Since late March we have been hearing the frogs calling, and we joke that love is in the air. At first it started with just a lone peeper call, and then a few more calls from a few more species the next day. Now it's an ear-splitting ruckus that you can hear even with a movie or music on in the house. We love it!
Today I was down by the pond, watching a chorus frog call in the water. I could stand there forever, just watching the activity around me. Wood frogs especially make me laugh because they just sound comical, and they scurry across the surface to get to other frogs, which is also comical. But as I was saying, I was by the pond watching a chorus frog, and I heard it. That slithery noise through the dry leaves that sometimes sounds like wind but is often a snake crusing through. The snake didn't see me. I stood there frozen, just watching him, and I thought I'd follow him stealthily and see where he led me. (I might have said "take me to your hibernaculum." If you watch Grimm on NBC, you'd laugh at that).
He followed the water's edge so I followed through the pond, watching for frog eggs as I stepped. Then he turned up a deer trail. The entire time he was tongue flicking and darting around as if he was on the hunt. Then I heard something near him; 2 snakes loosely coiled up. He went right to them and joined the party, and another snake came from a different direction and joined as well. And then you can imagine what happened, something I have never seen, a mating ball of garter snakes!
Today I was down by the pond, watching a chorus frog call in the water. I could stand there forever, just watching the activity around me. Wood frogs especially make me laugh because they just sound comical, and they scurry across the surface to get to other frogs, which is also comical. But as I was saying, I was by the pond watching a chorus frog, and I heard it. That slithery noise through the dry leaves that sometimes sounds like wind but is often a snake crusing through. The snake didn't see me. I stood there frozen, just watching him, and I thought I'd follow him stealthily and see where he led me. (I might have said "take me to your hibernaculum." If you watch Grimm on NBC, you'd laugh at that).
He followed the water's edge so I followed through the pond, watching for frog eggs as I stepped. Then he turned up a deer trail. The entire time he was tongue flicking and darting around as if he was on the hunt. Then I heard something near him; 2 snakes loosely coiled up. He went right to them and joined the party, and another snake came from a different direction and joined as well. And then you can imagine what happened, something I have never seen, a mating ball of garter snakes!
Of course, my camera was at the house. I was wishing I could get it but knew I had to just enjoy the moment and use my phone to get the pictures. So they did that for a minute or so and then the female shot off in one direction and two males followed her, and one derpy male went in circles in the area she had been in for awhile and then made his way in her direction, too. My son and I tracked them for awhile without them really knowing we were there. That was also very fun, to watch their natural movements without them being afraid of us. I had to take a pic as this guy slithered over my boot. He rested there for a little while, actually!
Yes, they are just garters, but they are fascinating snakes! It was an awesome experience.
This is the video for it.
This is the video for it.