Nancy’s Kitchen

This morning, I noticed Spring, our cat, playing with something in the yard. She was lounging in the grass, and occasionally put her paw out to pat something. I saw the something move, but thought maybe it was just a twig.

Moving closer, I saw that the “twig” was actually a small green snake about the size of my little finger and close to 24″ long! The little snake had reared its head and with mouth open ferociously, it was hissing at the big, bad cat!! With a smile and some calm, mommy-like words, I gently picked up the snake. Yes, it bit me… I didn’t catch it close enough to its head, but remembering the lizards we caught in Kansas years ago, I just pressed my finger farther into its mouth which loosened its grip. You see, you don’t want to just pull your hand away, because snakes and lizards have teeth that angle inward toward the throat (keeps the prey from getting away). I loosened the snakes grip a little with my fingernail, and held the snake gently and closely to its head. I put my hand under its trailing body and it gently wrapped around my arm.

Then I took the little green snake and released it behind the garage into the low-lying deep-green ivy. The little snake slithered away “happily”, and “relieved” to have made its escape!

I sure wish I had had my camera!