Holy Guacamole!!!!
I just walked out to the garage to get something out of the freezer. It's about 100-150'. I've been trying to keep the grass mowed short. When I walk around the property, I stare at the ground where I'm walking. Even with all of that,
I just stepped on this.
He's just sitting in the middle of the yard in the grass not near anything.
I realized that I was about to step on "something" a split second before my foot hit the ground. I guess I'm happy (and VERY lucky) that 1 The ground is soft from a ton of rain in the last 24 hours, 2 the soles of the shoes that I was wearing are relatively soft and spongy and 3 it's unseasonably cool (68º) outside.
I saw that I stepped on him, and I felt that I stepped on him. I took about another 4, 5 or 6 steps. My heart stopped. I pooped a little, and then I went back to take pictures.
I came inside. About 5 or more mins later, I went back out and he was still there. I have heard that spraying them lightly with water will often usher them along. It didn't do anything.
About 15-20 mins later, I fed the dog and took him outside. The snake was still there, hadn't moved since I sprayed him with water. Then I noticed that there were two big frogs where the wife's car had been parked. I carried one over and dropped it right in front of the snake. No movement. Then I moved some grass with a long twig so I could see his head (was obscured by grass after the spray with the hose, playing by a copperheads head with a twig, probably not the brightest thing). Then I went and got the other frog and dropped it right on the snakes head. I got a tiny movement of the head that time, but that's it. The snake and frogs aren't moving much. I guess the low temps and heavy rains have them cooled off so they aren't feeling perky.
I wish I had one of those hooks. I'd move him to the field next door. I'd rather he wasn't hanging out in the middle of the yard.
Yes, I'm still feeling the effects of the adrenaline.