Crack

I may have mentioned that creepy crawlies seem to give me the creeps. I also may have mentioned that we've been occasionally finding unwanted little friends in our home here in FairyLand. We've been unsure just how they've been getting in, though I have seen one slither right on in the front door as I opened it.

No, please, after you . . .

We have noticed that our cat likes to hang out by the fireplace, staring at the little crack between the brick and the built in bookcase. I've noticed that during the day, light squeezes in through that crack. I figured she was hoping to escape and noted it on my to-do list.

"Request maintenance fill crack"

Apparently it was not high enough on the list.

My husband noted one evening that the cat had been staring at the crack for some time. Since it was dark out, I deduced she must not be staring at the light. I've been called "sharp as a tack."

He got a flashlight and shined it into the aforementioned crack.

Snakes in a Crack. I think a movie is in order.

Mild mayhem ensued as we considered our options. Maintenance had gone home for the evening. Neither I nor my husband was about to try to extract the snakes from the crack and I certainly wasn't going to go to bed with live snakes in my house.

I considered spraying hornet spray at them. I considered waking Ethan and asking him to take care of it.

We decided to call FairyLand's resident naturalist. Known as "Mama Kelly" to the locals, she is known for her near-nutty love of critters. She would sooner slice her own fingers off than harm an innocent creature. Mama Kelly arrived with two lovely assistants. We showed her to the crack. We could count at least two snakes, but likely more. We can suppose these are the parents of the smaller snakes we've discovered in the house.

It was a grueling 90 minute operation involving a fly-swatter, a broken yardstick and a cereal box. Daisy, attempting to pounce every time Mama got near to coaxing a snake out, had to be restrained.

I also learned something new. When scared or angry, these snakes, which have no venom, "musk" or release a nasty smelling substance to discourage predation. As Mama Kelly put it "would you want to eat something that smelled like un-wiped butt?"

In the end, success. Three snakes were removed alive, unharmed, and taken in a cereal box to an undisclosed location and released.

I've decided that Daisy has earned her keep. I can put up with the cat hair and litter box duty knowing that it was her that single paw-edly kept the snakes in their crack and alerted us to their presence.

I've also decided it is time to invite Mama Kelly and her lovely assistants to a nice (vegetarian) dinner.

Needless to say "request maintenance fill crack" moved to the top of the to-do list. I think the actual request I submitted read something like this: "Snakes living in and entering through crack. Please fill--IMMEDIATELY.