Show your Bugs and Critters

[Mad Mac]

This is not a very good picture
but he is going straight up the wall.
I think it is a Black Racer.



My dog Ginger on the right in the window
found him and started doing her snake bark.
I had to take her inside on a leash
then gradually nudged Mister Snake off the porch.
They get a pass because they eat rodents and moles.

[Manixguy@1994]

Found this Bumble Bee in garage window and thought it was dying . It hopped onto swatter and took it outside and took some pictures. After a few minutes Bee decided to take off after photo op . Dan

[Mad Mac]

Here is another one.
Didn't get quite all of the tail in the picture.
Not the same one that was on the porch.
This one is not solid black but has a pattern.
The shadow of my arm gives an idea of his size.
Not so sure but iNaturalist SEEK
identified it as an Eastern King Snake.
Harmless, unless you are a rodent.

[Manixguy@1994]

Here is another one.
Didn't get quite all of the tail in the picture.
Not the same one that was on the porch.
This one is not solid black but has a pattern.
The shadow of my arm gives an idea of his size.
Not so sure but iNaturalist SEEK
identified it as an Eastern King Snake.
Harmless, unless you are a rodent.

We have that snake in my area. Quick question did the snake move rather slow ? If so probably is a King . They do like rodents and also climb trees to feast on birds and raid nests .

[Mad Mac]

He was not in a hurry.

[Manixguy@1994]

Noticed this big one this morning .I think he migrated from neighbors pond . Dan

[Manixguy@1994]

Thankfully this Groundhog was not in my wooded area in back . Dan

[SaltyCaribbeanDfly]

I’m no expert on snakes but this thing was FAST…I was dog sitting Marshall who is a very curious, strong and athletic dog with boundless energy and if he was not on a leash I’m 100% positive he would have jumped off the retaining wall we were on and chased this dude…I snapped a pic after he settled down and then pretty much had to drag him away

[Mad Mac]

SEEK gave me a six out of seven for the Eastern Rat Snake.
I would call that a Black Racer, given the speed cited.

One interesting characteristic of Black Racers,
they will periscope,
hold their heads and necks up a foot or more
to look for prey.

Driving through a pasture
you can see them sticking up above the grass
looking around.
Very weird.

[RustyIron]

This dummy was stretched out across the road on Thursday. To me, it didn't seem like a safe place to sun oneself, so I encouraged him to move along.

[SaltyCaribbeanDfly]

SEEK gave me a six out of seven for the Eastern Rat Snake.
I would call that a Black Racer, given the speed cited.

One interesting characteristic of Black Racers,
they will periscope,
hold their heads and necks up a foot or more
to look for prey.

Driving through a pasture
you can see them sticking up above the grass
looking around.
Very weird.

Cool info M&M, I didn’t really see him raise his head because I was too busy trying to keep Marshall at bay but that sounds like what a cobra would do

[SaltyCaribbeanDfly]

This dummy was stretched out across the road on Thursday. To me, it didn't seem like a safe place to sun oneself, so I encouraged him to move along.

Dude that was awesome!!! I think he was scared of the growling

[Mad Mac]

SEEK scored that snake 7 out of 7 for a Red Diamond Rattlesnake.
The venomous pit viper found in southwestern California.

I'm not sure I would have let that one go.

[Mad Mac]

This picture of a dead coyote may offend sensitive viewers.
Personally, I would feed coyotes and give them names
but as a rancher, I'm in the cattle business, not the coyote business.

Once you have an experience like I had in 2016
chronicled in this thread in September of 2022 The Legend of Peanut
it hardens one's feelings toward song dogs,
or as Lewis and Clark named them, prairie wolves.

The rifle used, barely visible in the 1998 Jeep Wrangler TJ,
is a '50s vintage Remington Model 70 in 220-Swift with 6X scope
inherited by my wife from a childless great aunt
who was quite the sportswoman.
It will be passed down to my daughter and granddaughter
to maintain the matriarchal line.
In the meantime, it has been my privilege to enjoy it.

I fired from a picnic table by the house in the picture 220 yards distant
sending a single Hornady Varmint Express 55gr V-max bullet.

As if calf predation is not enough of a reason, in this instance
my Tennessee Treeing Brindle, Ginger in the foreground,
was being pursued by this coyote.
Brandy and Izzy inside the house looking out the picture window
saw Ginger and the coyote circling each other
and alerted me with their barking.

This one's for Peanut.

[SaltyCaribbeanDfly]

I like several things about this story and photo:
•1998 Jeep Wrangler TJ
•Vintage 50’s Remington model 70 in 220-Swift
•Hornaby Varmit Express 55gr. V-max
•Ginger alive and well standing over a DEAD yote

[Mushroom]

H*ll yeah, Mac!!! Great shot!

[SaltyCaribbeanDfly]

All I could get of this little King since I was weedeating and had to run inside to get my phone

[Mushroom]

Found this freshly hatched baby painted turtle out in the woods as it was making its way towards the water. It had a ways to go but was going in the right direction at least.


Siren for size reference

[SaltyCaribbeanDfly]

Here’s a feel good story for ya…so I was working on a customer’s garden and saw this rather large King snake caught in some bird netting that had been set up by them to keep rabbits out…I have no clue how long the poor thing had been there but she allowed me to slowly and methodically cut her loose (more than likely she was exhausted)…anyway I put a rag over her eyes and worked my way up to the head then picked her up and laid her down gently then she slithered away…made my day!!!

[aicolainen]

Here’s a feel good story for ya…so I was working on a customer’s garden and saw this rather large King snake caught in some bird netting that had been set up by them to keep rabbits out…I have no clue how long the poor thing had been there but she allowed me to slowly and methodically cut her loose (more than likely she was exhausted)…anyway I put a rag over her eyes and worked my way up to the head then picked her up and laid her down gently then she slithered away…made my day!!!

This made me smile.
Such a fortunate coincidence that a competent and confident rescuer where at the right place at the right time.
Snakes are a quite unusual sight around here, black adders being the most common of the three species we have. Even this being a red listed, protected species.
Bottom line, I wouldn't have known how to handle a situation like that.