Hello friends and happy weekend. I hope you are enjoying fall wherever you are and that you’re making time to be outside and enjoy the season before it passes us by and we head into the holidays.
I could continue the berry theme for my weekly puzzlers for a few months since there are so many! However, I’m switching tracks altogether, and featuring a snake this week as our puzzler. So many people seem to be deathly afraid of all snakes (and spiders) and I would like to change that. (I too used to be afraid of snakes and spiders, but am happy to say I’ve changed.) Both are important members of the local ecosystems and definitely don’t deserve their negative reputations.
Today’s puzzler is a snake– probably the most common snake in North America. I suspect most of you have seen one at some point or other, whether in your garden or while out hiking in the forest. Though the coloration on this species of snake is highly variable, they almost always have three light stripes running the length of their bodies. Typically these stripes are a pale yellow or greenish color. These snakes are relatively small, usually between 23 -30 inches long. If you watch one long enough you may notice that its two-colored tongue flicks in and out– this is how snakes smell– when they do this they are trying to get a whiff or what’s around them, and if you’re keen on looking at them, what in the heck you are and if they need to make a hasty retreat.
Here are a few photos. Do you recognize this snake?
I’d love to hear from you! Please use the reply box below the post to give your guess as to this snake’s identity.
If you want to get your name entered in the drawing to win a free sampler pack of 5 of my greeting cards, all you have to do is 1. Use the reply box below the post to give a guess to the puzzler. You don’t have to be correct! But you do have to get your guess in before the end of the weekend. And 2. Follow me on Instagram. After you do, comment on any photo with your first name and “puzzler pool” and I’ll put your name in “the hat” to win! That’s it! Hope to hear from you soon.
Have a lovely weekend!
Looks like a garter snake to me.
Rick, Yes, you are right! It is a garter snake. Thanks for following along!
I recognize it as a common garden snake, is it a racer?
Hey Sara, it is a common garter snake. Many people call it a garden snake but its official name is a common garter snake. Thanks for taking time to guess and for following along with the posts!