Thank you for identifying a snake I've found in my yard! They do disappear in a flash, into the surrounding vegetation. I've disturbed them twice now....
Funny thing is, just yesterday morning over coffee I told my husband I didn't like the way so many birds are named after humans. Why not something that describes the bird or its habitat? And then THIS morning that article showed up. Wow. I felt like the universe had heard me, though I suspect it's more like I heard the universe. I hadn't thought about how birds have often been named for racists. But what a good place to start. As in, racism has been getting a pass for a long time because, well, they didn't understand what we do now. But really, enough of that. We are just done with it. Just done! I think it's going to be a great project renaming the birds to honor themselves. I'm beyond delighted.
Diane, I am again struck by your ability to verbalize your deep connection to nature. You certainly speak for me as well. Here is a fine example, "I was pleased that my garden supports the larger family that shares our earth. Glad that a DeKay’s Brownsnake found refuge here, and for a moment our life journeys merged." Beautiful. ❤️
This is so wonderful! Here in Maine we also have a teeny-cute garden-pest-eater, the Red-bellied snake, that we often mistake for an earthworm at first - especially with that pink little belly! We’re always so delighted to get the chance to see them :) My mom was afraid of snakes and my dad wasn’t - our family of five all like snakes, and with no poisonous ones here, we are only wary of the smell 😂 We gave them lots of space in TX, though!
I've never seen the Red-bellied Brownsnake, but it's in the same genus and must look much the same. It's not in my county (Jefferson) but is found a few miles east and a few miles west of us. Maybe someday. It appears much brighter colored. Thanks for your report!
I've always liked snakes especially the fast big black snakes of North Carolina. Mother was deathly afraid of them though Papa ernestly explained that they were harmless to us and ate many garden pests. I learned to respect rattlesnakes in New Mexico especially camping with other girl scouts in the desert.
I think I've seen a brown snake but not identified it. Now I'll be on the lookout for one in my garden. Your good clear description will make it easy. Thanks Diane! FASCINATING!
Thanks Gloria. I'm fascinated by that reaction your mother had, and which many but not all people share. It is not a pose, but a spontaneous, overwhelming reaction. I've always wondered whether it is culturally learned. Or is it instinctive, perhaps inherited from a particular lineage? I once had a kitten who was fearless until I laid a black leather belt on the floor and turned one end, causing the whole belt to turn over in a long spiral. The kitten almost flew backwards away from the belt. Seemed like an innate caution about snakes, but I'm only speculating.
Thank you for the ID on this little fellow! I have seen baby ones in our backyard, twice over the last 15 years. I bend down to say I and they rise up towards me. So cute!
That is so charming, Kathy. I am glad you have such a keen sense of beauty and appreciation for nature. Thank you for reading, and double thank you for commenting.
Very fun! These remind me of our Northern Red-bellied snakes...have never found one thicker than a pencil or longer than a 12" ruler. Had one in early October that was a juvenile and could curl up as small as my wedding ring! Bright red/orange belly very beautiful - wish snakes could catch a break with other folks.
Yes, it's always seemed strange that so many have an intense horror of snakes, regardless of any particular species' proclivities and venom status. I'm glad you like them. I hope to see a Red-bellied Snake someday. Same genus, Storeria. Thanks for your nice comment!
Oh I’ve never seen a baby! Of course they would as small as an earthworm (soft headslap moment!), so now I’ll be looking at each earthworm in a more curious and hopeful way. Thank you for sharing your snakes with us.
I'll have to look this snake up. When I first saw them in Ohio years ago, I was told it was a brown ground snake, but that may be the Ohio common name for the same snake? I found a tiny snake this summer that fit the description of the baby Dekay snake. I'll dig out that photo and see if I too have them in my yard! Thank you so much for the post and probably the ID of the tiny snake!
What a treat to see the photos of this little snake. When I was in college in the 1960s, a biology TA gave me a DeKay to take home to my young kids. They named her Alice and kept her in a terrarium in the dining room. One memorable morning, they watched with delight as she birthed a bundle of babies. Thank you, Diane. I hadn't thought of Alice in years!
So glad I found your writing on here. Looking forward to reading through your essays.
Thanks so much Robert. I'm always pleased to find other people who appreciate snakes. And thanks for commenting!
Thank you for identifying a snake I've found in my yard! They do disappear in a flash, into the surrounding vegetation. I've disturbed them twice now....
