View Full Version : Unexpected guests
Toybuilder
02-08-2015, 02:31 PM
We're enjoying a nice mild day here in the Denver Metro area and looking over what's been done for our new pool build. As we're looking around, this is what we saw. There were more than this one. Guess they've been hanging out under our back porch:
http://i1376.photobucket.com/albums/ah6/chieftoymaker/Excavation/P1010649_zps638f7a51.jpg (http://s1376.photobucket.com/user/chieftoymaker/media/Excavation/P1010649_zps638f7a51.jpg.html)
FormerBromineUser
02-08-2015, 03:41 PM
Yow! What kind of snake is that???!!! He looks hungry!
Toybuilder
02-08-2015, 03:52 PM
Yow! What kind of snake is that???!!! He looks hungry!
I believe it's a Bullsnake. Pretty small compared to one we saw when we moved in. Mommy? :D I counted at least 4 sunning themselves. Pretty warm day today.
Looks like a Garter Snake.
Toybuilder
02-08-2015, 09:24 PM
Looks like a Garter Snake.
Honestly, I don't know. Looking at Google and comparing the two, they look the same to me. I guess Bull and Gopher are the same species, but not so sure about Garter. I don't care as long as there are no fangs and aren't venomous. :)
FormerBromineUser
02-08-2015, 09:26 PM
Good to hear from you, Jim! This build is exciting although the snakes.... not!
The 3 stripes are typical of garter snakes. I took a quick look online at bull snakes and didn't see any with stripes. No matter, both are harmless. :)
Lol...I like snakes....use to keep snakes years ago.
I still visit this forum throughout the winter. ;)
Toybuilder
02-08-2015, 09:59 PM
I don't think this will be the only time I post here. We've had, not only Bullsnakes, but other various types of snakes running through our yard. So far, nothing with fangs. Along with those, we've had Mule deer, 2 huge bucks in particular, some does, skunks, and bunnies galore. Used to pluck the bunnies from the window wells almost every month. Cute but annoying.
FormerBromineUser
02-08-2015, 10:45 PM
Hey, Jim. Btw, where in VA are you? Big VA fan here!
Hey, Jim. Btw, where in VA are you? Big VA fan here!
Hampton Roads area.
FormerBromineUser
02-08-2015, 11:16 PM
So Norfolk area. My folks met at the officers club there. My son plays tennis against VA Wesleyan. He's in the Valley.
Toybuilder
04-12-2015, 04:19 PM
Looks like someone else is enjoying our sundeck...
http://i1376.photobucket.com/albums/ah6/chieftoymaker/Critters/P1020142_zpso5gqbmz0.jpg (http://s1376.photobucket.com/user/chieftoymaker/media/Critters/P1020142_zpso5gqbmz0.jpg.html)
He better watch out for your other reptile friends!
Toybuilder
04-12-2015, 04:25 PM
He better watch out for your other reptile friends!
There are some pretty hungry looking birds hanging around too. And this guy is fairly big so it'll be good meal for someone. :)
Now's your chance to test out your new grill! Mmmmm.....crunchy!
Toybuilder
04-12-2015, 04:30 PM
Now's your chance to test out your new grill! Mmmmm.....crunchy!
Sorry, no chocolate to go with that grasshopper. :D
SunnyOptimism
04-12-2015, 07:09 PM
I'll play -
http://i1166.photobucket.com/albums/q618/SunnyOptimism/E021BE04-B7BB-4603-8512-1B8B1AF1126F_zps9kyc3emg.jpg (http://s1166.photobucket.com/user/SunnyOptimism/media/E021BE04-B7BB-4603-8512-1B8B1AF1126F_zps9kyc3emg.jpg.html)
Sadly my little fuzzy friend did not know how to swim and ignored the first rule of pool safety - never swim alone! He was probably chasing after dinner and forgot to wait 30min after eating to swim :)
Yikes!!!
Better warn Watermom to avoid this thread!
SunnyOptimism
04-12-2015, 08:03 PM
Only an 1-1/2" from mandible to abdomen, so it's a juvenile. Adults are about twice that size. I had a 9" long dead millipede at the bottom of the pool last season. Those are way creepier in my opinion S-)
Toybuilder
04-12-2015, 08:09 PM
Nice! We had one of those on our front door a couple of years ago. Unfortunately, it came to the same demise as the kids wouldn't step outside. :(
If we had those here I'd never stick my hand in the skimmer! Worst we get are wolf spiders.....with babies covering their backs.
Funny story....I was in the pool and saw a wolf spider walking on the water. I thought I'll smack it real hard to stunn it and throw it out. As soon as I did hundreds of babies scattered everywhere, including in me! Picture a 50+ year old man screaming like a little girl thrashing around in the pool! :eek: :D
SunnyOptimism
04-12-2015, 08:15 PM
Yeah, I admit I let out out a little girly scream when I pulled up the skimmer. I once had one walk through my front door but luckily had a cardboard box nearby to trap it. I don't like squishing them because it makes a nasty mess. Plus, they're quite harmless, slow and stupid. There are more predators around here that eat them than they eat. Scorpions are much more of pain, literally and figuratively.
