First Find of the Season

[MelissaFlipski]

Score! My husband found this guy right outside our front door basking in the sun yesterday. Apparently, he has a hole down along our bricks by the front entrance.

We really took our time and held him quite awhile and took pictures and video. It was partly sunny and about 55 degrees with a breeze. He was so docile once in our hands - but had tried to bite Francois when he first went to pick him, but ending up biting himself, poor guy. I brought him inside just for a minute and he started to go nuts trying to escape. B/c of his strong musk smell, my kids made me take him back outside!

In the first picture, you can see his ventral scales - they are all gray once you get about 1' down his body. Also, it's not too clear in this shot, but he has an infected injury on the left side of his neck. Any suggestions if we see him again? I considered taking him to the vet, but boy did he stink! When I think about it, I feel like I can still smell him.


Here he is with Francois again. You can see approx. how long he is. Maybe a few inches shy of 5'.


This last picture shows him up close.

What a gorgeous pair of eyes! And I had the pleasure of seeing them swivel just a little bit.

[LadyOhh]

Cool eyes!!

Cute critter... What is he? Black Rat?

[MelissaFlipski]

Cool eyes!!

Cute critter... What is he? Black Rat?

Ooops. In all my excitement, I forgot to mention that. Yes, black rat snake.