Some of you may remember my previous threads. One where Matt Davis and I were up close and personal with a rat snake at my front door or the other where I stepped on a copperhead that, fortunately, didn't strike.
https://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-discussions/1092098-welcome-country-snakes-edition.html
https://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-discussions/1093841-welcome-country-snakes-edition-part-deux.html
I think he wanted to borrow some sugar, but seemed to be digesting a mouse
Fortunately, this guy was too cold to care.
I've run into a bunch of scorpions around the property. Most of them are pretty small, and usually hiding under or behind something. I did almost pick one up once that was on a pair of gloves in the garage. I also stepped on one in the kitchen a couple of days ago. I think the only reason that happened was that I'd sprayed some Demon WP in a couple of spots (behind/under the stove, fridge, washer/drier, etc...) and he was dying. None of the scorpions have done anything or acted aggressive/defensive. They've all seemed far more interested in leaving, hiding and being left alone. And I'm happy with that.
Yesterday, I was finishing up some mowing and noticed this guy wandering through some recently mowed grass. Yes, it's a tarantula. I'd heard that they were in the area. Fortunately, this wasn't any sort of surprise or shock. It's not like it crawled up my leg or something. It was smaller than I had expected, halleluiah! It was just trying to leave. It never reacted and in the one photo, my hand is probably within 1" of the thing. I tried to get in front of it to get a photo of it coming toward me. When I got in front of it, it crawled down into the grass and "hid." I walked around behind it and a second or two later it crawled back up and kept going. It never postured or anything.
I took a few photos and left it to do it's thing.
for some size reference
next to the toe of my rubber boot for size reference
I don't think I'd previously posted these of another snake that I ran across.
Eastern yellowbellied racer
And I saw another small one down by the water, it was small and thin with a dark or black body and what looked like blue or turquoise stripes. I didn't get a photo or even a good look.