No, it is not a dirty word! Klapperschlange means rattlesnake, as taught to me by a family member in Switzerland. Although to some, rattlesnake might be considered a dirty word of sorts as it generally invokes a negative response in most folks. Yes, I know there must be a few of you that have caught them with your bare hands and worn them around your necks.... Or maybe you have had to deal with one the way Cowgirl did in Oklahoma. I just know that I don't like them much... They have their place and it is far out of my sight!
But right now I am watching very carefully when I am outside. A friend down the street let us know that his wife encountered one the other morning on her walk, down the road from our place. It was already dead, having been apparently killed with rocks - it most likely surprised some other walker the previous evening. This is exactly why I don't like to go up to the road to get the mail in dark! We know they are here, just like the cougars are here. We just have to keep our senses on alert and not be too complacent. I don't condone stoning a snake to death but everyone has their own level of need with wild critters and perhaps someone was thinking about what that snake might do to a child or pet that might be on a stroll, too.
I have been waiting to find one on the front porch some morning. Maybe this will be the year.....
1 comment:
I am so glad we don't have rattlesnakes at our cabin. We do have garter snakes, but I haven't seen one yet this year. It's a bit late already. - Margy
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