Found in the sand box

We found her tracks first --slithering lines in the sand box. The next day Toby picked up this lovely snake. I always worry when my kids find a snake. Texas has most of the deadliest snakes: rattlesnakes, cottonmouths, water moccasins, coral snakes. And most of those have been seen either in my neighborhood or while on camping trips near here. (The girls found a coral snake and a rattlesnake at girl's camp this summer; coral snakes are the most deadly, you die before you can get any help.) However, this snake that Toby found is a western ribbon snake: a good snake. Although the bites still hurt, as Nate will tell you. He found one early this summer and it bit him pretty hard. But the kids were careful and everyone got to hold it, even Hazel. She doesn't want to be left out of avything.