Good for you! She's beautiful.

(I'm deciding it's female, since it's so lovely and so useful in the garden.)

Caroline .. Good for you for letting her stay! :) I'm sure she'll make a good garden companion.

I have a Samantha too and she also helps me in the garden .. she's my 11 year old DD, so I'm partial to the name. :)

You should really warn people! I am really afraid of snakes and almost had a panic attack when I opened this thread! lol

Seriously, looks like the "ornament" that I found on my porch last fall. I bought it a ticket to another town...30 miles to the east and I sure hope I don't see any of her relatives around this summer.

Caroline, they eat rats and voles that eat your plants. I know they are viewed as evil but some of them are good; its just that those who have the bright copper bodies are not as friendly. Cotton mouths, too, are frightening. If it rattles, beware.

mclarke: she is pretty . I have always been careful of snakes since I trail run and have had several encounters with timber rattlers in the Ga and Al woods. They are really FAT and look just like a pile of leaves. As soon as I realized this was a harmless one then we were OK .

Zip...I had forgotten that was DD's name...hope there is no offense...they are both graceful, useful and much wanted !

NHB...you probably have more but they are so good for getting rid of rodents that you should make peace with each other.

Patricia: I have seen the "bad" ones and can't bring myself to harm them either as the Indigo snake and the gopher tortoise are extremely dependent on the rattlers for a home. Amazing how many people run over the big king snakes on the roads...such a sad thing. c

Oh my gosh, that is a bit scary. But there are so many snakes in Alabama, just be careful. My neighbors saw a six foot black snake in my yard, a rat snake, eck.

Oh my, I don't know if I have seen a snake since I was a kid on camping trip. That would freak me out. So cool, that they don't scare you.

In a way, it is nice that they take of your problem critters. Better to see it done by nature versus chemicals and traps.

Congratulations! You're a lucky gal!

She's a beaut! We have a 9-ft. black snake that takes up residence in our garden shed. DH is not too thrilled, but she keeps the rodent/mouse/chipmunk/vole population down, so I'm fine with it. As my very wise mother was fond of saying..."They're more scared of you than you are of them".

Good for you Caroline, I take it , that your not scared of snakes.One good thing is that she doesn't seem to bother you. How can you tell if the snake is a he or a she? You might see some little ones around too.

I am not really wanting to hold her or anything LOL ...my kids have done that lots of times on field trips.... but she/he is OK and as Kelly said way better than traps and poison.

I don't know the sex...you have to turn them over and find the "hole"...not to be too explicit but they only have one all purpose one...IYNWIM !! when they are female. So it will forever be a mystery :)

mrsmarv...hmmm...9 ft black snake...uh...nope I think that would freak me right out !! c

Found a dead baby one in the front yard the other morning. I have seen them here and there in my garden, but none so far this year. I think I need the bigger ones to get rid of the danged chipmunks. We haven'r had chipmunks for 20 years and all of a sudden they are back. Cooper tries to keep them out of the yard.

OMG...snakes are my phobia! My dogs cornered a bull snake a few summers ago...freaked me out totally. I wouldn't go out back for a couple of days!

I hate snakes. I would be calling the exterminators or the zoo - come get him or her.

My dogs found a copperhead coiled up and camouflaged by the pile of dead leaves he was hiding in. My 2 yr old grandson had just been playing in that exact area just 15 minutes earlier :(( Determined it (snake) wasn't leaving the property alive, I pitched a sledge hammer 12 ft into the air and it miraculously landing right behind his head. I didn't know if he would be able to wiggle out or not (he certainly tried!) After 10 minutes of screaming, someone finally came to my rescue and finished him off! There is no such thing as a harmless snake. If it won't harm me, it'll certainly cause me harm myself! :o East Texas is full of snakes but I'd prefer they didn't call my little acre of heaven, "home" :o
Monica

Does Sam have that stick in it's mouth, or is that a trick of the photo?

Our stupid cat Burrito is always catching (and eating) the snakes. DH can't stand snakes, but I don't mind 'em at all. Ok, that's not to say that I'd be fond of a 9 footer in my shed...yeeps...but a nice garden snake can't be beat.

