My pant legs wet with early dew, or is that late rain? We are almost to the creek in Myakka River State Park when I begin making those typical mental catalog entries when I sense post-flood conditions. I notice rafted debris up in the saplings. I see freshly dropped sand that the creek has played with and tossed aside carelessly as it rambled out of its banks and into the forest. Some half crazed wandering storm that grounded and misbehaves.
I am hefting my gear to the same spot i have hefted it for years now. The familiar sandy bank of a very small creek that I love dearly. I place everything just so – almost as if it were the first time of the many. I blah blah blah to Kristen as I always do and she always lets me because she loves me and knows me. She knows every thought comes out of my mouth because there is simply no room in my head for anything more than the million tangents that are tiddly winking around in there at all times….
Flooding rains have come late this year and I am eager to see what the flow will be. The waters have subsided but everywhere is the look that something naked and wild has run past. It raked its wet fingers across the landscape and nothing went unscathed. I think I hear small mammals rustling about complaining. I take one last look at my spot. The spot my body has taken up for years….
SNAKE…I say this out loud of course because of the tangents and blah blah blah….Kristen says “Where”, and I say, “Right there!” What I mean (since you were not there and do not know where I was pointing) was right where I usually sit….on the snake….the pygmy rattle snake.
Wow, it was so small.It was so still. It was so in my spot where my rear goes. Immediately we dance around laughing. What would the nurse say? How would Kristen get me out of there when it’s on my butt? All the “suck the poison out” jokes are funny….for a minute.
I realize that the rattlesnake is offended that I want my space. I try to shoo her away into the forest but she resists. She knows, too, that great things happen when you occupy that space. She knows how good it feels to sit there. My feet just reach the creek while I work. The leaves always occupy my fingers. She snake is reluctant to relinquish what I know is the perfect view of the creek.
She leaves, pouting, and rattling that she will be back. I look, once more, at where she has been. A small curl of danger rises from my space. That’s when I realize how very lucky I am….In so many ways!
So that’s a small snake. Sounds like an exciting life you lead. I’m a little jealous.
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My life is more than exciting – I get paid to LIVE!!! Love it!
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Can’t wait to show this post to my son..he is a snake lover…
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Show him….I have more stories about things that sneak around….some of my favorites…thanks for stopping in
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Oh my! You are very bold. I would have run away screaming for my life.
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Screaming was never in my thoughts….I still get a shiver when I think about it. That would have been a very bad day – we were down south on the most remote site in the park….no phone reception…..Kristen is 5’2″ and I weigh twice as much….we were in the forest – it would have been weird~
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Great story (as usual). I’ve really got to get to that State Park someday …
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It’s amazing – great place for a girl’s weekend!!!
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I’ve probably seen little pygmy(ies) more than any other snake out in the ‘wild’. they are oh-so-tiny! One I just happened to look down right before I would’ve stepped on it while hiking in Bulow Creek S.P. …. they’re tiny but feisty lil’ critters …
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This gal was reluctant to move. I think the recent flood conditions had her tired and she was doing some cheating sitting right there by the creek where the easy food is! She did leave but not without much coaxing!
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snakes!!! eeek!!! i scream like a girl whenever i see one lol that picture is scary enogh!
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It was definitely a crazy day! We see snakes and we don’t see more snakes! This little lady would have made my day very complicated!!
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My old stomping grounds. Good to see the snakes are still holding their own.
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Oh, wow! When I deal with rattlesnakes, they’re metaphorical…when I come across real ones, I respectfully allow them to sit wherever they choose. That one was so pretty, though I probably wouldn’t want to get (sorry) too attached.
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In the environment we work, there are times when we have to temporarily displace someone so that work can be done safely. We do so with the utmost of respect and avoid it when possible. I can honestly say that we try to leave something softer than footprints in most cases. We have become a part of what we do and where we go – we move through the forest and take our space and, at times, that means something must move on. I took the most wonderful photos and even had the opportunity to converse with this snake prior to its moving on. No harm was done and an apology is almost always (anyone who knows me or has worked with me knows this to be true) said to the offended party. Hopefully, if the balance is right – it is meant to be and the creature will have done what I did – moved on to something better! I do recommend NOT doing anything to snakes unless you are confident that you are doing it with the utmost safety and care. This snake, in particular, poses a great threat – Nasty bite and usually aggressive. Luckily – it was cool and I was aware of my surroundings. It all worked out well I believe – we only asked the snake to move a short distance – we don’t want to stress her – just keep a nice distance while working.
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Love it! Love pygmy rattlesnakes. So pretty. I worked out on the tree islands in the northern Everglades (usually during winter months), and can’t recall just how many times a pigmy rattlesnake fell out of the lygodium vines onto my head. Luckily, I never got bit since it was cold and they were slow. Other experiences with pygmies have proven to me that they are relatively mellow compared to other rattlers I have encountered, and can easily be caught and handled without much problem. Don’t worry, II don’t hurt them and always let them go.
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Glad to hear that we aren’t snake attractors…was beginning to wonder! I won’t be handling them as our safety manager might have issues with that one! I will appreciate NOT sitting on them though! They are beautiful snakes
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Very good written article. It will be valuable to everyone who usess it, as well as yours truly :). Keep doing what you are doing – can’r wait to read more posts.
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