THIS IS NOT PRETTY

Yucky warning.

I know carnivores must eat other creatures to survive. Humans eat cows, pigs and chickens but except for the hunters or farmer, most of us only see the results in a plastic wrapper. We don't pull the trigger, draw the knife, wring the necks or swing the club.

Animals don't have super markets. The bigger,swifter and stronger tend to eat the smaller,weaker and slower. The food chain is quite defined. Even house pets eat birds and baby bunnies.

I grew up in the era of the Disney wildlife shows where the fox tries to catch the little rabbit and just misses by a hare (pun intended). The commentator always said, "The rabbit narrowly escapes to live another day.  Mrs. Fox  will try again  and hopefully be able to bring home dinner for her hungry kits before the day ends.”  We never had to watch a successful attempt. Killing and eating was implied.

 Wildlife shows are now days much more graphic. The kill is filmed in full detail which is one reason I can no longer watch those types of show. I do have a bit of ostrich in me. What I don't see, doesn't happen. What I am about to show you, I wish I hadn't seen. This is your last chance to bail.

The other day as I walked around the property I saw a very disgusting sight. I leave the bird houses up all year for late breeders or just those who use it for a night time condo. This one has been visited regularly by a small sparrow. I wasn't sure what her use for the house was but I think I now have an idea.

I saw this strange handle hanging out the hole. Closer look determined it was 
obviously a snake. I touched its tail and it zoomed all the way into the house. That had to be a tight fit for this was about a 3 foot snake. Pretty sure it wasn't there for the view.

In a nearby tree was the frantic sparrow. I didn't know if she had eggs or babies in there but she was very upset. I'm thinking eggs for I didn't see any bulges in the snakes belly.



The focus isn't good but it was really moving fast to get away from me.

I opened the box, got the snake out fairly easily with a hoe handle and it slithered off. When I checked the nest it was empty of all but a few feathers. Sadly I was too late and that sparrow no longer visits the birdhouse.

I would never hurt the snake for it was a harmless one (unless you are a baby bird) and they do keep the rodent population in check.  Still, I hope I never have to witness that again.

I just realize that this post was close to  un-Disney like also. At least the murder was implied and not shown which is still Disneyesque.   Sometimes my need to share goes too far. Forgive me if I have grossed you out.  


Now I need to work on a snake guard for my bird houses.  Any tried and true methods out there??