Thursday, October 14, 2010

Summer is Coming!



I have posted this before but Matthew from "No visible Lycra" blog asked me about our Python. So I will tell the story:- Monty was discovered in our hedge by me, several years ago, and I was lucky not to have injured her. I called the National Parks to have her removed as I was concerned for her safety as well as the safety of my small dogs and cats. They came and took her away. 3 months later she was back.

I later learned that they are extremely territorial, stress when removed and unless you move them over 15km ( 10 miles) away they will make every effort to return "home". So- we have learned to live with her. She lives in the roof of the house, lifting a tile to enter and exit and she hibernates above my head in the TV room. Sometimes you can hear her moving about- she sounds like a heavy rope. I will often find her draped in a hedge, (of which i have heaps), or in the grape vine, or lounging in the gutters of the roof grabbing some sun. We live right on the edge of the National park, (called the Devils wilderness), and we had a major problem with possums, bush rats and mice. Not to mention poisonous snakes too.

Monty ( as we call her), cleans them out for us and has grown into a mature full size python that does not seem too worried by us or our dogs. I sometimes have to move her in order to trim a hedge- this she does not mind. Yesterday my eldest daughters boyfriend saw Monty- and jumped out of his skin...hahahaha! I hope Monty is with us for years to come.

14 comments:

  1. Aiiiiiieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee. I'll be back when the snake is gone. I'm terrified to even look at them. xo

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  2. OMG, she is ENORMOUS!! How awesome, most folk settle for the odd ornamental knome in their garden..

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  3. dont be scared!. She is beautiful and did not ask to be a snake! :o)

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  4. Shrinky_ yes she- is in fact bigger now ( full grown)

    She is a gorgeous talking point for sure

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  5. I'd like to coie when it's there! Have you ever seen it capturing prey or actually eat anything?

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  6. Oh. My. God. Is this for real? I have shivers going down my spine just looking at Monty on a computer, from the other side of the globe.
    I adore animals but I think snakes are THE ones I am really afraid of.

    I wonder, does she shed her skin?

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  7. thats a really great story and... shes kiiiinda cute...i guess
    ~laura

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  8. Maalie- I have seen her with a rat shaped object in her gut, and I have seen her climb a tree in search of food too.

    Mary-Laure- there is 100% nothing to be afraid of. She does not smell, does not bite ( and if she did in defense it would be like a bite from a small dog at best) Yes she sheds her skin- once a year about now. :o)

    Laura- yes she is- she has "kind" eyes if that makes sense

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  9. :D how cute! <3 Monty the python XD epic.

    ryn: Is that the one that you pass in the woods on a snowy evening? XD haaaaaaahahaha, I'm tired >.<

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  10. well sadly no- they dont like the cold! ahaha!

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  11. I wouldn't want that kind of slippery pet. My friend's son had one and it escaped and she found it in her slipper as they like to nest in warm places.

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  12. Does she sings "i'm a lumberjack and i'm ok ?"

    :o)

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  13. Ellee- yes they like warm places. I could not fit Monty in a slipper not and 2 metres long

    Anon! I think she sings one of the songs in Jungle book....ahahah!

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  14. I have a cousin named Monte :-D
    I have possums and a bat that lives in the garage, flies around and scares people, but really it isn't a bother... better than a python in my opinion... don't mind snakes outside but if I heard one moving overhead I don't think I'd enjoy that too much!

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