22/07/2026
Notes from the Toco bush...
I haven't written anything for a while as I have been quite busy!
Oliver the cat has discovered that a four foot long Machete lives somewhere behind the house. I have met this snake repeatedly much further from the house, crossing the road (twice!) and down among the Oliviere trees. Oliver has chased this native twice that I know of, and on one of those days, the snake later approached the house, clearly looking out for the cat - head up in the air, rather like a periscope.
The last time I saw him was a bit closer than I cared for. Naz said, "There's a snake in the kitchen!" I came, expecting to find some small Annulated Night Snake brought in by Oliver and then abandoned out of boredom...
I find Mr. Machete on the counter, four feet of indignance! Oliver must have cornered him outside and he came in through the window - note to self: move temporary woodpile from outside kitchen window.
Machetes puff out their throats when they feel threatened. They rattle their tail when they are threatened. And they bite the broomstick you point at them when they refuse to take a hint.
In the end, I tossed a pair of jeans over him while distracting him with a well-chewed broomstick. Grabbing him through the jeans, I hauled his irate self outside and let him go in the garden.
I hope he stays outside from now on!
Speaking of visitors of the unwanted persuasion, a porcupine climbed into my parents' bathroom a good few nights ago. While I could laugh about it, I hope I never have to deal with that particular variety! Why? One word: quills!
My sister, using her mastery of the dark arts of animal control, got the pickery imp into a crate and later released northward of their house. She told me it headed off into the bush towards my house...
