As you may remember, we experienced a flood of major proportions this spring. Part of our recovery process is clearing and burning debris piles in preparation for the summer fire season.
Here’s pile #2:
While working on this burn pile, I heard my dog, Jessie, start barking. She’s a Blue Healer. She barks at anything that moves–especially cars that she doesn’t recognize, but I could tell from her location on the mowed path between me and my house she wasn’t barking at a car. In fact, only one thing upsets her more than a strange car–a snake.
Since I already had my McLeod wilderness fire tool in hand (blade and rake combo works great to eradicate thistles), I hurried to lend a hand.
Sure enough. Big, angry snake, tail rattling in that very distinct, chilling sound. Twelve buttons. Coiled, but with its focus on the dog, it was no match for the McLeod.
I chopped off its head and carried it back to the fire. When I shared this photo with my son and daughter (their children walk this path every day), my son texted back: “You are one badass country mom.”
I HATE killing snakes, and I’m sure the flood and fire has many critters confused about where they belong, but we can’t take any chances with small children around. We did make a video of the snake’s body moving in the grass for my three-year old granddaughter to see. “This is what a rattlesnake looks like. This is the sound the rattles on its tail make. If you see or hear one, run away as fast as you can.”
Hopefully this is the last one we see this summer…oh, wait, it’s only April…well, I think I’ll keep my McLeod handy, just in case.
Do you have dangerous creatures where you live? Have you ever had to kill one?
Deb
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PS: In case you don’t get my newsletter, my READ4LESS mailing just went out and I have a special Mother’s Day bargain book that hasn’t been on sale before. BLACK HILLS WHITE KNIGHT is just 99¢ until May 15.
