Hey Shari,
Hope all is well.
I live here in Calhoun County. Big Bend to be exact. And I wanted to share an experience I had this week as a reminder for everyone to be extra careful this time of year.
It was just an ordinary morning. I had taken the trash out to the trash bin and, as I came back into the yard, I noticed a few weeds growing beside my noticeably neglected irises. I bent down to pull them, reaching my hand toward the grass. My hand was only five or six inches away when I caught a tiny flick of a tongue out of the corner of my eye. I looked up, and there was a large copperhead staring right at me.
I truly believe that if I hadn’t noticed its tongue flicking at that exact moment, I would have been bitten.
I never saw it until my hand was well within striking distance.
This still gives me chills, and not because I almost got bitten. What keeps running through my mind is that this is the exact spot where my two children, both under 3 years old, run every time we open the gate because they love playing in the gravel rocks in that planter. That thought has stayed with me far more than the close call itself.
I’m sharing this because I hope it reminds others to slow down and pay attention, even during the most routine tasks. Keep your property maintained as much as possible, and remember it isn’t just your family walking through your yard. Mail carriers, delivery drivers, utility workers, and anyone else coming onto your property could also unknowingly encounter a hidden snake.
Most importantly, don’t assume a place is safe simply because you’ve walked through it a hundred times before. I had walked through that gate countless times and never expected to find a copperhead beside my flower bed. It only takes one time.
Needless to say, my irises aren’t neglected anymore.
I am attaching a photo of the big guy that I got before he was safely dealt with.
Hope you have a great weekend and remember to keep yours low.
Be blessed
Sarah M. Little
