I had mentioned seeing a Fox Snake near the barn on another thread and Stickbow and Jr were disappointed that I didn't post a photo of it. Well, I saw 2 of them yesterday and did take some pics. These snakes (also called Pine Snakes up here) are fairly common. We have seen many of them that are 5 feet in length. Although they do look somewhat like the Missasauga Rattler they are actually non-venomous and quite harmless. My wife doesn't like the idea of having them around the barn and her garden but they do eat a lot of voles (my apple tree nemesis) and ticks so they are OK in my book:
In reading this link below, I see that Michigan is home to both the Western Fox Snake and the Eastern Fox Snake:
Fox Snake - Snake Facts
I saw this small female working her way along the edge of the barn. When I approached it to get a photo it turned around and went the other way:
When I came back a few minutes later I saw that it had hooked up with a larger male at the corner of the lean-to:
They appeared to be mating:
When I returned a few minutes later they had both disappeared but then I noticed that the larger one which had apparently climbed up the corner post inside of the steel, was working his way down under the concrete. I don't want to trap them in there now but I will be filling in this hole come fall:
In reading this link below, I see that Michigan is home to both the Western Fox Snake and the Eastern Fox Snake:
Fox Snake - Snake Facts
I saw this small female working her way along the edge of the barn. When I approached it to get a photo it turned around and went the other way:
When I came back a few minutes later I saw that it had hooked up with a larger male at the corner of the lean-to:
They appeared to be mating:
When I returned a few minutes later they had both disappeared but then I noticed that the larger one which had apparently climbed up the corner post inside of the steel, was working his way down under the concrete. I don't want to trap them in there now but I will be filling in this hole come fall: