Oh No!!!!!
A big, bad snake, and you actually "touched" it! Yikes. I am curious of those creatures, but only "real curious" about the ones that I know aren't poisonous. I've lived in the mountainous areas of Maryland and Virginia, and have come across rattlesnake dens, and seen some very large anaconda type snakes on two occasions.
Once hubby and I were checking out a very old abandoned mill. He was up ahead, and I was doing shortcuts to catch up. I saw what I thought was an oddly shaped piece of dark wood across a shaded path as I was running, and as I leaped over it, it was the biggest black snake I've ever seen in my entire life. I guess it was a black snake. It was blackish/brown and at least 12 inches round. I saw it's head and I was already in the air, but tried to swim up even higher, as it slowly slithered away. Of course, my screams echoed down the mountainside, and other visitors came running.
We had quite a large black snake on the front porch of our new home. We've had a bad drought here for three years now, and you are right, the poor creatures are looking for safe places to have their babies or feed. I was backing my car out of the garage to go to work, and saw "something" out of the corner of my right eye, slithering down our front steps. I was mesmerized, and actually stopped the car, got out, and got pretty close to it. I ran into the house and got my camera for pictures. It was a good four feet long, and stopped to look at me, but then continued on across our yard, across the road and into the neighbors yard.
I've heard that in your land there are quite a few poisonous snakes. Not only poisonous, but deadly! They actually get up into vehicles, and into houses. So creepy. As long as I can see it, and know that I have exit, I'm alright, but to find one in my car or bathroom would never do. (I don't even want to think that one might be in the bedroom.)
What an interesting story, Ozzie. I enjoyed it. Glad the critter was dead though, or you'd have been bitten for sure.
