snakes

so i was running around in the yard doing stuff--re insulating the line on the ac unit--got the drip pool and all--been a toad or two living there for years now--stepped off the back porch and there was a smaller new to me toad--had a chat with him and went on

a bit later i noticed spike the cat had an interest in something by the crawl space access--i had opened it after the cold to let some fresh air in and then closed it back up, but when the rains started i cracked it a hair--this is about 4 ft total from the ac unit--2 ft eat way off the outside corner--then the crawl hatch and an inside corner where the kitchen was added on

i had something on my mind so i figured to get back to it--well 30 min later the little girl , alice the galactic hound keyed up on the same spot--this time i got right on it and shit oh dear-- a big ass shiny looking thing that was angry--light was bad but i had been spooky all morning and i knew it wasn't a good thing

i suggested it vamoose and went in after the hall cleaner--at 15 ft number 7 will make a tight hole about the size of a beer can--blew the sumbitch in half and my little toad buddy came out, too

figure the thing was too full to strike, which saved the critters

3.5 ft and shrivel up dead after 24 hrs is still bigger than a 3/4 commercial rubber hose--mama cottonmouth--found out that the neighbor has killed 3 pygmy rattlers and 2 cottonmouths in the past 6 or 8 weeks--they are about 75 yards north

tomorrow the weed trimmer and rider are in high gear and low settings, with full regalia --snake chaps and 12 gauge and maybe some war paint

step high wide and go slow--make lots of noise--i want my barefoot yard back

  

you close enough to a river for cotton mouths to live there?

Have to excuse my stupidity, only snakes I deal with up here are garters.

Had me a little snake encounter this morning myself. I was doing the prep work for an old White to meet Mr. Gas Axe and listening to a bull frog that's taken up residence under a machine bucket when I spotted what I thought was a weather strip. That was until it moved.    Turned out to be a black snake about 3 feet long. Tried to pick it up for relocation to the creek bank but it took off into a stack of Jersey barriers. I suspect it was living in the White.

historically they wouldn't be here, although there is a creek, dry mostly these days and a dry pond, but about 300 yards away the former neighbor mined gravel till the pit flooded--it covers an acre or so--i imagine that is the source

the other factor is drought and last but not least--historical factors are no longer in play--as the weather will show

well--the old stihl weedeater got full and laid down--no funds for a replacement so it's scissors and shovels  



i am through with 2 cycle gas engines anyway--the gas kills them faster than u can fix'em