It’s always a good feeling to do spring cleaning in the old garden. I think I mentioned before that my husband and I removed an old, icky, woodpile and a heap of broken concrete. We were concentrating on a part of the yard that had been neglected for a long time. This is great for us but not so good for the creatures that made their homes in the piles of wood and concrete.
The before picture
Going
Almost gone
Ta-da
About five days after we removed the junk, someone else came home. That certain someone was none other that a Northern Pacific Rattlesnake, (crotalus oreganos oreganos), which, while watering some daisies, I almost stepped on. Oopsie.
I pivoted on one foot and put the other one down about 12- or 16-inches from this foot-long snake.
I froze immediately and I noticed something interesting—rattlesnakes don’t just coil and rattle their rattles when they’re scared, they try to get as flat as they can. This poor little snake was so flat I thought for a moment maybe I had already stepped on it.
I called to my husband and he brought me the trusty rattlesnake cooler. I picked up a long stick and herded it into it’s home for the night.
The next morning, after showing it to my son’s Cub Scout den, once again we took the displaced snake up our hill to a safe location—both for the snake and for people.
We sang our favorite verse of “Born Free,” dumped it out, and then ran like hell in the other direction
Released and look, she blends!
I'm glad you let it go in the woods somewhere. Some folks would have chosen another route!
Posted by: Katie Hobson | June 02, 2009 at 08:45 PM
Katie,
I was raised with snakes and I think they're beautiful. Rattlesnakes eat tons of mice and rats so I consider them friends. I don't really want them hanging around my garden though, so we just gather them up and send them off to the rattle snake resort up the road. You might notice that she blends in perfectly with her surroundings where we released her. I think she will be very happy there.
Posted by: chigiy | June 02, 2009 at 10:09 PM
I really scared snakes,any kind of snakes.
-Ava
Posted by: flowers Philippines | June 04, 2009 at 08:24 PM
yuck. snakes are not my fave. I think you handled the situation admirably!
Posted by: Muum | June 05, 2009 at 05:29 PM
You are a brave brave woman. I think I would have fainted.
Posted by: Elise | June 08, 2009 at 09:30 AM
Ava,
It was just an itty bitty snake:)
Muum,
Thank you. I kind of felt sorry for it.
Elise,
I know you, and I don't think you would have fainted.xox
Posted by: chigiy | June 08, 2009 at 11:31 PM
Thank you for not killing it..
Posted by: Reptile Rescue Orange County | June 14, 2009 at 12:08 AM
Reptile Rescue,
You're welcome.
Posted by: chigiy | June 16, 2009 at 07:59 PM
What a great story! We found a juvenile on June 21, 2009. Didn't get a great photo but he/she was relocated to the open space preserve behind our house. (I hummed Born Free).
Posted by: RJ | June 23, 2009 at 06:50 PM
Nice story... i really surprise about you.. have a nice day
Posted by: Process Management,Brisbane | January 27, 2010 at 01:06 AM
Holy crap- talk about ironic- you should have killed that mutha, made a nice headband, or hatband, or thong...I will never have mercy on a rattler in your "hood" again...
Posted by: Amie Sue | May 14, 2010 at 03:50 PM
A rattlesnake thong sounds uncomfortable. It was a pretty small snake. I think the best we could have done would be a key chain.
Posted by: chigiy | May 16, 2010 at 01:04 PM
wow sounds very fascinating im eleven but love to learn about poisonous and dangerous animals and your info really helps. thank you again.
Posted by: addi | May 19, 2011 at 08:09 PM