looked like part of the door frame.
Do they get inside? don't think I'd fancy sharing my bed with one! Jane
mmmmmm snake! just kidding. i kept, sequentially, several wild snakes as houseguests in my early years. ten years old or so. they all survived my hospitality and had tall tales to tell the other snakes after i returned them to the wilds.
hope the teacher thing works out well. several famous people took multiple times to pass the bar. just twice should work for you. could you submit this blog as some sort of character reference?
That is just about the neatest thing! A tame snake come to call! Maybe he is a pup of your old snake
It seems that snakes are coming out in force as of late. May post in my blog with a link back to this post?
This little fella is obviously pretty smart as his smeller is looking for something yummy you might have whipped up for breakfast. Maybe a little mousse of some kind?
Hey you started this. :o)
Thanks for a superb post on a creature that many peope have a much dimmer view than you show here. It was really quite fascinating, and I did like your referencing to the puppy dog eyes.
momadness
Awwww, was that for me? Oops, sorry, snakes don't really bother me too much...it's the sneaky spiders!
Lightnin
Your critters sure do love you around there!
No snakes out and about here, we're snowed in with an April blizzard.
I'm with you, the best way to shoot at nature is through the lens. Let them do their thing and let us enjoy watching them. But,(s###)when they catch ya off guard like that, it tends to get the heart a pumping.
Bro J
it's kinda cute, for a snake. but, better you than me, meeting one at the door.
Refreshing, yes, puppy dog eyes, not so much :)
You are definitely at one with nature! I don't doubt it one bit that the wildlife around your place misses your vibes when your gone, or otherwise preoccupied!
Hey good luck on the results!!!
you're crazy, so was he. thanks though for de-mysetfying and showing the good in these creepy creatures.
positive vibes going your way. love the snake pictures.
My snakedar has never existed. I tend to almost step on snakes, particularly moccasins before I ever see them.
Oh you lucky lucky man! I am still waiting for the first garter snakes for the year! And it is probably going to be a while!
Talk about Abs,last summer I found a black snake down by the field,(no camera of course)He was at least a 5 footer. This guy went right up the side of an elm tree. It was amazing to watch. Staight up.
Bro J
FC,
This was a beautiful post. Had you ever encountered this particular rat snake before; it seemed as though you were old buddies. Lucky you to have such an experience!
My latest encounter with wildlife was not as nice. While weeding, I got stung by a "velvet ant". I looked it up. It's not really an ant, but a member of the wasp family; the wingless female gives a mean sting, enough so my arm still has a large, pale red circle after over a week, and throat gland was affected. (My husband was afraid that would be a good excuse for no more weeding, but I'm heading out again soon, looking for a neat snake experience instead!:-) Barb
Whoa! You are the Snake King! I don't mind the friendly types, but I never know whether they are bitey or not, so I tend not to get too involved. :)
Jane,
Hope that pond project goes smoothly!
I don't think they get in the house ...
:)
roger,
i too love to send wild critters back with crazy human tales. i'm afraid the blog is not part of the cert process.
Freste,
Mouse mousse!
3C,
We've had so many snake encounters that this could easily be one who spent time with us earlier.
Jacki,
Sure, anytime!
Momadness,
Thanks! Cute isn't always obvious in a snake, but I thought his big eyes qualified.
Lightnin,
Me too.
Deb,
April blizzard!
The kids went swimming in the springs today!!
Bro J,
I think the surprise snake jump is genetic!
Kathy A,
Beats a salesman.
Sharon,
That was stretching it some wasn't it!
ThunderD,
Currently the mosquitoes think I am to die for.
Idybug,
This encounter kind of takes the creepy out of the snake. Thank you for considering them a little less creepy!
Lej,
Thanks. All good vibes are welcome!
VA,
Mine is pretty faulty sometimes too.
I'm glad rattlesnakes don't climb screen doors.
Paint,
I didn't know you were a snakeophile!
I hope your hibernating gartersnakes make it out soon.
Bro J,
I've seen corn snakes do that too and it is pretty impressive.
Barb,
You poor thing! I stepped on one once and wow! It really hurts ... as you know.
I hope it heals quick.
Rurality,
You'll notice I don't rassle the bitey kind much.
I like the mellow species.
That is very cool. I am not too happy with one particular snake in my yard right now, though. Yesterday, I rescued a baby rabbit before the dogs snagged him up. I am not sure how he got so far out of his nest under some concrete blocks by our back fence. I put him back so Momma could find him. Today, I went to check on him and a great big snake was curled up in the little rabbit nest and baby was no where to be seen. Now I wonder which would have been worst. A shake and a gulp by a big dog or a long slow inhale by the snake. Ick. Life does go on even if we don't want it to.
Cathy S,
I hear you. Predation isn't pretty.
And baby bunnies ... well, it doesn't get much cuter than that.
What a fun encounter! And great photos too. THAT is a beautiful snake and he seemed to be so curious. I tried to have snakes for pets three different times when I was a kid. They each disappeared somewhere in the house (my mother wasn't too happy about that). I'm pretty sure they made their way back into the wild...which is where they should have been anyway! :)
Kimberlee,
I had a few get loose prematurely too!
This was an especially neat encounter with a very confident snake.
I happened to run across this at the Wick this afternoon. Off topic but Barb can likely relate.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schmidt_Sting_Pain_Index
I'll take all your snakes, spiders, lizards, crickets, deer, turkeys, flying pirahas, stinging musk beetles, and a couple of skeeters. You can have my wasps.
I'll be over in the morning to pick them up.
Freste,
Flying piranahs love wasps.
I knew it! Too bad I have no place to keep a few.
Every week there's a new wasp nest where there wasn't one before. And obviously their cousins from out of town, yellow-jackets, moved in wit them. Lovely.
Snakie is a charmer for sure. No rattle and his girth being less than my leg make him instantly likeable.
Aw, I got warm fuzzies just looking at your pics of that cutie! It's been a few years since I've seen a snake in my yard :( I want to live where you do!!!
Freste,
You need a wasp trap!
Swampangel,
Gosh, I pictured you living on the edge of the glades with critters everywhere!
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