Got the heck scared out of me today.

[Rams]

While I haven't made a point to shout it out to let the world know, some may know that I've recently moved to Tennessee from Mississippi.  

Well, the home we purchased is on small acreage and the back of our lot is forested, I don't mean just trees, I'm talking vegetation so thick you can't even see through it.  That vegetation goes across the complete back of our property.   Has several very nice large trees but, between the huge vines, the bamboo and the poison ivy and other plants with all kinds of unfriendly thorns and such, I hired a guy with a skid steer mulcher, he did a fine job of reducing the vast majority of that forest to mulch.

So, I get on my Kubota tractor and start blading all that mulch (about 6 inches thick) into a couple of very big piles so I can burn it.   Everything up to this point is going well at the end of day 1.

Day 2, my son comes over to help me with some trees and vines the mulcher guy just couldn't get to so with my son using my chainsaw and me on my Kubota, we made some real progress.   Things were looking up.   Two new (very large) piles of mulch and trees to burn.    

So now I'm off the tractor and talking to my wife, son and grandson under one of the trees we left standing and all of a sudden I felt something land on my shoulder.  I figured it was a small limb.

Nope, it was a Tennessee Green snake about 30 inches long.   Not gonna lie about it, I almost wet my pants.   Apparently, it was as scared of me as I was of it since it immediately went to the ground and slithered into the new pile of mulch we had just created.

I'm not necessarily scared of snakes but, I do respect them one hell of a lot.   I don't go looking to hurt them and I sure as hell don't want them hurting me.    

Anyway, that was my excitement for the day.  It was most assuredly enough.

Rams  

[carolinarider09]

A fun day.

70% of our 8 acres is wooded with a creek on the very back of the property.  I walk Zoe, our dog, each morning.  She finds all kinds of things.  

She found this snake a few weeks ago.  She does not chase them but... It over three feet long I suspect.



And we have deer on the property (and the property on the north end and the west side, mostly wooded).   A month ago Zoe chased a young fawn and the fawn got trapped in so things on the ground.   She stopped and got her on the leash before she could "inspect" the fawn up close.  But here is a picture of the fawn that was "trapped".



I went back, with Zoe on the leash, a few hours later and the fawn was gone.  I figured it was ok. But..

[bill-jr]

Used to be some great bbq and
Such across from the harbor freight there in covington. Not sure if hes still there ..

[Rams]

Used to be some great bbq and
Such across from the harbor freight there in covington. Not sure if hes still there ..

Well,  next time I go that direction I will try to remember to take a look.

Rams

[Rams]

The spousal unit (wife) and I were outside monitoring the fire I had going on one of the piles of mulch and trees when I looked down and there was a black snake about a foot in length just about three feet from the S.O's feet.

Not wanting to alarm her, I pulled her gently over toward me.  This not being my normal behavior she looked at me and then looked to see what I was looking at.

There's not much in the world that lady is scared of (to include me) but, when she saw that snake, I thought she was going to crawl up on my shoulders to get away.   LMAO!!!  

Rams  

[old2soon]

    Well I Know encounters with nature can happen and depending on What you encounter can be exhilarating or scary as chit! I've run up on mama bears with cubs a couple times and mama will tell you That is far ENOUGH human! Snakes were in FACT on the land and Humans encroached on Their Territory. Humans in most instances Are the interlopers. Ron at least yer encounter wasn't a you tube video of stupid animal encounters!    RIDE SAFE.

[Serk]

The local ren faire has a sign in one copse of trees "Beware of falling snakes".

Many patrons think it's just a haha to add to the atmosphere.

Us regulars know it's not...

Texas Rat Snakes get BIG. Like to climb trees. And sometimes fall out of said trees. On to some unsuspecting patron's shoulders.

And yeah, it's generally a tie as to who's scared more, the snake or the patron. Knowing they're harmless it's good for a laugh, but only because we know they're harmless...

[sandy]

Just an FYI.

https://www.tn.gov/twra/wildlife/reptiles/snakes/rough-greensnake.html

[DIGGER]

They will make you hurt yourself trying to get away....

[Rams]

Just an FYI.

https://www.tn.gov/twra/wildlife/reptiles/snakes/rough-greensnake.html

Yep, that's the critter.............. 

Although not a consumer of spirits (the drinkable kind) I did ask my wife if we had any bourbon in the house that night. 

Rams

[Willow]

Ron, what were you doing with heck in you?   

[Rams]

Ron, what were you doing with heck in you?   

Carl,
I truly believe we've all got a little bit of "heck" in us.   Some more than others................. 

Rams   

[LadyDraco]

I have  been dealing with a  mini drought and  one  of  my 6' black snakes  was laying in a  small puddle  of  water.. Getting itself  a  drink..
She   moved  off and  headed to the  Cherry tree . They can climb well also..

[Rams]

I have  been dealing with a  mini drought and  one  of  my 6' black snakes  was laying in a  small puddle  of  water.. Getting itself  a  drink..
She   moved  off and  headed to the  Cherry tree . They can climb well also..

I don't mind most snakes but, I'm not big into surprises. 

Rams 

[LadyDraco]

Like  when you are  berry picking and  your  deep in the  Blackberry  bush and  ya  look up and  focus ;
And  your face  is 12" from a  7' Black snake ! LOL   
Yuppers  it can be  a  startling moment..
Because  for  a  split second , You say to yourself ; That is  Just a  black snake  ; RIGHT ! 
And  do NOT want to make a  sudden move!

[LadyDraco]

This  is  crazy I  just had  an encounter  with our resident 8.5' Black snake !
I  had  to run and  close  the  shop door !  Thos  fella  has  been around the  house  for  15yrs !
   Very sorry no camera  handy, The  UPS  driver  was  like  Holy crap that is  a HUGE snake !
Once  the  snake  realized  what I was doing he  calmed down and  let me  carry him to the  woods !
He  did  every defense  ever to the  point of   making a   tail noise  like  a  rattler, Yes  he  has  NO rattles..

[Rams]

This  is  crazy I  just had  an encounter  with our resident 8.5' Black snake !
I  had  to run and  close  the  shop door !  Thos  fella  has  been around the  house  for  15yrs !
   Very sorry no camera  handy, The  UPS  driver  was  like  Holy crap that is  a HUGE snake !
Once  the  snake  realized  what I was doing he  calmed down and  let me  carry him to the  woods !
He  did  every defense  ever to the  point of   making a   tail noise  like  a  rattler, Yes  he  has  NO rattles..

The UPS driver and I would have both been climbing into his delivery vehicle...................   

Rams

[LadyDraco]

This  is  one  beautiful specimen ... I  sure  wish I  could  have  gotten a  pic..
But I was busy ! I had  to relocate  it ..