"A Snake in the Bush"

   Son has a way of always twisting sayings around to suit the current situation.  When I found a sweet rat snake hanging out in the deutzia bush, his comment was "A snake in the bush is better than two in the hand." lightly paraphrasing the "A bird in hand is worth two in the bush." adage.  Had this been a venomous snake, I would have had to agree but, truth be told, I hold these snakes a good bit.  They are docile and quite lovely to have in the gardens.

  I came to notice the snake simply because of the "Critter Neighborhood Watch" group let up a huge ruckus.  Thinking that Bat, the cat, was on the prowl, I slipped outside to shoo him from his hiding spot.  Bat could not be found so I started tending the herbs.  Once again, the blue jays started yelling near the blueberry bushes so, once again, I searched the area.  This time, instead of finding that black cat lurking beneath the bushes, I found my lovely friend in the "feather tree".  Ahh, the sweet thing was merely trying to protect my blueberries from the raiding birds.  (Not the snake's true intention but it sounds nicer than "the snake was trying to eat a bird".)  Son found me talking to the snake and probably assumed that my oldness had finally caught up with me as he could only see I was conversing with a shrub.  Once he came to check on the sanity of his old mom, he, too, was elated to find the snake.  We had just talked about not finding any as of late.

  Rat snakes will eat most anything they can catch which makes them great to have around the place.  They literally keep the place "pest-free".  That being said, it is easy to see why they are always welcome around here and the paraphrased adage somewhat holds true.  A rat snake in the bush is always good even though two in hand would not be bad, either!

Quiet Time Among Friends

   The "Critter Neighborhood Watch Program" started their alarms early yesterday morning.  I was still inside canning the last batch of muscadine syrup when I heard the ruckus.  Checking the clock, it was just a little past 6am.  After putting on the last lid, I stepped onto the back porch.  Yep, those blue jays and wrens were cutting a flip about something back behind the pump shed. Time to investigate!  I was sure this had to be a snake!

  Just last week, I bemoaned the fact that nary a snake (other than the two little ribbon snakes that live in Puddle Pond) had been found around the property this year.  While I am fine without finding too many cottonmouths, the absence of rat snakes, racers and water snakes was puzzling.  Perhaps since the area has been receiving almost daily rains, the snakes did not need to search for water allowing them to stay well hidden.  Most snakes would rather lie low and let the prey come to them than to put themselves in the wide open areas.  As I eased my way to where the birds were still causing an uproar, I had to watch my step.  There was no use in putting my feet down on any snake!

  Sure enough, I found my target.  A small rat snake was being harassed by the birds.  My presence caused the birds to back off a bit.  The little snake seemed appreciative and made no effort to flee.  I decided that meant it wanted company of some sort other than the raucous birds.  Oh, what a grand time I had holding this beauty for nigh on a half hour.  My new friend and I got to know one another before I lifted it into the loft of the pump shed.  There, it could hide from the birds and keep the building free of any pesky mice or rats.  My morning was spent most perfectly!

Lots of Snaky Friends

   Several years ago, we had a huge rat snake that stayed primarily in the rose arbors.  The snake would travel the jasmine laden fence lines from arbor to arbor.  I realize that it ate its share of birds but it did a fine job of keeping varmints at a minimum, as well.  The snake was every bit of seven feet in length and as big around as my arm.  Even at that size, she was gentle and would let me "pet" her or hold her.  The last I saw of her was last winter.  She climbed up to the top of the old gum tree and went into a hole where she went into brumation.  Come spring, she never returned.  I am assuming that old age caught up with her.

  Last year, however, we had tons of baby rat snakes appear.  While I cannot be certain that these are from my big rat snake friend, it is a comforting thought to think they may be.  For the past few weeks, these "baby" rat snakes have been quite active in the yard.  As juveniles, they are still relatively small (about 3ft) but are feisty enough to tackle most anything even if it is too large for them.  I have had to "discourage" several from raiding the birds' nests in the yard.  I find it is easy to pick up the snakes and move them to a better location.  Once the little birds leave the nests, the snakes are more than welcome to come back into the gardens.

Free Rodent Control!