It always makes me happy to see people admiring snakes. Thanks for commenting.
https://www.npr.org/2023/11/01/1209660753/these-american-birds-and-dozens-more-will-be-renamed-to-remove-human-monikers I thought of you at once when I saw this. 🙂
Funny thing is, just yesterday morning over coffee I told my husband I didn't like the way so many birds are named after humans. Why not something that describes the bird or its habitat? And then THIS morning that article showed up. Wow. I felt like the universe had heard me, though I suspect it's more like I heard the universe. I hadn't thought about how birds have often been named for racists. But what a good place to start. As in, racism has been getting a pass for a long time because, well, they didn't understand what we do now. But really, enough of that. We are just done with it. Just done! I think it's going to be a great project renaming the birds to honor themselves. I'm beyond delighted.
Diane, I am again struck by your ability to verbalize your deep connection to nature. You certainly speak for me as well. Here is a fine example, "I was pleased that my garden supports the larger family that shares our earth. Glad that a DeKay’s Brownsnake found refuge here, and for a moment our life journeys merged." Beautiful. ❤️
Thank you Katy. You made me smile.
This is so wonderful! Here in Maine we also have a teeny-cute garden-pest-eater, the Red-bellied snake, that we often mistake for an earthworm at first - especially with that pink little belly! We’re always so delighted to get the chance to see them :) My mom was afraid of snakes and my dad wasn’t - our family of five all like snakes, and with no poisonous ones here, we are only wary of the smell 😂 We gave them lots of space in TX, though!
I've never seen the Red-bellied Brownsnake, but it's in the same genus and must look much the same. It's not in my county (Jefferson) but is found a few miles east and a few miles west of us. Maybe someday. It appears much brighter colored. Thanks for your report!
Sweet.
I've always liked snakes especially the fast big black snakes of North Carolina. Mother was deathly afraid of them though Papa ernestly explained that they were harmless to us and ate many garden pests. I learned to respect rattlesnakes in New Mexico especially camping with other girl scouts in the desert.
I think I've seen a brown snake but not identified it. Now I'll be on the lookout for one in my garden. Your good clear description will make it easy. Thanks Diane! FASCINATING!
Thanks Gloria. I'm fascinated by that reaction your mother had, and which many but not all people share. It is not a pose, but a spontaneous, overwhelming reaction. I've always wondered whether it is culturally learned. Or is it instinctive, perhaps inherited from a particular lineage? I once had a kitten who was fearless until I laid a black leather belt on the floor and turned one end, causing the whole belt to turn over in a long spiral. The kitten almost flew backwards away from the belt. Seemed like an innate caution about snakes, but I'm only speculating.
Thank you for the ID on this little fellow! I have seen baby ones in our backyard, twice over the last 15 years. I bend down to say I and they rise up towards me. So cute!
Kathy T
That is so charming, Kathy. I am glad you have such a keen sense of beauty and appreciation for nature. Thank you for reading, and double thank you for commenting.
Very fun! These remind me of our Northern Red-bellied snakes...have never found one thicker than a pencil or longer than a 12" ruler. Had one in early October that was a juvenile and could curl up as small as my wedding ring! Bright red/orange belly very beautiful - wish snakes could catch a break with other folks.
Yes, it's always seemed strange that so many have an intense horror of snakes, regardless of any particular species' proclivities and venom status. I'm glad you like them. I hope to see a Red-bellied Snake someday. Same genus, Storeria. Thanks for your nice comment!
Excellent photos and quite informative --I see these sometimes here in Van Buren also.
Thank you Lora. I find these tiny snakes irresisible.
Oh I’ve never seen a baby! Of course they would as small as an earthworm (soft headslap moment!), so now I’ll be looking at each earthworm in a more curious and hopeful way. Thank you for sharing your snakes with us.
I love it when people love snakes. Thanks for sharing my enthusiam.
I like snakes. And I like to photograph them. My Mom would catch snakes and let us handle them. So I am use to being around them.
What a swell mom!
I'll have to look this snake up. When I first saw them in Ohio years ago, I was told it was a brown ground snake, but that may be the Ohio common name for the same snake? I found a tiny snake this summer that fit the description of the baby Dekay snake. I'll dig out that photo and see if I too have them in my yard! Thank you so much for the post and probably the ID of the tiny snake!
There are other brownsnakes, which are much larger. We catch this one in southeast Iowa.
Marvelous how you discover all the wonders of nature in your backyard. Must be a heck of a backyard. Thanks Diane
Thanks for your nice comment, Paul. I appreciate it.
If I was a snake I would love to live in your yard.
Me too. Oh, wait, I do!
What a treat to see the photos of this little snake. When I was in college in the 1960s, a biology TA gave me a DeKay to take home to my young kids. They named her Alice and kept her in a terrarium in the dining room. One memorable morning, they watched with delight as she birthed a bundle of babies. Thank you, Diane. I hadn't thought of Alice in years!
I would've like to see those newborn babies!