As the weather warms up so does the action round here — at least as far as my cold-blooded residents are concerned.
My favourite is the sprightly Jacky lizard; perky and patterned and with such dainty digits!
I wouldn’t mind a few more of these little blokes darting about the yard.
My least favourite is the red-bellied black snake. Impressively muscular as it ripples across my grass and into my gardens, I see it almost every day now, always in a different spot. So my eyes are engaged in a constant flicker to check where it is, as I don’t want to startle it and cause it to panic my way.
I also have to thump about with the hoe first to check in any clumps I want to work on, because it can become invisible in a surprisingly small amount of cover.
This is the first year I have been sure I had a resident black snake rather than a visitor, just passing through. There’s nothing I can do about it – but I don’t like it! I wish it was winter again.
Yes, I’ve been told that Darian. It may be so re living in the yard – and I am grateful! – but have seen browns here a couple of times.
One thing you should know is that Red-Bellied Blacks keep other snakes away. They LOVE Eastern Brown Snakes. As FOOD, that is. I guess it makes a change from frogs. So as long as you have one of these, reasonably placid fellows or ladies around, you won’t have to deal with the others. To me it’s worth it when I see it that way…
Mind over matter Sharyn, it works sometimes!
Hi Trevor,
Yes, Laguna is a great place, where I always meet people of like mind; it will be good to have a face to put to your cheeky blog comments now! Enjoyed our chat; and my dancing feet got a good workout.
I had a similar levitation experience with a brown snake – heading downhill, about to land in a tussock which proved to be already occupied – I still don’t know how I remained airborne instead!
PS, ‘Hope you had a safe journey home from the” Centre of the Universe”…i.e. Laguna of course! T.
Hi Sharyn, nice to meet you on Sat eve, great music too. These snakes can actually cause human levitation! I’ve done it at least twice and I saw my son levitate to at least 4 feet of altitude and travel sideways about ohhhhh, 8 feet? (What’s that in metres?) Very exciting! All the best, Trev.
Glad you find the site useful Jim. And thank you for your concerned advice; I will make some enquiries. It would be a harder snake to catch than the ones in my compost heap last summer, as not contained, very free-ranging.
Hi Sharyn, It’s definitely time to get advice from an expert, a proper qualified expert on red-bellied-rat snakes. I say snakes, as a partner will arrive one day and you will have a lot of small snakes that can be more dangerous than adults.
Not time to dilly dally, you must take action now.
Thank you for this website with all the links, very interesting indeed.
Hi Denis, I know that immediate gut response well, accompanied by a sharp catching of the breath, and if I could see myself, I probably blanch! I have often imagined close situations where I must stand still, but mostly I bolt.
We are similarly handicapped!
Your lizard’s bravery was probably more like being at his ease because he knew you wouldn’t harm him, DWG. I’m sure he’d thoroughly sussed you out for some time before he began venturing out. Stay dry.
Hi Sharyn
I am ambivalent about snakes, too, I have to admit.
I respect them; I admire them; but I do not enjoy them.
.
The problem for me is that few seconds of blind panic between when my subconsious brain goes into automatic alarm mode, and when my conscious brain steps in and tells my legs and gut to relax – “its only a snake”; and then “stand still and it will go away”.
.
I have two friends who both love Snakes. Not me.
Cheers
Denis
And I too am so sorry that you seem to have a “resident snake” on your property. After seeing one it takes several days for the courage to build back, even though I am sure they are in hidden and really don’t intend to harm me. This summer for the first time I saw one of these little lizards that stayed at the back all summer. First time ever that I have had one like that and was a little taken back by how brave he seemed. Watch the clumps!!! And enjoy the summer!! I am in that South East USA and am having enormous rains and flooding..my home is safe!!!! DWG
Margaret I think my attitude to them verges on phobia too – the shudders come involuntarily –but the constancy of these sightings seems to be de-sensitising me a bit. I know it wants to hide from me, not hurt me.
At my book talk today a lady said she knew someone whose resident black snake used to follow her around the garden – like a pet. But for me it is really hard to contemplate a ‘relationship’ with a creature so different from us and whom we have imbued with such evil and fear.
Hello Sharyn
Well, I’m glad it’s you and not me coping with the resident black snake! Snakes of any kind, and that includes wooden and rubber ones, are my one true phobia. Sad, but true. When we first arrived here I even taped over the overflow holes in the laundry and bathroom! Lots of snakes around this year it seems. Keep those eyes working , mine are on the go everytime I step outside.
Cheers, Margaret