Snakes!

[mad_andy]

Just had a very interesting little trip out. Funny that feelforfaith mentions hunting snakes...



I got a phone call from Annabelle, who runs the local rescue kennels. A friend had just rung her up in a gibbering panic; did she have the number of the RSPCA, as there was a snake in their house and they wanted rid of it, asap. Well, as Annabelle said - and I agree with her - that organisation is a bit on the fucking useless side when it comes to doing such things, unless there's a camera crew around. (Yes, I'm aware that they have many demands on their time. I'm unsympathetic. Bite me.)

Anyhow, since she knew that reptiles and odd beasties are pretty much my bag, would I be able to help?

Shit yeah. A chance to muck about with a strange snake, that is very unlikely to be venomous and isn't big enough to kill me? Dude. That's about the most fun I can have with my clothes on.

So she rang them back, gave them my number, and within five minutes I was chatting to a very distressed lady. Her brace of big strapping sons, six foot two in their socks and built like the proverbial brick dunny, had run away to the pub and weren't coming back till it was gone. This lady and her friend were both in the garden, just in case...

Now, I like snakes. But I completely accept that not everybody does, and to be honest the very things that fascinate me about them scare the crap out of a lot of people; it's reasonable and understandable. At least they wanted me to remove it, and not kill it.

From the description given, it's a young grass snake (Natrix natrix helvetica), which is pretty common in this area. Harmless and pretty, inoffensive, wary and has the delightful habit of vomiting its last meal on you and spraying you with vile smelling stuff from its anal glands if handled. (http://www.herpconstrust.org.uk/ and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grass_Snake seem to be good links.)

Doesn't normally bite, though.

Anyway, the dogs had chased it indoors and it had shot underneath the skirting board...

Well, we got there and we looked but no joy. It was still there, but had snuck up inside the cavity wall and wasn't coming out for anyone, especially not an amateur snake hunter with a home made snake hook and a pillowcase! (They make great snake bags, by the way.)

We spent some time poking about but in the end it beat us. Householders advised to leave the door open so it could escape we made our way home, richer by twenty quid. I tried to say no but she'd hear nothing of it... I think I'm going to use it to buy Doris something nice, courtesy of one of her wild cousins!

Bit different for a sunday afternoon, eh?

Comments

[feelforfaith.livejournal.com]

Hehe. Poor snake. I hope it will find its way back outside, for it's own sake and those people's.

I like snakes in general, but when I see one in the wild, it gives me tingles in my stomach, and I will keep my safe distance from it, even if I know for sure that it's a totally harmless snake (and I usually don't, lol.)

(They make great snake bags, by the way.)

I will keep it in mind ;-).

[madandy.livejournal.com]

Very sensible. Always keep your distance from a strange snake, just in case.

Having said that, I'm one of those people who likes to turn over rocks, logs, sheets of corrugated iron (always putting them back afterward) just to see what's under there. And get terribly excited when I spot something new - just love to catch it for a closer look, then let it go.

So it's a good job I live in the UK, really.

But when watching anything with Steve Irwin, I can totally understand the enthusiasm of the guy - although I'm not too sure I'd ever have his touch with crocodiles!

[silentinflames.livejournal.com]

I like snakes. I remember how I first touched one. You are told that snakes are cold and slimy but they aren't. They're warm (well, if the surrounding's warm of course) and dry and soft. Nice feeling touching them.

But I understand when people are afraid. One should always be cautious, especially if you don't know what kind of snake it is.

[nikki-tikki.livejournal.com]

I'm kind of like K - I love snakes, but I don't know shit about the kinds of them, so if I meet one in the wild, I keep away.

If I'm told it's harmless though... and if I'm allowed to touch... I'm in heaven.

To me, snakes are beautiful. Mesmerizing. And plain cool. Funny thing is I used to be very much afraid of them when I was, like, 6 or 7. And now I love them. The way things change... *shakes head*

I hope the snake makes it out with no trouble. It must be just as scared as the people there, if not more...

[kelpierocks.livejournal.com]

Where I grew up, in Iowa, most snakes that were seen were garter snakes. Harmless. I was ok with them, didn't really handle them much but wasn't afraid of them.

Where I live now, in Colorado, there are a fair amount of rattlesnakes. It's the mountains or something, well, obviously different climate and altitude and all, but since there's now a better-than-average chance of the snake being not only poisonous but potentially deadly, I'm now afraid. And highly avoidant. Even if the snake is *not* poisonous.

Oh yeah... and we have both black widow and brown recluse spiders in Colorado as well. Can we say "feed the arachnophobia"? I thought we could...

[dogologist.livejournal.com]

Hope it finds its way out safely! I love snakes - one of my very earliest memories is of being at some kind of show with my dad and posing delightedly with something absolutely ginormous draped around my shoulders, while my mum quietly had a fit in a corner of the field. Never seen one in the wild, though.

Spiders, on the other hand... *shudder*

Snakies

[bella-cheval.livejournal.com]

We have a pretty-decent sized population of black snakes here, esp since they seem to be attracted to the mice population around the barn.

Spiders don't bother me either...well...except for the REEEEAAALY big ones. Then I get the shudders a bit.

[kraftpistole.livejournal.com]

I like snakes... as long as I know they won't pounce, bite, and leave me dead within hours. [shudder] But I've touch one: Smooth and silky, as Fiara said. And they're so weird looking, which is my cup'a tea as far as animals go. I just... [shudder] How can you tell if they're harmless...?

[hanks-lil-pit.livejournal.com]

Man...why didn't you film that shit? *laughs* I hope Doris enjoyed her present. Nice of them to pay you, and doesn't it fucking figure that the boys were of no help whatsoever...stupid boys.

Kind of reminds me of the time I let the dogs in and did the routine head count.

Dog. Dog. Dog. *start sliding door shut* Chipmunk. Hey! Wait a minute ya little fucker.

Hank
*who made use of the pillowcase cum snakebag just yesterday...cleaning cages, dontchya know*