We were on the lookout for them because two of our horses had been bit on the nose, we nearly lost the mini, but she was tough. UGH. I hope the eggs are lizards. (and I would not drive the truck for about a month. kept thinking what I might see in the mirror) The farm we bought had been abandoned for 3 or 4 years, so everything had moved in. I still like the harmless varieties. We have a black racer here that is REALLY cool

Hi Mike, I wish the big city near us would do a little decaying. haha! I think a certain suburb north of it is considered to be the fastest growing area in the country. Lots of beautiful rich farmland now filled with wall to wall houses, malls, highways. It makes me cry. I do have trouble living in the human world. So much of human development (economic and otherwise) is all about distancing ourselves from the animal world. We constantly expect "more" from us, than just being animals, and that's where all the problems and disconnects arise from. I've always thought I was a tree whose spirit got accidentally put into a human's body! It leads to alot of internal confusion for me! I think if people would try to view themselves as part of the circle, then they will be less likely to destroy life for everything else. Its a real balancing act though....especially if we are raised in a culture that puts superiority and domination as the only way to live. I realize that plants and animals do the same thing, but for some reason, it all gets balanced out. Humans (at least in more advanced countries), don't seem to have any checks and balances. Talk about decay.......my brain just isn't what it used to be, and I may not even be making any sense! Speaking of balance.........I need to figure out how to balance all those snails that are eating my water lily pads! Nice talking to you, and never worry about rambling. Its one of my favorite things. :)

I've never seen an 8 ft coachwhip in Calif. They rarely get that long in other regions. Coachwhips change color somewhat as they mature. It sounds like you found a hatchling. They lay eggs. Some snakes bear live young, but not coachwhips. Some subspecies of coachwhips are popularly known as "red racers." At the moment I'm in AZ and away from my library to check your subspecies. They capture prey with their mouth and by hold it down with a loop of the body, but they're not constrictors. Snakes have recurved teeth to hold prey. A coachwhip is unlikely to capture and hold even the smallest dog, but the snakes can deliver a nasty bite. For you, you'd have to catch it to be bitten. I like your attitude: curious but not overreactive.

Some of the eggs are old and some are new. I'm not going to eat them and risk getting sick. I know some people think I'm wasting good eggs, but I don't like the taste of duck eggs, I don't bake that much, and with my lupus, I can't take chances like that. Honestly, I didn't want them there in the first place and we have enough Muscovys around here that a few less won't hurt anything. There wll be more eggs laid more babies hatched. I'm just going to throw them in the garbage if she doesn't show up tomorrow. She showed up yesterday, looked all around very closely, then left. She did not sit at all. The papa duck came back this morning, but when he saw she wasn't there, he left too. I'm sure she is just spooked and is abandoning the nest. No biggie.