Another tale from the land: Snakes in the pool 

There are a lot of snakes in Georgia.

I’m not referring to your family tree or that neighbor who never returned the borrowed hedge trimmers or that jerk that bullied you in high school, though the world is full of those kinds of snakes, too. 

Nearly 50 species of legless, slithering reptiles live around here, making Georgia one of the most biodiverse ecosystems in the country, as far as snakes are concerned. That also gives us one of the highest populations of people who are afraid of them. Some counties, particularly in the more rural areas of the state, boast more snakes than people. The critters can’t vote and have a near 100 percent unemployment rate. 

That is especially true at this time of year. Early September is when baby snakes are leaving the nest and making their way in the world. Their older counterparts are also on the move, enjoying the last hot days of the year and fattening up in preparations for the winter.  As summer gives way to fall, people are also moving around a little more, therefore the chances of encountering a snake are higher now than any other time on the calendar. 

Everyone has a snake story. Whether a childhood memory of a relative killing a large rattlesnake that snuck into the shed (about five feet long with 13 rattles, if I remember correctly) or a simple chance encounter on a hike, there are few people who haven’t had an unsolicited meeting with a local serpent. I have a long list of experience with snakes. From playing in the woods as a kid to working in people’s yards around Atlanta, I’ve learned that snakes are everywhere. I once worked with a guy who would kill any reptile or amphibian on site. I never trusted him. 

I almost made it through a year without adding to my collection of snake confrontations. But that recently changed thanks to those little ones venturing out into the greater world. My daughter wanted to take an afternoon swim in the pool. We ventured out into the back yard, prepared to take a refreshing dip when something sliding through the water caught my eye. 

It was a snake, by the look of it, a harmless rat snake. The poor thing, probably seeking a cool drink, found itself adrift at sea. Finding a snake in the pool is not a complaint. I live by a simple rule: If you own a pool, you’re not allowed to complain. Having a pool should be the dictionary definition of having “made it.” I have fished snakes out of the pool before. 

This situation was different in that my daughter thought it too dangerous to deal with. As far as she was concerned, the back yard no longer existed, wall it off, forget about it. She was content to play with the water hose, while the squatting serpent became owner of the swimming pool. 

While she busied herself with a sprinkler and bucket, I snuck around back and handled the situation. The pool is open again, while summer lingers at least. 

My only problem is, where there are small snakes … there are big ones. 

You can reach Kyle Dominy at k.l.dominy@gmail.com