Texas Rat Snake

MaestroMaestro Registered Users Posts: 5,395 Major grins
edited May 17, 2009 in Wildlife
My wife was cleaning out our shed when she found two rat snakes. We had seen one or the other before near the back of our lot that backs up to the pasture behind us, but we simply thought it was hunting in our yard. Apparently it lives in our yard in the shed. Since she was cleaning out the shed, I had to move the snakes. So I grabbed them both and put them in a large container, but before releasing them, I sat one down in one of my gardens for some photo ops. No snakes were harmed in the making of these images. :D

First, the photographer in action....As you can see I didn't waste any time getting out there. I didn't change out of my work clothes.
Stephenandcamera2resized.jpg

Stephenandcameraresized.jpg

Results....

TexasRatSnake3.jpg

TexasRatSnake1resized.jpg

TexasRatSnake2resized.jpg

TexasRatSnakeCloseresized.jpg

TexasRatSnake7resized.jpg
Stephen
www.capture-the-pixel.com

Comments

  • Chile ChefChile Chef Registered Users Posts: 473 Major grins
    edited May 8, 2009
    Didn't you worry about him striking?

    Or do you know your snakes well?

    My Web Site
    http://www.dereks-cooking-corner.com/
  • dlplumerdlplumer Registered Users Posts: 8,081 Major grins
    edited May 8, 2009
    Bravo Stephen. Great set and very good capture bowdown.gif
    Dan
    http://danielplumer.com/
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  • MaestroMaestro Registered Users Posts: 5,395 Major grins
    edited May 8, 2009
    Chile Chef wrote:
    Didn't you worry about him striking?

    Or do you know your snakes well?

    He tried to strike at me once, but since I have handled snakes before in the past and can read them pretty well. Rat snakes are harmless and do a great job of keeping rodent populations down. It looked quite well fed and not too uneasy with me. While he was in that small confined area he felt relatively safe so it didn't try to strike.
    Stephen
    www.capture-the-pixel.com

  • Ric GrupeRic Grupe Registered Users Posts: 9,522 Major grins
    edited May 8, 2009
    You got some good ones there, Stephen! thumb.gif

    Work clothes rolleyes1.gif...I think you meant business attire. rolleyes1.gif
  • bfjrbfjr Registered Users Posts: 10,980 Major grins
    edited May 8, 2009
    I'm envious I wanna be there thumb.gif

    cool like this set :D
    Benjamin
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  • TonyCooperTonyCooper Registered Users Posts: 2,276 Major grins
    edited May 8, 2009
    Maestro wrote:
    My wife was cleaning out our shed when she found two rat snakes.
    [/QUOTE}

    Great job! I'm impressed!

    I can't get my wife to clean out the shed.

    Oh...the photos are good, too.
    Tony Cooper - Orlando, Florida
    http://tonycooper.smugmug.com/
  • PhotosbychuckPhotosbychuck Registered Users Posts: 1,239 Major grins
    edited May 9, 2009
    My fav #3
    :jawdrop

    I would have been alot further away from the snake with my 300MM Laughing.gif.
    D300S, 18-200mm VR, 70-300mm VR

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  • MaestroMaestro Registered Users Posts: 5,395 Major grins
    edited May 9, 2009
    dlplumer wrote:
    Bravo Stephen. Great set and very good capture bowdown.gif

    Thanks Dan.
    Stephen
    www.capture-the-pixel.com

  • MaestroMaestro Registered Users Posts: 5,395 Major grins
    edited May 9, 2009
    Ric Grupe wrote:
    You got some good ones there, Stephen! thumb.gif

    Work clothes rolleyes1.gif...I think you meant business attire. rolleyes1.gif

    Oh yes, Ric. I am one of those mamby-pamby white collared workers. rolleyes1.gifSeriously, though, I work with kids so I bet the most gruff construction/assembly line worker would be eaten alive by what I deal with, not to mention the parents who think they know how to teach since they were once in school too. It's like telling the doctor that you know what to do because you spent time in a hospital. eek7.gif

    Nature/wildlife photography saves my sanity or what little is left. Without it, I think I would find the nearest rattler to give me a nice bite.
    Stephen
    www.capture-the-pixel.com

  • Ric GrupeRic Grupe Registered Users Posts: 9,522 Major grins
    edited May 9, 2009
    Maestro wrote:
    I am one of those mamby-pamby white collared workers.

    Well I wouldn't discribe you in those terms...unless my car was real close!wings.gif
  • MaestroMaestro Registered Users Posts: 5,395 Major grins
    edited May 9, 2009
    Ric Grupe wrote:
    Well I wouldn't discribe you in those terms...unless my car was real close!wings.gif

    Hahahahahahaha! rolleyes1.gif
    Stephen
    www.capture-the-pixel.com

  • MaestroMaestro Registered Users Posts: 5,395 Major grins
    edited May 11, 2009
    TonyCooper wrote:
    Maestro wrote:
    My wife was cleaning out our shed when she found two rat snakes.
    [/QUOTE}

    Great job! I'm impressed!

    I can't get my wife to clean out the shed.

    Oh...the photos are good, too.

    One of the funniest responses in a long time! Thanks for looking.
    Stephen
    www.capture-the-pixel.com

  • MaestroMaestro Registered Users Posts: 5,395 Major grins
    edited May 11, 2009
    Photosbychuck wrote:
    My fav #3
    :jawdrop

    I would have been alot further away from the snake with my 300MM Laughing.gif.

    Thanks Chuck. I actually found out from a friend who is an amateur herpetologist that it is a Great Plains Rat Snake not the Texas variety.
    Stephen
    www.capture-the-pixel.com

  • raptorcaptorraptorcaptor Registered Users Posts: 3,968 Major grins
    edited May 12, 2009
    Nice shooting Stephen. thumb.gif Like the second to last one best.
    Glenn

    My website | NANPA Member
  • Bruce NovotneyBruce Novotney Registered Users Posts: 81 Big grins
    edited May 13, 2009
    Great captures and you're out of your %#&* mind!
  • grimacegrimace Registered Users Posts: 1,537 Major grins
    edited May 14, 2009
    Nice series. You're a braver man than me.
    -Adam
    www.adamstravelphotography.com

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  • MaestroMaestro Registered Users Posts: 5,395 Major grins
    edited May 17, 2009
    Thanks y'all. Very harmless snake. I wasn't brave at all.
    Stephen
    www.capture-the-pixel.com

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