Tarantulas, huge centipedes, scorpions.......sounds like a lovely place. :D
Toybuilder
04-12-2015, 08:35 PM
If we had those here I'd never stick my hand in the skimmer! Worst we get are wolf spiders.....with babies covering their backs.
Funny story....I was in the pool and saw a wolf spider walking on the water. I thought I'll smack it real hard to stunn it and throw it out. As soon as I did hundreds of babies scattered everywhere, including in me! Picture a 50+ year old man screaming like a little girl thrashing around in the pool! :eek: :D
LMAO...stop it....stop it!!! :D
SunnyOptimism
04-12-2015, 08:35 PM
Tarantulas, huge centipedes, scorpions.......sounds like a lovely place. :D
You forgot about the rattlesnakes, coyotes and Javelinas :) Though they are less likely to end up in your pool as long as you have a good wall and pool fencing.
FormerBromineUser
04-12-2015, 11:56 PM
Yuck, guys! Now you've got me nervous about opening up my pool.....
kelemvor
04-16-2015, 09:53 PM
I get big black snakes out by my pool. I'm not super comfortable with them but I don't kill 'em because they eat rodents and bugs. I'd rather have snakes than rodents and bugs.
FormerBromineUser
04-16-2015, 11:12 PM
Yikes, kel... Do they bite?
SunnyOptimism
04-17-2015, 10:48 PM
Yikes, kel... Do they bite?
Around my parts, the big black snakes are the good ones - King snakes! They are constrictors and they prey on rattlesnakes and vermin or all kind. Had one around the yard a year or so back but he left and now I'm stuck with having to trap ground squirrels and "dispose" of rattlesnakes (technically you're not allowed to kill a rattlesnake) . Would love for another King snake to move in and help me out.
Toybuilder
04-17-2015, 11:15 PM
Around my parts, the big black snakes are the good ones - King snakes! They are constrictors and they prey on rattlesnakes and vermin or all kind. Had one around the yard a year or so back but he left and now I'm stuck with having to trap ground squirrels and "dispose" of rattlesnakes (technically you're not allowed to kill a rattlesnake) . Would love for another King snake to move in and help me out.
The black snakes here a called Black Racers and are non-poisonous. I've only see one...partially. They move really quickly. We do have rattlers here, but I'm hoping they stay away from our "pond". Besides the Bull Snakes, our usual company includes bunnies (lots), squirrels, deer and skunks. I love them better than scorpions, centipedes, tarantulas, and coyotes...although we do have coyotes here too.
SunnyOptimism
04-18-2015, 11:13 AM
The black snakes here a called Black Racers and are non-poisonous. I've only see one...partially. They move really quickly. We do have rattlers here, but I'm hoping they stay away from our "pond". Besides the Bull Snakes, our usual company includes bunnies (lots), squirrels, deer and skunks. I love them better than scorpions, centipedes, tarantulas, and coyotes...although we do have coyotes here too.
Black racers are common here too and they are FAST! Luckily most of my "useful" property is surrounded by a 4'-6' block wall so it keeps most of the critters out. Except for the lizards, we have lots of fat, happy lizards....surprisingly I've never had one drown in the pool (says guy furiously knocking on wood desk.....)
I love these critter-type posts, you get to learn so much about other people's environments.
Toybuilder
04-18-2015, 08:49 PM
Black racers are common here too and they are FAST! Luckily most of my "useful" property is surrounded by a 4'-6' block wall so it keeps most of the critters out. Except for the lizards, we have lots of fat, happy lizards....surprisingly I've never had one drown in the pool (says guy furiously knocking on wood desk.....)
I love these critter-type posts, you get to learn so much about other people's environments.
I saw something this morning that I haven't seen around here before, a raccoon. This was a big one too. Thought it was a coyote at first.
Our house in Ca. had a 6' cinder block wall all the way around the back. I think I'm going to miss it. I like the wood we have now, but it doesn't keep very may of those critters out.
FormerBromineUser
04-18-2015, 09:28 PM
We are pretty tame here compared to you guys. We are about 36 miles west of Chicago (a long swathe of suburbs inbetween). We have simple critters for the most part. Chipmunks, rabbits, deer, opposum, box elder bugs, red fox, (although they are declining due to the) COYOTES! In suburbia, the coyotes are quite brazen. They took one of my dogs.... My other dog was there at the time and she still freaks out when she hears them howling after a kill. My hubby got a FOID card after that one. Like Sunny, he wants to "dispose" of them... but not much progress on that.