Getting my own Visitors

[DPNM]

This one was against the door we go in and out of. I happened to be outside when I saw it. It's an almost adult Black Rat snake (non venomous). About 40 inches I'd guess, give or take. This one didn't have an attitude. I picked it up and relocated it to the end of the yard, like that will help LOL.

Had another smaller one, about 20 inches or so just at the bottom of this porch two days ago. It had eaten recently and didn't take too kindly to me picking it up and moving it. I'm mad at myself for not getting a pic.

Must be a den nearby. Would be nice to find.

[JCON]

Oh my, I hate snakes!!! I'll keep my bears!!!

[DPNM]

You can have the bears Joe.

I like snakes. The little one might have been a "keeper" for a while but I don't have a set up to keep it in.

I would like a Ball Python but that would necessitate a separate room that is kept warm (hotish)year round and a humidifier. I'm not able to do that right now.

[dogfish7 (R.I.P.)]

Had. a pet King Snake back in the day. They are beautiful creatures.

[ARMORGUY]

Beautiful animal!

[DPNM]

I concur with both you gentlemen. They are beautiful animals. The juveniles have a very pretty light colored pattern on them that fades to black as they get older. The pattern is still there when they are adults, just harder to see. You gotta get close up

Cool you had a King snake Bruce. About all I find around here are the black rats. Where I used to live were garter snakes but I haven't seen one for a good while.

[JCON]

We have garter snakes, timber rattlers and Bull snakes, and rubber boas...

[DPNM]

These are indigenous to Pa. Not all are in the western part. I believe the Eastern Massasauga is on the endangered list so you don't mess with them. Being poisonous I really don't want to, even if I saw one.

www.paherps.com/herps/snakes/

I did catch an eastern milksnake once. It was getting ready to shed. The old skin still covered it's head so it couldn't see. Talk about testy.

[ARMORGUY]

May 25, 2021 17:39:08 GMT -6 JCON said:

We have garter snakes, timber rattlers and Bull snakes, and rubber boas...

I only have a garden hose to water the plants. 

[tojo72]

Sadly,back in NJ while mowing my lawn,I accidentally shredded one in my mower.

[Dukemaddog]

Nice looking snake. Way back when in my teens we smuggled a hognose snake out of our Boy Scout Camp which I kept for a couple years. I fed it toads that we would catch. After awhile, my mom had enough and wanted it gone so I released it in the woods behind our home.

[DPNM]

I had to eradicate yet another one last night although it did confirm my suspicion. This one was about 32 inches long. It was over the door with it's head near the light on the wall.

It was after at least one of the two young robins that live in a nest in the light. That was why I thought the snakes were around but this one proved it to me.

I plan to wait til these two robins fly off on their own and then close the light off so the mating pair can build a new nest elsewhere. Not to sound mean to the robins but if I have a snake in the house I want to be the one bringing it in, or at least be aware it is in the house. This door is used a lot and it isn't always latched securely, by accident.

Hopefully these two young robins don't get eaten. I've kept watch best I can. When I checked them this morning there were two beaks sticking up, waiting for food to be delivered.

[JCON]

Hope you moved him far away...

[DPNM]

May 27, 2021 20:57:57 GMT -6 JCON said:

Hope you moved him far away...

Must have been far enough Joe. There are still two of them in the nest as of this morning.

[JCON]

Cool!!! We had a persistent little Pacific Flycatcher bird that nested next to our light for about four years... haven't seen them this year there but have seen them in the yard so they must have found a safer place to nest...

[dogfish7 (R.I.P.)]

They can nest in the darnedest places.

[Dukemaddog]

That rocks that you have those Robins nesting there. I can understand you wanting to close off the light once they've flown away though, if they are bringing the snakes.

[DPNM]

May 28, 2021 13:04:36 GMT -6 Dukemaddog said:

That rocks that you have those Robins nesting there. I can understand you wanting to close off the light once they've flown away though, if they are bringing the snakes.

I love the robins living there. I think it's cool.

I caught one snake last year sunning itself just off this porch. There were no birds nesting in the lights. Three snakes in about 6 days tells me something. That, and the last one I caught was about 8 inches from entering the nest.

Fortunately, yesterday was a bit cooler and today is even colder, with rain, so I don't think the snakes will be that active. Then again, once it warms back up...

[DPNM]

Good day today. It's about 50 degrees here so there shouldn't be any snakes around, aaaaaaaaand, one of the young'uns got it's wings today and took off. Only one left and it may be ready in a day or so. I'll miss them, they were cool.

Oddly, I think I'll miss the snakes too.

[dogfish7 (R.I.P.)]

Awfully nice of those snakes, to protect you from those dangerous birds.