Paul had gone out to take the trash to the curb, and I’d begun turning off lights in preparation for going upstairs for the night. I heard a loud, unintelligible exclamation from outside. I rushed to the back door; Paul was just starting up the back steps. “A snake,” he exclaimed, “there’s a snake by the recycling bin!” Barefoot, I followed Paul out to the concrete pad on which the trash and recycling can sit. He pointed. Wow! This was no garden-variety garter snake. I ran upstairs to get my camera. I also put on shoes.
As a child growing up in Texas, which is home to all four types of poisonous snakes found in the United States, I developed a healthy respect for snakes. Respect, but little fear. Once I get past that little primal tingle at the base of the spine, once I’m sure that the snake poses no danger, I’m fascinated. And this was one beautifully showy snake. Its striking, fiery colors seemed to glow in the near dark. I snapped shot after shot.
The snake considered its options. It seemed to be literally backed into a corner, the corner formed by our kitchen and laundry room walls. And someone kept flashing a bright light in its eyes. Time to go! The snake began to crawl towards me, red tongue flickering. As its body straightened, we could see that it was about 24 inches long. I was surprised by its approach, until I realized that the snake was headed straight for a crevice between the pavers and the wall of the house. It didn’t pause at all, but went directly into the narrow gap. I kept taking pictures until the snake slithered out of view.
Before the proliferation of web pages about any topic imaginable, and the advent of Google to help one navigate the ever-expanding mass, we wouldn’t have known what type of snake we’d seen until we could get to the library. Because we do have the Internet, and it’s neutral, a few minutes’ search led us to the conclusion that our visitor was a corn snake.
Corn snakes are not native to Washington. Their natural habitat is the southeast United States, but because of their combination of docility and beautiful markings, they have become popular as pets. These snakes have been selectively bred to produce a variety of colors and patterns. Our visitor is an amelanistic (or red albino) corn snake; it’s missing the black pigment that often outlines the patches of wild corn snakes.
(Because of our herpetological research, I have other fun facts to share. Did you know that a variety of boa lives in Washington state? The rubber boa is in the same family as the boa constrictor and python, but grows to a length of only 18-24 inches. Folks who keep rubber boas say that these little constrictors like to wrap themselves around a warm human wrist or finger. Anyone care for a snake bracelet? If you happen to see a rubber boa in the wild in Washington, don’t touch it. They are protected here, and handling them is illegal. If you want to catch one legally, try Oregon.)
That was last night. Since Paul and I learned that this snake is almost certainly an errant pet, rather than a native Washingtonian, we’ve worried about its ability to survive on its own. It’s such a pretty thing, and we wouldn’t want it to die because it’s not adapted to this environment. As we ate dinner tonight, we discussed how we might catch it, if we were ever to see it again.
A few minutes ago, as the lingering June twilight finally dimmed, I walked outside to peer at the ground around our trash containers, and at the crevice against the wall of our house. No snake. Just as I was turning to go back inside, I heard a faint rustling a few feet away. Moving quickly toward the sound, I spotted the back half of a vivid mottled snake slipping into a space between the pavers and the north wall of our house. I bent down and, with one finger, touched a bright red spot near the end of its body. The last few inches of snake quickly disappeared.
Will the snake come out again tomorrow night? Will we succeed in catching it? And, if we do, what then?
Tagged: Snakes
Tags: 14 Comments
14 responses so far ↓
Hmmm. Looks like a new cat toy to me! Just kidding, but what a beautiful snake. I would have been on the roof screaming had it happened to me!
Given Mel’s great fear of snakes I hope your visitor has moved (or been peacefully moved) to a new location or its old home before our August visit. Have you considered putting up a “found pet” sign in the neighborhood? Love, Barbie.
The snake should make an ally for the kitties in their quest to keep the area mice free, or do they eat things other than mice. Perhaps there is a zoo or rescue organization that could help place it in a safer environment. Glad it is yours and not mine.
I would not want to encounter any snakes, but I must admit, this one is a terrific color…. the Mitz would enjoy this for a buddy I think LOL.
BFN, G
Aiyiyi….and I thought I was getting away from them by coming to your neck of the woods. &*$%! I just might bring my own shovel with me.
It was polite of that corn snake to blend so well with your banner; or, perhaps he wanted the camouflage. I shall send my scholars here and to your links today to bone up on WA snakes. ;~)
Re EMP: It’s so bad it’s Gehry?! (Sorry, especially in light of the new documentary tribute.)
Yikes! You’re a braver gal than me! Snakes give me the heebie-jeebies even if they are pretty colours! Pet snakes? Much rather have felines!
Wow, that’s an amazing and scary looking dude!
Yikes. Serious exotica-it’s gorgeous…the sort of thing you have to take a picture of so you don’t start doubting that you saw it. It looks kind of like a fairy tale monster- have you tried asking it if it will grant you 3 wishes?
Friday Ark #90
We’ll post links to sites that have Friday (plus or minus a few days) photos of their chosen animals (photoshops at our discretion and humans only in supporting roles). Watch the Exception category for rocks, beer, coffee cups, and….? We will add yo…
Wow! That was really cool! Thanks for sharing the pics and all the info. At first I thought it was a coral snake. But then i saw that it had no black. there is a saying about the bands..something like Black around white you’re alright/Black around red ,you’re dead! Don’t quote me on that, ha! Funny..the markings look totally different on the close ups! I like to visit your site. ,always interesting! Pam
Wow! That is quite a beautiful and surprising visitor. Considering the propensity for rodents around these parts, I think it’ll do just fine, and you should keep it as a guardian of your house.
Two observations: your snake post appears on 6/6/06. Have you checked for any tiny ‘666′ Mark ‘o the Beast posts on its forehead? Also, as you told us this story today, it was the first time I’d ever heard or imagined the word “inarticulate” and “Paul” appearing in the same sentence. Oh, and do you think that it’s a coincidence that the ribbon toy appeared for your cats just before the coming of the serpent? Or do you think that the forces of Good might have intervened to provide the cats with the proper training to smite your evil intruder? Okay, I’ll stop now.
OMG, these images are beyond spooky.
This sorta makes me glad I live where I do. No snake issues in southwestern Ontario. But my office DOES have bats.
Either way, we’re always sharing part of our world with critters of one type or another. I like your philosophy of blogging about ‘em.