PLFXpert 0 #26 April 23, 2007 Where's Skymama? Speaking of snake bites, I don't usually watch the "Dirtiest Jobs" show but we watched one the other day and it was the most hilarious thing I've ever seen. Billy and I could not stop laughing... The guy was helping capture these water snakes for whatever reason and kept getting bit. Is it wrong I found that so entertaining? Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skydivermom 0 #27 April 23, 2007 There was actually one curled up in my driveway this morning. It was NOT a garter snake though Anyway, I watched it until it slithered off into the woods, probably to get a drink from my creek. It was solid black, so I'm pretty sure not poisonous. But I still don't like it! Mrs. WaltAppel All things work together for good to them that love God...Romans 8:28 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
turtlespeed 226 #28 April 23, 2007 Quote There was actually one curled up in my driveway this morning. It was NOT a garter snake though Anyway, I watched it until it slithered off into the woods, probably to get a drink from my creek. It was solid black, so I'm pretty sure not poisonous. But I still don't like it! Racer . . . they are abundant here.I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PLFXpert 0 #29 April 23, 2007 Here's what my link says: "Garter snakes are fairly slender; their maximum length is about 48 inches, but most are 18-26 inches...Large garter snakes may eat small rodents, but their common diet consists of worms, minnows, frogs and toads. They often are quite aggressive when cornered and expel a foul-smelling musk when handled." We do have a ton of lizards, frogs & toads here, I mean the intracoastal marsh is located at the end of my street. And the beach is only .75 mi the other direction. And behind my neighbor's across the street houses is a decent-sized, spring-fed fresh water lake. It's lizard, frog & toad heaven. So it makes sense our garter snakes are probably the larger kind. I definitely know the ones I see are at least 2.5 feet long, but most are quite obviously 3 feet. The dude I stepped on was fat & happy already; which is strange since they're dormant in the winter and we don't start to see them again until this time of year. Everything wakes up! Including the bugs. Thankfully, with all the lizards & frogs, the only thing we've ever had to spray for is ants.So, I definitely appreciate having my little froggie & lizard friends around. Ooo, and we always get a beautiful banana spider that will make her web somewhere around the house this time of year, too and eats bugs. Billy doesn't like the toads (and you will almost step on at least one every time we jog in the mornings) but the bright green tree frogs are beautiful. Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PLFXpert 0 #30 April 23, 2007 Oh yes, you'll never catch a racer (hence the name.). That was the most insane experience I've ever seen! Billy trying to catch a black racer. The thing was flying in the air, I swear! It was lunging out from the ground so quickly and so frequently. My heart was racing, too! Finally, once he got out of our main patio area we gave up the catch and just scarred him off to the neighbor's yard. Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PLFXpert 0 #31 April 23, 2007 P.S. I picked one up once by accident. We used to have a solid-black hose with little holes in it going all around the house to water the plants. I went to pick it up and about had a heart attack. Again, not scarred of snakes, especially not racers. But when you think you're grabbing a nice, calm, nothing special hose and you get a wiggly, squiggly surprise... Nuts! Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Icon134 0 #32 April 23, 2007 Quote P.S. I picked one up once by accident. We used to have a solid-black hose with little holes in it going all around the house to water the plants. I went to pick it up and about had a heart attack. Again, not scarred of snakes, especially not racers. But when you think you're grabbing a nice, calm, nothing special hose and you get a wiggly, squiggly surprise... Nuts! I understand that reaction... I would definitely jump if something like that happened to me as well. I like brown/black rat snakes as they become very docile once they are caught. They are very easy to handle.Livin' on the Edge... sleeping with my rigger's wife... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BillyVance 35 #33 April 23, 2007 I rarely see snakes around my house although there are an abundance of other animals. I'll never forget the day I noticed a Copperhead hiding under the front door behind the doormat! Poisonous snakes will shake their tails much like a rattlesnake when disturbed. This one did. I was slapping and grabbing its tail and quickly letting go when it turned its head around. I went and got a bucket and garden trowels (not the best snake-pick-up tool out there), and scooped it up behind the head and got it in the bucket. Then I took it out to the driveway, got the axe, and promptly chopped its head off. You should have seen my wife! The most berserk and frantic I've ever seen her! "Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PLFXpert 0 #34 April 23, 2007 As previously mentioned--Snakes are great, but vet bills are expensive.I give you Exhibit A which illustrates how large this nosey-rosey's shnooter is. And Exhibit B, another nosey-rosey inspecting one of my outside orchids I had to bring in during a freeze. We call him "quality control". There are no applicable photos of Exhibit C, but Zoe' is the most skilled of all exhibited hunters. It is she who has the muffled meow--the one when you KNOW she has something in her mouth and you do NOT let her in. Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PLFXpert 0 #35 April 23, 2007 Forget the bucket. My father always went straight for the axe.He about shit when he saw me pick one up to save it from my-father-the-snake-mutilator and ran it over to the forest near our house. Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BelskyBlueEyes 0 #36 April 23, 2007 I have found snakes in my garden and I leave em there. They are good to have around. But the ones I saw were little garter snakes, no more then a foot long. I was not worried about getting bit, as someone mentioned, what get gummed to death? Nah. Critters don't scare me. Some of them are really cool to look at, like Praying Mantis, or Orb Weavers. If something gets caught in the house, I try to bring it outside. (unless it's ants or mosquitos) Only things that creep me out are palmetto bugs. Yuck! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PLFXpert 0 #37 April 23, 2007 Oh my gosh! We had an orb weaver!!! (attached. And yes, I know I'm a royal dork. But, at least I'm hot. Teasing.) And everyone knows palmettos are the devil's creature and OK to kill--or at least stick a bowl over and wake your hunny up to kill which is what I prefer.(P.S. It's the only thing I kill. Not that it's OK. But, I mean, it's freaking evil. Thankfully I've only seen three in the house in the entire almost four years we've lived here. That includes the smaller kind, too.) Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
turtlespeed 226 #38 April 23, 2007 QuoteOh my gosh! We had an orb weaver!!! (attached. Where?I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PLFXpert 0 #39 April 23, 2007 I attached it now, silly. Please disregard the blurriness. I live at the beach, there's always a breeze, and his web was freaking huge! I was laying flat on the ground to take his picture and the wind kept blowing him down about a foot in front of my nose. It was kinda cool. Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stitch 0 #40 April 23, 2007 BULL!! I caught one by the tail at Z-Hills last summer and was chasing people around the back-deck with it. "No cookies for you"- GFD "I don't think I like the sound of that" ~ MB65 Don't be a "Racer Hater" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PLFXpert 0 #41 April 23, 2007 He must have been old. Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BelskyBlueEyes 0 #42 April 23, 2007 I had one like this that lived behind my house for about 6 weeks or so, unusual for a spider. They normally dont stay in the same spot that long. It got to be about 3 inches long from leg to leg. It was even more yellow then this picture. But the same species. I thought it was pretty fascinating. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PLFXpert 0 #43 April 23, 2007 That looks like my banana spider. I should note my weaver was a "Spiny Orb Weaver". Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kelel01 1 #44 April 23, 2007 Those pics make me want to jump out of my skin. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PLFXpert 0 #45 April 23, 2007 Are you flipping serious? Gosh! Dynomite>Seriously? Ooooo, I could have SO much fun with you.By the way, Billy is pissed I didn't think to grab the camera and take a picture of the garter with the whole ass of a toad hanging out of its mouth. Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
turtlespeed 226 #46 April 23, 2007 Quote Are you flipping serious? Gosh! Dynomite>Seriously? Ooooo, I could have SO much fun with you.By the way, Billy is pissed I didn't think to grab the camera and take a picture of the garter with the whole ass of a toad hanging out of its mouth. Are you sure it wasn't his scrotum being tucked?I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PLFXpert 0 #47 April 23, 2007 I think only Turtles do that to their prey. Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
turtlespeed 226 #48 April 23, 2007 Quote I think only Turtles do that to their prey. Evidently.I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PLFXpert 0 #49 April 23, 2007 OK. OK. Since I failed to take a picture, here is my best rendition I could sketch in 30 seconds. I think I captured his essence well. Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stitch 0 #50 April 23, 2007 Quote OK. OK. Since I failed to take a picture, here is my best rendition I could sketch in 30 seconds. I think I captured his essence well. I thought Garter snakes had stripes. "No cookies for you"- GFD "I don't think I like the sound of that" ~ MB65 Don't be a "Racer Hater" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
