Snakes

I'm blaming the rain for this one!!!
The kids got the wonderful idea the other day to go check the pond since it was finally full after 3 years! That was the beginning! They brought back various critters, and of course set up the aquariums for viewing! Then, naturally, they needed something to eat, and then water. That wasn't good enough, and they needed dirt, and bedding. That's all easily caught or gathered outside. No problem; so out they go again! This time they came back with snakes! I have always said no to snakes! David said they were fine, but had to stay outside. The next I hear, they've set up an entire snake/insect/lizard vivarium!!! Complete with lights, and heat-for proper digestion of course!!! So now, I'm being asked to look up what wonderful creatures they discovered...and what I am supposed to be BUYING them to eat!!! Buying???? They are snakes, they find their own food!
Turns out, Hannah has caught 4 very pretty Checkered Garder Snakes. I must admit, they are very pretty, if not somewhat creepy to watch. They eat mice, of course! We have plenty of those, being that we are surrounded by corn fields! But with hard work, we have ridded the house of most- Now we have to buy these creatures??? So, while out and about we buy 3 mice. One male, and 2 pregnant females. 3 bucks, not bad! So our thought is, since no one in Lockhart sells pinkies, we'll just produce our own. Well, over night, Hannah's cat Jazzy, found her way to them, and ATE the very prego female! So, now we have to find a bucket with a "snapping" lid, so the cat can't get to them! Hopefully, we are on our way to responsible snake ownership! Hannah's friend has a snake, so how bad could it be???
Along those lines...While out looking for the critters, they came across a large rattler! Western Diamond Back to be correct- So, being the smart (?) kids we've taught them to be, they covered him back up with the tin, and left him alone, only until David Robert drives up and they run to him and tell him of their find! So off go Hannah and David Robert to the last know sighting of the deadly rattler! Gun raised, David lifts the tin, and blasts the head of the snake almost completely off! Mission completed, they bring the snake up to the yard, for Hannah to try skinning for the first time! She's a bit jumpy at the still slithering DEAD snake! She manages to clamp him to a long board, and starts cutting down the center of the belly, all the while the snake still tightens as she "tickles" his belly!! So now, she's got him open end to end and she notices the heart still pulsing away! A full 30 minutes after the snake is completely cut open, his heart continues to beat! She even lifts the heart out of the body cavity and it is still beating!!! AMAZING!!!
She managed to finish cleaning the snake out, and throws the meat and all to the dogs. She tacked the skin out flat, and salted it in preperation for preserving it!
It was interesting to watch the different animals who walked up to the porch, and caught a smell of the snake, and crouch down, on full alarm! Even the Sheldon (the pig) knew enough to not mess with this enemy!
We'll see how this goes. LOTS of people have snakes for pets-how bad can they be????