Could have been bad!

I trotted myself down to the pier late this evening to check the crab traps.  The sun was just starting to set so I had to hurry on down the board path.  I admit that I was not being the most watchful as I scurried down the hillside and did something that could have proved to be a bit, umm, well, not nice.  Wearing only my light, leather moccasins, I could feel most everything that I stepped on as I walked.  This is the very reason I wear these things instead of heavy shoes.  Even in the dead of winter, moccasins are my footwear of choice. Usually this is not a problem but today might have been the day I regretted not heeding the warnings of many folks.  I stepped smack dab on a snake!

I was just stepping up on the pier when I felt something strange. As soon as my foot set down upon the wriggling body, I knew this could be trouble!  Quick action was required!  I leapt back from the pier into the soft sand at the same time the snake slithered off onto the mudflat below.  Well, at least THAT was encouraging!  If this had been a Cottonmouth Moccasin, it probably would have held its ground...AFTER it had bitten me!  Nope.  This most likely was not a venomous snake!  Whew!  After I regained my composure, I searched for the critter.  Sure enough, a (quite large) Garter Snake was staring up at me from the mudflats.  Immediately, my jitters calmed but I am not sure that the snake's did!  What was scary for me must have been traumatic for the little critter!  I stared down at the two-foot long snake.."I am sorry, Little Guy!"  He just stared.  Then I thought to myself.."I cannot believe that I just apologized to a snake!"  After a bit, the snake slipped off into the marsh none the worse for wear.  Me?  I headed on down the pier to check the crab traps.

Garter Snakes are really sort of neat little reptiles.  They are actually "good" snakes contrary to what a lot of folks believe.  I hear a lot of people claim that the only good snake is a dead snake and this saddens me.  Most snakes are good for the environment.  Without them, we would be overrun with rodents and bugs!  I do understand the thought of ridding the yard of venomous snakes but when it comes to some fine creature like the Garter Snake, I would be hard pressed to ever harm it.  These small snakes dine upon a lot of other creatures that the squeamish folks deem to be unsavory characters.  Let a roach or spider cross paths with a Garter Snake and it will become supper!  More oft than not, a Garter Snake will try to make a hasty escape when encountered.  It has no desire to be threatening!

I was very fortunate tonight to have stepped upon this poor hapless Garter Snake and not a Cottonmouth.  Still, tomorrow..like every other day..I will slip on my moccasins as I traipse about the Bayou.  Granted..I will definitely be a bit more aware of where I place my feet!  So, folks, this will be a case of me following my own advice...Watch for snakes!