I'll Be Looking for Both of These Critters This Summer

As I walk around Scenic Hill in Kent, or along the Green River Trail. I swear a heard an owl on one walk last summer, and it was the "hoot hoot" great horned kind of call. At first I thought it was kids playing, but no, it isn't.

Aside from looking up at the sky, I'll be looking down on the ground, for garter snakes. I haven't seen them in years, but since we're going organic in the back yard, I'm hoping to charm them back.

A slither down memory lane

Stopped in a local Petco today, and lo' after oggling at the beardies, there were Canadian garter snakes for sale.

I remember catching these snakes in New Mexico, and then again in Everett, Wa. when I was growing up. I did see a few when we first moved here to Kent, 20 years ago, but now, not at all. In looking at this article, I think if there are any around, they would be hibernating right now. But still, I wonder if all the urbanization has trashed the habitat of these gentle creatures that hold so many memories for me.

There is one species in the San Fran area that is endangered, I guess. I don't know about the NW Garter snake, however.