I love happy endings! Several weeks ago, one of our neighbors contacted me because she had seen a gorgeous Eastern Milk Snake (Lampropeltis triangulum) near her bird feeders. She liked the snake, but liked her birds better and did not want to see her bird feeder become a snake feeder. I assured her that Milk Snakes are more likely to help her control the rodents in her yard than decimate her songbirds, but we agreed that if it would show up again I would come and get the snake and find it a new home. To my great surprise a few days ago I got a call from our front desk that somebody wanted to drop off a snake for me, and sure enough there was a card board box waiting for me in the lobby when I got back to RTPI. In it was the Milk Snake, this time the same nice neighbor removed it from another neighbor’s garage – which apparently seemed quite appealing as a hibernation site to someone… Long story short, snakes showed up in places that were too close for comfort. Nobody panicked, nobody got hurt. A few phone calls to the right places ensured that this harmless creature can continue to live happily in another location and continue to keep rodent populations in check. It shows that a little environmental awareness and common sense goes a long way and even if you feel out of your comfort zone dealing with wild animals – there are plenty of people who are willing to help. I hope you enjoy this photograph of the snake in question – in my mind one of the most beautiful ones we have around here – and if you see one in your yard or garage, don’t kill it. Leave it be and you’ll likely never see it again. But if you do – please give me a call!
Twan Leenders
RTPI President
