Tuesday, October 4, 2016
Ssssssss
I went to the post office yesterday to get my mail. I saw a couple of kids playing at one end of the building. That is not unusual. There is a nice patch of grass there.
As I got out of my car one little girl began to peek around the building at me. She had a bit of a guilty look.
Then she said, "There's a snake here."
Because this area is known for its high population of prairie rattlesnakes I went to take a look.
The post office has those glass block windows set low in the ground. I assume that there is a basement down there but I am not sure. There are half moon shaped metal barriers to keep the ground from eroding down to cover the blocks. There is a layer of gravel to keep plants from growing.
When I went over there the little girl told me that they picked one up and it acted like it wanted to bite them. When I asked if any of them were bitten they said no.
I gave them a quick talk of rattlesnakes to make sure they understood how dangerous they are. They were surprised that they can bite and are venomous as soon as they are born.
Another little girl joined us. She had been searching for a grown snake they saw slithering away.
I looked into the area by the glass blocks. There were several little snakes rolling around in there. They were no bigger than a small earthworm. From the markings they looked like garter snakes.
We talked a while more. I tried to impress on them that they needed to know for sure what kind of snake they tried to pick up. I also let them know that all snakes will bite to protect themselves.
A man yelled out then and all three children scampered away. As they were leaving I told them to make sure they told a grown-up about the snakes.
As I drove around the corner I saw a couple of the fathers standing outside talking. I rolled down my window and told them about the snakes over at the post office. I told them that I thought they were probably harmless and that I had told the children to tell parents about them.
You never know with little ones. Sometimes they keep information to themselves to keep from getting into trouble.
It was so cold yesterday that I was surprised to see baby snakes (or grown ones for that matter). I have no idea whether the fathers decided to do something about them.
I think I will make sure to visit the post office tomorrow. They should know that the little places by the glass blocks are being used to breed snakes.
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A great find. Many will strike and a few even wag their tail like a rattler.
ReplyDeleteI have seen garter snakes "rattle" their tails before. They were adults though.
DeleteI lived in Newfoundland for most of my life where there aren't any snakes. When we moved to Prince Edward Island, where there are garter snakes, I was shocked to see one cross the boardwalk one day. It was a wonder to me, its colouring and movement. I doubt my curiosity would extend to rattlesnakes. You did a great kindness in talking to the kids about the snakes and alerting the parents.
ReplyDeleteSnakes are actually lovely to look at once you get past the ick factor. Anywhere children might be exposed to poisonous snakes should educate the children about them.
DeleteI put an end to my grandchildren handling the snakes when they came across a milk snake. They aren't venemous, but pack a serious bite.
ReplyDeleteMany of us used to capture snakes when we were children. I did it to prove to my uncles who I now think were afraid to catch them themselves. I was not bitten but that was just dumb luck.
DeleteEmma, thank you for taking the time to talk to and explain to those children about snakes. Even that few minutes may help them to understand the danger that lives all around us.
ReplyDeleteI am not fond of snakes...but having said this, I am fascinated by them and they do serve a purpose.
Again, thank you!!!
Because I have written about topics of nature for a long time I have had to research a lot of related things. Snakes especially venomous snakes happened to be just one.
DeleteI found a snake under my compost barrel several years ago when I used to compost. I put the barrel down and left. I think it was a copperhead.
ReplyDeleteA copperhead would definitely not be a good discovery.
DeleteWell, we've both had recent snake encounters! I do try not to touch or alarm them but it's good to know something of their behavior when they need relocating. You did those kids a great favor by impressing rule #1 upon them: tell an adult. Good job!
ReplyDeleteA blogger friend in Texas just aired with me that they found a rattler very near their front porch. This is not the first time she has seen snakes, but then she does live on the prairie. Good for you, Emma, is trying to explain the dangers to the children and hopefully they understood your concern.
ReplyDelete