A little excitement this morning......

[Navy Chief]

I decided to have my coffee this morning, sitting outside on the deck, and took my Siamese cat, "Twist" with me.
Twist was exploring the area, and was over by a side screen door. I noticed he was interested in something along the deck. I focused my eyes a little (was wearing my sunglasses), and realized that Twist was nose to nose with a black snake!

I immediately took Twist back to my room, and grabbed my camera to take pictures of the snake. Then I slowly opened the screen door, took a broom, and scooted the snake out the door.



I went back and got Twist again. Sat down, and resumed enjoying my coffee. Less than a minute passed, and I noticed a snake's head pop up behind a wood beam support on the deck. Am assuming it the was the same snake, and it had come back under the door. But possible it was another one. Either way, I took Twist BACK to my room, came back, and scooted the snake out the door AGAIN! Thank goodness they are harmless black snakes!

[Terry]

I think I would fix the hole before you get an Eastern Diamondback!

[Toastmaker]

Snake just trying to meet the new neighbor, Chief -

[rhumbaflappy]

I would be tempted to introduce the harmless snake to my harmless shovel.

Dick

[Ferry_vO]

That's a good looking snake, but

I think I would fix the hole before you get an Eastern Diamondback!

That's a good idea too!

Apparently cats can't smell snakes, but they do like to chase things that move around...

[Navy Chief]

When I lived in TN, we had a lot of cats. It was quite common to look out our kitchen window, and see several of them "circling the wagons". Typically, they would corner something, and then take turns messing with it, until they killed it. A lot of times, it was either a field mouse, or a small snake (moccasin).

Even though this is a black snake, I didn't want to take the chance of it biting my Twist!

I called the local experts on the island about venomous snakes on Sanibel. Although there are a couple species, it has been years since any have been reported.

I found the areas (two) where the snake is most likely getting into the deck area. I probably won't be able to stop it from entering, but am going to make it more difficult!

NC

[Roadburner440]

Good thing you pulled your cat back NC! Even if the snake isn't poisonous it could always try to choke the cat out. Not sure how your Siamese is, but we have a Himalayan (Siamese+Persian) and it is dumb as a box of rocks. I have to stop that poor cat from getting itself harmed all the time, and the sad thing is it loves to go outside. Has been awhile since I have let him outside even though he stands at the glass door meowing loudly to be taken out on the leash. Cats are something else that is for sure.

[Sieggie]

Not a good idea to kill Black Racers as they eat poisonous snakes. They are harmless to your cat an will usually flee when encountered. If you corner one they will strike at you in defense. They are not constrictors. As you can see they are thin and fast not fat and powerful. Just scoot them out and they will be on their way.

Dave