RIP, wren chicks — you were no match for a rat snake
Tragedy for the wrens raising week-old chicks in a birdhouse I’ve been observing from my office window. Yesterday morning, as I sat down at my desk, I looked out to check on the little family — I’ve been watching the parents feeding the chicks — and something looked strange. I got up for a closer look and gasped as I realized a snake was coiled inside the birdhouse, its scaly side blocking the doorway.
Just the day before, I’d photographed the wrens feeding their peeping chicks.
But overnight, apparently, a rat snake had Houdinied its way up the side of the house (yes, rat snakes can climb brick walls), about 8 feet from the ground, and across a foot of space to reach the birdhouse opening on the side facing away from the wall. It was quite a feat.
I was on deadline for a writing assignment, so I camped out in my office all day, looking up periodically in hopes of seeing the snake emerge. But the darn thing stayed put all day long, only occasionally shifting position and revealing the tip of its tail.
Finally I left to make dinner, and afterward I popped back into my office for another look. It was dark outside, so I had to use a cell phone flashlight to see — and I spotted movement. “The snake’s coming out!” I yelled, and everyone came running. The pics are blurry because it was dark, but you can see the snake stretching for the brick wall while still anchored in the hole. Amazing.
Our lights and activity startled the snake, and rather than risk a tricky descent it retreated back into the birdhouse, slithering in like an octopus squeezing itself through a hole.
Going, going, gone. And so are the wren chicks, sadly. But snakes have to eat too, and it’s been fascinating to watch. Being wildlife friendly means accepting nature’s brutality, which was happening even with the wrens as they fed live caterpillars and other insects to their young. I won’t kill a snake in my garden unless I feel it poses a danger to my family, and rat snakes are harmless to humans and largely beneficial, as they do hunt rodents.
Still, it’s painful to lose the wrens.
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Great snake in the nest story.
I love rat snakes, but sorry about the wrens.
Yes, me too. —Pam
Crazy! Thank you for providing some excellent fodder for my snake nightmares. But very cool also, even if the poor wren chicks are gone.
Sorry about the nightmares! 😉 —Pam
Your post sums up exactly how I feel about snakes and other predators in the garden too (well, maybe not raccoons, I can do without them). It’s nature’s way, we don’t have to love it, but if we’re gardening for nature we have to accept it. I like non-poisonous snakes, I think most snakes are beautiful, but I don’t think I could garden where I might encounter dangerous snakes.
Even here in Central Texas, venomous snakes are rare in a suburban garden unless you back up to a greenbelt (I do) — i.e., not something you need spend much time worrying about. —Pam
That’s incredible! I’m amazed the snake was able to get up to and into the birdhouse. I had no idea rat snakes could climb brick walls like that. Sad about the wrens but, as you say, nature is brutal. The snake has to eat, too.
I didn’t know they could climb brick walls either, and was amazed to see that video. —Pam
Poor wrens! Our daughter was returning a baby wren to the nest after retrieving it from our cat’s mouth. When she put her hand close to the nest a rat snake came slithering out. We never found out what happened to the baby: the cat bite, the rat snake or being dropped from my daughter’s hand.
Sorry to laugh, but that’s kind of a funny story. I hope your daughter was able to see the humor in it after she got over her understandable fright. 🙂 —Pam
Yes, we still laugh about it even our animal loving daughter will chuckle. It was almost as funny as the time her cockatiel hit the ceiling fan and torpedoed across the room! That bird lived.
OMG! —Pam
I had something similar happen to a bluebird box full of chicks. SAD
It was many years ago.
Poor bluebirds! —Pam
As you say it’s the cycle of life, but still so sad.
Yes, it is. —Pam
Just curious, will you move the birdhouse or leave it?
Probably leave it for now. No place is snake proof. And if it’s not a snake, it’s a raccoon. —Pam
Ouch, that’s sad. But it’s the cycle of life…
Yep. —Pam
As I prefer wrens to snakes, I was horrified by your story, Pam. But your pictures are amazing! P. x
Thanks, Pam. I feel the same way. It’s fascinating nonetheless. —Pam
I am so sorry about your wrens! I never do get used to those things and always feel so sad… but I imagine that’s one happy snake! Thank you for your wonderful blog posts and photographs – I always look forward to seeing what’s new here!
Thanks for your kind comment, Kristin — and that’s a good perspective about the snake! —Pam