When we first moved into this rental and had to battle cockroaches I was a little nervous about the bug issue and wondered if it was worth it to live right by the creek.
I am now officially disturbed by the creek. Earlier this afternoon, I looked outside just in time to catch a glimpse of a dog-like creature on the other side of our back fence. At first I was worried that the poor, lost dog outside needed help or water. It's hot. Luckily, I didn't bring Emory to go check on it- nor did I check on it at all. I realized it was not a dog. It looked a little fox like, but too big. It was a coyote. But it seemed to disappear into the woods.
Then, a few hours later, the dogs next door were barking like crazy. I thought I should check on the noise and see if the coyote had returned and low and behold there was a VERY long snake trying to go swimming in Emory's little pool. (See pic below). After a second of internet research I confirmed that it was a water moccasin. Grrrrreeeeaaaat. It was about 5 feet long and about 5 feet from the back door.
Okay, what to do? What to do? Bang on the door and tell Mr. Moccasin the creek is just 30 yard away. My banging seemed to only make him feel the need to hurry closer to the pool, and to stick his little tongue out at me.
What is it about the instinctive need to call my husband and get him to FIX IT despite the fact that he is 7 miles away and on the 20th floor of a building and busy?????? He advised me to get a shovel or pull the hose around the area where the snake was and spray it. Both sounded like BAD ideas. All things that included me sharing the backyard with a snake sounded like WRONG. So I threw everything within reach in short spurts while I quickly opened and shut the door and held the phone: a pink Minnie Mouse cup, two teething rings, a small, soft basketball, but I think it was the plastic piggy bank that did the trick. I don't know how the piggy survived. The snake moved along to our flower bed. Then I got really brave and stepped outside to throw a large plastic ball, hit the intended target (it took a big ball to do that) and the snake finally slithered under the fence....I think. I'm not going to check. Not getting a shovel. And probably not going in the backyard for a month. The coyote and the water moccasin can share it.
