Young Southern Pacific Rattlesnake, photo courtesy
of Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
Well, it figures. Just as I was bounding out the door to throw a load of delicates into my outdoor washing machine, I happen to look down. There, looking up at me from the other side of the glass door was Rattler! With his tongue out all slitherin-like! He was looking into the house, and the door was just slightly ajar, enough so that he could slither right in if he liked. My guess is he was thinking about it!
It's funny, most Rattlers are more brown, whereas this one was black, but still the unmistakable diamond markings. I did what any Washer Woman would do: I got hubby and handed him a broom! He started to sweep it on out of there, which caused Rattler to start up hissing loudly. (If you ever hear a sound like water running, when there is water nowhere about, it's Rattler.) Of course, he was as scared as I was. Hubby held him off while I got the delicates going. We shooed him down the hill, but who knows when he will come back. We saw this same Rattler just the other day, in a standoff with Cat!
As if Washer Woman hasn't got her work cut out already.. I really did want to get you a photo, really..
(from the Wild Equity Institute)
