Encounters

[Skybird]

Today I did a biycycle quick tour to and around in local "Rieselfelder" over here, I live close to them, less than 10 minutes away from them (LINK). Nice weather, nice temperature, all was good.

I think I must go back 40 years and back into my childhood, to remember when was the last time that I have seen a grass snake (ring snake: Ringelnatter) live. Today I saw three, within 40, 50 minutes.

The first was lying in the middle of the road, and it elegantly swung in zig zags away and disappeared in the grass when i slowly passed it on bicycle.

The second one again lied on the road, and I am afraid it was a death candidate, it was still alive an dmoved, but had a rapture with maybe 1 cm3 of muslce or organs showing out. I do not think it was driven over by< a car or bicycle, more likely that a bird picked for it, the snake maybe snapped at it, and the bird was scared away. I stopped,, the animals tried to escape but was slow, I signleled some cars and bicy<vcle to move alorund, then picked it up to not casue any reaction, and placed it beside the street, in the grass. It did not snap, and did not "stink" me (they can do that by emptying some anal glands, you want to avoid that, I have read somewhere some years ago). It also did not play dead snake, what these snakes also do in defensive behaviour. Atypical behavior, maybe due to shock, or pain, whatever.

But then the third one. I later was was resting away from the road, in the grass, near a small pond of which there are many. The first two snakes were not so big, maybe around 60 cm. But this thirdt one that suddenly appared from the grass in front of me, I estimate dto have had a length of 1m, maybe 1.20m. It moved slowly, gently, and without hesitation towards me. Of course I know that these snakes do not pose any threat at all, so I was completely relaxed and did not move. The snake stopped just 3, 4 cm before my foot, then started to examine my shoe somewhat, then raised its body and seemed to gaze at me (no clue whether they can see that good), then moved over my knee (I was sitting in tailor fashion), turned and slowly and without any haste dissappeared again from where it came, the same direction it approached me from.

Well, cold-hearted, sober-minded Sushi character that I am , I am not vulnerable to antropomorphizing - but after this third encounter I felt the desire to at least wanting to do so, if only I could. I felt gifted. Its always a bit like that, when a wild animal all by itself decides to seek your close vicinity, free by will and nwithout accidentally running into you. I think it has recongised that I was there, and was a living being, it turtned by 180° and moved back the same way it came on, but it did not flee, it did not do so with haste or speed. It decided to check out what I was, and then decided to not be alarmed or afraid, and then decided to just move on, moving away again.

Life can feel enchanted sometimes.

[ValoWay]

I assume there aren't any native americans in your local area? :P

[Eichhörnchen]

I'm pretty sure that grass snakes are almost blind; they 'taste' the air with that constantly flicking tongue. But yes... he knew you were there alright.

[Jimbuna]

If your estimation of the length (1m) is correct then it would be a female, the males of the species are usually about two thirds the size (I have a friend who breeds them).

[Skybird]

They surely are beautiful and elegant creatures. Not all snakes in general, some look really scary, imo, but this one I already liked as a kid, and loved fairy tales where they appeared. Some years ago I had a slowworm in my hands, it got grilled on the superhot asphalt, and enjoyed getting cooled by my hand and me blowing at it. I looked like liquid copper with sparkles of silver and gold. Beautiful. Corn snakes also can look extrenemly pretty, though there is an incredible diversity in looks and colours. But we do not have thes ein Germany.

And no, I am not planning to get a terrarium.

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by Jimbuna

If your estimation of the length (1m) is correct then it would be a female, the males of the species are usually about two thirds the size (I have a friend who breeds them).

Yes, I read that at Wiki, too, males 50-75, females 100-120, some even up to 150 cm. For breeding and little baby snakes, it is too early, so those first two snakes probbaly were males, the third, friendly one a female.

Or the snake queen from fairy tales!

[Rockstar]

Snakes are the Devil!

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Skybird

Yes, I read that at Wiki, too, males 50-75, females 100-120, some even up to 150 cm. For breeding and little baby snakes, it is too early, so those first two snakes probbaly were males, the third, friendly one a female.

Or the snake queen from fairy tales!

That wouldn't make you Prince Charming but more like a Snake Charmer