Taken by husband out back of the property this morning

[hippywife]

after a night of thunderstorms. Largest garter snake I've ever seen. It was at least 4 feet long tip to tail.

Still half way underground:




Sailing across the top of the tall grass:

[NV Whino]

1. What a beauty!

That is a loooong snake.

[hippywife]

3. No kidding!

I wonder how long one of those has to live to get that size. I've only ever seen the little ones before.

:hi:

[HarveyDarkey]

2. What a lovely specimen

and some great shots too.

[hippywife]

4. Thanx, Harvey.

He is much better than I am. :hi:

[Elfin Yeti]

5. Amazing!

I love the one of it sailing across the grass! Your husband is handy with the camera! Well done!

[hippywife]

6. Thanx, Patti.

He really is a much better photographer, but then it used to be his hobby when he was younger.

It really is amazing how that snake can suspend it's weight on that grass and barely bend it. It really is a pretty creature.

:hi:

[Blue_In_AK]

7. Nice photos, but

I HATE snakes. Another one of the perks of living in Alaska -- no friggin' reptiles! :evilgrin:

[hippywife]

8. Most of the ones we have encountered here

are harmless unless you are a mouse or rat. There are two king snakes living in the garden and hen house. They won't harm the chickens but may take an egg or two. I don't mind as they keep the rodent population in check for us.

We have run into a pygmy rattler or two, luckily before we stepped on them or something. :scared:

:hi:

[Blue_In_AK]

9. Oh, I know most of them are harmless,

and I grew up around snakes - garter snakes and so on in Ohio when I was little and rattlers in Colorado - but it's just nice not to have to watch where you're stepping here. Our dangerous critters are all big enough that you know they're there.

We lived in Colorado Springs when I was 8-15, and I used to walk around all over those rocky bluffs on the north side of town (they're probably IN town by now) and sometimes we'd get rattlesnakes in our school playground. Of course, I was fearless when I was a kid, so I never thought about the possibilities much, but now that I'm an adult, rattlesnakes really creep me out.

[hippywife]

10. Yeah, it really worries me

that one day one of us might get bitten by a rattler and we have quite the drive to a hospital. :scared:

Where did you live in Ohio? I grew up in Columbus and lived there most of my life. (My apologies if we've already covered this topic. I have trouble remembering sometimes.)

[Blue_In_AK]

11. I was born in Wilmington

and lived on a small farm out there between Wilmington and Xenia. I used to be related to just about everyone in Clinton County, but I'm sure everyone has scattered to the winds by now. We lived in Dayton for a short time, also, before we moved to Colorado in 1955.

[alfredo]

12. That's a black snake. It's a constrictor. They come in various shades and

sizes. We used to call them Black Racers. they are beneficial snakes and not dangerous.

[handmade34]

13. I love snakes and don't see them enough

nice pictures.