FLORIDA LIVING - Warning - Snakes below

Part of being a Floridian is living amongst large bugs and even bigger reptiles. It's a good place to raise boys because there are so many creepy things to study just in your own yard.


For instance, something like this hanging out at your front door. This is the Southern Ringneck Snake - thankfully non-poisonous and 6-10 in in length. My guy slithered off before I could get a picture so I copied this stock photo for you to see my front door "guard dog".



Or maybe you go on the back deck to exercise your real pooch and you find this on the trellis. It is a Southern Black racer. They are fast and run about 2-3 ft in length.


Normally, you can't hardly keep up with a racer, but this guy was very quiet and likely about to shed his skin. I would even say he's a return customer since we had another skin already on the trellis from when we moved in. After we came home from the pool supply store, he had moved a little bit and I captured a nice close-up of him. AGAIN, don't do this with a happy & healthy blk racer. They can be aggressive in defending themselves.

My hand is close to him (more than it looks).

The other day, I could have been bitten by another snake while weeding out some crabgrass in the front yard. Actually, I'm not 100% what it was. My guess is either legless lizard or one of those golden colored rat snakes. He was lightening fast in escaping and wanted no business with me. Of course, I'm the one w/ the piercing garden tools, screaming my head off. Jack loves it when I alert the entire neighborhood about snakes.

Truth is....... nobody likes to be surprised by a snake. I'm just more vocal than most. I didn't scream at the first 2 snakes pictured above.

Ok, I'd better stop. I'm creeping myself out as I eat Lo Mein leftovers for lunch.

Edited to Add another Snake:

Saw this little guy about 4pm. This is a young black racer, losing his spots. See how faint they are?

I kid you not..... 3 snakes in 2 days.
Tootles,
Robin