That approx. 3 foot snake I caught while working in our ditch a few days ago turned out to be, I THINK, a Prairie Kingsnake with unusually dark, muted top and side colors. The record is 43”, so this is a relatively big one. These are great mousers, not that I have any idea how to get it to stick around once released. ;-)
Chicken Roulade is a classic elegant French dish. Delicious thin-sliced chicken pounded flat, then filled with a mixture of tarragon, cheese, ham or bacon, mushrooms or spinach, then rolled and secured w/ kitchen twine. The roulade is then baked or sautéd til golden. Flavor can vary depending on the filling. A great meal served w/ a French side dish and roasted vegetables.
I think they eat rattlesnakes too, so good to have around the yard.
Keeping them nearby...leave a lot of corn around, attract rats and mice and give them a nice rock covered place to hide during the day and maybe they will hang around?