18 thoughts on “January 29, 2025: Slithery”

  1. My youngest is/was really into snakes. At one point he asked for a snake as a pet. That interest has waned and dinosaurs are back in, but I will need to inform him it's the year of the snake.

    1. I’ve always been a snake fan, generally. Back in Ranger School we had a snake identification course in Florida before they turned us loose and they had certified handlers. I was the guy who volunteered to get a black racer bite to see how the bite wounds don’t coagulate.

        1. She was big enough that I had to get two freshly killed rats a month for her. I'd go to the store, request them, and they would walk into a room then come out with a paper bag. I always thought that was pretty grizzly.

          1. We had anoles for several years so had to regularly buy crickets. Not a fan of that part but they had to be dusted with some supplements so it was fun to shake them up in a bag to coat the crickets before dumping in the habitat. I don't know if you could concuss a cricket but I tried.

          1. IF anyone remembers my old roommate Q*, his little brothers had a pet rat. It was very smart.

            *Talk about what is now an unfortunate nickname through no fault of his own, uffda

          2. My rat died sophomore year. We gave it a viking funeral: made a little paper boat, put a few rat chew toys inside, set it on fire, and pushed it out onto the lake. We even advertised the event - "Come help us put the "fun" back in "funeral."

  2. Our yard has its share of snakes throughout the year, mostly black rat snakes and garters, as well as a couple venomous deeper into the woods. While they're not generally welcome in the neighbors' yards, I leave them to it (non-venomous, that is). It would be preferable if they did a better job announcing their presence, though.

    1. Which is why I am more than happy to live out my life in Minnesota. I do not like snakes. I remember a looooong hike in Saguaro National Park a few years back. Every 150 ft or so, there would be trail signs saying "Heavy Rattlesnake Activity Area". Even though I knew it they were all in hibernation, I still was creeped out at the thought of them.

    1. Oh, I'm right there with you.

      I can respect they have their place on this Earth as all creatures do.

      And that place is waaaaay the hell away from me.

Leave a Reply