Sunday mornings I linger in and around my bed. Yesterday, as I gazed into the landscape, I noticed what appeared to be a black gasket, in the top of the nandina shrub, just below my window. Yes there was wind yesterday, but a gasket in my shrub??
I grabbed my camera, where I could view through the telephoto lens, and much to my amazement, spotted not a gasket, but a black snake! It appeared small, until I attempted to trap it in a lidded bucket.
Since the nandinas are a thick stand, positioning the bucket proved impossible, as the snake quickly slithered down the branch, and was lost in the day lilies. Damn! I have not had black snakes here in two years—because these reptiles thrive on bird eggs, nestlings, and toads I strive to capture any snake and release them down the road near a stream bed.
This black racer is a small version of former garden reptiles. Although as it made its escape, I realized that it was nearly a yard long and chills walked up my spine—not sure why I react this way. The Eagle Scout who captured my first eight foot racer, coolly pressed its head to the ground, picked up the critter behind its head, and placed it into the bucket. Go Eagle Scouts!
I on the other hand nearly have heart failure when I encounter a snake. I KNOW most of them are beneficial, yet I startle every time, no matter the size. So my summer here at Swallowtail Cottage just upped a notch, knowing that until this racer is captured, my birds and toads are at risk, and so my heart!
Copyright © 2012 by Diane LaSauce All Rights Reserved
I never like running across a snake (even though as you read I am one), and one that long would give me the shivers too. did you catch it (hey, I see I was here months ago)
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Never got my hands on this one. Saw it later in the summer, a handsome seven feet long. It saw me, I stood close and asked it sweetly to bugger off. When I returned with my trusty bucket, it was just slithering through the netting on the property line.
Just this morning, the bluebird pair were house hunting at my bird boxes, so I must jot another chore down, and add more predator guards.
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seven feet long – o h m y gosh! You really have to be on guard don’t you — not sure I would be as nice as you in capturing it
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I am with you I know black snakes are good to keep the rats and poisionous snakes awy but I still freak out when i see one. We have one living under our shead right now. I don’t go near it…
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good luck this summer
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at least you were not weeding the nandina bed and happen to see him…yikes
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Oh my goodness! I could not cope with a snake! 🙂
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This is what I am afraid to find in the grass…. You are amazing that you captured well. Thank you, love, nia
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we love our snakes, here… move them for safety (their nests, should we find them) and even the snakes themselves! being near the water, we’d much rather have these harmless guys than big water RATS, which are attracted to this environment. 🙂
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