My guest for lunch

Seadrift, TX(Zone 9a)

Today at noon my dog Molly was barking towards my flower bed. When she does that you better go investigate and see what she sees. She never lets you down because in the flower bed was our first for the year, a large Blue Indigo Snake. Aren't they beautiful? I know they are a snake and the motto "The only good snake is a dead snake." can be a real good saying at times but we are used to them. We have been out here in the country since 1984 and have seen our share of snakes. Sorry for you snake lovers but if it is a rattlesnake the above motto stands. I've seen those snakes and their babies and dens they call home. NOT AT MY HOUSE. Anyway, here is a picture of the snake. We just let it be and pretty soon it was having lunch at my house uninvited at that!!!!!! The poor frog! I think that is the frog that gets in my outside shoes at times and scares me to death when I slip my foot in the shoe. I thought some of you would love seeing this snake. In Texas you are not suppose to kill them. They eat other snakes AND frogs. I have to tell you the first time we saw one was when my oldest son was 16 years old. He is 32 now. Well, I come home from work and he is standing in the yard waiting for me with a 6 foot indigo snake. He have gotten on the lawn mower to mow and that snake came out from under the mower. Of course, scared him to death and he went and shot it. We are alot smarter now but at the time he was so proud. We have seen them maybe 4 or 5 times in one year and then not see one for several years.
Mary D.

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Rowlett, TX(Zone 8a)

Mary, he is a beauty. I once saw a CottonMouth eating a toad, but he had the toad by the back end. The snake's mouth was open as wide as it could go, the toad was still alive and blinking its eye. I was on a golf course at the time, and left both snake and its lunch alone (after gawking for a few minutes). I'm thinking your snake won't need to eat again for quite some time? Thanks for sharing your visitor.

Carla

Deep East Texas, TX(Zone 8a)

He is certainly huge and handsome. Many friends have encountered them on trips to south Texas but I've not seen a photo. They are a valuable asset to pest control I have heard. Thank you for sharing the photo.

Fort Worth, TX(Zone 8a)

Altho I know they're great for pest control, I'm certainly glad he decided to have lunch at your house and not mine! :)

Tyler, TX

That's a great photo! I just love nature. But I do steer away from those copperheads and cottonmouths.

Willis, TX(Zone 8b)

Great close up! What a privilege to witness that! Not many people get to see such an event.....unless you live/grow up in the country! That's why I'm soooo glad to be livin' where I am,....and,...as I was growin' up,.... had the opportunity to spend a lot of time close to the natural side/environment of Texas. Thanks for sharin'! Lee

Tolleson, AZ(Zone 9a)

Wow great photo!!!!

Seadrift, TX(Zone 9a)

Thanks for the comments - Here is another picture of the snake. It was probably about 6 foot long. Haven't seen it since the pictures.
Mary D.

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Toadsuck, TX(Zone 7a)

Eeeeeeeeeeek........'eyes' don't like no snakes! I know balance of nature, but a little farther away, please.

"eyes"

Deep East Texas, TX(Zone 8a)

But "eyes", as I understand these are the "white hat" snakes. They eat other snakes with a taste for rattlesnake meat in particular. LOL

Toadsuck, TX(Zone 7a)

Yeah....sure! They still slither and do that little cheek and tongue thingy! ^_^

"eyes"

Seadrift, TX(Zone 9a)

Eyes, I was reading everyone's comments and notice you are from Toadsuck, TX. Where isssssssssssssss that????????????????
It is in Zone 7A so it has to be close to Ok. Do you know how that Town got its name?
Mary D.

Toadsuck, TX(Zone 7a)

Nineteen miles from the Oklahoma border, as the crow flies. It was named after the local "watering hole", it's name was formally changed in the later 1800's when a school marm moved to the community and opened it's first public school. Thus, is how the township of Collinsville came to be.

"eyes"

Arlington, TX(Zone 8a)

Those are illegal to keep in captivity or kill/molest and are a protected species according to my snake breeding friend.

cool picture!

Carl

Toadsuck, TX(Zone 7a)

Huh? Why?

"eyes"

Toadsuck, TX(Zone 7a)

This being true, who u-hauled one to Texas?

http://www.calusanature.com/Animal%20Facts/IndigoSnake.htm
http://www.answers.com/topic/indigo-snake
"eyes"

This message was edited Jun 4, 2008 10:03 AM

Arlington, TX(Zone 8a)

it's considered threatened but perhaps not at the Federal level.

http://www.texas-venomous.com/protected.html

Deep East Texas, TX(Zone 8a)

It is ferociously guarded by the south Texas landholders! They covet them above all other legless creatures.

Toadsuck, TX(Zone 7a)

Okey Dokey Pod..........they can have South Texas.^_^

"eyes"

Desoto, TX(Zone 8a)

I agree, eyes. Just absolutely terrified of any snake. Stay as far away as I can get. They will never have to worry that I will hurt one because I will running too far in the other direction.

Christi

Deep East Texas, TX(Zone 8a)

All right you two! Please don't consider me a snake hugger... lol I have learned to ID & try to be rational (sometimes)!

Toadsuck, TX(Zone 7a)

That's pretty good figgering, Pod!

"eyes"

Hot Springs, AR(Zone 7b)

Beautiful!

Are you interested in a trade? I will give 5 http://www.texas-venomous.com/tener.html & 5
http://www.texas-venomous.com/contortrix.html plus a few garden snakes for your Blue Indigo Snake! LOL With the heat they are all hanging out in my flower beds and greenhouse. My dog (rotwielder) ignores them. *sigh

Willis, TX(Zone 8b)

After seein' Kim's Copperhead,...I opened my e-mail to find this from a friend who sent me some pics of an Indigo eating a Rattlesnake.....I remembered this thread and thought y'all might enjoy this pic too! Lee

Edited for sp

This message was edited Jun 27, 2008 1:55 PM

Thumbnail by WillisTxGarden
Willis, TX(Zone 8b)

Almost finished

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Willis, TX(Zone 8b)

Just another gulp or two.....

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Willis, TX(Zone 8b)

Ahhhhhh....now I'll mosey on home and nap for a few weeks

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Rowlett, TX(Zone 8a)

WOW!! Tooooooo cool (in a morbid sort of way)!!

Carla

Willis, TX(Zone 8b)

Amazing, huh! One of the "Bad,...Bad,....Leroy Browns" of the snake community! I can just imagine her/him hissin' to its friends............... "Rattlesnakesssss,...heh...why,.... I eatsssss them for breakfasssssss!.......delicioussssssssss!!"

Willis, TX(Zone 8b)

Lookin' at all the pics of both Indigos,....makes me wonder how they got their name ;~) After all,...... " In - dey - go" ....seems to be an appropriate term,...if describing their eatin' habits

Wow, what cool pics!!! The indigos look like black rat snakes to me....Is there an easy way to tell them apart?

Fort Worth, TX(Zone 8a)

LOL!!!

Quoting:
" In - dey - go" ...seems to be an appropriate term,...if describing their eatin' habits

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