Critter count....1 snake....

[j_cheney]

Well, I was walking along at the park, considering that I should keep an annual critter count (prompted by the earlier sighting of a squirrel). I thought.....hmmm, no snakes yet this year....oops!

There was a snake about a foot off the path. On initial look, I thought he was black, but I saw a faint diamond pattern underlaying that. About 5 feet long. We both just stayed still for a moment, evaluating the situation, but the snake decided it wasn't worth it to cross the road while I was there and headed back down to the creek. I went to the OK snakes web-page and determined that he must be a black ratsnake--relatively harmless. Whew!

So:
Snakes 1
Squirrels 1
Rabbits 0
Assorted Shrews/Voles/Field mice (why bother)
Mississippi Kite 0
Coy-dog/Coyote 0

Comments

[spcpthook.livejournal.com]

diamond pattern on black = King snake--harmless

[j-cheney.livejournal.com]

I'll remember that one. Actualy, these guys look solid black at a distance, which is why it took me a minute to notice the diamonds!

[spcpthook.livejournal.com]

The diamonds are grey so yeah they're difficult to see at a distance

[dotar-sojat.livejournal.com]

There is this place around NW 50th- a big corrugated metal warehouse- that I swear is the lair of a pack of hyenas. I've seen them early in the monrings, big shoulders, short back legs, triangular ears, short muzzles. It's creepy.

[j-cheney.livejournal.com]

You never know what people will bring in as pets...