Not Being Fluffy With Science

Every once in a while, we ran across fairly large, black rat snakes on our property. We welcomed them as great free rodent-control. When I spotted one, I would catch it for brief science lessons for my kids, at the time 14 and 12.

Immediately taken by the three-plus-foot-long snake, the kids promptly named one “Fluffy.” This time, I thought I’d show them how a snake eats — letting them see it swallow a mouse whole — and made a quick trip to a nearby pet store for a feeder mouse. The kids, of course, the kids promptly named it “Lunch.”

After Fluffy enjoyed Lunch, the kids and I released Fluffy in the plantings near the house, for rodent-control. Plus, I got “cool Mom points” for my snake-handling ability.