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

[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...?