Fred Basset by Alex Graham for September 15, 2022

Give that one hiss space Fred, no use tangling with a snake in the grass!

Yeah. You and I tend to think the same way on that subject. I know not all snakes are dangerous and some eat those nasty, invading mice but still. Ugh!

When I was little, my dad always taught me how to carefully watch shy animals like snakes, blindworms, lizards, butterflies…

Fred, you’ve got a really nice place to watch and enjoy.

Definitely Fred. Probably a harmless garden snake, but still keep your distance.

Just wondering if England has any native poisonous snakes?

Dad was out in the backyard one day when he saw a dead grass snake. He picked it up with a stick and flung it over the fence, where it landed in our neighbor’s pool. A couple of days later, Bob told Dad how he found the snake in the pool, and thought it got there when a bird that had caught it dropped it. Dad said nothing, but everyone else in the neighborhood knew the real story long before he told Bob.

I had a beagle that LOVED to antagonize snakes. Drove me nuts! It’s a miracle he never got bit. And we have some nasty critters in Louisiana.

I dont think they have any venomus snakes in England and certenly no rattlesnakes.

Wow, nice greenhouse! good spot to hide, Fred!

Watch out for your root beer, Fred.

Are you sure it is safe?

I have two speckled king snakes that hang out in our henhouse. They kill and eat other snakes including water moccasins and rattlesnakes. I take care of the egg snakes while letting the kings have an occasional egg as a reward.

I’m a few thousand miles away, Fred!

Yes. I hate snakes!

I could not agree with you more fred

True that, Fred!