Never a dull moment around the Shiflet household. About a week ago J.Michael caught a garden snake in the yard and asked if he could keep it for a pet and Momma said "yes" for the sake of education of course. Our home has long been a haven for the catch and "release" program although it is not often they are released alive, but we have had many captives live long, pampered lives. So, we began our quest to learn what a racer garden snake eats and found Mom's organic spring mix lettuce to fit his liking. We tried things from the pet store like dried krill and flies but couldn't be certain he was eating these really...we forgot to count how many we put in the tank but obviously too many.
J.Michael talked to some of his friends who also have wild caught snakes on Sunday at church about how to care for his snake. So, armed with more helpful tips we were certain that this time we could sucessfully keep our captive happy.
Then, this morning the words no mother, including a very pet friendly home school mom wants to hear were ringing through the house "Mom, where is my snake?"
Mom answers, "I do not know, he's not in his tank?"
J.Michael echoed by three other interest voices, "NO, the snake is MISSSSSSING!"
We began our fruitless search for the missing snake. I quickly resolved that he must have escaped back to the wild because thoughts of him just being "loose" in my house...Oh! no, no, that couldn't be so...I was in complete denial. Fortunately, with a busy week ahead of us we would be gone most of the time to the THSC family conference so maybe he really would escape never to be seen again. I could only hope he would not turn up in something we were taking with us over the next few days...that could end any future captive snake adventures permanently.
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