I was outside last night smoking a nice bowl of Key Largo during a tropical thunderstorm and saw this little pit viper coming my way from the palm tree in the terrace. It's a bothrops jararaca, near as I can tell.
I've spent a long time working in the north woods of Canada, and honestly, I'd be a hell of a lot more content if I caught a glimpse of a grizzly bear slinking through my yard than one of these things. At least you can see the shiny claws of a bear. This snake just about made it between my legs before I spluttered hot embers on my lap and leaped to my feet for action.
I swept it into a bucket and continued on with my pipe smoking for awhile until it hit me that perhaps it's mother might still be close by. It was dark, and the shadows darker, so I decided I had enough of the beautiful thunderstorm and retreated indoors... because of the rain, of course.
I've spent a long time working in the north woods of Canada, and honestly, I'd be a hell of a lot more content if I caught a glimpse of a grizzly bear slinking through my yard than one of these things. At least you can see the shiny claws of a bear. This snake just about made it between my legs before I spluttered hot embers on my lap and leaped to my feet for action.
I swept it into a bucket and continued on with my pipe smoking for awhile until it hit me that perhaps it's mother might still be close by. It was dark, and the shadows darker, so I decided I had enough of the beautiful thunderstorm and retreated indoors... because of the rain, of course.