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When I moved to Virginia years ago, I was horrified to discover that this area is home to many different kinds of snakes. Avoiding them was out of the question for me, as I spend all of my days working outdoors. Many of the properties I work on are in the mountains, or bordered by woods, and water.

Rivers... ponds.. etc.... I became quite adept at being on the alert for them, which is no easy feat, as they creep up everywhere. They are, in my opinion all quite revolting. I have seen many over the past 12 years. Ive had to beat some of the smaller ones to death with a shovel. The really huge ones just slowly slither away......( Black Snakes) which I am told are harmless, and good for the garden, but quite sickening for me, nonetheless.

This morning I am going up to a place in the mountains, deep in the woods.

Ill be up there reguarly, alone, for the next few days. The house is empty ( its for sale) There is a large pond, on the property. The owners told me, last winter about a type of water snake that lives around the pond. Said that they are quite agressive. Instead of slithering away, when disturbed... they will actually chase a person through tall grass. Sickening!! I am afraid, every time I look at that pond. Dear God, the lengths I have to go to to make a living.

Does anyone know anything about these creatures?

A couple of days ago, a bear was spotted on the property. Im not afraid of the bear. I just keep telling myself.. Ill be alert. And Im not leaving here, until it gets light out. But the snakes are another story.....

The thought of being bitten by one of them, makes me feel quite ill.

Aside from the snakes, and the bears.... the area I am headed for this week

is mind boggling beautiful. Buried deep in the woods, in a " Hollow" I weave my way up a mountain through untouched forest. Moist, and green... deadly quiet, except for the sound of birds, and crickets. If I proceed two miles beyond the location of the home, I come to a place with huge waterfalls, tumbling over rocks.

My sister and my older son are urging me to move back to New York. I could

earn much better money, and have the opportunity for a more active social life. I did actually respond to an ad, last night with my resume. Every now and then I enjoy having my ego boosted by being offered jobs that I turn down. Choosing to live in this beautiful place becomes all the more precious when I conciously make the decision to stay, every few years.

Its almost like.... once youve been allowed the privledge to see the beauty that I have, its impossible to give it up. This area ( like so many other areas in our country) reminds me of life the way it was long ago. Life the way it should be. Places where the scenary make you feel alive, part of nature, and challenged to exist harmoniously with the enviornment, and creatures.

Yes, my positive state of mind continues to be with me, after being home from vacation for 4 whole days. It feels like Ive been back for 40 days, because I am so busy. I must say that I attribute part of my uplifted attitude to a book Im reading called The Shack.

I suggested it a few days back, in my Im back thread.

Blimey, Weeder!!! I thought it was us Aussies who apparently live in a land of vicious, dangerous, poisonous critters. Take care!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Where I live we have a huge variety of snakes. Some rattlers, lots of black or brown "water" snakes. Once, I was walking down a path that led to a grove of hickory trees deep in a wood, beside a river. I was after some squirrels for supper. As I rounded a turn in the trail, there lay a huge black snake in the middle of the trail ahead. I was in plain sight, but don't know if he was confused or it was on purpose but it came straight for me.

I hunted squirrels with a .22 pistol in those days. If you think Matt Dillon on Gunsmoke could draw and shoot fast, ya shoulda seen me. No, I didn't hit the snake. But my shot blew up dirt directly in front of it and it turned into the brush beside the trail. He made me ol' heart go pitty-pat, pitty-pat.

I suppose the important thing to consider is would you rather be bitten by a snake or mauled by a bear ?

And since youre already in that frame of mind you might start thinking about other creatures youd rather not encounter.

I hope that helps.

love you!!!:wah:

hoppy;943874 wrote: Where I live we have a huge variety of snakes. Some rattlers, lots of black or brown "water" snakes. Once, I was walking down a path that led to a grove of hickory trees deep in a wood, beside a river. I was after some squirrels for supper. As I rounded a turn in the trail, there lay a huge black snake in the middle of the trail ahead. I was in plain sight, but don't know if he was confused or it was on purpose but it came straight for me.

I hunted squirrels with a .22 pistol in those days. If you think Matt Dillon on Gunsmoke could draw and shoot fast, ya shoulda seen me. No, I didn't hit the snake. But my shot blew up dirt directly in front of it and it turned into the brush beside the trail. He made me ol' heart go pitty-pat, pitty-pat.


Does this mean I need a gun???????

weeder;944543 wrote: Does this mean I need a gun???????


You live where there is snakes AND bears and you have to ask?

No No.... No snakes and bears in MY backyard. But the way it is here... 4 miles out of the little towns, its the county and the country. So, I leave in the morning for properties in the country.