Snake In The Snow

IT IS STILL SNOWING! I can't remember a May snowstorm, but we may just be going for it.

I am posting pictures of a snake I found this winter, while out on the trails. Here's the story---I was running on Mount Galbraith one Saturday morning, and this snake was sitting in the middle of the trail, on top of the snow, frozen like an Otter Pop. For real. It was a goner. The snake was like a brick or a stick--if I swung it against a tree, it would've shattered, or something. I don't know how reptiles handle this every year. I've never seen a cold blooded creature frozen. I picked it up--and I don't like snakes---but I had to see what would happen. I wrapped it around my wrist, and ran down the mountain, for roughly a half hour. I wanted to see what would happen. Sure enough, after a while, the snake started to warm up, and reanimate....wiggling a little, but sort of dopey, and not a threat to me. So, I took a few pictures of it back at the rig, and then threw it in the back of the pickup.

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I figured I'd let it loose in my backyard, but I ended up giving it to this waitress, who said her kids like snakes. Apparently they sell for $20 on the street. The snake was doing fine in captivity, I was told, a week later, but then---a few weeks later--the snake died, because the waitress fed the snake too many crickets at once, and the crickets attacked the snake, and tore it to shreds. I'm not sure I believe this---I think the kids might have been involved---but it is a pretty cool story. I've never heard of attack crickets.

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I've seen some other good critters this winter. I saw a porcupine out behind Lost Lake a few months ago. It was big and slow and had green quills. I've seen a few owls and a bunch of raptors. During the fall, I saw tons of salmon in Padden Creek--they get big. Last night when I was running, I heard a ton of loud bull frogs, off the Interurban. I'm pretty sure you can spotlight bullfrogs, and then throw them in bags. I spotlighted a deer on Sehome Hill a couple months ago. I am definitely going to try it on these frogs this summer.

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Last night's run was awesome. I love long Friday night runs, and taking some time off does wonders--I ran well. 3.5 hours. Started in Fairhaven, went up the Chuckanut Ridge in reverse, down Chinscraper, around Fragrance and out the backside, and then back to Fairhaven. The Ridge was completely clear of snow, but it is a touch slower in reverse. Caught the setting sun from the ridge, full moon on the flats. No one around, except the frogs.