Caroline, no offense taken at all! Actually Sam's my animal lover and that includes snakes. I showed her the picture and she said your Sam was pretty.

Where we live we have a lot of copperheads, my DH actually lucked out and received a dry bite last year from one. I can name five people in this neighborhood that haven't been as lucky and were fairly ill because of the bites, thankfully no children so far. So copperheads do get killed here, we have too many kids playing to chance it. All other snakes get left alone though.

Sue I know what you mean. everyone is commenting that they have never seen so many chippies as this year. We had a severe drought for 2 years and now we have lots of rain and a proliferation of wildlife. There was a frog in the fountain last night. He "sang" for us while we had dinner by the pool.

pesky: I had to look back and see...that is a weed I had pulled and left lying there and her mouth is above it. I agree with you and zipp....a good garden snake is exactly what I want. So far I haven't seen a chippie in a week. As for copperheads....they are really really scary and I don't blame you for being afraid. Good sense in all things can't be beat. c

3D when I was growing up in AZ we were taught to always always be cautious of snakes and scorpions, especially diamondbacks. We were taught not to walk in tall grass, go into rocky areas, pick up or turn over rocks with our hands rather use our feet.
Zipdee we have some copperheads around here too, but not as many as you in NO.
I once danced on a snake! i.e. picked up the other foot that was on the ground when I almost stepped on either a coral or its benign look alike on the warm pavement one night in Fla.- after I refused to walk through tall grass! Did you know that it is really really hard to have both feet off the ground when you are walking?? still famous for that snake dancing. LOL

Lucky you!! I could never figure out why no snakes lived in our lake yard -- we had SO dang many chippies and voles!

I haven't seen any here at our Tennessee location yet but our ex-GC said they killed a black snake who had moved in under the porta-potty and totally discombobulated them by popping out at disconcerting moments. I told them that was MY snake, not theirs, and if they saw another, they were not to kill it. I suspect they would have killed it and just not told me.

I'm hoping not to see any of the scary ones here, but that there are more blacksnakes around. Would love to keep the rodent population under control.

OMG, that is scary!!! I agree with threedgrad - call the exterminators or the zoo...

Will I admit I think Chipmunks are cuter than snakes I am glad you are enjoying Samantha.

That really is scary... I'm scared to death of snakes, just looking at them gives me chills and now my feet are cold and imagining a snake under my desk eeww !!

Its good that you are loving it, but I promise I would never visit you even if you give me a million bucks LOL!!

Funny the different reactions. I guess that is why we are now over run with rodents in so many parts of the country. There is a real problem w/ no gopher tortoises as they need the holes that Indigo snakes provide and they in turn need the holes that really big rattlers provide...everything has a place. AU is releasing lots and lots of baby Indigo snakes in hope of them surviving and getting the balance back. c

I was hoping to see a cute little gnome...sheesh :oP

I say it often and will say it again...any place that you live where it's a good idea to encourage a several foot long snake to live in your yard or garden...is not a place for the Igloochic!

Alaska...no snakes, few spiders, no fleas :o) It's heaven! When stuff tries to kill you here, you hear it coming!

>>>It's heaven! When stuff tries to kill you here, you hear it coming!That's gotta be one of the funniest (altho I'm sure true) things I've *heard* you say (lol)
Monica

That's what I need!!! I'm live trapping the chippers and hauling them away. Also have a vole explosion. We keep hoping the red tailed hawks will multipy and make a difference!

One year when we were overrun with moles and chippies Barred owls moved in and took care of them.

Hi Sammy! That's a great picture too. I would much rather have a snake than a chipmunk. Cute as those little critters are, one experience of them eating through the wiring on our new truck was enough to make me dislike them.

Oh I love hawks and owls...where are they when I need them? Haven't seen Sam(antha) in a couple days but also no chippies. The extension service told me when the food supply was gone so was the eater..."movable feast" I guess LOL.

Igloo you are a hoot...no pun. c

I am terrified of snakes and other reptiles. Spider, roaches are fine but snakes... makes me quiver. I am going to have nightmares tonight :(

Here's nature at it's best Alaskan style.

