Ramblings of a Ranger

Friday, 18 April 2008

Spiders, Snakes, and Loons Oh My!!!
Mood:

bright

I was mowing my lawn Wednesday night and I can to some wood debris that I had left over from my patio. I went to move it out of the way so that I could mow but when I flipped it over I had a surprise waiting for me…a huge female black widow spider. YUK!!!! Now my friend Bryan would be totally stoked and would be collected it to show his school kids (he is a science teacher) but what did I do…knocked her off the board…stepped on her…and then ran her over with my mower. Yeah I know the mower part was a bit over kill but just wanted to make sure she was dead.

I don’t really know why I have this fear when it comes to spiders. Reading about them and seeing pictures of them I am actually rather fascinated by them. But when I see them in person, the way they scamper, for some reason really freaks me out and the fear part of my brain kicks in and tells me to KILL IT!!!! I get the heebie-jeebies just thinking about it.

Today I haven’t been able to get much work done. It seems that my official duties today consist of being a snake wrangler. We have had a black racer sunning itself on the patio. I have moved it twice (I am one of the only ones in the office that isn’t afraid to touch them) but it keeps coming back. I don’t want to move it too far because I am pretty sure its home is in a crevice in the stone wall. If I could just get it away from the top of the steps. My fear is that someone will walk up the steps and see it there and fall backwards. They pose no harm to humans but Black Racers are a tad bit different than your ordinary Black Rat Snake. First off they are more streamlined so then tend to be very quick (hence the name racer). Secondly they tend to have a pissy attitude. Most black rat snakes will hiss if disturbed but seldom every bite but racers have no problem giving you a strike or two. Luckily they don’t have any venom to back it up but it still hurts like hell. This snake appeared not to mind human interaction that much. It may have just enjoyed the fact that my hands were warm. So since my desk I located close to the patio I am instructed to keep an eye out for our little friend and move him out of the way of visitors.

On a very bright note…I saw 3 loons today. I was getting the morning report when I saw what at first I thought were mallard ducks. When I looked closer I saw they had a more streamlined structure and a bright white patch on the front then I observed them dive under the water. When the male surfaced, he called out and it filled my morning with such joy. I have never seen a loon in the wild and they make the more beautiful sound. I would have gotten pictures but didn’t want to spoke them off. Chances are I won’t see them again seeing as May will soon be here and they will move further out to the coast but it was definitely a highlight to my week.

I don’t’ have a big weekend planned. I do need to clean the house and get some laundry done. It is supposed to rain Saturday and Sunday so I will more than likely be confined inside.

Hope every has a great weekend!!!

Posted by md2/thenest at 1:57 PM EDT
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Friday, 18 April 2008 - 2:54 PM EDT

Name: "Bryan"

You ran over it with the mower? Next time call me and I will come over and collect it.

Wait you are scared of spiders but not snakes? This is very odd to me. Normally people hate them both.

I can't believe you saw a loon. I saw one once while in Maine. I agree that their call is very soothing.

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Friday, 18 April 2008 - 2:58 PM EDT

Name: "Bill"

Okay Mrs. Park Ranger...

1) How did you know that it was a female black widow? Did she carry a little purse.

2) How did you know it was a black racer and not a rat snake? All black snakes look the same to me.

3)What is so special about seeing a loon. Are they endangered?

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Friday, 18 April 2008 - 3:23 PM EDT

Name: "Rebecca"

Bryan,

Yes I ran over it the mower. I did not want to take the chance that she might bite me or Potter. I doubt I will call you the next time I see one. I don’t want to take the chance it would get away. According to the guy who fixed my hot water heater…there are 2 living in my storage shed. You are welcome to them. But you may want to get them soon because I plan to spray.

Bill,

1) Females look like shiny black marbles with legs. If you turned one over you would see a red hour glass. The male is MUCH smaller and has a red and white mottled abdomen. It is actually the bite of the female that you have to worry about since their fangs are much larger than the male so they can pierce further into the skin.

2) When you have seen as many snakes as I have you can easily tell the difference. Black Rat has a white underbelly. Racers have a white chin and throat but the rest tend to be dark in color. Racers are very thin and shorter then the large thick rat snake.

3) Loons are not a common site (even though their name is the “common loon”)at least not in the south. They seem to be more prolific in Canada and the very Northern states. They migrate through here at a certain point in the year but are very reclusive so are very rare to see. Their populations have declined somewhat due to mercury levels in the water and lead from fishing lures but scientists believe they are making a comeback. I never thought I would see one in the wild so to be caught off guard like that was such a joy. I guess if you were a ranger you would be able to understand it a little better.

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Friday, 18 April 2008 - 4:11 PM EDT

Name: "Amber"

See this is why I love your site. I always manage to learn something. My daughter and I pull up the eagle cam everyday. She loves it and is doing a report about it for school.

Keep up the ranger entries. We love them.

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