I've heard of "snake in the grass...................."

but yesterday we had snake in the rosemary. Uh huh! Austin was about to trim my rosemary for me, so I had my hand stuck out reaching into it to show him how far to trim it, when "Whoa!!" He may not be a "hurt you" snake, but he surely almost made me hurt myself. It's probably a rat snake, since I know we have those around here. Actually, his face (2nd pic) is kinda cute, with that big eye and yellow throat. I don't know if the yellow went all along his belly or not. We bumped around on the rosemary, but we never saw him leave--just lost sight of him. My plan WAS to weed in that same area tomorrow, but now I don't know. I don't want to be a big baby about it, but almost putting my hand on him scared the begeebers outta me yesterday. Just sayin'.............

It would scare me too Sybil, maybe you can just beat around the bush with a rake and get him to leave.

I keep harping on this Wear gloves while weeding I doesn't have be a snake but there is a lot of things that will hurt you

Sybil, he looks like an EASTERN YELLOW BELLY RACER, Coluber constrictor flaviventris.
Racers are nervous and don't like to be seen, which is why he disappeared so fast. Young ones hunt for bugs, they also eat rodents and small frogs/toads. They are not poisonous.
If you rattle your bush a little, he will gladly leave you to your weeding, he was probably looking for insects.

Joy

I checked out pics of the EYBR, and I think you're right, Joy. I always wear gloves, too, but they certainly wouldn't stop snake fangs. They do help with spiders, ants, etc. though.

The thing with snakes in the flower beds is you're right on them before you ever see them. They just blend in so perfectly with their surroundings.

That would be a shocker for sure. But thanks for not killing it. :-)

Carla

I know, Evan spent 30 minutes trying to rescue a ribbon snake after almost running it down with the mower. The snake kept escaping into the path of the mower and he wouldn't see it till he was on top of it.
We have several 5-6' TX rat snakes in the barn and there is nothing scarier than coming up on one unexpectedly.

Glad you let him be, we don't see too many racers where we are.

Found a dead copperhead in the yard yesterday. Bad thing is it was a youngun....which means there is a momma and a dad somewhere....yicks and more babies *shiver*

ewwwwwww, shiver................

sybram I totally agree...*shiver*

EW! Sandy, you better be careful! ♥

I am usually really careful. We have a doxie puppy that I also have to watch out for. She is the one who found it. lucky it was dead....ewwww is right