Deep Swimming Snakes

[red-beard]

I went out this morning to water the plants and check on the pool. As I watered one planter, a small snake dropped out. As I sat doing the Chlorine & Ph levels, the "Lizard control" snake on my porch stayed patiently under the planter. Brownish Tan upper and yellow under, probably a yellow bellied racer. It's about 18" long.



Anyway, I point out to Mrs. Beard and she of course says to kill it. I explain that it is a non-poisonous snake and bug/rodent (and lizard) control. But, according to Mrs. Beard, "Not in our Yard!!!". It has not moved since I watered the plants. So I grab a plastic covered rod (about 5 feet long). I plan to get underneath and then carry it to another, less visible part of the yard.

It wants nothing to do with this! It starts for the pool. I keep trying to put my stick in front to get it to "go left" and hit the grass. NOPE. Plop! Right in the pool. Snakes swim pretty good. I grab a net and it is swimming around, trying to find an exit. No exits... I get nearby and it dives for the bottom, about 9 feet down. It curls around the pool cleaner for a minute, then probably, decides it needs a breath of air.

As it is near the surface, I scoop it with the net. GOT HIM! Just like Chekhov!

My backyard backs up to a gas line. I open the door and start to empty out the net. Mr Yellow Belly slithers away, just as the WASPS that had a nest on the door start to attack. One can of RAID wasp killer later, I am able to close the door.

I hope yellow belly enjoyed his swim.

[Sooner or later]

Plain Bellied warersnake. Also called Yellow Bellied. It will bite your ass repeatedly if given the chance.

[Evans, Marv]

Years ago in Tikal, Guatemala I jumped in the small pool when I arrived at the place I would be staying for the week. There was a smallish snake swimming around the edge of the pool. I didn't pay any attention to it but didn't engage it either. The maintenance guy came, looked at it, scooped it out and cut it up in the bushes with his machete. I asked him later what kind of snake it was, & he said it was a coral snake.