Yep that's what I found today while mowing my lawn. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw something flash past me to a lilac bush up ahead. And then my brain registered - holy crap! That's a snake!
Instantly I knew I was done mowing until I knew exactly where the thing had gone and I really wanted to know where it would be going next, pretty much impossible but you know, I was determined. Then I got the the bright idea to catch it and have the Snake Whisperer (my big bad bro) come over (never mind that he is working right now-this is an emergency!) and tell me just what kind of snake it was. I really needed to know if it was a rattlesnake!
Now I've seen garter snakes, bull snakes and rattlesnakes before. But I am sure I was shaking just as bad then as I was now and for the life of me could not remember what made any of them look any different.
My mind was racing - how was I going to catch this thing? What will I put it in when I catch it? What if it takes off from the lilac before I can catch it? Hmmm what to do, what to do. I decided to turn on the hose and spray the bush to see if I could flush it out. On my way to turn the water on I grabbed a plastic tote with about 20 inch walls. Then I grabbed a broom to pick the thing up with.
Back at the bush, I could not see the snake anywhere. So very carefully I picked up the hose and just started spraying everywhere. My breath was coming in gasps and every nerve in my body was on high alert. I even had goosebumps.
Suddenly I saw the little sucker!!!
HE WAS CLIMBING A BRANCH OF THE BUSH!
Not exactly what I'd planned but turns out it's relatively easy to get a snake to slide right onto your broom handle from a branch. Into the tote it goes!
HOORAY!!! The evil creature is caught! Happy Dance!
Huh, now what?
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| Hands were shaking a bit for this pic |
.......
So I called my best friend, no answer. Called my mom, no answer. Finally called my husband (yah I know probably should have been the first call but I know how he is about snakes and he isn't even in the state right now-so not a lot of help there)
PreacherMan suggests the internet - however I don't want to leave the snake out there in the box alone....it might get away. I didn't really think it could climb the walls (it actually could) but didn't want to chance it.
Next my boys (who were supposed to be napping, but were perhaps waken by their mother's shrieks and squeals) wander out into the garage.
What are you doing Mom?
Well boys, I, caught a snake (and I'm pretty darn proud about it now)
Amazing how I could be freaking out on the phone to my husband one second and the next moment I am cool and calm all because of my children.
I sent Sugar in to the house to get my KindleFire, we are going to identify this thing!
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| Notice the yellow stripes and black dots |
After several minutes on the internet and several attempts by the snake to escape, I finally determined that it was indeed not a rattlesnake (GIANT sigh). But a harmless (ya right, tell that to my heart)
Western Terrestrial Garter Snake.
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| Almost there... |
We then took the snake out to the field behind our house and let it go. Please do not come back.
And just now I realized there is a baby robin stuck in the window well next to my desk. I'm off to save another animal! -I really am Super Mom-
Until next time,
MadCounty Mama