   Since the Little Bayou House has been officially void of cats for nigh on a year, rats have decided that the out buildings are free housing.  The greenhouse, shed and pump shed have literally been invaded by the varmints since Hurricane Zeta chased them out of their homes in the palmettoes.  Recently, the pump shed has become somewhat less infested by the critters since a large snake has taken up dwelling there.  The snake is welcome to stay.  It is a gray rat snake that is just doing its job.  Hopefully, next year dozens more of the snakes will be around but, in the meantime, that snake is going to get gigantic! The other two outbuildings still have the resident rats.  I have emptied the greenhouse of everything and set traps.  Three fat rats have met their doom so the traps will continue to be set.  But until some of the other hiding places are cleared, the rats will continue their reproducing.  Ugh!

  I had just about made up mind to go cat-hunting in hopes of finding another rat-catcher but in came another predator.  For the past few weeks, several large owls could be heard at night.  This gave me an idea!  All table scraps are now placed in an open place down by the wild persimmon trees.  Aha!  The owls are feasting upon rats as the rats feast upon scraps.  The free rodent control group is definitely doing its job as there is a lot less "evidence" of rats in the shed.  I am thinking Mother Nature knows when to send in the "big guys" to level the odds.  

  For the past few days, the owls have even started coming to the yard during the daytime hours.  This gives me hope that soon the rats will be gone for good!  I am tired of fighting them so let the predators have their fun.  While they are about it, the predators need to take a few squirrels along with the rats!

Crows Can Be Vicious!

  After a sleepless night with an ailing dog, the morning should have been spent resting.  I would have given anything for an uneventful start to the day but that was not to be.  As is my habit, I opened the windows in the kitchen so I could enjoy my first mug of coffee while listening to the birds awakening.  They always sound so happy to see the sunrise and it brightens my day hearing them.  This morning, however, I did not hear the cheerful chirping.  Instead, there was quite the ruckus going on near the plum tree.  Crows were everywhere and they were not playing nicely.  There was nothing else to do but go out and investigate the cause of their turmoil.  Crows can get into the most trouble of any critters on the Bayou.

  After easing my way out the front door and around the side of the house, I watched as a crow made a dive down to the ground.  It was just about to launch an attack on a poor hapless critter.  Thinking this may be another baby bird being ruthlessly mauled, I quickened my step.  The crow flew to a nearby pine where it started to scold me relentlessly.  

  Nope.  It was not a baby bird this time.  The tiny rat snake that had been feasting upon the tree frogs a few weeks back, had made its way to the ground and was trying to cross a small patch of lawn.  The crows were hoping to make a meal out of this little one. Even though Son frowns on me interfering with nature,  I was not going to let that happen.  Rat snakes are good to have about the place so I had to do a quick rescue.  It was then, that a few more crows joined the pack.  My little friend was not going to make it without my help.  So....I reached down, scooped him up and toted him to a shady spot under the orange tree.  There, the snake and I sat bonding for a good fifteen minutes.  Finally the murderous crows left to stir up some trouble elsewhere.  My little buddy was released near a hollow log and I was able to go finish my mug of (now cold and stale) coffee.  Oh, the things I do.  

Friend Snake Has Returned!

  Well, it is that time of year again when the snakes are active,  This morning's first hike brought me face to face with a rather large snake that was lounging on a low limb of an oak tree.  It just happens that this limb dangles over the plum trees and I was inspecting the blossoms when I felt something eyeing me.  At first, I thought perhaps the pair of juvenile bobcats may have been watching my every move but then I spied this fine specimen of a snake just about two feet above my head!  This rat snake has been calling the area home for the last couple of years.  It has grown to about six feet in length and has a girth nearly as big around as my forearm.  Today, however, I noticed that either the snake had just eaten or was perhaps gravid.  Either way, it was fat!

  I have yet to understand the needless fear folks have of snakes.  Sure, I am careful of where I walk so I do not step on a cottonmouth or other venomous snake but as for having an unmerited fear of all snakes is ridiculous.  Most snakes will not harm you and they surely do not hunt you or chase you with the foul intentions of biting you!  This unfounded fear leaves some folks paralyzed when they see a snake.  Think about it like this.  Most nonvenomous snakes are no more dangerous than the fluffy cat that everyone loves.  In fact, they are less so.  Both cats and snakes bite but, at least snakes can't scratch!  A nonvenomous snake bite is about like being scratched by a cat.  This is not to say that we should all be careless around snakes as they are wild animals but just use some commonsense.   It is best to learn the snakes of your area.  Take the time to study which are venomous and which are not.  Steer clear of the venomous ones and do not worry about the others.  All snakes are good to have about the place....especially the nonvenomous ones that live in the gardens!

