Photo Challenge #6 — Animals: Viper-Vipera

🐍 “Ever seen eight cats point you to a viper? I did.”

One afternoon, I peeked out the window to see all eight of my cats staring intently in the same direction. One brave soul even pawed at something in the grass. I thought they’d found a mouse or a nestling, so I rushed outside, ready to rescue it from my cats’ claws.

At first, I saw nothing — until I brushed my hand through the tall grass. There it was: a tiny viper, trembling with fear. My cats, as if they knew better, kept a safe distance. Using my slipper, I gently coaxed it into the open. It never hissed, too frightened to fight back. Carefully, I pinned it down just enough to pick it up without harm — something I’d learned to do as a kid, catching water snakes with my friends near the local swamp. (We’d keep them in boxes in the garage — until they’d escape to sunbathe and scare my poor mom half to death!)

This little viper had a slight wound on its belly. I removed the grass and thorns, then set it up in a big glass jar I usually use for my Tutti Frutti elixir. (Don’t tell my guests that part!) I gave it a damp cloth for water, some moss and soil for a bed, and a few earthworms for a snack. She hid at first, but by morning, she was curled up peacefully on her moss bed — so cute!

I couldn’t keep her. So I convinced my husband to drive into the countryside with me, where we released her back into the wild — free to slither wherever she liked.

You can watch her release here, but fair warning: the camera work might make you seasick!
👉 YouTube Short