[Dust in the Wind]

I'd never thought about them swimming before I saw one crossing a creek near where I live. Grew up miles from any water bodies but plenty of snakes.

Carried one out of my shop this past Friday. I'd offered it a hot beverage but it was rejected so I dispatched him and went into the house and spent a while cooling down and lowering my heart rate. Not the first of the hated critters in my shop; it's a wonder I get any work done in there.

[Red Badger]

When I was a kid way back in the 60’s, I was playing ‘Batman’ and under the above-grade house was my ‘Batcave’.

I had been under there for a while, and accidentally kicked an old stovepipe.

It felt oddly heavy since I knew what one was and how much it was supposed to weigh.

I crawled around to look into the end of it and came face to face with a COPPERHEAD!.....................