People often point out what strange weather we're having for this time of year. Heck, I'm guilty of it myself. The truth is, the weather this fall isn't all that unusual. We've had several days of cold, followed by several days of warm--even hot--and several days of mild, rinse and repeat. In past years we've had snow on one Halloween and we've had at least one year with no snow until January. The truth is, our fall and early winter weather is variable. We can't escape the cold entirely and we're always going to have plenty of north wind, but nothing is "normal weather." That may be why we see so many people wearing shorts with a snow parka--nothing is normal in Oklahoma.
So, last week, Ben came down from Oklahoma City for a visit. You would probably call Ben a city kid, but he likes the outdoors and he loves being out here in the woods. Every year Ben puts on muck boots and Deep Woods Off and braves the ticks, mosquitoes and poison ivy to help us pick dewberries.
Ben texted me "there's a snake." I figured that meant Ben was in the driveway, so I went out to check. Sure enough, there was a snake. On December 2. Ben isn't overly afraid of snakes, but he knows we have pigmy rattlesnakes out here and identifying snakes isn't really his strong suit.
Ben was trying to figure out the little mnemonic as I approached: "Red on yellow, kill a fellow. Red on black will kill you, Jack!" or something like that.
I've been around snakes my entire life, so I immediately recognized the common garter snake. We have a lot of those out here. They have heads the size of cough drop, but they can eat a full grown toad. They eat pests, like field mice and such, so they are always welcome at our place.
What has me puzzled is why this 24 inch garden snake was out on a 54 degree day. Maybe we are having unusual weather and the little reptile is confused.
I picked him up, gently, carefully. I've never known one to bite, even when threatened, but I wanted to avoid injuring him. I carried him over and let him go behind some privet at the end of the house. There are plenty of leaves back there to give him a sheltered hiding place. Maybe I'll see him again next spring.
Stephen
So, last week, Ben came down from Oklahoma City for a visit. You would probably call Ben a city kid, but he likes the outdoors and he loves being out here in the woods. Every year Ben puts on muck boots and Deep Woods Off and braves the ticks, mosquitoes and poison ivy to help us pick dewberries.
Ben texted me "there's a snake." I figured that meant Ben was in the driveway, so I went out to check. Sure enough, there was a snake. On December 2. Ben isn't overly afraid of snakes, but he knows we have pigmy rattlesnakes out here and identifying snakes isn't really his strong suit.
Ben was trying to figure out the little mnemonic as I approached: "Red on yellow, kill a fellow. Red on black will kill you, Jack!" or something like that.
I've been around snakes my entire life, so I immediately recognized the common garter snake. We have a lot of those out here. They have heads the size of cough drop, but they can eat a full grown toad. They eat pests, like field mice and such, so they are always welcome at our place.
What has me puzzled is why this 24 inch garden snake was out on a 54 degree day. Maybe we are having unusual weather and the little reptile is confused.
I picked him up, gently, carefully. I've never known one to bite, even when threatened, but I wanted to avoid injuring him. I carried him over and let him go behind some privet at the end of the house. There are plenty of leaves back there to give him a sheltered hiding place. Maybe I'll see him again next spring.
Stephen
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