Snake Encounter.

[Vanda lover]

Originally Posted by fotofashion

Ignorance of the part they play in the ecosystem. Of course, it pays to be cautious if you live where there are poisonous snakes but they usually will run the other way when they hear you coming. (I know there are exceptions, like Copperheads and rattlers).
Beverly A.

It is ignorance. They are a really important creature. The massisauga rattlers in Northern Ontatio are so docile that they only bite if you if you come right at them. Every creature is important in it's own way.

[PinkCloud]

Vanda lover and fotofashion -> I understand that not all snakes are dangerous, and I agree that they are important... And all the pictures are lovely and it's a beautiful color.. but yet I'm afraid of them! silly really.. haha.. But I suppose fear is not a rational thing.

[Vanda lover]

I think that fear of snakes and spiders is an instictive thing, only overcome by knowledge and exposure. I had 4 brothers and so was introduced young.

[PinkCloud]

Originally Posted by Vanda lover

I had 4 brothers and so was introduced young.

I can only imagine!

[Vanda lover]

Once I realised what nice people snakes are, I grew to love them. But then, I love all creatures.

[flhiker]

by far my favorite snake also known as Red Rat Snake and not nearly as aggressive or as big as their yellow cousin. When a snake sheds it's skin they will be a little sluggish and will look for tight areas to help the shedding process. His/Her colors are beautiful. They are welcome guest at my home but I do worry my cat will catch them.

[Vanda lover]

Red rat snakes are beautiful. Here on Vancouver Island, the only snakes we have are 4 different kinds of garder snakes, but most people welcome them, because they eat the slugs, which can be up to 7 inches long.

[thakshila smith]

How about your mice? Still you adopt them?
Junebug.... You got colorful snakes.
And who feeds him?

[Junebug]

Originally Posted by thakshila smith

How about your mice? Still you adopt them?
Junebug.... You got colorful snakes.
And who feeds him?

Hi Thakshila,

Those were baby rats from a nest I found last year. I couldn't bring myself to kill them so I gave them a chance at life by trying to raise them. Only 2 of the 7 babies survived and I wound up releasing them in a protected wild life refuge because I couldn't find any humans that were interested in keeping them as pets.

I was able to catch, relocate, and release 4 adults too. They had been living in a neighbor's delapidated shed adjacent to my property and when the neighbor tore it down they scattered everywhere. They were attracted to my compost and potting supplies. I stripped all the vegetation from my compost to deter their visits and chose the catch and release method over poisons and deadly traps.

I hope to have more snake sightings this year. They're great at keeping rodent populations down.

[fishmommy]

I once went into my orchid growing closet and found a happy little eastern milk snake curled up under the lamp.
can you spot him?