Frank J. Buchman

Cowboy • Horseman • Writer

Increased Snake Count May Serve As Warning

Snakes seem to be more prevalent than usual.

Like most folks, we really don’t like snakes, but there sure have been many around this year. We haven’t heard anything scientific, yet wonder if there might be some  correlation between the expanded numbers and weather patterns. Could it be the   snakes are warning about the increased storms over wider portions of the country?


Although we have no fondness for the reptiles, we don’t make a big scene when one appears, like some others we know. This spring we’ve spotted over a dozen blacksnakes; at least that’s what we call them. They’re long and black, maybe with yellow tinge  marks.

It could be that  some of the same snakes are seen on different days and at various locations. However, we contend there have been ones longer than others, so we’re certain the population is higher. Haystacks are a common location for snakes, but we’ve  seen them in many places this year.

The snakes even wrap themselves around pipe stall panels, and don’t seem in any hurry to leave, yet they usually slowly slither away. One was crossing the driveway into the barn as we were leading a horse that direction. Neither snake nor horse seemed scared, and they were within inches of each other.

Those scaly reptiles have been found all over the yard as well as in the barn, tack room and garage. Our prayer is they never end up in our home. A recent story reported a snake getting into a house and wrapping itself around a baby’s leg.

While we have killed blacksnakes sometimes, we’ve not made any attempt to bother the ones this year. Those in the know claim these snakes actually do more good than harm, so we’ve decided to leave them be.

Hay season is upon us, and we’re expecting to see more rattlesnakes in the fields. Seldom does a year go by that we don’t find some. We’re especially cautious when picking up bales that have been in the field any length of time, and we do try to kill any rattlers we come across.

An occasional garter snake is seen, as well as snakes swimming in ponds. Snakes can bite and can be harmful, so we don’t tease or trust any of them. Nope, those poisonous snakes don’t have to be reptiles. We’ve known a few folks who we’d have to call snakes, which isn’t a very Christian comment, but their influence on others wasn’t saintly either.

It’s best to remember Numbers 21:6: “So the Lord sent poisonous snakes among the people, and many were bitten and died.”  Certainly, one should heed advice in Matthew 10:16: “We should not test the Lord, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes.”

However, our security comes from Jesus in Luke 10-19: “Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions. Nothing will injure you.”

+++ALLELUIA+++

The Latest: