I had a very interesting day while I was out hiking yesterday. I heard this strange sound just to the right of the trail. It sounded kind of like when you shake a container of salt. Or like the sound of rustling leaves, but really fast. I don't think I ever heard anything like this out here before.I looked over to where the sound was coming from, and I saw a snake! I don't think I've ever seen this kind of snake before. Does anyone know what kind it is? I've seen garter snakes before, but this one looks completely different. A garter snake is greenish with stripes down it's back. This one has these weird spots all over it.
This one didn't seem to be trying to get away from me, so I decided to get a closer look. Maybe it's a friendly kind of snake, because it seemed to be wagging it's tail at me. Since it wasn't moving away, I thought it might be injured or something. Maybe I should take it home and help it get better.
I decided to leave it where it was. After all, it is a wild animal. I don't know where I'd keep it anyway. Maybe under my bed. It's nice and dark under there, and snakes seem to like the dark. I guess it doesn't matter that much, because I wasn't taking it home anyway.
Even though I left it there, I'm going to look for it the next time I go out hiking. Who knows? Maybe there's even a few more of them. Next time, if it still acts so friendly, I'm going to pick it up and examine it closer.
I like this. My first animal of April! I can't believe I found such a good one on the very first day of the month. I do have more snake stories and pictures. Just check out my related posts below to see the cool looking snakes I've already found. You'd be a fool not to take a look.
I've made this pretty obvious, but if you still don't get it, ask me about it in the comments section.
Update:
Warning! This story was an April Fool's joke. The snake in my picture can be deadly. The Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake is a venomous snake. This rattler is very dangerous to people and their pets. If you think one of these snakes has bitten someone, seek medical help immediately.
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Ratty no since its April Fools day I guess you couldn't resist! By the way looks like its just shed its skin.
ReplyDeleteI shall never get near this reptile. Getting it back home is totally out of my mind.
ReplyDeleteMy son just fell down from his bicycle when he accidentally saw a snake, a dead snake. Hahahaha
Careful Ratty, snakes are like cats.
ReplyDeleteBoth wag their tail when they're angry and both love to eat rats! ;)
A beautiful snake, any day of year....from a safe distance.
ReplyDeleteI like your sneaky snake.
ReplyDeleteI hear they love Rattys.
Thank goodness he came from your imagination!!!!
Happy April Fool's Day, Ratty!!!
Mike - I thought it was my duty as a rat to do it. :)
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't really get close enough to touch a rattlesnake like that one if I was paid to do it. But for a joke...
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Rainfield - I wouldn't even take a safe snake home, and this one is the most dangerous type of snake around here.
I might have had the same reaction as your son, with a snake.
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Sandra - Youch! I forgot about the cat thing. I guess that snaked wasn't smiling because he wanted to be my friend then. Oh well, maybe I'll have better luck with the next animal.
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David Stern - You mean I shouldn't pet it? Actually, I wouldn't even get close to a garter snake. Getting close to a rattlesnake would be insane!
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The Retired One - Well, the story came from my imagination, but the snake didn't. It's a real live snake, and I do have the picture. I'm glad there was a piece of glass in between us.
And I just replied to your comment about the rock climbing and you sitting here talking about picking up snakes.....who you foolin?
ReplyDeleteGoliath0825 - But with rock climbing you could fall to your death. Picking up a venomous rattlesnake wouldn't be worse than that, would it? After all, a mountain is bigger than a snake. ;)
ReplyDeleteActually, I'd probably run if a garter snake came towards me outside. I say this, but I've had to take a few snakes out of people's houses before. I guess not many people can say that.
While I was reading this post, I was gasping and saying, "what? has ratty become nuts over snake?" oh well, only to find out i become nuts to believe :)
ReplyDeleteHappy April 1st, great post by the way
Betchai - I don't even like safe snakes. I've really had more encounters with snakes than I'd like. The snake in the picture was very real, but I'm glad to say that the story is fake.
ReplyDeleteIf I'd seen this yesterday, I'd have been prepared and you wouldn't have caught me out! Instead I was thinking how cool it is to see a snake, but thank goodness you lived to tell the tale!
ReplyDeleteI hate snakes! I freak out when confronted with snakes or spiders, but for some reason I love Bees and mountain lions. But I get very uneasy around Rattle snakes, especially plastic ones!
ReplyDeleteThank God you choose to leave it alone!
ReplyDeleteSome type of snakes can eat an egg or even a rat in one gulp... then they sleep while dissolving the food with their stomach acid.. Anaconda can even swallow a cow or adult human...
I love snakes! Where did you REALLY see this one?
ReplyDeleteJohn - I would never really get close to this type of snake. It can be deadly. I do routinely hike in areas where these live though.
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Scott - I hate snakes too, but I don't mind the fake ones. This one was in a glass case, so I could get close to it. I might be more afraid if I saw a mountain lion though.
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Vanilla - They found a snake in Florida that had eaten a full grown alligator. People had these little snakes as pets, then they got loose. Now Florida has a huge problem.
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Sharkbytes - This snake was in a glass case at the nature center of Kensington Park. I would only photograph a rattlesnake from a distance, or like this.
Looks like a spreading adder.
ReplyDeleteThey are harmless to humans but LOVE to eat other deadly snakes! You mentioned the sound of a rattle rather than a rustle so I must guess it could be a rattlesnake.
Get a good snake book and learn to identify the snakes in your area. The eyes are a big help for me as well as coloration, etc..