"Mom, WAIT..."

I was strolling up the driveway with my friend Chigiy, on our customary afternoon walk with the dogs, when my daughter burst out of the house at a run.

"Mom, WAIT . . . There's a big snake in my room!"  

Chigiy and I both made instant 180 degree turns and began walking back to the house.  The initial report from the front line was 1) that snake in question was not a rattlesnake - phew! - and 2) that one of the cats had brought it in for Tessa to admire (or perhaps, to inquire, "What are we supposed to do with this?"),  and 3) that it looked like a turd.  

O.K., so that ruled out gopher, garter, and king snakes. Tessa thought it might be a Sharp Tail Snake, but they don't really get "big."  They look like this:

One little Sharp-Tail snake

Two little Sharp-Tail snakes

We would have a hard time even seeing such a wee snake in Tessa's room.  Besides, I've never seen a pink poop.  Thankfully.

I wish I had thought to photograph the snake in "turd" form on Tessa's rug.  A soft brown color topside, he was neatly curled around himself, unmoving.  I feared him dead, or badly injured.  Gently, I put a towel over him to pick him up (I hate getting pooped on by frightened snakes).  I was also hoping to discourage that lightning fleeing that snakes do.  I guess if he had wanted to make a break for it, the dishtowel would not have hindered him at all.  (But it works really well for the rodents the cats bring in).  

Anyway, the snake had evidently turned to stone and let me pick him up easily .  We took him outside into the sunlight.  Chigiy already knew that it was a Racer.  They have large, expressive eyes, and tend to like moody music and stormy days at the beach.  

The Racer has a few little dings from his encounter with the cat, but does not seem to be irreparably damaged.  We are keeping him for a few days for observation, and because he is so utterly beautiful.

Top side of Racer, whom we Cannot See because he cannot see us.  (Just play along).

The colors of the underside --gorgeous.

Large expressive eyes.  

Blue Tailed Skink

What can you say about a blue-tailed skink?

They're really pretty.

Here, look.

 

Aghhh, Vampire Moth!

This morning on his way down the stairs to the laundry room, Finn saw this amazing creature.

Given that it was almost entirely white, utterly beautiful, and perhaps even a little bit sparkly, AND that the creature's mouth was stained red, we can only assume that we have been set upon by the rare and greatly feared Vampire Moth.

I immediately checked everyone's neck, and tragically, found two tiny punctures and a trickle of blood on James' neck.  

Now it is only a matter of time before his metamorphosis.....

Sunny Days Snakes

We had a couple toasty days last week.  It was gorgeous -- 90 degrees.  So, of course, Chigiy and I were thinking about snakes.

It is the anniversary of her rattlesnake bite.  Chigiy had brought her camera along on our daily walk with the intention of photographing the siren patch of lupines that lured her last year.

As we were strolling and nattering away, I happened to glance down at the trail.  What I saw stopped me in my tracks.  I grabbed Chigiy's arm as I pointed, unable to speak.

There it was, basking beautifully in the sun all shiny and snakey.  It turned out to be a gopher snake, but at first glance, you really can't tell, which is pretty much the whole point of the gopher snake's appearance.

So we picked it up.  Or rather, Snake Girl did.  So that I could take pictures. And hold my dog back.

This was a young snake, probably not more than a year or two old.  The young ones tend to be very docile.  The older ones are more inclined to hiss (feigning the rattle of their doppleganger) and they will even pretend to strike like a rattlesnake.  Garter snakes, on the other hand, freak out and poop all over you the moment they are picked up; not that I blame them.  

But it's a nice treat to get to hold snakes and admire them up close, feel the way they move, watch their scales move as their groovy muscles ripple.  This little guy looked as if he'd just shed -- very glossy.  The photos don't do him justice.

But the upshot of all this is:  it's snake season in CA.  Step carefully out there!