  The rat snake stayed all day in the oak tree and allowed me to get several nice photographs.  Hopefully, my friend will stay near the fruit trees as it can protect the fruit from nuisances such as squirrels and mice.   This huge one would have no problem tackling a squirrel!  Nice to see you out and about, Rat Snake!  

Stopping by for a visit!

  Sitting on the little back deck of the greenhouse was the one place that I found a bit of breeze.  It was warmish and with a north wind, things feel a lot hotter here on the Bayou.  We love our good, strong Bay breezes. The north wind seems to just make the place hotter during the summer months. The slight breeze plus the shade of the scuppernong arbor made this the coolest spot in the yard.  Bad part was the bazillion or so mosquitoes that were buzzing about the place.  I was afraid that my stay would end before I wished.  As I was sitting there, a sudden thought crept into my brain.  "There is a snake around here somewhere."  Call it gut instinct, intuition, a premonition or whatever you wish, I can usually "feel" that I am in the presence of a snake far long before I see one.  Besides, snakes smell!

  Even though I was sitting down on the little deck and was surrounded by any number of snaky hiding places, I was more curious than frightened.  So I sat as motionless as I could considering that I was being eaten alive by those mosquitoes!  It did not take long before I spied my company.  There, next to the old oak tree, a long, slender snake quietly slithered among the palmettos. I watched for a moment and then slipped off the deck to join my friend.

  What a beauty!  This was gorgeous rat snake that measured in just about 4 feet in length.  It had obviously shed recently as its colors were still quite vibrant.  From my new perch on a root of the oak tree, the snake and I were within arm's reach.  After a few moments, I gently stretched out my hand until I was inches away.  Despite the mosquito swarm that decide my face was a food source, I, once again, remained motionless.  The snake would have to make the effort to come to me now. Curiosity finally got the best of the snake.  Slowly, slowly, it inched forward and then very calmly moved across my hand and onto my arm.  Aww, I was being hugged by a snake!  So many folks never get to interact with critters of this sort and they will never know the thrill it gives.  

  I grew up not fearing snakes.  Pop always said "Let the snakes watch out for themselves."  He was one that respected nature and taught us to do the same.  I am glad that I was brought up the way I was.  Life is good.

Not Wanting to Interfere

  Investigating alarm calls is nothing unusual.  Investigating alarm calls from the critter world is not unusual for me.  I always do.  Let the blue jays start their cacophony and I grab the camera and head towards the noise.  Something is amiss if a dozen jays are causing a ruckus.  This morning the birds did just that.  Down behind the shed almost at the water's edge, the jays were joined by cardinals, thrashers and a few titmice.  All the birds were in a frenzy which could only mean a predator was nearby.  A cat, fox, snake, hawk, owl or even a couple of crows can solicit such actions and I was determined to see just what had crept into the dense underbrush.  While traipsing through the clumps of palmettos can be an edgy process, I figured that anything there would have already vacated the area with all of the turmoil overhead.  I pushed through and stared at the bay tree that held at least two dozen birds. My eyes adjusted to the shadowy depths of the underbrush.  Just a few feet in front of me was the culprit.  A snake was coiled on a small branch that was just about head high.  What a beauty!  The rat snake was a young thing and not nearly as large as the female that visited the rose arbor so often last summer.  This little guy was maybe only two and a half feet in length but was large enough to raid a bird's nest.  

  While all of the other birds stayed high in the trees surrounding the snake, the male thrasher led the attack on the poor hapless snake.  His ladylove was thirty feet away guarding their nest of four hatchlings. The thrasher relentlessly attacked the snake.  He was fearless as he pecked, plummeted and clawed at the serpent.  The snake regarded the bird as a mere nuisance.  After each attack, the snake would coil around and face the bird.  It would strike even though that was a futile effort on its part.  Since rat snakes are nonvenomous, a bite would be just a scratch and the bird would be no worse for wear.  This snake was far too small in comparison to the thrasher to do much damage but the bird knew that the nest of little ones was in danger.  