Bald eagle...beautiful noble bird of prey, perches on the top of a huge old fir tree just a little ways outside of our bedroom window. The first year I was here I thought "oh my goodness how wonderful".

Then we have the loons. Loons mate for life so we have the same pair return to us annually (cooincidentially the same weekend as my neighbors but they claim not to be related). These aren't common loons that make that beautiful "Beyond golden pond" song noise...these are elegant and beautiful Arctic Loons, who's romantic song sounds like two tom cats fighting over a female. And our loons are big lovers so we hear this cacophany of love at full volume every single night until they produce an egg, then a chick.

Baby Arctic Loons are somewhat rare and definately so in the city, and a treat to behold. They next right next to our house (the "loon cam" is normally mounted in our yard by the wildlife freaks...with our permission...we like some freaks). Anyhoo, every year we get to see the baby hatch and we protect it from canoers who get too close and every single freaking that dang Eagle sweeps down within the first week of the poor chicks life and carrys it away screaming to it's death (yes literally screaming to it's death).

I hate that dang eagle...

Umm what were we talking about? heh heh

This is just plain weird. I have never, ever seen a snake in my yard. This house or my last townhouse. I come home tonight and go outside with the dogs in the backyard. What do I see? A snake. What do I do? Go into the house (with the dogs) and Google. I look up "most common snake in MN yards" and find that it is a garter snake. No need to freak out (too much.)

I went out now and it is gone. I would have freaked out but I remembered this thread. (I would name this guy/gal but I would prefer that he leave because of the dogs.)

Thanks Caroline! I am so glad you posted this thread.

Well I am glad it was anticlimactic for you. They are a good kind to have in the yard/garden.

We haven't seen Sam in days and days. We saw a huge rat though yesterday and the chippies were back for a couple days and now gone again. I turned on the a/c tonight for the first time this year...we are trying to do w/o it but I had to close the house due to the huge rain storm...which has passed us by...hm...where was I?? Oh well there is a very funky smell coming through the a/c. Now I wonder if Sam has "caught" the rat...but it would be hard for her to eat it as it was really really big but it went under the house. So now what?? I am glad we are going out of town for a week and also that I am turning the a/c back off...nature is going to have to run its' course I guess.

c

"turn over rocks with our hands rather use our feet"

I wouldn't even do that out here! my neighbor made me a walking stick out of a saguaro spine - i carry that and fan it in front of me close to the ground. let a rattler bite it rather than me...

Caroline, it was anticlimatic because of your post. If I had seen the snake earlier I would have assumed it was dangerous and freaked out.

How wonderful if Sam got the rat. Too bad about the smell but still worth it. I am sure the smell will go away. (Sit closer to your good smelling flowers :)

Thanks again for your post.

I have a stick. Will place by back door.

Kelly you are so funny ! I am glad that I saved the life of your snake friend. Have you named her?? As to smell it was gone when I got back last night. DH says not a dead animal smell anyway. So I guess I will wait and see what turns up or over or around in the garden. c

Nice Samantha:) Hope she is getting the chippies for you:0

A few years ago I was sitting out on the patio at night just chillin with my dog, Pepper. I notice him walk over to something about a foot away from me.....I suddenly realize what it is, a snake!! I start yelling at Pepper, he turns with foam coming out of his mouth already!! I call DH, he kills the snake and to this day I totally blank on what kind of snake it was - it was a juvenille something with the venom more dangerous in a juvenille than an adult.

Pepper went to emergency vet and he is fine - still a curious George. Dh puts sulfur out every year around our property - I am not sure if it works or not.

And, yes we have sticks at our doors, too.

Smiles:)

My black snakes are always named Fred. I will name any future rat snakes Sam. The nice thing about black snakes is that copperheads avoid a yard with a resident black snake. BS eat baby copperheads.

fred and sam...hope they like each other. Wish she would come back...

That is a very scary story scooby. I would think Pepper would have learned a lesson. I have heard that the juvie snakes are more venomous. I know that they say that the Rattlesnakes on the East of the MS river are neuro toxic now and they used to be toxic in a different way. Have evolved...I am glad Pepper is AOK and you too !!