6/6/06 Snake Day Photos
Black Snake In A Pen By The Barn
Black snakes are harmless, and they do help keep down the mice population. But it can be a little unnerving when you come upon a 6-foot long one curled up in a nesting box in the henhouse. Yesterday I saw one several feet long slithering through one of my raised beds in the garden. The one in this photo was on the driveway a few days ago, and I didn't see it until it was practically right in front of me (and Cary). It was as startled as we were and quickly slithered into a nearby pen and disappeared. It is fascinating to watch them move.
Copperhead Slinking Out From Under The Back Steps Of The House
Not 15 minutes after seeing the black snake in the garden yesterday, I headed for the house and came upon this frightening sight. Unlike black snakes, copperheads are indeed poisonous. And this is not the kind of place you want to find one lurking. Their bite can be deadly to anything weighing less than 35 pounds (like Cary or Robin or any of the cats), so I really don't like having them anywhere around. But they are all over the farm, and are often quite brazen. This one stayed right there, unmoving, for several minutes while I took a few photos and then marched into the farmyard to annouce to Joe that we were having Snake Day and did he happen to have a gun or machete or a sharp hoe handy. It was still there when Joe arrived with the machete (which he reminded me is always under the front seat of the tan truck in case I should need it).
Neither of us likes to needlessly take the life of any living creature, but it's a little difficult to successfully relocate a poisonous snake. And there was a good chance it would have simply slithered under the house (where Bear and Robin often sleep). Snake Day was a good reminder that it's time to make sure I'm wearing my boots every time I leave the house.
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posted by Farmgirl Susan at 9:22 AM
7 Comments:
I've had a few Snake Days lately, too. The only sightings have been of black snakes and I find them quite interesting. Like you, I'd have 'removed' the poisonous one from my area. You weren't thinking of yourself, you were thinking of those who could be affected.
I'm a snake lover and the black snake is beautiful. I understand why you "removed" the copperhead; you have a lot of critters you're responsible for. You'll think I'm crazy, but I've been bitten by a copperhead ( boy did it hurt and boy was I sick), but I still would have caught it and relocated it. I'm weird like that.
Hello, Farmgirl Susan! Here's my city-boy story about black snakes - such a timely post!
Joe and I were out at the realtor's house on Sunday, and she lives in the country. A black snake started working it's way across the driveway.
So I asked, "Is it poisonous? Will it kill me?" Soon as she said "No", I decided I had to go touch it. I figured it would just speed up it's little slither and run away.
I believe this makes me a dork. Soon as I touched its tail, it coiled and hissed and tried to strike me!! I screamed like a little school girl (no offense to little school girls) and ran.
Joe and the realtor had a good laugh as I went to look for a new pair of underwear.....
Like you we don't kill any black snakes here at our place in Central Missouri. Once in a while one will get in the basement and we have to carry or shoo it outside. I will drive around one laying in the road if at all possible. Actually I think it's against the law to kill them in Missouri!?!
I would have dispatched with the copperhead too. Can't take a chance. My grandfather used to chop up any and all snakes (even garters) and fling the pieces far a dn wide, believing that snakes had the ability to re-form their pieces if too close together and come after him.
I tried to post this yesterday, but encountered a glitch.
Am I the only one who noticed that Snake Day happened to be 6/06/06? Very superstitious.
I was starting to think Petunia (the snake) would never return to her garden, and was going to rename it for the giant bees. I actually was glad to finally see her on June 3rd. Welcomed her with a little scream of course, but then went back to watch her several times. Glad I'm not the only one posting snake pictures.
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