[SWAMPSNIPER]

Good luck checking the yard, if they're in the leaves and don't move you probably won't see them. The Florida version is the Dusky Pygmy Rattler. I've killed several of them at the County Arboretum and in my yard, I know what to look for, in my experience most people don't.

Why one of the volunteer gardeners at the arboretum hasn't been hit is beyond me, God must really love them.

[cripplecreek]

To tell you the truth, I probably wouldn’t kill one if I found it here in the yard. I’d probably catch it and take it over to the state land and turn it loose. I would be sure to let my neigbors know to keep an eye out because they have kids that play in the yard.

The only native lizard we have in Michigan is the 5 lined skink and I’ve only seen two of those in nearly 46 years. As I understand it, they aren’t terribly rare, just secretive and quick. Kinda like fox.