MattDavis stopped by today to very generously gift me some gauges and freon for my home AC.
We never use the front door, but he did. I opened the door, and then the screen door and stepped out. We were standing there chatting with our dachshund hanging out with us. I don't remember why, but I looked down and had a bit of a shock. I knew that it would happen eventually, but I didn't expect it to be that kind of surprise.
I'm guessing that he's a rat snake. He was 3-4' long, I think, (I didn't take the time to measure him) and not very big around. He had a snack. I'm guessing, probably mouse, but we have barn swallows nesting on the porch, so it also could have been an egg or two.
I don't have a problem with snakes, but I prefer them to NOT be a surprise and for them to be "over there" and me to be "over here" and for things to stay that way.
He was a very chill snake. I grabbed a 4' level that I had laying around and started moving him out and he mostly just laid there. At some point, I think the screen door came towards him, and he became a bit more animated and wanted to come inside. At that point, I became more animated and assertive that he really needed to stay outside. Once I got him out on the porch, I played shuffleboard and gave him a good shove so he was then at the bottom of the steps. That's when I closed the door.
It's something for me to think about though, that the door doesn't fit tight at the bottom, and it's possible that he may be able to squeeze under the door. I may have to look into that.