We put the dogs out in the backyard after supper to do their business and almost immediately both of them went off, barking the way they do when there is some kind of intruder onto the property. As we live out in the country, pedestrians are a rarity, and about the only vehicle that pulls into our driveway is the UPS truck, so when they bark like this we wonder what’s going on and we always investigate.

Here’s what had them going:  a three-foot gopher snake under the roses.  He was trying to make his get-away and at first crawled into the bush. I ran for my camera. Sorry, these are a bit blurry.

Brad got him out of the bush and the snake made a beeline toward the house, passing by the garage door and ultimately slithering under the foundation.

Knowing he isn’t venomous and is a predator of  the pocket gophers and other rodents we’ve got around here soothes my initial shock at seeing the guy. Now, if he’ll just stay out of the backyard.