  Without interfering, I watched the battle between the two critters. Neither wanted to relinquish its territory to the other.  One feared for its family.  The other knew supper was nearby.  It was soon apparent that neither the bird nor the snake was ending the standoff any time soon so I eased my way back out of the brush and headed back to the house. Letting nature take it course is a good mantra at times.  It would be a hard call to say that I favor one over the other.  

Snakes Can Climb!

  The other day, a lovely rat snake decided to pay us a visit.  By lovely...I do mean just that.  The snake was quite large (over five feet) and appeared to have recently shed its outer skin giving it that fresh look.  A friend had come to visit the Bayou and was astounded to see the snake come out of a tree.  I had just been telling her how there are many snakes in trees and here came our lovely snake. 

  Many folks do not realize just how good of climbers snakes are.  When you think of it, climbing does not seem to be an attribute of something without arms or legs.  How is that even possible?  But...snakes climb.  After my friend, Darlene, left for the day, the snake moved from the rose arbor to the nearby Black Gum Tree.  I was fortunate enough to hear the Blue Jays putting up their familiar "There is a SNAKE!" racket so I slipped out the front door to investigate just where my sweet-natured snake had ventured.  My timing could not have been better!  The snake was on the tree just about eye level with me!  Well, I could not resist "petting" the snake a bit before it was out of reach.  Its true personality came shining through as it not only stopped to let me stroke its back but it also turned its head toward my hand and rested it ever so briefly on my arm.  I HAD JUST GOTTEN A SNAKE HUG!  Sweet!  

  After a few minutes, I backed away to photograph my new found friend as it continued on its climb.  Contrary to what seems logical, the snake did not twist and turn about the tree but, rather, ascended straight up!  How cool is that?!!!  I watched for a bit until darkness fell about me.  I figured that the snake and I had parted ways and would never make eye contact again.  Wrong!  This morning, I found my buddy a relaxing on a branch just a slight bit further up the tree from where I left it the night before.  Aww, I am glad that I did not frighten the poor thing into making a great escape!  I sort of like having critters about the yard....even if they are of the snaky sort!

Sometimes things just fall in your lap!

  Years and years ago, Momie (my grandmother-in-law) told me a story of how when she lived behind Mark's family home, a snake fell right in her lap.  She had a small mobile home that was parked in their backyard so she could be nearby yet have her own little place.  It was great.  She could sit outside under the large pecan tree and watch her grandchildren play in the yard.  While out there, she usually snapped beans, shelled peas or peeled her potatoes for the evening meal.  Momie was the typical little lady of the times that wore house-dresses and aprons.  One day while snapping green beans, a green snake fell from the limbs of the pecan tree and landed smack dab on her lap!  She let out a scream, grabbed the corners of her apron and tossed the snake right back up into the tree!  While she giggled about the incident years later, at the time, she was terrified!  She hated snakes so to have one in her lap was not to her liking!

  Today, a dear friend came to the Bayou.  She and I picked berries, walked the hillside and sat on the pier all the while talking a blue streak! Later we moved to the wicker chairs in the rose garden.  There, our conversation continued and we covered just about everything under the sun.  She made the off-handed comment that she did not like snakes. She understood the fact that they are needed on this old earth and did not have a problem with them as long as they kept their distance. She always kept her eyes open when walking.  Good idea!  But I responded that there were probably more snakes up in trees than most folks realized.  That said, the unbelievable happened.

  Just moments after I had made the statement, she was startled by something in the oak tree behind me. At first, she thought a bird flew from the tree but soon realized that a "limb" was moving!  "That is no limb!  THAT is a snake!"  I turned just in time to see a rat snake slowly moving from the oak tree onto the rose arbor that extended over our heads.  Yep, more snakes are climbing about those trees!

  I was really proud of Darlene as she helped me to keep track of where the snake was making its way through the rose canes and onto the jasmine. As I photographed the snake, she kept pointing to where it was going next. When I tried to remove the snake, she showed no fear but was rather fascinated by the whole ordeal.  She was great!

  Later after she left the Bayou, I heard the blue jays starting up their racket.  I knew our friendly snake had made it to the Black Gum tree outside of the rose garden.  When I checked, the rat snake was making its way up the tree to find another hunting area.  I guess any birds or squirrels nearby had better keep their eyes open!  That snake was on the move!