The Wildlife is in My Backyard!

“A snake! In the yard! Get. It. Out!!!!”  

I have heard this scream from my neighbor’s house on more than one occasion and no matter how many times I tell her that this black and white ringed snake is a harmless California King snake, I still get the screams.  

I even tried telling residents of our street that this snake is a GOOD snake; he will even eat rattle snakes (which I personally fear). Still, the screams to get the snake and make him stay away echo against the hill. How should I tell this snake he is not welcome, with what, a “No Snakey” sign? And really, does that mean no alligator lizards or other garden snakes? What about salamanders and garden spiders? Those all can be scary looking, but necessary for our environment and part of living against open space.

Don’t get me wrong ... I do not handle snakes or lizards or even salamanders, although I did actually cuddle a HUGE iguana in Cancun this year.  I do not pick these creatures up with my bare hands or pet them, and I would prefer it if Snakey were to stay on the OTHER side of the deer fence that designates our property from open space.

One thing I’ve learned, wild life do not care about fences, signs, or rules. This snake, rescued from the screaming neighbor, with a shovel handle to curl upon for a snakey ride to my yard, decided an hour later to head back out, in long (5 feet at least) wiggly snakey fashion, back into my neighbor’s yard. I suspect the neighbor’s colony of gophers could be the attraction. Or perhaps he just enjoys a good scream.

I love our back yard view and often sit with a cup of coffee on my patio to watch the scrub jays and turkeys bleat and gobble. The hawks and peregrine falcon love to ride the wind tide above my house and across the hills, giving their long screech that announces they are on the hunt again.

Our back hill is not maintained with any fancy shrubs or plants, as a matter of fact, it looks like a weedy mess, but that is how the deer love it. I hear them munching their snack along the fence line, grazing on the long tendrils of things growing in the shade. It is also where the coyotes like to take their dinner to dine.

This, I prefer NOT to see, and neither does my vegetarian, animal lover daughter. However, Mr. Coyote was here first, that’s his place and hey, he probably thinks the shade of our oak tree is perfect for a picnic.

Our cat, also Ms. Not-Follow-the-Rules, occasionally escapes the house to roam the hillside, much to my chagrin, since at least every few months another cat is lost on our street. I suspect that Mr. Coyote also enjoys feline, as well as gopher, and deer. I tell the cat owners of my street to keep their cats inside, even during the day.

I have found bones of all sorts near our fence line, as well as several cat collars. I’m saddened by this, as my cat is my friend and family member, however, how is the coyote to know, this cat is a pet, but that furry thing over there is yours to eat.

The best thing a dweller against open space territory can do to promote peace between nature and the domestic beast/human is to snake proof your yard by removing low lying bushes and ivy. Rodents like roof rats and voles love to move into cozy ivy or bushes and start their families, thus encouraging Mr. Snakey to look for his dinner in your yard.

Mr. Coyote also feels welcomed by things like dishes of cat or dog food and water dishes. He thinks that’s an awesome meal, like restaurant take out, and believe me, he will tell all of his coyote friends about the free dinner and before you know it, you have a Coyote Community Center in your back yard.

I hate to hear about a beloved pet that has gone missing and I completely understand the fear that rushes through you when you see a HUGE snake wiggle across the yard.  I almost stepped on Snakey with my bare feet one afternoon and I’m not going to lie, I gave a little shriek. 

Just remember though, no matter how much you dread their slithery bodies or their sharp canine teeth, they were here first and really, they can’t read signs. Not even the ones with the picture of the coyote with a red line through it.