Lots Of Snaky Encounters!

   A few years back, there was a humongous gray rat snake that lived pretty much in the rose arbors.  She would travel down the jasmine covered fence lines from arbor to arbor.  Yes, she often did eat some of the song birds that nested there but did, also, do a great job of keeping the place free of unwanted rodents.  It was not unusual to find her in the vegetable garden or hiding beneath the front steps.  The snake was every bit of seven feet long and as big around as my arm.  She was also one of the most docile snakes I have ever had the pleasure of meeting allowing me to pet her or even hold her.  Never once did she take a nip at me.  Then, last fall, she climbed the old gum tree where she went in a hollow for brumation.  My sweet friend never returned.  I am assuming age finally caught up with her.  It saddens me to not have her in the Small Gardens as I truly felt like she was a friend.

  Late last spring, however, we seemed to have an unusual number of baby rat snakes about the place.  While I cannot say that these are from the rose arbor snake, it is sort of comforting (in an odd way) to think they may be.  Jumping forward to this week, a good many of those (baby) rat snakes are highly active in Small Gardens.  The juvenile snakes are adept hunters even at their three feet in length.  I have found eight in the past two weeks...all different snakes.  Most are docile like my sweet friend with only one trying to defend itself against my "snake removal" attempts.  Though the snakes are welcome to reside in the gardens, I do try to bungle their attempts at raiding the birds' nests.  Once the little ones have fledged, the snakes will be allowed to return and do their snaky jobs.  

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.