The Coral Snake came out at dusk. It was at matured size. As a naturalist, I recognized it instantly and kept the dog’s legs away from it. I also made steps to avoid it as I was wearing thongs. Night was approaching but that’s not a usual time for the Coral Snake to emerge from its hiding place. They are reclusive snakes. This one was mid-street…and bright on the dark gray asphalt. Wiggling and winding, I saw no ground nests or nearby hiding places. Where had it come from? This area has long lost its wilderness quality and has become suburban.
Many years back, an immature coral snake emerged from under the ground cover in my front Garden. Running into the house to get my shovel to kill it gave it the time to disappear again. I rescue animals, not kill them. But a coral snake’s bite is so toxic, it kills their prey nearly instantly. It is worse than a viper in this way. So my policy regarding venomous snakes is that I will kill them if they are in my Garden. (This policy also goes for rats visiting my house.) Home and Garden are sanctuaries for the living, healing and sharing. My naturalist boundaries end when I am being a Mother Caretaker. The toxic and deadly are not welcome.
The feeling of foreboding was intense. It was as if I was watching a movie where something bad was about to happen. It had all the elements: dusk moving into night; a deadly snake out in the open in an area that snakes no longer live; a deadly snake showing up just as I was out for a walk. I don’t usually walk the dog: I was doing a favor for what I thought was a friend.
When the friend left my home, I found syringes in my garbage. I didn’t count them but it must have been about 200 of them. I use smaller syringes daily to give feline insulin injections. These were longer. Shocked at seeing them, I quickly bagged them up and tossed them out. By 11 o’clock that night, I woke up from a restless sleep and realized that I should not put those venomous sticks into the street. Others might pick them up and use them. So I went out into the street and pulled back the garbage.
Inside, I took my hammer and smashed each one to tiny bits. I prayed for my former friend. A human wasted life brings mourning to my heart. I hoped to extend the Caduceus of Healing but it was rejected.
The friend didn’t know I found the toxic needles. Regardless, this person will not return to my home. A drug-blocked mind caused this wedge. I would heal if I could from outside my home. Because my policy is no toxic snakes in my Garden and no rats in my house.