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One of our cats started chasing something under the fireplace (it's gas and whatever it was chasing was behind these metal louvers (I swear, I thought that was spelled 'louvres')at the bottom of the fireplace.) DD was looking and didn't see anything, but heard something move. I was looking through the lines and thought I saw a head, DD saw a tail.

We got all of the pets upstairs and called Waywardson home from work. When he arrived, we called 911 (animal control was already closed). They sent out a critter catching officer. He arrived, got his gloves on, and opened the access under the fireplace and said, "Well, I don't see a snake, but there IS a salamander under here.".

After the snake in the house yesterday, I wasn't taking any chances and I will call again tomorrow if I see something that looks like a reptile in my house!!

I adore you, but I'm never, ever coming to visit you

It's OK. I understand. I wouldn't want to visit me, either!

You know, we don't live in a dump. Our house is only 8 years old and in a nice neighborhood. It's just that the builders, apparently, didn't seal the foundation, so we've seen spiders, salamanders, a TREE FROG (in my dining room) and a snake.

I COULD seal it myself, but I'm looking into moving, anyway. Waywardson has some career stuff up in the air right now and, if all of that works out, we'll be moving - again.

I felt like such a chicken, though. The officer was really nice and understanding.

My fingers are crossed for a reptile free home for you...and me

Do you have a cat?? If not, I highly recommend getting one. We could have gone quite some time without seeing the snake, if it hadn't been for the cats.

I learned yesterday that it isn't uncommon to see snakes that find their way inside this time of year.

Florida is home to more little Anoles than people... They are every where.

I love them. Always do a catch and release program (when I can).

When I first moved to Florida I wasn't as used to them. I opened the blinds in my new apartment and screamed so loud I think I woke the dead.

There was a large, green anole/lizard right on the window... not the outside either.

But in the intervening 18 years we've kinda made peace with each other.

If it has legs, I don't mind so much. It's the slithery things without legs that I mind.

The salamander ran and hid from the officer, so he didn't get it out. If it's smart, it will find a way outside through the back of the fireplace. If not, we probably won't be able to get to it before a cat does.

This all reminds me of last years wolf spider invasion . I'm also in a newer home but those suckers found a way in and hatched. In fact it was you who used the words "a hatching" in my spider thread and I wanted to ban you right there TIKY

This year has been blissfully spider free (knock on wood). Hopefully next year is critter free for you

And again....this is why I live so far North............

k9

In fact it was you who used the words "a hatching" in my spider thread and I wanted to ban you right there TIKY

It was true, though! We've seen more than enough of those this year, too. Waywardson went to smack one and it had a back full of babies (they carry their young on their backs). They all started falling off and I just heard him say, "Ooooooooh, that's nasty. What am I supposed to do now?". I handed him the spray.

The problem here is that we live out in the country. There is a large farm right behind us and smaller farms all around us. In addition to the bugs and the snakes, we also deal with an unpredictable odor (EXTREME cow manure- I grew up on a farm and it was NOTHING like this) that descends on the neighborhood and we have to close all of the windows, if they are open.

TIKY - where do you live, the second circle of hell?

I think that the more exposed you are to spiders the more immune you get.

I used to PANIC at the sight of anything on eight legs (hell, six would do it) but we live in the woods by a creek and there's a "little greenies" season and then a "little fuzzy black ones" season. (NIK, Fall and winter are spider free so you better come back out now...)

DD and I have started naming them and talking to them. It's incredible.

Jrazz.. there's the difference. You refer to your spiders as "little" somethings. I could never ever use the word little to describe the ones I had. I got dh to come upstairs to kill one and he asked "Do I need a kleenex or paper towels?". My answer "You need the CAR!"

I didn't know whether to kill them or set them a place at the table. They were HUGE.

Fair enough.

TIKY - where do you live, the second circle of hell?

It sure is starting to look that way, huh?

I think that the more exposed you are to spiders the more immune you get.

I disagree. I'm less creeped out by the small ones, but the large ones (mostly what we get here) send me climbing- LITERALLY!! Waywardson knew I had spotted that last spider because I was scrambling to get up on the counter (at 5'2", it takes a little effort). I never said a word.

In Florida you can open your toliet in the middle of the night and find a frog.

Happened to me.

Yes, I am talking indoor plumbing, in a regular home.

My friend in Mississippi went to the restroom and before (luckily!) sitting down, saw a 4-5 foot snake in her toilet.