Atomic Nerds

Yes, we’re busy- Kang is off to show again.

We did get a nice visit last night, though. Back around in June we had to rescue a baby bull snake from Kang, who dislikes snakes and always lets us know about them at volume. He was an awfully cute little fellow, trying as hard as he was to convince us he was a mean, dangerous rattlesnake by puffing himself up (this achieved the same rough result as DJ Qualls flexing menacingly) and vibrating the end of its tail until it blurred. Unfortunately for him, since he had no dry grass to “rattle” against, all this accomplished was getting us to loom over him going “D’AWWWWWWWW SUCH A CUTIE” longer. We chased him out of the back yard (away from Kang) and wished him luck; we enjoy seeing bull snakes about the place, as they eat rodents and compete with rattlers for territory. A very beneficial species. Here’s his portrait from June, which you can click for big:

Well, he’s still around. Kang found him in the ash cleanout on the fireplace last night, and we once more oohed and ahh’d a little bit before gently chasing him off. He’s gained a few inches and a satisfyingly large lump in his midsection that we take to have been something we’d not have wanted in residence. We feel downright proprietary; our little boy is growing up! If we’d had a spare terrarium around the temptation to make a pet of him might have been too great, but he’s doing more good where he is- haven’t seen any mice at all around since last winter. We’ll just maintain our caution on the residential roads, which is the main threat to a long adulthood for him along with Kang and raptors.

Posted Wildlife Interface |