Need a break from nonstop politics? Here’s a story I wrote about a snake. It was included in an anthology published by SouthWest Writers, Seeing the World in 20/20. No photo with this post because mine didn’t turn out well and all those pictures of coiled snakes on the internet spook me!
Black Raven Red Sneakers
Exploring my backyard and beyond
Paula,
Enjoyed reading this. My sister-in-law who lives in Prosser (just west of here about 30 miles) encountered what she mistakenly thought was a rattler a couple of years ago. He (or she) was on their patio, and had draped itself half in and half out of their goldfish pond. Getting a drink? Fishing? She took a picture and posted it on Facebook, and I then looked it up online. Sure enough it was a bull snake. This one looked to be about 3 feet long. She poked at it with a stick and it slithered out of the pond and parked itself in the shade. It had been a very hot summer day, so I’m sure, like your snake, she was just looking for some place cool to rest a while. She stayed most of the afternoon and then disappeared. They are scary looking, for sure, especially since they resemble a rattlesnake so closely. Like you, my heart kind of revs up whenever I see one. Bull Snakes are valued by farmers because they eat mice. It was always considered good luck to have them around.
Smiles,
robin
Thanks, Robin. I’m working on my snake tolerance!