Hi everyone!
Came home from work and went out to the garden to water a couple potted plants and as I started watering the plants I immediately saw what I believe is a Black Racer Snake. It lives pretty much in or around my yard. I find the shedded skin every few months. He always looks like a black hose under my plants. I think we startled each other. We have that mutual respect thing going on for each other. I don't bother the snake and it doesn't both me.
Yikes! Becky..
If anything goes missing he might be the first suspect. You do have a well rounded habitat around there, I'm with you, mutual respect.
I used to have one of those black soaker hoses next to the border around my side fence. Every time I hand watered, I'd see that hose and think snake. Especially if the dogs had gotten in there and moved it towards the center of that area.
There is a city drainage ditch behind my back fence. Needless to say, there are lots of critters out there when the city slacks off on mowing. We've had king snakes, brown mudsnakes, copperheads, and lots of ribbon snakes slither through the yard over the years.
I make an announcement every spring when it starts to warm up good and I know the snakes start to come out. Loudly in the back yard, I say "If you're a snake, and you're in my yard, I'd best not be seeing you. I won't bother you so you don't bother me. You can stay as long as I can't see you." I see the dogs go crazy in the islands sometimes. I know there's usually either a snake or a rat when I see that happen. I just sit back and watch. So far, neither dog has cornered whatever it is so that it runs out at me.
I had to go buy myself a pellet gun to try and keep the rats off of my back deck. I don't mind them using the power lines as a highway. I don't even mind that they run along the top of my fence. But as soon as they put their little paws into my yard, they are fair game. We see them every evening come over the fence and get on my bird feeders that hang there. So far they are winning. :-( Hubby has shot 2 and I've shot none, though I've taken 15-20 shots in the past month or so since I bought the gun. I don't want to put out traps or poison because a lot of squirrels and wild birds visit also. It's MY yard!!!!
Janet
Ewwwww Becky, he's huge, but kind of pretty.
LOL Janet.....talking to them.
I made the mistake of buying a hose that is black with yellow stripes. I have those ribbon snakes in my garden which I don't mind, but sometimes it seems like that hose will move and scare the heck out of me. lol
I'm looking for a pink paisley or plaid hose that doesn't look like a snake.....if you see one let me know.
Hate those rats.....I stopped feeding the birds because we have a deck and they would live under it, even with Miss Lobo in the yard....they are fearless rodents. Once I saw one climb off the roof and down the crepe myrtle....during the DAY! That's when I said, that's it.
Oh,, my,, get rid of those rats.. keep the snake to help. My sis in law just had to replace heating system because rats had demolished it this year. $7,000+ I wonder if this is a black racer. I never did check to see what kind he is. Also had a little one recently with yellow ring around his neck Elaine
EFGeorgia1 - The head of your snake looks like a Black Racer. The other sounds like it might have been a ring neck snake! Yes, I will keep my snakes any day compared to what they eat and keep OUT of my yard. I am not so much afraid of them. (We had 2 King snakes as pets when my kids were little. One of which I had to force-feed baby food because he had something wrong with him and my daughter cried until I promised to "save him". He lived about a year and then suddenly died, anyway. ) But I HATE getting bit by them. It HURTS! Usually snakes don't bite, just flee. It's their only defense to use their fangs to strike if they feel threatened or startled. So I make alot of noise when I am moving around certain areas of my yard to give them plenty of time to skadaddle. Which is why I also wear gloves. I don't like surprises anymore than the snakes, I am sure! =:-O
I'm working on it Elaine. I just need to improve my aim! :-)
Becky, like you, I don't mind that they are out there, doing their snake jobs. I just don't like the surprise of finding them either. I've always had a fear of snakes. I must have had something happen as a child to have such a deep seated fear. Hubby always gives me "THAT" look when I get scared. I can't help the emotion I feel.
Janet
Yes,,,, I stomp about and shout... I am here now!!!! This snake startled me several times back in the summer.... I think he was living in our French Drain pipe (which goes under the house) Now that my SIL had the rat problem, I hope he is still under there. My husband recently saw him out back in the wood pile.
