I'd like to introduce you to Agkistrodon contortrix, a.k.a. copperhead snake. Now that we've got the formalities out of the way, I'll let you know why I'm introducing you to Agkistrodon contortrix. You'll appreciate this if you ever visit my home.
You might remember this post or this post from last year. If not, they basically tell how scared I am of snakes. Petrified doesn't begin to describe my fear.
Saturday, I was mowing the yard and decided to get rid of this "bed" of grassy stuff around a pine tree. It wasn't particularly ugly, but it did have weeds and was starting to look unkempt. While I was taking a break from this, some people waved at me and began walking down the driveway. I walked up to them (dripping with dirty sweat - great first impression) and they introduced themselves as our neighbors from two doors down. The man asked me if I was familiar with snakes. I informed him that I was aware of their existence and that I was beyond scared of them. He said, "good". He went on to tell me that several copperheads had been spotted in our neighborhood and in surrounding developments in the last week or so. I'm quite uncomfortable at this point, but I continue listening. He says that he and his wife found one that was about 24" in their yard last week and the people directly behind Justin and me found four (that's 4!) in their yard.
He asked me if we had seen any and I said that we had not seen any this year, but I did see a snake in our yard last summer, but it got away before we could kill it. I mentioned the huge dead snake that Justin saw in the road last summer and the neighbor told me that that was a copperhead. I forgot to mention that Justin stomped one to death with his flip flop last year. I wonder if that would have impressed him? He mentioned that copperheads are great at blending in with leaves and bushes, so I should be careful when working in the yard. I assured him that my philosophy is a snake is a snake and I treat all of them as horrid creatures that should be destroyed. He asked me to let him know if we spot any and I once again assured him that anyone within hearing range would know if I spotted anything resembling a snake.
He did mention that someone's small dog died suddenly recently and they're wondering if it was bitten by a snake. Pete and Annabelle will remain indoors at all times in Atlanta. This point is non-negotiable.
We chatted for a few more minutes and he asked me if this was my parents house and if they were home. I think they wanted to introduce themselves to them. I kind of laughed and said that my husband and I owned the house and we lived here. Justin and I got a little laugh from that. I finished mowing the yard, but was too scared to finish mowing the grassy "bed" area. It looks pretty bad right now. I'll have to finish it next time I mow. I wanted to hurry and finish the "have to mow" areas before I was attacked by the snakes that I know were lurking in our yard. The neighborhood residents are thinking there is a bed of copperheads nearby or the recent rain waters have washed them to our neighborhood. Either way, they need to leave and go anywhere except where I'm at.
So, beware if you visit us. You should bring a stick, or rake, or some other poking device to push on the ground in front of you when walking in our yard. This might make any snakes on the ground move, or it may just make them mad. Who knows!
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