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Micrurus tener

It finally happened this weekend. I was mowing my backyard when I saw some movement out of the corner of my eye. I knew right away it was a snake. I have had several encounters with the MANY ribbon snakes living in my backyard. I even found the skin of one who is rather large. But this time I came face to face with my first coral snake. There was no mistaking the markings - red on yellow kill a fellow! This was no red on black venom lack or friend of Jack or however you learned it. This was a real dangerous snake.

Now I have encountered dangerous snakes in the wild before -- rattlesnakes, copperheads, even a cottonmouth or two - so I am no snake newbie. But did you know that the Texas Coral Snake has the second most deadly venom of all North American snakes, right behind a very nasty rattlesnake? It just so happened that I knew this, and that little tidbit of info flooded my mind as I watched the killer slide along the ground.

He was about a yard long, maybe less, and was particularly dangerous-looking. He had gansta tattoos that said "Pas-tuh Kill-uh" and "Judas Priest." Just kidding, it said "Stryper" (get it? Stryper? for the stripes? Oh, shut up.) After calling me mean names and spitting at me he got away right before I could deliver the death blow!

Not really. Actually I was so fascinated by him that I just watched as he slithered slowly under the fence and safely into the neighbor's backyard. So, we're on snake watch at the Jones house now. Let's all be careful out there.

Comments

Anonymous said…
The Scott's have been on snake watch all summer with this dry weather. Last night, Drew found a coral snake slithering across our driveway. Eric wasn't home, so of course she came to get me....like I'm going to kill a snake. No, we all retired inside for the evening! Our kids are required to wear tennis shoes or boots any time they go outside. Welcome to the snake watch.....Angela
September 28, 2009 at 3:23 PM
Anonymous said…
Isn't it interesting that the reaction to such a deadly foe is fascination. How very much like our fascination with sin.--Kim
September 28, 2009 at 4:27 PM
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