The yellow ring neck was only about 5" long, Elaine
Here's a good website of photos for snake IDing:
http://www.southalley.com/album_snakes.html
Thanks for the link.. yes, definitely yellow ring neck.. he is back safe in our woods. think that is a black racer. Elaine
I made a mistake and this posted twice. I don't think I can delete one....
This message was edited Oct 24, 2006 4:45 PM
This is my garden snake. We've never met eye-to-eye. I took this from the kitchen window. Not sure what kind he is... maybe a Black Racer or Black Rat Snake. Rats try to get in the attic so he's more than welcome here!
Sunshine - That's a cute pic!! Love the look on it's face "HI"!
Sunshinegoddess - Loved the smiling look on your snake! Too adorable!
Gosh...i never mentioned my rats...i thought i was the only one...and i must have some kind of an awful house. I too have trouble with them in the attic. I had to take the birds off the back porch. I had them right by my bedroom door. Went out the other night to shut the seedling light off, as i stepped out..one of those big boys jumped off what the birds were sitting on. That was inches in front of my face. That heater comment has me so worried. My SDH really has to get up there..and fast.
This was found in out pool! I emailed the Virginian Wildlife Game & Fisheries and they told me it was northern racerback?!? so I guess they would know. Still I hate finding a snake in the pool. he lucky he was released in the woods.
Dawn
Eeeeekkk! Now THAT is scary! I had a problem with snakes in our pool in our old house. I would throw things in the pool to ripple the water to get the attention of anything hiding in the filter cage. We had water snakes too and they would swin after us in the pool if we got in before we knew they were there. Freaks me out to think about it even now. Just one of the reasons we decided against a pool when we built our current home 15 years ago.
pdoyle's snake looks mean but I love black racers, they look so sleek and man are they fast!! We've had a resident at my dad's for years and he sure is big, over six feet I'm sure. He just picks his head up almost 2 feet in the air and looks at us and if you just keep on with what you are doing he'll lay there and look at you then slither off.
oh, I gotta see that mini! Have any pics of it?
I have several snake pics from a trip to Bronx Zoo of different ones, nothing specacular here in Watauga though..
Deb
This message was edited Nov 4, 2006 8:59 PM
I grew up within walking distance of the Bronx Zoo. Probably accounts for my love of all animals.
Speaking of other creatures in our gardens .....
Someone here on the forum suggested walking around at night with a flashlight to see the moths and other night creatures. So I decided to do just that. Didn't see any flying creatures tonight. It's been pretty windy the last few days. But I did come across this swimming/hopping frog. This tree frog was about as big as my palm. I think she might have been sitting in my pond laying eggs. I hope not cause sometimes they eat the leaves of my waterlilies. ;-(
Say CHEESE! lol
Cute photos! Love that frog!
Oh she's a cutie Becky!!
I don't know about "cute". As I was taking her picture, she jumped out of the pond right on my leg. My husband and our next door neighbor heard me scream! She was one BIG tree frog! lol
Does the black racer have rattles??? Or does he pretend...? I was going to ask that earlier.. The one I had put up his tail and shook it in the leaves.. (I know this is a warning of rattlesnakes--grew up in Florida) I didn't see this info on the link.. It was a good website.. thanks, Elaine
Oh yeah Elaine,
The ole mimicry gag..many animals do it, and have adapted to survive that way. It is a feature I make note of quite often studying wildlife. Using the leaves to make like a poisonous rattlesnake, very clever!
Deb
Not a snake, but cool..Ben took a pic of this pile of millipedes
Thanks Deb,,, Elaine
I was outside late tonight with my flashlight and caught this dragonfly emerging on a waterlily bud. First time ever I have actually seen this happen, even though I have lots of dragonflies in my yard. Apparently they morph at night as protection from predators! Very awesome!
Too cool Becky! You should have started a new thread with this! I love my dragonflies! Are you going back out to get more pics?! :)
Way too cool Becky, what a site!!! Start a new one....I love them too. They've all migrated from our area.
Wowie Becky, how beautiful!!
