Yesterday, Grace was riding her bike down the driveway when I spotted a garter snake slithering across. I pointed out the snake to Grace, and of course, she jumped off her bike and proceeded to follow the snake into the woods. And of course, she caught the snake, and held it nicely with two hands, very calmly checking it out. I was very proud of my snake-catching girl (and proud of myself for successfully suppressing the urge to yell, “No! Don’t touch it – snakes are creepy!”). And of course, I ran and got my camera – very quickly. After I had snapped a couple of shots, she calmly walked back into the woods and released the snake. It wasn’t until then that she said, “It bited me!” Garter snakes aren’t venomous and don’t have fangs, but I could see the mark on her hand, and then I was doubly proud of that tough, animal-loving kid – who had continued to hold the snake after it had bitten her – of course. That’s some very good training for an animal rescuer, but I’m pretty sure that her first time catching a snake was also her last. Later, she was telling the story to her Grandpa on the phone, and she said, “Grandpa – if you see a garter snake, don’t pick it up. They bite!” Right, and they’re creepy.
Travelingjenny 
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