Thank you!
The Natural, Im thinking you might be thinking of the Black Racers that chased you. I too years ago had been chased by a Blue Racer. They move very fast. There also is a Yellow Belied Racer, which they all have a very large range across our nation. Their habitt are woods, grassy and brushy areas along with rocky slopes. Thank you for the "up lifting" story it gave me a giggle.
Applestar, Thank you, Im trying to keep the grounds for wild habitat. If I don't see them again, I did at least seen them once as they passed by.
Im very sure that is Regina pictured in the tree. I found her shortly after the discovery of the eggs. As far as I can tell she is a Pine Snake, which would be her Eastern name, Bullsnake in the Midwestern and Gopher snake in the Western parts of the nation.
There are several races, I hope some will stay. They do follow the food sorce, as shown with her sitting in a tree, my guess its bird eggs... which they rarley do. Their main food sorce is rodents. The babies become a food sorce for the Hawks here but there are alot of hidding places. Thank you Applestar.
Rainbow, I enjoy those warm hugs but for Pine snakes it rings their dinner bell...They are a powerful constrictor, maybe not like The Natural's "Black Mummba"

...but all the same. I had thought that being the reason for eggs found in the compost area, she found it a good place.
LA47, She did give me a jump of nerves when she passed over the tops of my shoes while in the strawberry patch, that was the first time I seen her... I carefully moved back
Marlingardener, I too enjoy snakes outdoors, In the past I came across a Hognose snake, that one gave me a big fright. They hiss and lunge at you. I'm not sure if they or the bullsnake make a fake rattleing sound. All the same it makes you take a step back..
Thank you gardeners
