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Category: Sharing the Joy with Others | Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 6:42 pm

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My daycare children and I have been enjoying our time outside. For the first time this year, we left the side door open, with only the screen door closed. The sun was shining and we had lots to dig in and play with out in the garden and yard. Finally we decided to come in for a drink and some lunch.
I distractedly paced over to the kitchen, announced that I needed the kids to put their shoes by the door...blah, blah, blah...the usual. Ian, always one to speak his mind promptly, asked, "What is that?" He was pointing to a very long, but admittedly beautiful, sleek Black Rat snake!!!! I couldn't even wrap my head around what my eyes had seen at first!
So, in a forced calm voice, I firmly told the kids to step out onto the porch. I grabbed a toy tub and inverted it over the snake, placing something heavy on the top, all the while calling to my daughter to come help. I poked my head out the door to check on the two kids and I spotted my senior neighbor, Nancy. Without hesitation I called her over to help. "I need you, NOW!" (This was especially delicious, because she calls me over on the spot a lot!)
Next thing I know, Nancy (the neighbor) was sweeping the snake out the door! After only two screams (me, not the snake), the poor little thing (okay, not so little) quickly disappeared under the front steps and hid there the rest of the day! I wonder who was more scared...it or me!
Once I convinced the kids that they could indeed put their feet down and that all was well, we continued with our day. You can bet I googled the topic of snakes at nap time till I was just short of an expert on the subject!
That was Friday. Guess what one of the kids wanted to google today? Jake the snake! (It helps to put a name to something, I think!) Apparently, black rat snakes are great climbers and like White Oak trees (yes, I have one.) Either he came in through the bottom of the screen door after climbing the wooden steps, or he came up from the basement after hibernating there!!! I'm going to live in a fantasy world and choose to believe he came in through the screen door.
Well, I guess that wonderful habitat I've been nurturing right outside my home is welcoming to all sorts of flora, fauna, man and beast! I'll just have to get used to it.


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gardengater wrote on Mon Apr 27, 2009 7:02 pm:

Snakes can be intimidating, but some scare away other snakes that are more harmful. I had two in residence under my mobile home last year. We lived in watchful harmony until they sought other quarters. Good luck with your flora and fauna. They will be educational and fascinating to your kiddies.

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Droopy wrote on Mon Apr 27, 2009 7:27 pm:

I would have screamed too. I'm not very fond of snakes, even those that are beneficial and harmless.

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eileen wrote on Mon Apr 27, 2009 7:36 pm:

Lulu I was picturing the scene as I read your blog entry and couldn't help smiling.
I'm not worried by snakes as I have an adult, male, Western Hog-Nosed Python living upstairs in a vivarium. In fact I find them endlessly fascinating. You did the right thing though as children were involved and it's better to be safe than sorry. Let's hope that's the last time you see your unwanted visitor.

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glendann wrote on Tue Apr 28, 2009 5:37 am:

I do not care for snakes.Kevin had a Burmese Python many years ago .Her name was Cagney.I would hold her but i don't want to find snakes in my yard.

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shannonrose wrote on Fri May 01, 2009 2:45 am:

I am not a huge fan of snakes but, my son loves them. He is always catching Garter Snakes. I think it is an experience that may be good for the kids to see nature in action as long as it wasn't harmful to them.

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