It makes my heart glad, too, Mary. Though I confess, even as much as I love them, there is always that first split second, when something in me shivers slightly. I feel like Emily Dickinson in her lovely poem about snakes: "A narrow fellow in the grass Occasionally rides; You may have met him,--did you not, His notice sudden is. The grass divides as with a comb, A spotted shaft is seen; And then it closes at your feet And opens further on. He likes a boggy acre, A floor too cool for corn. Yet when a child, and barefoot, I more than once, at morn, Have passed, I thought, a whip-lash Unbraiding in the sun,-- When, stooping to secure it, It wrinkled, and was gone. Several of nature's people I know, and they know me; I feel for them a transport Of cordiality; But never met this fellow, Attended or alone, Without a tighter breathing, And zero at the bone." It's that "zero at the bone" I feel for a moment when I spy one slipping through the grass. A great description. Marcia

Nice Pictures! I can answer your question. That black snake is a black rat snake. Was that midland water snake (subspecies of the northern water snake) found at LaRue Road. I have never found a midland water there before. In fact I don't think I know anyone who has seen one there either. I'm sure they have a good population there, but it surprises me that you saw one. They generally inhabit lakes, creeks and rivers. One doesn't usually see a midland or northern water snake in cypress swamp. I have seen them up north in oxbow lakes. I did see a midland water snake at Mingo swamp in a ditch, but that is far as my northern water snake experience goes. Nice find. Ryan

TRUE Yellow Ratsnakes are limited to Florida and the southeast Georgia coast. There is a naturally-occuring intergrade(cross-breed)between the Yellow Rat(Elaphe quadrivitatae)and the Black Rat(Elaphe obsoletta)which is found in much of the coastal plains area of Georgia and the Carolinas, often dubbed the "Greenish Rat", because in many cases it IS an olive green in coloration. Some have a visable blotched pattern as adults, like juvie Black Rats, while others have the vertical stripes, like the Yellow, or a combination of both. Some are quite yellowish, though nowhere near a bright a yellow as a true Yellow Rat. Many people do erronously call those "Yellow Ratsnakes", though. As for their temperament when caught, this varies a great deal from snake to snake, so it's not fair to generalize by calling them "nasty". I've caught several "Greenish Rats", BIG suckers, which would not so much as think about striking. I've picked up seven-footers that I could just drape around my neck and carry to the car, and they were as calm and gentle as can be, while I've picked up smaller ones that were little terrors(or thought that they were, anyway)! Usually, the smaller the snake, the more defensive it is, since it's on the menu of more carnivores at that size. I've sorted through boxes of freshly wild-caught true Yellows from Lake Okeechobee in Florida(the Yellow Rats there are really bright yellow)and been able to stroke the heads of some individuals in the box, like petting a puppy, while the snake next to it was vibrating its tail and striking like a Racer at me, which goes to show how each snake is different, much like people. Sharon McKenzie

During hot weather, I've caught the most Ratsnakes in the evening or dusk hours, or in the early morning just before daylight. At that time, they are more likely to be out crossing highways. It's the same with Cornsnakes. In cooler weather, you're more likely to find them out in the middle of the day. If you have anything flat lying around on the ground, like pieces of tin or plywood, check under it, since snakes like to hide under stuff like that during the day. Also, be alert to the behavior of wild birds in your yard, especially if you have Bluejays, Thrashers, or Mockingbirds, since they will raise an immense ruckus if they spot a snake! I've actually caught more snakes by going to where I heard a big commotion among the wild bird population than by any other means. Jays actually have a distinct alarm call for "SNAKE" that is different from their "CAT" or "HAWK" call, believe it or not. Sharon McKenzie