Saw this beauty through the window, a 4-1/2 foot (~137 cm) Central Ratsnake (Pantherophis Alleghaniensis). It climbed up a bush near the corner of the house and I was able to get some close ups. I didn’t see a birds nest, so I suspect it was preparing to lay in wait for prey to ambush, which I’ve read they sometimes do. #wildlifephotography#WildLife#snake
@outer I felt lucky to have been able to watch it for so long. Probably 45 minutes, trying to suss out what it was up to. Just enthralled, even though very little actually happened.
As I was trying to get close enough to get a good picture, I almost stepped on my buddy here, a common garter snake (Thamnphis Sirtalis). It was about 18” (~48 cm) long. #snake#WildLife#wildlifephotography
So I went back through the house and came from the other direction. After getting some shots of the Central Ratsnake, I went to get closer and as I stepped off the deck, I came across my Common Garter snake buddy again. It was less than thrilled.
I had intended to work on the back deck, as it’s a beautiful day. But, while I appreciate wildlife and am fascinated by snakes, if I’m honest I’d have to admit they also give me the creeps. I think I’ll give them this day and I’ll work inside.
@Lee6 I've gone from scared to uncomfortable, but curious. The more I learn about them, the more fascinating I find them. Also, it doesn't hurt that there are only 3 venomous species in Virginia and they're pretty easy to identify: copperheads, cottonmouths, and timber rattlesnakes. The latter two are more scarce.
I had an encounter with a juvenile copperhead in our garage years ago where I didn't see it in the dark and accidentally kicked it with flip flops on. Miraculously, it didn't strike.
@bomkatt@Lee6 Same for me. I will happily take pics from afar, but I've got my head on a swivel near the creek and in areas with dense underbrush. They don't come in my house (except once last summer) and I try not to blunder into theirs.
That being said, I will intervene if they come for the frogs in our tiny pond. Those are family.
@mlawton@bomkatt@Lee6 I find snakes to be pretty fascinating and like most wild animals, they’ll gladly keep their distance from humans. I’m happy to do the same with them. I went for a memorable run when something flashed past my waist and was astonished to see it was a garter snake. They JUMP?!?
@bomkatt@EllenInEdmonton@Lee6 rather than compassion for the snake, I was seeing the comic possibilities (don’t judge me!) in a Far Side panel. “Once snakes realized humans feared them…” and the tiny garter snakes are doing whatever the herptile equivalent of a double-dog dare to each other, goading themselves into jumping out at passersby and laughing, then doing whatever the snake version of a high-five would be (head one?)
@mlawton@bomkatt@EllenInEdmonton
Whilst visiting Colorado I was warned to stay to d middle of d paths on my runs (which I did) - we went playing tennis 🎾 and if d ball went over d fence and out of d court u just had to leave them cos of all d rattlers 🐍😬
Add comment